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
Aneto, one of southern Europe's largest glaciers, is melting away
Within a decade, one of the largest glaciers in southern Europe will have disappeared. Aneto, the highest peak of the Spanish Pyrenees, is melting at a spectacular rate. Its demise is another sign of global warming and has much to teach glaciologists. FRANCE 24's Maude Petit-Jové, Mathilde Lopinski and Sarah Morris report.
Saving the Venetian lagoon: A natural buffer against climate change
The Venetian lagoon is home to "barene" – salt marshes made of vegetation and mud, which play an important role against the effects of climate breakdown. They absorb CO2 and can store it long term in the soil, even more efficiently than land forests. But erosion and rising sea levels are threatening these natural ramparts. Today, scientists and environmental associations are trying to save these u
Pollution, shortages, crime: Daily life in Pakistan's megacity Karachi
Fed up with hours of power cuts, the residents of Pakistan's economic hub Karachi took to the streets in recent days and blocked several major roads. The outburst of anger highlights the daily problems faced by a megacity of over 21 million people, which has once again been ranked among the world's least liveable cities.
Bent on leaving his mark: Trump's proposed 'Triumphal Arch' sparks backlash
Since his return to power, US President Donald Trump has been intent on reshaping the nation's capital Washington, seeking to leave his name and mark on it. After his involvement with the Kennedy Center, the White House ballroom and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Trump is now particularly keen on building a 250-foot (79-metre) "Triumphal Arch" – a project he claims is intended to honour the
South Korea pushes digital detox for young people addicted to screens
Back in August, France's Constitutional Council overturned a social media ban for children under 15. Some students, though, are now banned from using their smartphones at school. In South Korea, where an estimated 40 percent of young children and teens are addicted to their mobile devices, authorities are trying to find ways to drastically reduce their screen time – a huge challenge in such a hype
US midterm elections: Food stamp crisis a key campaign issue in Arizona
Arizona, a battleground state in the US midterm elections, is at the centre of a sweeping overhaul of America's social safety net. Since US President Donald Trump's tax and spending law passed last year, about half of the state's food stamp recipients have lost their benefits – the steepest drop in the country. State officials now admit that some of them are probably still eligible, but the errors
US midterm elections: North Carolina farmers hit hard by inflation
On the eve of the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump's unpopularity is impacting Republicans across the board. Many states with seats once considered Republican strongholds are now on shaky ground. One of them is North Carolina, a rural state where one in five jobs is tied to agriculture.
In California, illegal border crossings plummet under Trump administration
It was one of US President Donald Trump's major campaign promises in 2024: putting an end to illegal crossings along the southern US border. Today, official data shows that promise has been kept: arrests for illegal crossings have plummeted by more than 93 percent since the peak of arrests under then-US President Joe Biden.
Texas Republicans accused of changing electoral rules ahead of midterms
With the US midterm elections approaching, Republicans in Texas are being accused of changing electoral rules in their favour. In Tarrant County, near Dallas, they've cut the number of election-day polling places by nearly 30 percent. The decision is being challenged in court and adds to last year's state-wide redistricting, a move designed to benefit Republicans. But the measures could also help
Food safety in India: A challenge for the world's most populous country
India's food industry feeds more than a billion people every day. But ensuring that what reaches consumers is safe has become an increasingly difficult challenge. The country has witnessed a rise in cases of food adulteration, with sometimes fatal consequences. As concerns over adulteration and poor hygiene grow, questions are being raised about whether regulators can effectively oversee such a sp
Israeli election: Fragile co-existence between residents in Jewish-Arab town of Lod
As Israelis head to the polls this Tuesday, among those voting are 2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel, some of whom live in mixed Jewish-Arab towns. One of them, Lod, has long been seen as symbolic of this coexistence. However in 2021 the town was the scene of violent clashes, whose consequences are still being felt. FRANCE 24's Stéphane Amar, Sandra Lederer and Josh Vardey report.
Israeli election seen as a referendum: For or against Netanyahu?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has led his country almost continuously for nearly 17 years. But will he manage to retain power following Tuesday's election? Netanyahu's latest term has divided Israeli society more than ever and will be marked by the October 7 attacks, his handling of the conflicts in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, as well as his controversial judicial reform. FRANCE 24's David
Singapore's longevity industry: The quest for eternal youth
In Singapore, the quest for eternal youth is no longer just a billionaire's fantasy. It's becoming big business. High-tech clinics, longevity labs and specialist companies all promise the same thing: slowing down the ageing process. From continuous metabolic monitoring and genetic testing to supplements and oxygen therapy, every aspect of the body is measured and optimised.
