Focus
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
Kushner-backed luxury resort sparks outrage, dividing Albanian population
In Albania, a widespread protest movement is underway against the current government. The demonstrations erupted after construction began on a luxury resort in a nature reserve in the southwest of the country. The real estate project is spearheaded by Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and his wife Ivanka. Environmental activists have rejected the prospect of construction in th
Immigrants fear ICE: World Cup fan seized at FIFA match last summer speaks out
A father of three who was seized by ICE at a FIFA match last summer – at the very same stadium where the World Cup final will take place – is warning immigrant fans of the risks they are taking if they attend World Cup games in the United States. FRANCE 24's Jessica Le Masurier, Yves Schaeffner, Mehdi Bouzouina and Sarah Andersen bring you this exclusive report. We are keeping the family anonymous
Rabbits running rampant: Australia overrun by invasive species
In much of the world, rabbits are seen as harmless, fluffy pets. But in Australia, they’re an economic and environmental disaster. Introduced for sport hunting by British settlers in the mid-19th century, rabbits faced no natural predators. As a result, their population exploded across the continent within decades. Despite mass eradication campaigns, hundreds of millions of rabbits remain today, d
Resistance fighter Marc Bloch becomes first historian to enter France's Panthéon
This Tuesday June 23, Marc Bloch will be inducted into Paris's Panthéon mausoleum. A leading 20th-century historian, he co-founded the French academic journal "Les Annales" and was also a soldier in both World Wars. Bloch, who was Jewish, joined the French Resistance during World War II and was tortured and executed by the Gestapo in 1944. Throughout his life, he embodied both intellectual rigour
Maternity leave in India offers progress, with mixed results
In 2025, the Supreme Court of India declared maternity leave a fundamental right for working women. India is among the countries in the world where pregnant women are entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, which can be taken for up to two children. The move has been widely welcomed by women's rights advocates. But they emphasise that India still has a long way to go in ensuring the rights o
Gun violence soars in Canada as illegal weapons from the US flow in
Over the last decade, gun murders have jumped by nearly 90 percent in Canada. This increase is fuelled by a never-ending stream of illegal weapons acquired across the border in the United States. According to data from the Toronto Police, 88 percent of the guns seized in crimes last year originated in the US. Canadian police and elected officials are demanding tighter controls at border crossings.
Egypt grapples with video game addiction
Gaming cafés have become a common sight on the streets of Cairo, especially in poorer neighbourhoods. Egyptians hold a world record for time spent gaming per day, with an average of 1 hour and 43 minutes daily. Some 43.5 percent of young gamers in Egypt are considered to be addicted. In February, the government launched a campaign to combat addiction. FRANCE 24's Mathilde Delvigne reports.
Polish civilians take army training course amid spectre of war with Russia
Poland, which is regularly targeted by Russian hybrid attacks, takes the threat of war with Moscow very seriously. The country now spends nearly 5 percent of its GDP on defence, and aims to train its civilians too, so they will know how to react if war breaks out. To this end, it has introduced a programme of one-day training sessions with the army, entitled "Always Ready", which have turned out t
In post-Assad Syria, displaced people await reconstruction
Syria has been particularly hard hit by the decline in global humanitarian aid, especially from the US. In the northwest of the country, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are still living in makeshift shelters. When the Assad regime fell, they hoped to be able to return home. But on seeing their villages destroyed, most have remained stranded in camps, waiting for reconstruction that will
Discipline and togetherness: Japan's strategy for football greatness
On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since qualifying for its first World Cup in 1998, Japan has reached every edition of the tournament and now sits 18th in the FIFA rankings. FRANCE 24's Adam Hancock, Alexis Bregere and Ayana Nishikawa travelled across Japan to uncover the secrets behind the remarkable rise of Japanese football.
World Cup 2026: Fans in Houston deterred by soaring ticket prices
The fan zones are open, the stadiums are ready and the biggest World Cup in history is officially underway in the US, Mexico and Canada. Seven matchs are planned in Houston, Texas. The host city expects to attract around half a million visitors and an economic windfall of $1.5 billion. Yet some hotels remain half empty and many fans complain that soaring ticket prices have made the tournament unaf
Cape Verde: An island nation swept up in World Cup dreams
For the first time ever, Cape Verde is heading to the World Cup. The West African island nation – home to fewer than half a million people – will be one of the smallest countries in tournament history. In the capital Praia, preparations are in full swing, with qualification sparking huge excitement and renewed hope among young people. In working-class neighbourhoods, football has long been an esca
As British town councils face budget cuts, local residents lend a helping hand
Peeling paint, rundown roundabouts and shuttered post offices: in recent years, local public services across the United Kingdom have been in steady decline. But in some communities, volunteers have decided to step in – filling the gaps where the state has fallen short. Our France 2 colleagues report from Yorkshire, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.
