Accueil Podcasts Focus

Focus

FRANCE 24 English 24 Épisodes sept. 15, 2026

Focus is a daily news programme from FRANCE 24 English that brings exclusive reports from around the world. Each episode airs at 8:45am Paris time, covering international current events and in-depth analysis.

Épisodes

Rapid data center expansion incites backlash in Republican stronghold sept. 15, 2026 00:05:40 With just a couple months to go until the US midterm election, a new political fault line is emerging in Republican strongholds across Texas driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. According to an analysis by the Texas Tribune, nearly 60 percent of planned new data centers are set to be built in congressional districts that voted for Donald Trump in 2024. But the AI boom is now s

Climate catastrophe leaves Nepal mourning while the search for the missing continues sept. 14, 2026 00:05:58 The himalayan flash flood that devastated northern Nepal on August 26 was an unprecedented disaster. The death toll continues to rise, with nearly 1,400 people now confirmed dead and 5,130 still missing, including around 600 foreign nationals from 35 countries.

Montserrat: The 'Pompeii' of the Caribbean sept. 10, 2026 00:04:25 Part of the island of Montserrat, a UK Overseas Territory, was buried by a volcanic eruption in 1995. Today, caution is essential for those venturing on the mysterious island that is full of spectacular Caribbean landscapes. Our colleagues at France Télévisions and FRANCE 24's Florent Marchais report.

The world's third global aerospace market: India's civil aviation sector takes off sept. 9, 2026 00:05:59 The aviation sector is one of the India's strongest-performing industries. More than 70 airports have been built over the past decade, and the country counts over 400 million air passengers annually. In just ten years, India has become the world's third-largest aviation market, behind China and the United States.

UNIFIL peacekeepers patrol south Lebanon, caught between Israel and Hezbollah sept. 2, 2026 00:05:56 Since this spring, about 6 percent of Lebanon has been occupied by the Israeli army. On the ground, around 600 French soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continue to patrol the zone. The delicate peacekeeping mission documents violations of UN resolutions by both Israel and Hezbollah, with its own future highly uncertain. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 2

In Nepal, residents learn how to live alongside wild animals août 14, 2026 00:04:51 Over the past five decades, Nepal has established itself as a model for wildlife conservation. Nearly 20 percent of the country’s territory has been designated as protected areas. An effective anti-poaching policy has helped save iconic species such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the gharial crocodile, which were once on the brink of extinction. But this success also comes with tragic consequenc

Rebuilding Aleppo: Syria's war-torn economic capital enjoys gradual rebirth août 13, 2026 00:05:58 Syria's economic capital Aleppo was left largely in ruins by the fighting that raged there between regime and rebel forces from 2012 to 2016. A 2023 earthquake also caused severe damage to the old city. But reconstruction is now well underway, in particular of Aleppo's treasured historic monuments.

Faced with ageing population, Vietnam seeks to curb falling birthrate août 12, 2026 00:05:56 Vietnam, a country of more than 100 million people, is facing a sharp decline in its birthrate. Once known for large families, the nation's fertility rate has fallen to just 1.9 children per woman. This figure worries the government, which for decades was obsessed with controlling population growth. For more than 40 years, a two-child policy was the norm in Vietnam – a restriction that was only li

Pakistan's emerging DJ scene: The women behind the turntables août 11, 2026 00:05:25 Pakistan, a country known for its conservative values, rarely makes waves in the music and entertainment industry. Yet in major cities like Karachi and Lahore, a quiet but thriving DJ scene is beginning to make itself heard, with emerging talents and artists transforming the music industry. At the heart of this evolution, more and more women are asserting themselves in a field largely dominated by

Ivory Coast's Biama boom: TikTok trend gets the nation's youth dancing août 10, 2026 00:06:10 Born barely five years ago in Yopougon – the poorest, but also the liveliest area of Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan – Biama has got the whole of Ivorian youth dancing. Faster than coupé-décalé, this newer musical and choreographic genre borrows many of its codes. But unlike its older sibling, which is associated with trendy nightclubs, biama is danced in the streets and on social media, ma

Vietnam's indigenous Hmong people forced to adapt to climate crisis août 8, 2026 00:05:05 The indigenous Hmong people have lived in a mountainous region of northern Vietnam for centuries. But today, these farming communities are on the front line of the climate crisis. Rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and landslides are now part of their daily life. The terraced rice paddies tended by generations of villagers are struggling to cope, while important medicinal plants are disap

Antwerp's 'human zoo': Belgium confronts shame of colonial past août 7, 2026 00:05:34 In 1894, when the Belgian city of Antwerp was hosting a World's Fair, 144 Congolese people were forcibly brought to the city to be exhibited in the Congo Pavilion. In this "human zoo", seven Congolese men ultimately died of disease. Today, this shocking episode still haunts Belgium as one of its colonial history's darkest chapters.

