Focus

Thomas Haemmerli wurde vom Hausbesetzer zum Hausbesitzer. In seinem neuen Film «Die Gentrifizierung bin ich – Beichte eines Finsterlings» denkt er über Dichtestress und sich selbst nach. «Stadtentwicklung als autobiografischer Eigentumsporno», so beschreibt die WOZ (Wochenzeitung) das neue Werk von Thomas Haemmerli.

In «Die Gentrifizierung bin ich – Beichte eines Finsterlings» treibt er die Vollkontakt-Dokumentarfilmerei erneut auf die Spitze. Diesmal auf die der Hochhäuser. Dabei kommt sich Haemmerli mitunter so nahe, dass man nicht sicher ist, ob man das wissen möchte. Über seine Lust an der Provokation und der Freude an heftigen Debatten unterhält sich Thomas Haemmerli mit Hannes Hug.

Colombians head to the polls for congressional elections on Sunday, when for the first time ever former FARC rebels - now a political party - are fielding candidates. But in a country still reeling from 50 years of armed conflict, it's a challenge for the newcomers to find a place in the political landscape. Meanwhile, the FARC's leader has pulled out of the presidential race in May, citing health reasons. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by Laura Burloux, Gaëlle Essoo and Sanam Shantyaei.

In India, marriage is such an important institution that being single is often a struggle for women. However, things are changing. India now has more single women than ever before: some 74 million of them. In big cities, young, educated women are saying no to marriage, choosing independence over family obligations. But in rural areas, women on their own - widows, unmarried women, and divorcees - still have to deal with discrimination and abuse. Our team reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Laura Burloux and Sanam Shantyaei.

France's far-right National Front is gearing up for its party congress this weekend, with leader Marine Le Pen increasingly isolated. Facing judicial problems, family quarrels and wavering ideology over Europe, the runner-up in last year's presidential race has struggled to recover from her disastrous TV debate performance against Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, Le Pen's former right-hand man, Florian Philippot, has quit the party and created his own movement. FRANCE 24's team reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Laura Burloux.

Sierra Leone is gearing up to elect a new president in a general election on Wednesday. One of the main challenges for the country's next leader will be facing the consequences of the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 4,000 people. It's been two years since the official end of the epidemic, but thousands of survivors feel abandoned by the authorities. Our team on the ground reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Rebecca Martin.

Female genital mutilation has been banned in Senegal since 1999, but the practice hasn't entirely disappeared. In the Kolda region, almost half the women were mutilated as a child. A new generation of young women are taking action to end this harmful tradition, going from village to village in a bid to raise awareness and change mentalities. Their organisation is called "Ne touche pas à ma soeur" or "Hands off my sister". Our colleagues from France 2 report, with FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Rebecca Martin.

Seit rund 300 Tagen ist Gerhard Walter als Tourismusdirektor von St. Moritz im Amt. Wohin künftig die Reise gehen soll, verrät er in «Focus». Das Image der Glamour-Destination in den Alpen ist angekratzt. Innerhalb einer Dekade hat St. Moritz ein Drittel seiner Übernachtungsgäste verloren.

Mit Gerhard Walter soll ausgerechnet ein Österreicher der historischen Wiege des alpinen Wintertourismus zu neuem Glanz verhelfen. Wie der Tourismusdirektor den Spagat zwischen Geld und Geist in Zeiten von Frankenstärke und Klimawandel meistert, verrät er im Gespräch mit Hannes Hug.

More than one billion people worldwide still have no access to electricity. This lack of power continues to slam the breaks on development, particularly across Africa. In Burkina Faso, though, solar lamps are offering an all-important ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Our colleagues from France 2 report, with FRANCE 24's Wassim Cornet. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Rebecca Martin, Laura Burloux.

On February 7, in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor, the US army bombed fighters who were advancing towards oil installations held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed rebel coalition. Shortly afterwards, the Pentagon said these fighters could be "Russian mercenaries". Moscow is trying to cover up the real death toll from this incident and the role of the private military contractor Wagner, which sends mercenaries to Syria. Our Russia correspondent Elena Volochine travelled to the Svedlorsk region, in Siberia, where she met families in mourning.

She also investigated paramilitary organisations in Ekaterinburg. One of its leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, made some surprising revelations. This is her exclusive report.

[Editor's note: We apologise for the poor sound quality of the interview after this report.]

In China, the internet is helping lift people out of poverty. The government is encouraging rural communities to move away from living off the land and into e-commerce. Thanks to a specialist platform, many former agricultural workers have become entrepreneurs. Our colleagues from France 2 report, with FRANCE 24's Christopher Moore. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett