Focus

Tunisia is courting European Investors; offering tax breaks to companies and labour costs which are just a fraction of what businesses would have to pay in Europe. Investment projects are now flourishing all over the country, especially in the Cap Bon region in the north. Report by our France 2 colleagues Samah Soula and Benjamin Poulain together with FRANCE 24's François Wibaux. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, François Wibaux and James Vasina.

Child abductions have been commonplace in the Democratic Republic of Congo for years. Already in 2007, the charity Save the Children labelled the situation “catastrophic”, yet in recent months, things have worsened... Especially in the eastern town of Goma where more and more children are being snatched, tortured and sometimes even killed if their parents can't afford to pay the hefty ransoms the kidnappers demand. FRANCE 2's Marc de Chalvron and Sylvain Barral report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, François Wibaux and James Vasina.

In Spain, Catalonia is still being run by the central government half a year after the autonomous north-eastern region declared independence unilaterally. The leading separatist leaders are either in jail or in self-imposed exile abroad. Spanish courts have charged 25 independence leaders for their role in the October independence referendum that was banned by the constitutional court. The families of those in custody say they haven't given up their battle for an independent republic and the independence movement is still actively protesting. They demand that their leaders are freed, describing them as "political prisoners". Some activists want to step up their defiance against the Spanish state. But they know they could face court action if they do.

Report by Margaux Subra-Gomez, Mélina Huet, adaptation by Sarah Morris.

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, François Wibaux and James Vasina.

Israel has been trying to find a way to force between 30,000 and 40,000 African migrants to leave the country. Many of them arrived years ago, when they were minors. At the end of last year, the government said it had signed an agreement with a few African states - not those the migrants were originally from though - to send them there and that anyone who refused to go could face prison. The plan hasn't been passed, however, and the nations named as host countries deny there ever was a deal. Then, just a few weeks ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he had reached a plan with the UN that would allow half of the migrants to stay put, while the rest would be sent to other countries. Shortly afterward, however, he said the deal was scrapped. So where does that leave migrants in Israel today?

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and James Vasina.

Today’s Focus report takes us to Cameroon where we look at a growing addiction to opioids. Readily available on the black market, one of the most abused substances, Tramadol, is now making its way into schoolyards. With only one rehab centre in the country, help for those addicted is slim to come by. Guy Marie Bandolo and Leanne de Bassompierre send us this report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin and James Vasina.

Nie hätte er gedacht, dass er nach 30 noch auf der Bühne stehen würde. Inzwischen hat Michi Beck seinen 50. Geburtstag gefeiert, die Band bringt ein neues Album heraus und geht wieder auf Tour. Ein Gespräch über Musik und ein Leben für sie. «Die Fantastischen Vier» sind die erfolgreichste deutsche Hip-Hop-Formation. Den grossen Durchbruch schafften die Stuttgarter mit dem Song »Die da!?!» 1992, und seither beweisen sie, dass man mit schwäbischem Pflichtbewusstsein und einer guten Portion Selbstironie im Showbusiness bestehen kann. In Focus spricht Rap-Veteran Michi Beck über eine aussergewöhnliche Karriere und warum die «Fantas» auch nach 30 Jahren nicht ans Aufhören denken.

Some 30 million Pashtuns live in Pakistan - that's around 15% of the country's population. Partly because most Taliban members are Pashtun, the word "Pashtun" has, for many Pakistanis, become synonymous with "Taliban" and "terrorist". That's a view now being challenged by the vocal yet peaceful Pashtun Protection Movement. Attracting a large number of young people and women, they are speaking up against extrajudicial killings and discrimination. Solène Chalvon Fioriti and Shahzaib Wahlah report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett.

For years, Lebanese citizens have been dealing with the consequences of bad waste management. This is especially visible in the capital Beirut and the heavily urbanised coastal areas, where the waste crisis has an extremely negative impact on marine ecosystems. As Lebanon gears up for parliamentary elections in May, engineers and civil society movements are busy finding alternative solutions to the waste problem. Julie Dungelhoeff and James Vasina report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin and James Vasina.

A new chapter is beginning in Cuba, with the country's National Assembly meeting to elect a new president. Raul Castro is stepping down from his position as head of state after serving two five-year terms. It's the end of a 59-year reign by the Castro brothers as well as for a whole generation of revolutionaries. Our reporters take a look back at the past six decades on the island. >> Revisited: Winds of freedom blowing in Havana, but Cubans remain sceptical

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and James Vasina.

More than 70% of cannabis in circulation in Europe transits through Andalusia, in southern Spain. The drug is transported from Morocco on speedboats across the Strait of Gibraltar. Located just 30 kilometres from the north African coast, the Spanish town of La Linea de la Concepcion has become infamous for its almost industrial trade in drug trafficking - sometimes in broad daylight. Our correspondents in Spain report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin and James Vasina.