Burundi goes to the polls this Thursday to elect MPs and local councillors. But the election has already been heavily criticised, with many candidates disqualified by the electoral commission – including longtime opposition figure Agathon Rwasa. Burundi is also affected by the conflict in neighbouring DR Congo. More than 71,000 Congolese nationals have fled the fighting between the Congolese army and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels since January. Many have crossed into Burundi, making this the largest refugee influx the country has seen in decades. The chaos of war has torn families apart, as our regional correspondent reports.

For several years, the Kédougou region in the far east of Senegal has been experiencing a gold rush. This race for the precious metal has led to a proliferation of artisanal mining sites, drawing thousands of gold miners from across West Africa. But alongside the economic boom, the region has seen a surge in human trafficking. In particular, hundreds of Nigerian women are forced into prostitution at the mining sites. This exploitation is driven by extensive transnational networks whose reach spans nearly every gold mining site in West Africa and beyond. Our Senegal correspondents report.

An investigation by South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrapped up on May 26 and its findings are damning. The body was set up in 2022 following a petition signed by hundreds of adoptees of South Korean origin from around the world, denouncing the illegal circumstances of their adoption. While the final report is still pending, the commission’s interim findings make for difficult reading: they reveal serious human rights violations, including fraudulent registration of orphans, falsified identities and inadequate oversight of adoptive parents.

France's overseas territory of New Caledonia is facing a growing crisis. The number of healthcare workers has dropped dramatically, particularly since the unrest of May 2024. In response, authorities are offering incentives – such as annual contracts and free accommodation – to attract doctors and nurses back to the island. But in the meantime, volunteers are stepping in to train locals in basic medical care, as clinics and hospitals across the island remain closed due to staff shortages. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Guillaume Gougeon.

In Tunisia, operations to dismantle migrant camps in the olive groves of Sfax, in the east of the country, have been gathering pace since April. According to National Guard figures, between 20,000 and 30,000 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa had been living in these makeshift camps. But is this strategy effective, and at what human cost? Our correspondents Lilia Blaise and Hamdi Tlili report.

Behind the skyscrapers and luxurious resorts of the United Arab Emirates, a silent health crisis is looming. According to a study published in The Lancet, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult men in the UAE is set to rise from 84 percent in 2021 to 94 percent by 2050, placing the country among the worst affected in the world. This epidemic is fuelled by unbalanced eating habits, a growing reliance on home deliveries and a sedentary lifestyle. The consequences are serious: diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The Emirati authorities are taking action, in particular by targeting younger generations, but significant progress still needs to be made. Our team on the ground reports.

As the war in Ukraine rages on, soldiers on the eastern front are taking steps to become less reliant on foreign aid. According to government figures, 40 percent of the weapons used are now produced in Ukraine, from cannons to anti-tank mines. Our colleagues at France 2 sent us this report. 

French deputies are set to vote Tuesday on a controversial bill regarding end-of-life options before it moves to the Senate. The proposed “right to aid in dying” has divided politicians and healthcare professionals and reignited heated bioethical debates. In this report from France 2, palliative care workers and patients share their views on the matter.

While all eyes are on Gaza, another war is being fought for control of Jerusalem. Hundreds of Israeli police officers mobilised Monday for Jerusalem Day, commemorating the city's total conquest by Israel in 1967. It’s an opportunity for Israeli nationalists to reaffirm their hold on the city – and, increasingly, for scenes of violence against Palestinians in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem.

In the United States, gun ownership is a constitutional right. Recently, a federal appeals court overturned a ban on Americans aged 18 to 21 purchasing firearms. Yet, they are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the country. Some, encouraged by their parents, learn to shoot at a young age. Others face tragic consequences. We bring you this report from France 2.