China's electric vehicle (EV) industry has grown exponentially in recent years, encouraged by colossal state subsidies. China produces three quarters of the world's car batteries, a huge advantage for carmakers who can drastically reduce their production costs and expand internationally. The Asian giant is now the world's top exporter of cars, dethroning Japan. But the situation is worrying the EU, as Brussels fears unfair competition could seriously harm its car industry. Our correspondents report.

Women make up nearly half the active population in Germany, but the arrival of a baby completely changes their position in the labour market. More than 70 percent of mothers of children under the age of six work part time. Mothers – particularly in the west of Germany – are still encouraged to stay at home for a few years after giving birth, but a mediocre childcare system also plays a part. The lack of nursery places is glaring, with more than 400,000 children on waiting lists. In response, the state is investing billions and even guarantees childcare places for all children up to the age of 10. But the problem persists. Our correspondents report.

Northern Kosovo is home to a large part of the country's Serb minority. For a long time, this region, which is contiguous with Serbia, operated under the Serbian administrative system, despite Kosovo's independence from Belgrade. This as the local population rejects the authority of Pristina. But since taking power in 2021, Kosovo's new government has been much tougher on Serbia and the Serb population of Kosovo. Prime Minister Albin Kurti is trying to impose definitive separation from Serbia on the region's Serb population. Our correspondents Laurent Rouy and Edward Godsell report.

Every last Sunday in April, France holds a national day of remembrance for the victims of deportation during World War II. Ceremonies are held in tribute to the 150,000 people deported from French soil to the Nazi death camps, many of whom never returned. But nearly 80 years since France was liberated from the Nazis, a page in history is turning. Few people who survived World War II and the Holocaust are still alive and able to share their experiences with young people and children. Other teaching methods will soon be required to maintain awareness about this dark chapter of history. For now, France's last surviving "hidden Jewish children", who escaped deportation, are determined to speak out while they still can. FRANCE 24's Claire Paccalin and Stéphanie Trouillard report.

Over the past two years, the French and Spanish police have been discovering the extent to which rubbish is illegally smuggled across the border. The phenomenon has long plagued Italy, where the mafia organises the trafficking, and is now reaching France and Spain. In northern Spain, a vast criminal network was recently dismantled in the Aragon region. Our correspondents Armelle Exposito, Victoria David, Rémi Cadoret and Sarah Morris report.

Global demand for cashew nuts is exploding. Around the world, they're eaten as snacks, dairy replacements or used in cooking. In response, Kenya has been trying to revitalise the sector in the coastal region of Kilifi that once fed thousands. But in some factories, women face dangerous working conditions. Our correspondent Olivia Bizot reports.

For more than 60 years, the Dogu Express train has connected Turkey's capital Ankara to the eastern city of Kars. Once a well-kept secret, Instagram influencers have recently turned the trip into one of the country's main tourist attractions. Tickets now tend to sell out in a matter of minutes. Our correspondent Jenna Le Bras got on board with Melvyn Ingleby for a 32-hour-long journey covering 1,360 kilometres, taking in Turkey's most stunning landscapes.

The central Mexican city of Celaya has become the scene of a brutal turf war between rival drug cartels. These criminal groups have taken advantage of its strategic position at the crossroads for transporting drugs into the United States. Kidnappings, shootouts with police and drive-by killings now occur on an almost daily basis in broad daylight. Nearly 500 people were killed in Celaya last year. The city's police officers (pictured) risk their lives every day and are forced to travel in armoured vehicles. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

The shihuahuaco tree is one of the giants of the Amazon rainforest, reaching heights of up to 60 metres. But it is coveted for its hardwood, one of the most precious and sought-after types of wood in the world. Peru exports it to China, but also to Europe and in particular France, which is one of the main buyers of this tropical timber used for parquet flooring in homes and on terraces. Some 500,000 tonnes have been exported from Peru in the last 10 years. Scientists are now warning that the shihuahuaco tree faces extinction. They estimate that the trees could disappear from certain regions of the Amazon within a few years. Our correspondents report.

India's mammoth elections are now under way, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi widely expected to win a third term. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi has expanded subsidy programmes for the poor and women. These programmes include measures like equipping homes with butane gas by offering free cylinders or distributing free food rations. Some 60 percent of the population benefits from Modi’s food distribution scheme, which he has pledged to renew for another five years. Another success story is the nationwide rollout of digital payment services. Meanwhile, critics say the prime minister is eroding democracy by targeting opposition parties and controlling the media. Our correspondents report.