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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

00:03:52

Senegalese city of Saint-Louis threatened by rising...

Focus ·

2026/01/21

Senegal's former capital Saint-Louis, a coastal city and UNESCO World Heritage site, is threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change. Estimates show that 70 percent of the city could disappear underwater by 2100. Thousands of fishermen have already been relocated. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

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00:06:13

India still plagued by scourge of 'witch-hunting'

Focus ·

2026/01/19

"Witch-hunting" remains widespread across India, targeting mostly village women who are often single, widowed or otherwise isolated. Many endure severe psychological torment, social ostracism and abuse including sexual violence. Although several states have enacted laws to curb it, "witch-hunting" remains a threat to women. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 2,500 women have been killed over "witchcraft" since 2000. FRANCE 24's Khansa Juned and Lisa Gamonet report.

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00:05:50

Residents of Tunisian town of Gabes demand end to...

Focus ·

2026/01/16

In the southern Tunisian town of Gabes, anger has been simmering in recent months as locals demand the dismantlement of the Tunisian Chemical Group. This state-owned enterprise turns phosphate into fertiliser, often emitting toxic gases. So far, however, protesters have not achieved their goals. Our correspondents report.

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00:04:59

A timeline of events in Iran: From cost-of-living...

Focus ·

2026/01/15

Iranians began taking to the streets in late December. What initially began with protests against the spiralling cost of living has grown into a nationwide protest movement against the country's theocracy led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, authorities have cracked down hard. Will these protests lead to the end of the regime that has ruled Iran for 45 years? Our France 2 colleagues chronicle the events of the last two weeks, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

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00:05:02

Visitors flock to Siwa: Egypt's hidden oasis...

Focus ·

2026/01/14

Until 1984, there was no road connecting the oasis of Siwa and its 8,000 Bedouin residents with the rest of Egypt. Lost deep in the desert near the Libyan border, the country's most remote oasis was long unknown to tourists. But over the past decade, videos of visitors floating in turquoise salt lakes, climbing the 13th-century citadel or wandering through palm groves have flooded social media.

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00:05:00

Italy, a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence

Focus ·

2026/01/13

Italy has become a pioneer in regulating artificial intelligence (AI). Last autumn, the Italian parliament approved a draft bill concerning the "Provisions and delegations to the government on artificial intelligence", a legal framework aimed at regulating the development of the technology. Our Italy correspondent Natalia Mendoza reports.

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00:05:57

Driverless robotaxis arrive in US cities, but are...

Focus ·

2026/01/12

In the United States, driverless taxis piloted by artificial intelligence are appearing in cities from Los Angeles to Miami. But are these phantom drivers more or less prone to accidents than humans? Do robotaxis pose risks to our safety? Our France 2 colleagues went for a test drive.

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00:06:19

Indians suffer from health scourge of noise pollution

Focus ·

2026/01/08

Between traffic, excessive use of car horns, building sites and religious celebrations, the ears of residents in Indian megacities like New Delhi and Mumbai rarely get a moment of respite. Authorities remain silent on possible solutions to combat this health scourge. Our correspondents Lisa Gamonet and Alban Alvarez report.

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00:04:59

In Japan, organised crime finds new recruits online...

Focus ·

2026/01/07

A new type of criminal activity known as yami baito is spreading in Japan. The modus operandi is simple: online ads offer easy, well-paid jobs such as parcel deliveries. But behind these tasks lie illegal activities. Many young recruits end up involved in scams, burglaries or phone fraud. They're the new foot soldiers of a vast criminal network that often preys on vulnerable elderly people. Our correspondents report.

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00:05:11

Back to textbooks: Denmark rolls back digital learning

Focus ·

2026/01/06

Denmark has long been hailed as a digital champion, with online public services, digital IDs and tablets in schools as early as 2011. But authorities are now shifting course in the education and social sectors, following alarming figures on children’s mental health and school performance. A massive return to analogue life is underway: mobile phones are banned in schools and after-school clubs, a return to pre-digital learning is being rolled out and social media will soon be banned for anyone under

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00:05:19

Italy faces mounting criticism ahead of Winter Olympics

Focus ·

2026/01/05

Italy is getting ready to host the Winter Olympics, known as Milan Cortina 2026. The event is an opportunity to showcase the country to the rest of the world and is being held in four Italian regions. But less than two months before the arrival of the Olympic torch, the organisers are facing serious challenges and criticism is mounting over the Games' environmental impact. Our Italy correspondents report.

