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PODCAST

Focus

FRANCE 24 English

Our Focus programme brings you exclusive reports from around the world. Every day at 8:45am Paris time.

news & politics

All Episodes

00:05:21

One year on, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum...

Focus ·

2025/10/03

One year after her landslide election victory, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum remains remarkably popular, with around 80 percent of Mexicans backing her policies. The left-wing politician has rolled out nationwide many of the measures she first introduced as mayor of Mexico City. But while the "Sheinbaum formula" appears to be working for now, major challenges lie ahead: from tackling insecurity to managing a delicate trade relationship with the United States of Donald Trump. FRANCE 24's

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00:04:50

The exodus of oasis dwellers: In Mauritania, climate...

Focus ·

2025/10/02

In the oasis of the Mauritanian Sahara, the main refuge for date palms, climate change is tightening its grip. These ecosystems, which depend on shallow groundwater reserves, are at risk because recent rainfall has not been enough to replenish them. This poses a major threat to farmers in a country where less than 0.5 percent of the land is arable, jeopardising the livelihood of tens of thousands of people who have depended on oasis crops for centuries. FRANCE 24's Simon Martin, Sarah Sakho and

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00:05:20

South Africa's Moravian Church at centre of land...

Focus ·

2025/10/01

In South Africa, some towns in the Western Cape are entirely controlled by the Moravian Protestant Church, which has a missionary legacy dating back to the 18th century. Residents pay a fee to the Church, which maintains the town's infrastructure in return. But some locals claim the Church isn't using the money collected to reinvest in the town. With over 100,000 current members, the Moravian Church was one of the first religious institutions to welcome worshippers of all races in a South Africa

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00:04:50

A bridge too far in Italy? Scepticism over planned...

Focus ·

2025/09/29

The Italian government has approved the construction of a suspension bridge between the island of Sicily and the mainland. It would be 3,300 metres long and 400 metres high. The bridge has been designed to allow nearly 140,000 vehicles to cross it every day. This colossal project, estimated to cost €13.5 billion, has been presented by Rome as a strategic asset for NATO defence. But the initiative has received much criticism – those who oppose the plan see it as a costly waste of public funds. Our

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00:05:49

Moldovan parliamentary elections: Inside the...

Focus ·

2025/09/26

Moldovans head to the polls for parliamentary elections on Sunday September 28, less than a year after a presidential race marred by accusations of Russian interference and a closely contested referendum on EU membership. Sunday's vote could reshape Moldova's geopolitical future, as President Maia Sandu's pro-European PAS party risks losing its majority to populist or pro-Kremlin forces. Across Moldova, Moscow's propaganda continues to shape public opinion – especially in the Russian-speaking

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00:04:06

Food delivery takes flight: In Dublin, drones are...

Focus ·

2025/09/25

Have you ever seen a pizza fly? Well, in Dublin, they do! Drones are changing the way we get food delivered, straight from the sky to our doorstep. Convenient for customers and food businesses, they're loathed by residents who are not impressed by the constant buzzing over their heads. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Aurore Dupuis.

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00:05:54

In Arctic region of Svalbard, scientists study impact...

Focus ·

2025/09/24

Some 300 polar bears live in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. But with sea ice rapidly receding due to climate change, researchers are trying to understand how the animals are adapting. FRANCE 24's Olivier Morin, Matthew Kay and Solenn Marcoux report.

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00:05:35

Pakistan-India: In Punjab, flooding sparks anger...

Focus ·

2025/09/23

Since late June, unusually heavy monsoon rains have hit northern India and Pakistan, killing hundreds of people. The worst-hit province is Punjab, where nearly 4 million people have been displaced. Climate change is mainly to blame. But the floods have also been worsened by the opening of dams in India. FRANCE 24's Shahzaib Wahlah reports from Pakistan.

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00:06:07

Nepal’s Gen Z demands change: Aftermath of a youth...

Focus ·

2025/09/22

After Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Nepal has become the latest South Asian country to witness its own “Generation Z revolution”. In just three years, it's the third government in the region to fall under pressure from youth-led protests. Each movement was triggered by a law, political decision, or act of repression. In Nepal’s case, it was the suspension of several popular social networks – but the anger ran much deeper.

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00:05:24

Inside Thailand’s ‘little Burma’, a refuge for...

Focus ·

2025/09/19

Myanmar is once again in the grip of civil war. Since the 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, hundreds of thousands of Burmese have fled to Thailand to escape escalating violence and a collapsing economy. Thai authorities are struggling to manage the influx, particularly in border regions. At the same time, Thailand faces a labor shortage – and increasingly relies on Burmese workers to fill critical gaps in the workforce.

