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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

00:05:57

Russians and Belarusians trapped in administrative...

Focus ·

2025/07/03

Serbia is home to a large Russian and Belarusian community, which has increased in number since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the small Balkan country was already a popular destination for Russians and Belarusians looking to move abroad. Among this older population of Russian and Belarusian immigrants, those who want to adopt Serbian nationality have been facing administrative difficulties for the past two years, resulting in them becoming stateless. FRANCE 24's Laurent Rouy, Aleksandar

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00:05:33

The anguish of parental child abduction: Japan moves...

Focus ·

2025/07/02

Every year in Japan, thousands of fathers fall victim to parental child abduction. It very often follows the same pattern: the Japanese mother leaves suddenly with the child and then forbids the father from seeing them again. These are abductions that fathers – Japanese and foreign alike – are powerless to fight, since Japan is one of the only countries in the world that does not recognise joint custody post-marriage. After a divorce, custody is granted to only one parent. But now, the law is about

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00:05:46

China's love for jade: Coveted gemstones smuggled out...

Focus ·

2025/07/01

Myanmar is the world's leading producer of jade. Up to 90 percent of global supply of the precious stone is mined in the country's northern Kachin state, despite a decades-long armed rebellion raging there. According to the NGO Global Witness, some 90 percent of this jade is then smuggled out of the country – almost all of it to neighbouring China. Once favoured by emperors to defy death, jade and its knock-offs continue to be worn as a status symbol. Our correspondents Yena Lee, Yorben den Hartog

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00:05:08

Seaweed becomes booming business in India's 'blue...

Focus ·

2025/06/30

As global demand for sustainable solutions rises, India is emerging as a significant player in the booming seaweed industry. With over 7,500 kilometres of coastline and more than 800 native seaweed species, the country is turning to this climate-friendly marine crop not just as a source of organic fertiliser, but as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Through its ambitious "seaweed mission" and planned investment of $86.8 million, India aims to increase seaweed production to 11

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00:05:10

Art as an act of resistance: Afghan women turn to...

Focus ·

2025/06/27

The Taliban have severely restricted the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan since returning to power in August 2021. Nearly 2.2 million girls are deprived of education, with girls banned from school after the age of 12 years, while women are not allowed to work in most sectors of society. In response, more and more Afghan women in the capital Kabul are using art as an act of hope and resistance. FRANCE 24's team reports, with Shahzaib Wahlah.

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00:05:38

In the Netherlands, drug crime leaves a toxic trace...

Focus ·

2025/06/26

For years now, Dutch authorities have been regularly dismantling illegal drug labs producing amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine – often hidden away in remote, rural areas. But one of the lesser-known consequences of this illegal industry is the severe environmental pollution it leaves behind. Barrels filled with hazardous substances are frequently dumped in forests, fields and even protected nature reserves. Last year alone, 217 illegal dumping sites were discovered across the country. FRANCE 24's

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00:05:23

Reversing the tide of urbanisation: Spain seeks to...

Focus ·

2025/06/25

Spain's countryside is the most depopulated in Europe. Some villages have just one resident left in them. But locals are fighting back, determined to attract new inhabitants. FRANCE 24's Maude Petit-Jové and Maxime Bergeron report from Spanish two villages that are managing to turn the tide of urbanisation.

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00:05:08

Egypt's female farm workers face dire working conditions

Focus ·

2025/06/24

Last year, Egypt set a new record for fruit and vegetable exports: nearly 7 million tonnes, valued at €6 billion, with 20 percent destined for Europe. According to the World Bank, agriculture is the sector that employs the highest proportion of women in the country: around 45 percent nationwide, and as high as 94 percent in Upper Egypt. But in the fields, the working conditions of the 5 million female farm workers are dire: no contracts, half the wages of men and scorching temperatures. Grassroots

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00:06:17

Post-Assad Syria: Sectarian divides and the struggle...

Focus ·

2025/06/19

The fall of Bashar al-Assad last December did not erase the deep-rooted prejudices within Syrian society. Identity and political divisions remain vivid, and since January, sectarian clashes have been increasing. In a country as fragmented as Syria, old grudges are simmering, with many taking justice into their own hands – driven by a thirst for revenge against those they view as traitors or internal enemies. Amid this escalating violence, the authorities insist they are committed to holding those

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00:05:59

US veterans angry at Trump administration's...

Focus ·

2025/06/18

An increasing number of US veterans are sounding the alarm. Behind US President Donald Trump's patriotic rhetoric, fundamental social benefits for veterans are being eroded: access to healthcare is being slowed down, medical staff are being laid off, and aid for transgender veterans is being discreetly cut. Trump's plan also includes up to 80,000 job cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Despite a majority of veterans voting for Trump at last year's election, some are now denouncing

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00:05:18

Fighting air pollution: Cars no longer welcome in...

