Focus

Last year, France passed a law making it illegal to pay for sex - but not to sell it. The legislation was aimed partly at protecting sex workers from prosecution, but many of them say it is simply driving them further underground and exposing them to far more danger. Transsexual prostitutes who work in Paris's Bois de Boulogne, a large park just west of the capital, are disproportionately affected. FRANCE 24 went to meet some of them and listened to their harrowing stories of violence. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Christopher Davis.

Facial recognition is one of the fastest-evolving technologies in the field of artificial intelligence. It has major implications in terms of security and counter-terrorism, but also e-commerce and industry. In China, the technology is increasingly becoming part of people's daily lives and there are already 170 million surveillance cameras across the country. The economic stakes are huge, but so are the privacy issues and ethical questions raised. Our correspondent reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Christopher Davis

Cameroon’s far north region, on the border with Nigeria, is facing a rise in suicide bombings blamed on Boko Haram extremists. To deal with the spate of attacks, Cameroonian authorities are digging a major defence mechanism: a trench that will stretch for some 100 kilometres along the border. The aim is simple: to keep the extremists out. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Christopher Davis.

On September 10, the citizens of Moscow will go to the polls to elect local councillors. One of the key campaign issues is the environment - and more specifically, waste management. In Russia, most rubbish ends up on huge waste dumps inherited from the Soviet era, often located near populated areas, and the Moscow region is no exception. Our correspondents report on what the authorities are doing about the problem.

In his recent state of the union address, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said security was his government's top priority. But the first six months of the year have been Mexico's most violent in two decades, with some 12,000 homicides reported. Battles between drug cartels are worsening, and locals are increasingly getting caught in the crossfire. Our team reports on how ordinary people are taking up the role of policing and even becoming forensic citizens in a bid to solve murder cases. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Laura Burloux.

For the past few months, a small park in northern Paris has been the closest thing to a home for a group of Moroccan youths who illegally entered the European Union. Most are teenagers but some are as young as ten. Living rough on the streets, they smoke, drink alcohol and commit petty crimes. Their presence in the neighbourhood has sparked both anger and pity amongst locals. And while some social workers are providing them with a basic level of support, authorities are a rare sight. A report by Jean Barrère and Norredine Bezziou, with Julia Sieger.

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Florence Viala.

A geopolitical revolution is currently underway in south Asia. With diplomatic relations between the US and Pakistan souring in recent months, Islamabad is inching closer to Beijing. Ties between the two neighbours are set to become even stronger if the multibillion-euro "China Pakistan Economic Corridor" goes ahead as planned. But who stands to benefit the most? Our correspondents in Pakistan report. A report by Jasmin Lavoie, Taha Siddiqui and Shahzaib Wahlah - with Julia Sieger.

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Florence Viala.

The mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, is determined to leave his mark on the Russian capital. Since he came to power in 2010, he's led a profound transformation of the metropolis, home to more than 12 million people and with architecture from several different eras. The results will be judged at municipal elections in September 2018. But in the meantime, Muscovites are divided over their city's facelift. Our correspondents report. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Florence Viala.

In French Guiana, illegal gold mining has been thriving for decades. Fuelled by clandestine workers from neighbouring Suriname and Brazil, this criminal enterprise has reached near-industrial proportions, destroying thousands of hectares of precious rainforest. But lately, the French armed forces have been cracking down on this illegal activity. FRANCE 24's Nicolas Pouillot reports on their efforts. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Florence Viala.

The United Nations has warned of early signs of genocide in Central African Republic, where armed militias occupy three quarters of the country, and civilians are being massacred. As the country descends into chaos thousands of refugees and displaced people are once again fleeing their homes. And, parents are getting separated from their children as families struggle to stay grouped together. The International Committee of the Red Cross is working to reunite thousands of Central Africans with their loved ones. But such reunions are difficult and rare. Our correspondents travelled to eastern Cameroon where 260,000 Central African refugees are living in camps. Report by Patrick Fandio, Pierre Akpro and Zigoto Tchaya.

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Jessica Sestilli.