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00:06:24

Switzerland goes bunkers as citizens revamp fallout...

Focus ·

2025/12/19

Despite being a neutral country, Switzerland counts hundreds of thousands of fallout shelters – enough to accommodate its entire population in the event of armed conflict. This culture of civil protection is a legacy of the Cold War. Now the war in Ukraine has revived interest in Switzerland's unique system, both at a national and international level. FRANCE 24's Jade Levin reports, with Josh Vardey.

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00:06:00

A decade on, Greek island of Lesbos remains symbol of...

Focus ·

2025/12/18

For more than a decade, the Greek island of Lesbos has been a symbol of Europe's migration crisis. Located close to Turkey, the island was a major entry point to the European Union back in 2015. But since then, arrivals have sharply decreased as Europe has tightened its border controls and outsourced part of its migration policy. Mortaza Behboudi reports from Lesbos, where refugees have often suffered a traumatic journey.

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00:06:21

In Ukraine, Kyiv residents haunted by nightly Russian...

Focus ·

2025/12/17

About once a week on average, Russia stages a massive combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine, usually targeting multiple cities. In the capital Kyiv alone, these attacks have killed more than 330 civilians since 2022. At least 900 others have been injured and thousands more have lost their property or car. All 3.7 million residents have lost countless hours of sleep. Our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports on what has become normal life in the Ukrainian capital.

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00:05:03

Germany's youth opposed to return of military service

Focus ·

2025/12/16

The war in Ukraine has pushed defence issues to the top of the agenda in Germany, where the federal government has confirmed that a military call-up will return as early as next year. All young men born from 2008 onwards will have to register and undergo medical exams, starting in 2027. To begin with, service will be voluntary. But if the ranks of Germany's armed forces are not filled fast enough, authorities reserve the right to bring back compulsory conscription, which was suspended in 2011. This

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00:05:36

Vatican goes digital as influencer priests spread...

Focus ·

2025/12/15

During his papacy, Pope Francis encouraged the clergy to use the "digital continent" to broaden their evangelical work. They seem to have paid attention: over the last few years, a number of priests have launched themselves on social media, racking up millions of views. Just as Jesus is considered by many to be the first influencer in history, these modern-day priests declare they have the same goal: to bring more people into the Christian faith. Our Italy correspondents report.

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00:06:14

UAE seeks to hire more Emirati nationals in private...

Focus ·

2025/12/12

In the United Arab Emirates, the government has imposed quotas for hiring Emirati citizens across the private sector, with the aim of having them make up 10 percent of the workforce by 2026. So how are companies complying with these new rules and how can they change the habits of a population long accustomed to generous subsidies and low-stress government jobs? FRANCE 24’s Sophie Guignon and Amélie Zaccour report.

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00:05:21

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki, 21, conquers fans...

Focus ·

2025/12/11

A few days ago, Aonishiki became the first Ukrainian wrestler to win a professional sumo tournament in Japan. At just 21 years old, he has risen up the ranks at record speed since he arrived in Japan in 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our Japan correspondents report.

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00:06:25

Newly returned Syrians struggle to reclaim land...

Focus ·

2025/12/10

Since Ahmed al-Sharaa and the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power in Syria a year ago after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have returned to their country. During the war, many were dispossessed of their land and homes under several laws and presidential decrees aimed at permanently preventing refugees from returning.

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00:06:49

Syria's lost children: Families search for youngsters...

Focus ·

2025/12/09

A year after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, more than 110,000 Syrians are still missing, including several thousand children. Were they killed? Illegally adopted? Their fate remains unclear, but testimonies and official documents now reveal that some children were taken from their parents and forcibly placed in orphanages, before disappearing. FRANCE 24's Jenna Le Bras and Jessica Le Masurier report.

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