Japan's 'leprosy island': The dark history of Nagashima août 6, 2026 00:05:46 In the 1930s, Japan found itself battling against the spread of leprosy. Faced with the infectious disease, which attacks the nerves and deforms the body, the authorities confined leprosy patients to sanatoriums – some of them on the island of Nagashima. Even after the first treatments appeared in the late 1940s, it would take until 1996 for the government to end the forced confinement of patients

The era of the machine: Silicon Valley shows off humanoid robots août 5, 2026 00:05:07 For decades, humanoid robots belonged to the realm of science fiction. But today, they're one of Silicon Valley's hottest markets. According to consulting firm McKinsey, automation could transform up to 30 percent of all hours worked across the US economy by 2030. Dozens of companies are already developing robots that can interact with people and even help with everyday tasks. FRANCE 24's Pierrick

Pasta of the future: Italy tests climate-resistant wheat août 4, 2026 00:05:03 Pasta may be one of the world's most beloved staples, but technology is being used to improve the iconic Italian dish. In the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy's "Food Valley", researchers are creating the pasta of the future by focusing on its main ingredient, wheat. FRANCE 24's Natalia Mendoza, Laura Roudaut, Tommaso Marro and Charlotte Davan Wetton report.

Venezuelans dig to find their loved ones after earthquakes juil. 16, 2026 00:06:21 Two earthquakes of rare magnitude struck Venezuela on June 24, seconds apart. The state of La Guaira on the Caribbean coast was by far the hardest hit, with entire buildings collapsing there in seconds. Tens of thousands of people are still missing but help still has not arrived.

Haiti trapped by violence: Humanitarian aid deliveries struggle to reach local population juil. 15, 2026 00:04:53 In this edition, our reporters look at Haiti, which is still in the grips of a long-running battle against armed gangs in the capital and some provinces. A new international security force is being deployed but has yet to make widespread progress. Against this backdrop, the humanitarian crisis in the country is continuing to spiral. 1.5 million people are now internally displaced in Haiti and maln

Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan's tourist jewel tested by development and climate change juil. 14, 2026 00:05:26 In just a few decades, the Hunza Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, a remote mountainous region of northern Pakistan, has undergone a dramatic transformation. Expanded access to education, improved healthcare and strong local development have reshaped the area, in a model of progress often linked to foundations associated with the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community. The minority coun

Brazil: Sao Paulo's AI surveillance system accused of racial profiling juil. 10, 2026 00:06:17 Under the guise of fighting crime, Sao Paulo has rolled out the world's largest facial recognition system operated by a city. India, China, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom have introduced similar technologies under vague legal frameworks. But no city has embraced surveillance on the same scale as Sao Paulo, making it the world's biggest "Big Brother". The artificial intelligence system, known as

The darkside of 10-minute delivery: Inside India's quick commerce revolution juil. 9, 2026 00:05:24 India’s rapid-delivery apps have transformed everyday life in its biggest cities, promising almost anything at your doorstep in 10 minutes or less. But behind the convenience lies a fast-growing gig economy that is reshaping jobs, wages and expectations for millions of young Indians. Supriya Kumar and Sacha Desmaizières report.

The fight to save Bosnia's wild rivers: Scientists and locals oppose mega dam project juil. 8, 2026 00:05:52 In Bosnia, parts of the scientific community are opposing the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam, warning of potentially serious environmental consequences. The project comes as dam construction has surged across the country, fuelled by the fact that it has become a highly lucrative business – one critics say is largely controlled by those with close ties to the authorities.

German Gen Z joins the Bundeswehr: The military becomes a plan B juil. 7, 2026 00:05:18 Germany is rearming amid an economic recession with thousands of jobs slashed across industrial and service sectors. In these tough economic conditions, the Bundeswehr is now one of the country's most attractive employers for young people. Applications rose by 23 percent in January 2026 alone. Behind the figures lies a more complicated reality: for many young Germans, putting on a uniform is not a

Protecting Corsican Scandola Nature Reserve amid tourism boom juil. 6, 2026 00:04:45 Scandola, a UNESCO-listed nature reserve off the coast of Corsica, is attracting a growing number of visitors from around the world – drawn to its dramatic landscapes and rich marine life. However, protecting its unique wildlife and fragile marine ecosystem is becoming an increasingly delicate balancing act. Our colleagues at France 2 and FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon report.