Focus ·

2025/06/17

In recent years, the fight against air pollution has become a major issue for large urban areas. Measures such as low-emission and pedestrian zones in city centres are now beginning to pay off. According to the Paris-based air quality monitor AirParif, pollution in the Paris region has been halved in 20 years. The city of Lyon has also deployed a series of measures to discourage drivers from driving in the city's historic centre that sits between two rivers. But not everyone is happy about these

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00:05:37

Mexico's 'narcocorridos', songs glorifying drug...

Focus ·

2025/06/16

On May 30, five members of a music group in Mexico were found murdered in the northeast of the country. Their group played a popular musical genre known as "narcocorridos" or "corridos tumbados" – songs that glorify drug cartels. After a string of controversial concerts, this type of music has become the subject of heated debate in Mexico. The government is trying to curb the influence of songs that praise cartel bosses. Meanwhile, "narcocorridos" performers are complaining of censorship. FRANCE

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00:05:31

In Kazakhstan, Caspian Sea is disappearing at...

Focus ·

2025/06/13

The world's largest landlocked body of water, the Caspian Sea, is evaporating at an alarming pace. Since the 1990s, its level has fallen by more than 3 metres. With ports drying up, fishing in decline and the economy in turmoil, Kazakhstan is bearing the brunt of the consequences. Like the Aral Sea before it, the Caspian could dry up almost completely if no action is taken. That would be an ecological disaster with massive consequences for the whole country. FRANCE 24's Lucie Berbey and Mathieu

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00:04:23

What are the risks of artificial intelligence for...

Focus ·

2025/06/11

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of our everyday lives. More and more families are using it with their children, whether it's to help with homework or just for fun. But while AI has many benefits, it's important that both parents and children understand the risks. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

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00:06:06

The Maldives, a paradise threatened by rising sea levels

Focus ·

2025/06/10

The Maldives, a dream destination in the Indian Ocean that's popular with tourists from around the world, is threatened by rising sea levels – a direct consequence of climate change. Scientists warn the archipelago could even disappear by the end of the century. The country is building artificial islands to support its economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism. But these projects are accelerating coastal erosion, and NGOs are concerned about the devastating effects on reefs. As a result, some

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00:05:37

Kenyan fishermen under pressure as foreign trawlers...

Focus ·

2025/06/09

As the French coastal city of Nice hosts the UN Ocean Conference, we take you to Kenya, where small-scale fishermen are struggling. Fish stocks are dwindling, and their nets often come up empty. The reason: some foreign industrial trawlers – mainly Chinese, Tanzanian, and Italian – are overfishing and damaging marine ecosystems, often with little oversight. But a grassroots response is taking shape. With protected areas, stricter fishing rules and coral reef restoration, coastal communities are

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00:06:52

Despite risks, journalists in West Bank determined to...

Focus ·

2025/06/06

More than 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza. Their colleagues across the Palestinian territories aim to honour them by providing information, whatever the cost. In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army has recently ramped up raids on Palestinian property, with the presence of journalists not welcome. FRANCE 24's Amira Souilem and Mohammad Abed went to meet Palestinian journalists in the West Bank to better understand the risks they face on a daily basis.

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00:05:55

Congolese refugees in Burundi: Families separated by...

Focus ·

2025/06/05

Burundi goes to the polls this Thursday to elect MPs and local councillors. But the election has already been heavily criticised, with many candidates disqualified by the electoral commission – including longtime opposition figure Agathon Rwasa. Burundi is also affected by the conflict in neighbouring DR Congo. More than 71,000 Congolese nationals have fled the fighting between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels since January. Many have crossed into Burundi, making this the largest

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00:06:05

Senegal's gold mining boom leads to surge in sex...

Focus ·

2025/06/04

For several years, the Kédougou region in the far east of Senegal has been experiencing a gold rush. This race for the precious metal has led to a proliferation of artisanal mining sites, drawing thousands of gold miners from across West Africa. But alongside the economic boom, the region has seen a surge in human trafficking. In particular, hundreds of Nigerian women are forced into prostitution at the mining sites. This exploitation is driven by extensive transnational networks whose reach spans

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00:05:19

South Korean adoption scandal: Belgian adoptees seek...

Focus ·

2025/06/03

An investigation by South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrapped up on May 26 and its findings are damning. The body was set up in 2022 following a petition signed by hundreds of adoptees of South Korean origin from around the world, denouncing the illegal circumstances of their adoption. While the final report is still pending, the commission’s interim findings make for difficult reading: they reveal serious human rights violations, including fraudulent registration of orphans,

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