Focus

After a series of terrorist attacks in Europe, people are urging their governments to find ways to protect them. One of the major concerns is the number of illegal weapons circulating across Europe, despite gun laws being relatively strict. As this report from our colleagues at TF1 explains, here in France, the authorities have deactivated thousands of firearms, but traffickers have found ways to reactivate them. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Elise Duffau

Several small towns in Italy have been identified by the authorities as so-called migrant hotspots, where the identities of migrants are recorded into the European database. FRANCE 24's team has become the first to be allowed to film inside one such hotspot in the southern Italian village of Pozzallo, and then follow first-hand those seeking asylum in Europe. Our team in Italy reports. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Elise Duffau

Within just a few months, Canada has taken in 25,000 Syrian refugees. A private sponsorship system means that around 10,000 of them are sponsored by individuals and refugee organisations. Critics say these sponsorships, especially in Quebec, are unfair - most of the refugees are Christians, not Muslims, even though Christians only make up 10 percent of Syria's population. Our team reports from Quebec. A programme prepared by Jessica Sestili and Elise Duffau

While the majority of medical students in Pakistan are women, the workforce is largely made up of men, leading to an overall shortage of doctors in the country. The reason is simple: many women there still feel overwhelming social pressure to stop working to devote their lives to their families. But two female doctors are trying to change this. They launched "DoctHERs" a year ago, an initiative that connects home-based female physicians to patients via the internet. Our team in Pakistan reports. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Anna Kowalska and Elise Duffau.

In recent months, ceremonies have been held to mark the centenary of major World War One battles at Verdun and the Somme in northern France. Hundreds of thousands of men were killed there as millions of artillery shells were fired by each side. Today, just below the surface of the battlefields, there are still countless munitions, as well as the remains of those soldiers whose bodies were never found. Our team met with bomb disposal experts and archaeologists. >> On France24.com: Our forefathers who fought at the Battle of the Somme

A massive hidden debt scandal has tarnished Mozambique’s reputation with the international business community. In April, the southeastern African nation acknowledged that it had hidden more than one billion dollars in debt from the International Monetary Fund and other investors. The country is now trying to rebuild international trust, but a lot of damage has been done, as our team reports.

After Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump proposed a ban on Muslims entering the United States, the country's Muslim minority has found itself in the spotlight. Muslims represent just one percent of the US population, according to statistics from the Pew Center. But some of the leaders of this community want to turn it into an electoral force to be reckoned with. Our correspondents met with Muslim Americans who are determined to make their voices heard in November. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett and Laura Burloux.

It has been one year since Iran reached a landmark deal with world powers on limiting its nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international sanctions. But most Iranians say they've felt little or no economic improvement so far from the deal. Our correspondent in Tehran, Mariam Pirzadeh, takes a closer look. A  programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Laura Burloux and Claire Pryde.

A leader reveals him or herself in crisis situations. That is just one of the messages being taught here in France in special training sessions by the French Air Force. The idea is to take ordinary civilians - teachers, lawyers, engineers - and give them an apprenticeship in seminar sessions, but also for them to experience boot camp and real military training. So faced with high levels of stress, how do they cope? A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett.

Israel and Saudi Arabia are enemies and have never had diplomatic relations. But this situation is gradually changing. Despite their differences, both countries' leaders share a common hostility towards another regional power: Iran. As the world marks the first anniversary of the Iran nuclear deal, the Israelis and the Saudis are strengthening their ties - a detente that is taking place very discreetly, outside official diplomatic channels. FRANCE 24's Marc Perelman takes a closer look. A programme prepared by Patrick Lovett, Laura Burloux and Claire Pryde.