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00:05:35

Shifting gears: Malaysia bets on indigenous plant for...

Focus ·

2025/09/18

Malaysia was once a leader in Southeast Asia’s automotive sector, even producing the region’s first national car. But in recent years, it has struggled to keep pace with neighbours like Thailand and Indonesia, who are rapidly advancing in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. Now, Malaysia is turning to an unlikely source – an indigenous plant – as it looks to shift gears and carve out a place in the global EV supply chain. Patrick Fok reports.

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00:05:20

From New Delhi to Berlin: The Indians starting a new...

Focus ·

2025/09/16

Since a migration agreement between Berlin and New Delhi came into force in 2023, the number of visas issued for Germany has soared. Nearly 40,000 Indians now live in the German capital – making them the fastest-growing migrant group. But while many Indians thrive in Germany, some face serious difficulties. FRANCE 24's Anne Mailliet, Kilian-Davy Baujard, Willy Mahler, Lisa Gamonet and Nick Holdsworth report.

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00:05:32

'Treasure Island': Kuwait uncovers its past through...

Focus ·

2025/09/15

Long perceived as a young state with little past, Kuwait intends to write its own history. In this Gulf emirate of 4 million inhabitants, archaeology has become a national priority, accounting for a quarter of the cultural budget. Excavations are being carried out throughout the country, including at Christian sites. This is a way for Kuwait to assert its identity and show the world that it's not just an oil state. FRANCE 24's Léa Delfolie and Jules Pilorge report.

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00:05:49

In Indonesia, addiction to smoking starts in childhood

Focus ·

2025/09/12

Considered one of the world's largest producers and consumers of tobacco, Indonesia is seeing a devastating scourge amongst its youth: some 40 percent of teenagers aged 13 to 15 smoke, and one in five smokers today lit their first cigarette before the age of 10.

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00:05:09

Fancy a move to the countryside? Japan seeks to curb...

Focus ·

2025/09/10

Reviving Japan's countryside is a topic that's close to the heart of Shigeru Ishiba, the country's outgoing prime minister. Ishiba hails from a remote part of Japan and owes his political career to support from rural voters. This year, he doubled subsidies for local governments and appointed 180 "revitalisation officers". But the exodus from rural regions continues. Today, more than half of Japan's land is inhabited by less than 10 percent of the population. Yet generous incentives to encourage

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00:06:13

Mass investment changes face of Dakhla, in...

Focus ·

2025/09/09

Western Sahara is a disputed territory, listed by the United Nations as non-self-governing. Morocco largely controls the area, but for decades has been battling the pro-independence Polisario Front armed group, which is supported by Algeria. Recently there has been a diplomatic shift, with some nations such as the US and France choosing to back Rabat's plan that would grant large autonomy to Western Sahara while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty. The region is also rapidly changing, with huge

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00:05:18

Swiss villages threatened by melting glaciers

Focus ·

2025/09/08

The reality of disappearing glaciers is no longer a distant phenomenon: back in May, a glacier collapsed, triggering a massive landslide that buried the Swiss village of Blatten. Switzerland finds itself on the front line of global warming. As a result, monitoring has been intensifying in the Alps, where around a hundred remaining glaciers are under increased surveillance. FRANCE 24's Jade Levin reports, with Josh Vardey.

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00:06:07

The price of prosperity: Singapore's 60 years of...

Focus ·

2025/09/05

On August 9, 1965, Singapore became an independent city-state. Despite having no natural resources, it now rivals some of the world's greatest nations. The key to its success: a strategic port that's now one of the planet's busiest economic hubs, and attractive financial policies that have turned it into a magnet for foreign capital. But this prosperity comes at a political price.

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00:05:37

A boy at all costs: The business of gender selection...

Focus ·

2025/09/04

All over Egypt, clinics offering couples the option to choose the sex of their future child operate openly. Having at least one son is still considered essential by many Egyptians, especially in villages. While this practice is strictly prohibited across Europe, in Egypt, a legal grey area allows it to persist. IVF clinics take advantage of this legislative loophole to advertise their services to Egyptians, but also foreigners. FRANCE 24's Mathilde Delvigne reports, with Matthew Thompson.

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00:05:53

Amid safety concerns, can India remain the 'pharmacy...

Focus ·

2025/09/03

As the world's second-largest producer of medication, India is facing increasing scrutiny over drug quality following deadly incidents involving Indian products. Is India's race to remain the "pharmacy of the world" coming at the cost of human lives? FRANCE 24's Khansa Juned and Lisa Gamonet report.

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346 results

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