Brazil's sprawling favelas require long-term urban planning solutions
As Brazilians head to the polls on Sunday for the second round of presidential elections, our correspondents take us to the heart of the country's favelas, where residents live in unsanitary conditions. Over the past 40 years, the area occupied by Brazilian favelas has almost tripled in size. They now cover around 460,000 hectares, compared with 53,700 in 1985.
Concerns mount over artificial intelligence as Silicon Valley sees AI boom
Tuesday, October 20 saw protests in more than 50 US cities against the rise of artificial intelligence. Demonstrators are calling for a moratorium on AI development, and the sentiment is shared by many: according to a recent study, 71 percent of Americans believe AI will lead to job losses. In the heart of Silicon Valley, record investment is now on a collision course with public fear and uncertai
Six years on, France remembers slain teacher Samuel Paty
French schoolteacher Samuel Paty was killed on October 16, 2020 after false rumours circulated about racism following one of his lessons in which cartoons from the satirical publication Charlie Hebdo were shown. For the first time since his murder, journalists from France Télévisions were allowed to film inside the school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, near Paris. They met a new gene
Inflation squeezes households as Lebanon's economic crisis persists
Lebanon's economic crisis has dragged on since 2019. A re-igniting of Israel's war with Hezbollah derailed the weak recovery seen last year. The World Bank now forecasts that the Lebanese economy will shrink by 6.4 percent this year, with inflation expected to reach around 17.5 percent. A growing divide is visible everywhere: in households, in businesses and even in consumer habits. Our correspond
How books are being scanned and destroyed to train artificial intelligence
To train artificial intelligence models, millions of physical books are being digitised and destroyed. Our colleagues at France 2 investigate this controversial practice and the risk of seeing many rare second-hand books disappear forever.
War in Ukraine: Kyiv residents decry shortage of bomb shelters
Kyiv's mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, has advised those residents who can "temporarily relocate" for the winter to do so. That advice has been met with derision at best from many residents, who say his administration is responsible for failing to better prepare the Ukrainian capital for Russian attacks. In particular, they complain of a severe shortage of adequate bomb shelters.
Asia's fertility hub: Thailand emerges as top destination for IVF treatment
Thailand has become one of Asia's leading fertility hubs. Every year, thousands of foreign patients travel to Bangkok's state-of-the-art private clinics for IVF, egg donation and other fertility treatments. They come from China, South Korea, Europe and across Southeast Asia, looking for what may be harder to find at home: shorter waiting times, lower costs and, in some cases, fewer restrictions.
Residents of Ukraine's Kramatorsk forced to flee as drone strikes intensify
The city of Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, is increasingly coming under Russian attack. For those who have stayed behind, the threat from drones and shelling has become a daily reality. Many have resisted leaving their homes, despite the growing danger – but now, more and more residents are being forced to flee. Our colleagues at France 2 followed an evacuation from the city and witnessed first-h
Strait of Hormuz crisis fuels Cairo's plastic recycling business
In the heart of the Egyptian capital Cairo, within the labyrinthine streets of the Manshiyet Nasser district, nearly 120,000 residents process a third of the megacity's waste every day. Long marginalised, these informal recycling specialists are now undergoing a dramatic transformation due to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which polyethylene from the Gulf usually passes.
China's evolving funeral practices: From traditional burials to cremation
This year, China released new rules for funeral practices. The government is putting an emphasis on affordable and environmentally friendly funeral services. It's part of a decades-long reform to promote cremation. But in a country where burials are deeply rooted in local traditions, how are these attempts to modernise funerals being perceived? FRANCE 24's Yena Lee reports.
Mexico makes push for fracking despite environmental concerns
Following months of consultations with energy experts, Mexico is preparing to tap its shale oil and gas reserves using one of the world's most controversial extraction techniques: fracking. The process is already used to extract oil in the southeastern state of Veracruz, where local communities have long complained of pollution and environmental damage. But the administration of President Claudia