Extreme heatwaves: Indians struggle and suffer from water shortages
In late April, 98 of the world's 100 hottest cities were located in India. From mid-April to May 2026, daily maximum temperatures exceeded 46°C across large parts of the country. During extreme heat, lack of access to cooling can mean the difference between life and death in the world's most populous country. While government data puts the heatwave death toll at 37, social activists say that figur
Nationalism on the rise: Anti-foreign rhetoric gains ground in Japan
For several months, Japan has been moving in a more nationalist and conservative direction. The shift has been fuelled by economic challenges at home and growing regional tensions with China. The country's new ultra-conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is expected to accelerate this agenda, with plans to tighten immigration policies and strengthen Japan's defence posture. A report by Adam
Exiled for an anti-war drawing: A Russian family punished for dissent
It is the moving story of a Russian father and daughter who opposed Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. It all began in March 2022, when 12-year-old Maria drew an anti-war picture at school in response to the invasion launched a month earlier. She was immediately reported by those around her, and the FSB soon visited both her school and her home. Her father was eventually arrested for supporting his
WWII internment of travellers: French survivors fight for recognition
Throughout World War II, discriminatory policies saw thousands of Romani, Sinti, Manush, Yenish and travellers displaced across France, imprisoned in vast internment camps and sent to extermination camps in Eastern Europe. Eighty years ago, the last travellers were freed from French internment camps. Our reporters Antonia Kerrigan and Valentine Erba went to meet with a French survivor of internmen
Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa gets a facelift, but at what cost?
Ethiopians are heading to the polls for general elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party is expected to win. Ahmed, who has been in power since 2018, is accused of authoritarianism and of cracking down on dissent. With his "corridor project", launched in 2024, he wants to modernise the capital Addis Ababa and other cities. But the project has led to the mass eviction of over 10,
Pakistan: Male contraception still taboo despite looming demographic crisis
One of Pakistan’s greatest challenges is controlling its rapidly growing population. With more than 258 million inhabitants, the country is already the fifth most populous in the world. By 2030, its population could surpass 300 million, pushing Pakistan into fourth place globally, ahead of Indonesia. This rapid demographic growth is far outpacing the country’s capacity for socio-economic developme
New Zealand sees brain drain to Australia amid stagnating economy
New Zealand is facing a major brain drain. Even former prime minister Jacinda Ardern has chosen to relocate to Australia. Her decision has reignited a debate over the country's persistent struggle to retain its talent, against a backdrop of a stagnating economy and a soaring cost of living. Our Auckland correspondent Emma Garboud-Lorenzoni reports.
Chile's Trump-inspired border controls complicate life for migrants
Just after taking office, Chile's new far-right President José Antonio Kast pledged to expel more than 300,000 undocumented migrants. Two months into his presidency, the mass departures that many predicted have not happened. The construction of a border wall with Peru, modelled on US President Donald Trump's wall, does not seem to be stopping migrants from attempting to cross into Chile. But in Ta
Settler violence in the West Bank intensifies against Palestinians
In the occupied West Bank, illegal Israeli settlements are dramatically increasing, encouraged by the Israeli government and protected by the army. Meanwhile, Palestinians are suffering greater numbers of violent attacks by extremist settlers, for which they almost always receive no justice. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Florent Marchais.
Germany becomes destination of choice for Jews leaving Israel
Last year, for the first time in its history, Israel recorded a negative migration balance. In 2024, 82,700 Israelis left the country, an all-time record. In Europe, Germany is benefiting the most, attracting 18 percent of this emigration according to the OECD. Settling in Germany is facilitated by reparation laws that give descendants of Holocaust victims easier access to German nationality. Sinc
Gun violence in Guadeloupe: A never-ending fight against firearms
On the French Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe, there is one gun for every 10 residents. Since the beginning of the year, 12 people have already been shot and killed by gunfire. Anti-crime brigades are doing their best to address the issue, but the number of offenders is on the rise and they are increasingly young. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.
