Focus

In India, Bangalore used to be known as the "city of lakes", with 285 lakes making the southern city self-sufficient in the 1970s. But since then, unchecked urbanisation has led to a whopping 85% decline in water bodies. Those lakes that do still exist are polluted and toxic. The situation is so bad that experts predict Bangalore will become uninhabitable by 2025. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin and Gaëlle Essoo.

It's more than two years since Brazil suffered its worst ecological disaster. On November 5, 2015, a mining dam burst in the state of Minas Gerais. It killed 19 people, ravaged several villages, and polluted the river with toxic mud. Today, victims who lost everything are still living on emergency aid and many have still not received compensation. Meanwhile, the company responsible for the dam, Samarco, is doing all it can to restart mining activities. Our correspondents report. >> The Mariana mining disaster: A journey through Brazil's worst environmental disaster

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin and Gaëlle Essoo.

As Brexit negotiations continue, the issue of the Irish border remains one of the trickiest issues. But what about Gibraltar, the UK territory that sits on the southern tip of Spain? It now faces the prospect of crashing out of the European Union against the will of the vast majority of its citizens. The tiny outpost has carved out an economic niche for itself based on easy access to the European Union, but what will happen once the UK leaves the bloc? Our team reports. A programme prepared by Yong Chim, Rebecca Martin and Gaëlle Essoo.

Although they remain a tiny minority in France, evangelical Christians are growing in number. There were 50,000 evangelical churchgoers back in 1950, but there are nearly 650,000 today, according to the National Council of Evangelicals of France. In evangelical churches, emphasis is placed on personal conversion and a direct relationship with God. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look at their increasing popularity. A programme prepared by James Vasina, Yong Chim and Gaëlle Essoo.

Jung, dynamisch, smart: Christian Lindner gehört zur neuen Gilde der Politiker. Mit einer aussergewöhnlichen Kampagne schaffte er es bei den letzten Wahlen, seine FDP aus dem Tal der Finsternis zurück in den deutschen Bundestag zu führen. Politik hat er schon im Gymnasium gemacht. Er war ein guter Schüler, liebte die Mathematik, redete viel und gut, so dass es manchem Lehrer auch mal zu viel wurde: Wegen «Gefährdung des pädagogischen Klimas» musste er beim Schulleiter antraben. Die Freude am Widerspruch ist ihm geblieben. Nun mischt er die deutsche Politik auf, in einer Zeit, da in Deutschland vieles auf dem Spiel steht.

Was treibt ihn an, warum ist er liberal? Lindner erklärt sich im Gespräch mit Anita Richner.

On Sunday, Russians head to the polls for a presidential election. It's a contest that holds no surprises, with Vladimir Putin assured of winning a fourth term in office. Six years ago, however, his re-election was greeted by the largest wave of protests in post-Soviet Russia. But the authorities chose to respond with force. Today, the weakened opposition has little chance of rallying people again. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by Yong Chim.

For the past few weeks, 120 Haitian police officers have been deployed on the bridge over the Massacre river to secure the border crossing between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Their goal is to put an end to child trafficking, prostitution and slavery. Our correspondent reports on the plight of these children. A programme prepared by Yong Chim and Gaëlle Essoo.

This year, Austria is commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Anschluss, the country's annexation by Nazi Germany. For decades Austria presented itself as a victim of Adolf Hitler, before recognising in the 1990s its active role in the Holocaust. But today, many fear the collective memory could be threatened by the rise to power of the FPÖ. The far-right party founded in 1956 by former Nazis is part of the ruling coalition and has already been caught up in a series of anti-Semitism scandals. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Gaëlle Essoo.

Who really is Xi Jinping? Six years after becoming leader of the world's most populous country, the Chinese president remains something of a mystery. He manages his image thanks to a cult of personality not seen in China since Mao Zedong. Last weekend, the Communist Party changed its constitution to remove term limits, thereby allowing Xi to remain "president for life". Our correspondents take a closer look at China's "new emperor".

During his state visit to India, French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, co-hosted the first meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The project, which aims to develop solar energy in tropical countries that have abundant sunshine, is a priority for Modi. But not everyone is happy - from displaced farmers to those angry over diverted water and drained farmland. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by James Vasina, Patrick Lovett and Gaëlle Essoo.