France in focus

By FRANCE 24 English

France in focus episodes

October 09, 2020 France's never-ending war on drugs
This week, we're looking at France's war on drugs. Reports suggest that more illegal drugs are consumed in the country than anywhere else in Europe. The government, though, is taking action, introducing on-the-spot fines of €200 for anyone caught consuming drugs. The new law has now been in place for about a month. We examine whether it's working or simply pushing drug use underground. And to talk more about drug use, as well as drug trafficking to France, we speak to Claire Andrieux, the author of a new book focusing on these issues.
14 min
October 02, 2020 Covid-19 generation: Are French students being penalised by the pandemic?
This week, we take stock of how the Covid-19 crisis has affected higher education in France. Whether embarking on their studies, hoping to get crucial internships or graduating amid a historic recession, French students are facing a whole new learning curve. And while authorities have been calling on students to curb their enthusiasm in the name of the greater good, many are anxious to enjoy their new-found independence and let off steam, to the point that clandestine parties are now being blamed for the emergence of new virus clusters.
14 min
September 18, 2020 Working from home : has Covid changed France's work culture?
This week, we look at the reality many businesses around the world were forced to confront when lockdowns to limit the spread of COVID-19 were instituted. Working from home was a concept some companies in France had toyed with in the past, but now they had little choice. Some 40 percent of employees worked from home at the height of the pandemic. While many have now returned back to their offices with new protocols such as social distancing, Plexiglas dividers and masks in place, opinions are split over the efficiency of working from home versus the office.
13 min
September 11, 2020 Learning to live with Alzheimer's in France
This week, we're focusing on Alzheimer's. The brain disease affects a person's memory and can grow severe enough to impact daily tasks. In France, 900,000 people live with Alzheimer's, and 225,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
12 min
September 04, 2020 Is green the new black? The French environmental conundrum
In this week's France in Focus, we're looking into France's eco-friendly credentials. According to a recent study, 69 percent of the French population are pessimistic when it comes to our planet's future, but 72 percent also report a growing awareness of climate issues. Yet not all of them put that into practice in the same way, and some bad habits die hard. We take a closer look.
13 min
August 28, 2020 French aviation: Reeling from the Covid crisis
In this week's France in Focus, we visit the city of Toulouse, the heart of Europe's aviation sector. With a turnover of nearly €75 billion last year, it represents 12 percent of the country's total exports, supporting 300,000 jobs (direct and indirect) across the country. But the Covid-19 pandemic has plunged the world of aviation into the greatest crisis in its history. Billions of euros have been lost and tens of thousands of jobs are on the line. We take a look at the situation, delving into the past, present and future of this vital industry.
12 min
July 24, 2020 Make or break? Love during the Covid-19 pandemic in France
This week we're putting the focus on how the French have handled the Covid-19 effect on their love lives. The experience of a global health crisis has taken its toll on relationships, not least during lockdown. We see how some couples have thrived, whilst others have parted ways. We then speak to a couples therapist about the impact of the pandemic on relationships. We also meet a blogger to talk about the difficulty of starting up a romance in the midst of a health crisis. Finally, we see how the wedding business has fallen victim to Covid-19.
13 min
July 10, 2020 The people tirelessly restoring Notre-Dame to its former glory
After months of debate, a French national heritage and architectural commission has approved plans to rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral "as it was" before being engulfed in a fire last year. In this week's show, we take you inside the monument to see the perilous restoration work that's currently taking place. Next, we head to the National Monument laboratory where scientists are analysing the damaged stones and stained-glass windows. Finally, we see how some passionate carpenters in Normandy have created an exact copy of the famous wooden roof structure.
13 min
July 03, 2020 How Covid-19 contaminated French tourism
Just like the rest of the world, France is facing one of the side-effects of the Covid-19 crisis – namely a massive drop in tourism. The setback has dashed the French government’s pre-pandemic hopes of seeing foreign visitors reach the 100 million mark for the first time in 2020 — a challenge the country had seemed so close to attaining.
10 min
June 19, 2020 History of racism: A French taboo
As protests against racial prejudice continue across the world, we look at how discrimination and xenophobia materialise in specific ways in France. We begin with a look back at the history of this French taboo. Next, we take a look at police violence and how some current and former officers have started speaking out. Lastly, we speak to activist and Professor Maboula Soumahoro, who looks at why language and republican ideals add an extra level of complexity to the issue.
13 min