Focus

The eastern German regions of Saxony and Thuringia are holding elections this coming Sunday and the far-right AfD party is ahead in the polls. Its leaders are proposing a raft of measures designed to limit immigration and the arrival of more asylum seekers in their regions. If they win power, they are vowing to implement "zero immigration" and a deleterious atmosphere for those who are already in Germany and well integrated. Some 37,000 Syrians are currently in Saxony, with almost 55,000 in Thuringia. As anti-immigrant sentiment grows in Germany, with towns complaining that capacity is already overstretched, some refugees are wondering if they are still welcome. FRANCE 24's Anne Mailliet and John Laurenson report.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan welcomes several hundred thousand tourists each year. It dates back to 300 BC and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. For centuries, Bedouins have inhabited its caves, but many have recently been forced to leave and relocate to government housing. Some families have chosen to remain, although they could be expelled at any moment. It's becoming increasingly difficult for them to make a living through tourism, their main source of income. Our Jordan correspondent went to meet them.

Since Hamas's deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, the Gaza Strip has been under daily bombardment by the Israeli army. Ten months of war have left tens of thousands dead, with images seen worldwide, affecting public opinion to the point of influencing national elections. In the United States, the vote of both Muslim and Jewish communities in November will undoubtedly be swayed by the ongoing conflict. FRANCE 24's Fanny Allard and Fraser Jackson report.

From infrastructure to tourism, China is strengthening its control over its smaller neighbour Nepal. Beijing has been increasing its investment in trade, tourism and reconstruction since Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake. It is also sending teachers to teach Chinese to the Nepalese, gradually turning them away from India. Caught between the two Asian giants, Nepal's allegiance is constantly shifting, as projects and investment deals come and go. FRANCE 24's Léa Delfolie, Khansa Juned and Bhadra Sharma report.

On the outskirts of Naples, at the feet of Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy lies one of the largest productions of counterfeit Euros. According to Italian authorities which recently shutdown an illegal print shop and arrested several forgers, the lucrative business of counterfeit banknotes is run by criminal organisations linked to the Camorra, the Neapolitan mafia. Natalia Mendoza, Louise Malnoy, Coline David, Charlotte Davan Wetton report.

The Pantanal, in the Central-West region of Brazil, is in the grip of record fires. In this wildlife sanctuary, more than 760,000 hectares of vegetation were destroyed in the first six months of 2024. June was a record month, with 2,636 new fires. That's 30 times more than during the same period last year. In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which contains 65 percent of this fragile ecosystem, 400 firefighters and soldiers have been mobilised for more than three months to fight the flames. 95 percent of these fires originate from agricultural properties in the region. Louise Raulais, Marine Resse, Jan Onoszko report.

Since the creation of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, the competition to be selected as the host city has been fierce. Cities vie with innovation and resources to stand out and attract athletes and spectators from around the globe. Follow our special coverage this week as we bring you a daily focus report on cities that have hosted the Olympics, from Los Angeles to Beijing, Athens, Barcelona, and Munich.

Since the creation of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, the competition to be selected as the host city has been fierce. Cities vie with innovation and resources to stand out and attract athletes and spectators from around the globe. Follow our special coverage this week as we bring you a daily focus report on cities that have hosted the Olympics, from Los Angeles to Beijing, Athens, Barcelona, and Munich.

Since the creation of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, the competition to be selected as the host city has been fierce. Cities vie with innovation and resources to stand out and attract athletes and spectators from around the globe. Follow our special coverage this week as we bring you a daily focus report on cities that have hosted the Olympics, from Los Angeles to Beijing, Athens, Barcelona, and Munich.

In the lead-up to the Olympics here in Paris, we continue our series on the long-term impacts of the Games on host cities. We head to California, where Los Angeles was the only city vying to host the 1984 Olympics after Tehran withdrew. The mood heading into the Games had lost its appeal, as they were touted as too expensive and political. But forty years later, they have proven to be a success story, transforming the lives of local residents. This report comes from our correspondents Pierrick Leurent, Valérie Defert, and Wassim Cornet.