Focus

In this edition we focus on asylum seekers here in France. For several months, makeshift migrant camps have been springing up in the streets of Paris, often constituting a health risk. Both authorities and NGOs have voiced their concern at the situation and Paris City Hall has promised to soon open new facilities to take in and advise these asylum seekers. Our team reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

With over two million people behind bars, the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Barack Obama, the first US president to have visited a federal prison, has promised to reform the criminal justice system, which sends people to jail too easily. As he approaches the end of his term, Barack Obama wants to overhaul the criminal justice system. When he visited the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma last year, the US president tackled in particular the injustices suffered by African-Americans, the heavy sentences handed down to minors, as well as the fact that drug users are sent to jail rather than to rehabilitation facilities.

Our correspondents were given rare access to a prison in North Carolina, where they met inmates as well as prison guards.

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Anna Kowalska, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

Every year, millions of tourists visit Israel and the West Bank to discover the historical and religious treasures of the region, the birthplace of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. But a more political form of tourism is now developing. Our correspondent reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Anna Kowalska, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

This Saturday, Gabon will be electing its next president in a one round vote. 11 candidates were initially in the running, among them incumbent president Ali Bongo Ondimba and opposition leader Jean Ping, who now enjoys the backing of most of his former rivals. Today's report takes us to Gabon's business hub Port Gentil, where the months long oil crisis is taking its toll. An opposition bastion, the city is also known as a hotspot for post electoral clashes - with previous victories by Ali Bongo and his late father Omar Bongo sparking violent dissent among some local residents - often the poverty-stricken youth.

Patrick Fandio and Mathieu Mondoulet report.

 

 

A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Aline Schmidt.

In Germany the final days of campaigning are winding down ahead of this weekend's elections in two of the country's federated States. Immigration and integration are key issues for the electorate, with the former fringe party AfD / Alternative für Deutschland in bullish form. Their anti-immigration stance is resonating with voters, even in Angela Merkel's backyard, the northeastern länder of Meklemburg Western Pomerania. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

An Ivorian businessman who used to be a professional footballer in France is now trying to give young disadvantaged Ivorians the same opportunity. France 24 met Lucien Kouassi Kouadio in Abidjan before following him and some of his proteges to Paris. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

In Niger the combination of food insecurity, scarce water resources and lack of infrastructure are affecting children’s lives. The country holds the highest infant mortality in Africa and at least 15% of Niger's children are malnourished. Our journalist Julie Dungelhoeff travelled to the Zinder region, southern Niger, where NGOs are fighting an uphill battle to save children's lives. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

Today's Focus takes an in-depth look at one of Burma's many ethnic guerillas. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) is one of the armed groups invited to the 21st Century Panglong Peace conference at the end of the month. After last year's nationwide ceasefire agreement, the talks are seen as a significant step towards resolving decades-old conflicts. But animosity and long running grudges remain strong. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Emerald Maxwell, Aline Schmidt and Claire Pryde.

Taiwan is on an earthquake faultline and exposed to typhoons. These environmental factors have parallels with Japan, so people are nervous of a repeat of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. A recent poll indicates that 60% of Taiwanese want to abandon the use of atomic energy and the new Taiwanese president campaigned on a pledge to phase out the island's nuclear programme by 2025. But the issue of nuclear waste has not been addressed, as our team reports. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Elise Duffau

Alcohol consumption in India claims a life every 96 minutes. As alcohol-related violence also continues to rise, women are at the forefront of a war against alcohol in the country. Earlier this year a third Indian state began to enforce a partial or total ban on alcohol, despite the high tax revenues obtained from selling it. FRANCE 24's Nathalie Heydel and Mandakini Ghalot report. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Elise Duffau