Since 2018, Portugal has seen a boom in farming, made possible in large part due to cheap labour from Asia run by mafia networks. Migrant charities estimate that around 30,000 Indian, Nepali, Thai and Pakistani labourers work on broccoli fields, pick berries and tomatoes in greenhouses or pick grapes in vineyards. In return they receive poor salaries and face difficult living conditions. Our regional correspondents report.

Focus

Asian migrants exploited in Portugal's farming sector

Almost three months after the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan, the country's economy is imploding. Many NGOs and foreign companies have left, leaving thousands of Afghans suddenly unemployed. Some $9.5 billion of assets have been frozen abroad and banks are running out of money. The value of the local currency is plummeting and food prices have soared. This dire situation is pushing thousands of Afghans to flee the country. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois report.

Afghans suffer as banks run low on cash and economy implodes

In the far north of Cameroon, Nigerian refugees have been fighting desertification for the past four years. The desert advances by 12 percent every year in the region, which gets on average three times less rainfall than the rest of the country. But the UNHCR is hoping that its programme at the Minawao camp can help turn back the tide. More than 360,000 seedlings have already been grown in the nursery and planted over more than 100 hectares. Our correspondents report.

Fighting desertification in Cameroon: Refugees to the rescue

Six months ago, DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi placed North Kivu and Ituri – two provinces in the east of the country – under "a state of siege", effectively imposing martial law in a region that has been rocked by conflict for decades. Today, although the government claims that hundreds of armed militiamen have surrendered, massacres continue and security forces face mounting criticism. In the city of Beni, the justice system has ground to a halt and crime has soared. Our correspondents report.

DR Congo: Crime soars in city of Beni despite government-imposed ‘state of siege’

India, the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is already one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. This year alone, it's seen a glacier burst in the Himalayas, several cyclones, as well as heatwaves, floods and widespread droughts. More than 1,000 people have died and no part of the country is spared. According to a UN report, these natural disasters cost the country a whopping $87 billion last year. Our correspondents report.

Climate change: India devastated by recurring natural disasters

In Ivory Coast, painters, photographers, designers and sculptors are choosing to settle in the city of Grand-Bassam, away from the urban chaos and air pollution of Abidjan. The historic UNESCO World Heritage city, located an hour from the economic capital, is attracting more and more designers in search of a more serene and affordable lifestyle. As the once-popular artisanal village of Grand-Bassam grapples with a drop in tourism, a new generation of artists from diverse backgrounds is reclaiming this historic cultural centre and breathing new life into it. Our correspondents report.

City of Grand-Bassam emerges as haven for artists in Ivory Coast

Breast Cancer Awareness month, also known as Pink October, is drawing to a close.  One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer during their lifetime. We take a look at one remedy that's proving to be effective: sport. Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of the cancer recurring by as much as 25 percent and improve survival rates by 30 percent. Sport is also an excellent way for women suffering from breast cancer to boost their self-confidence. Our reporters went to meet women in France who have turned to fencing and paddling to fight their breast cancer.

How exercise can help in the fight against breast cancer

After taking power in August, the Taliban now need to put in place a functioning state in Afghanistan. Official declarations and policies are scarce for now, but no doubt the most tangible sign of the Taliban takeover are the security patrols of thousands of former fighters who have poured into the capital. They're now police officers who are enforcing a strict interpretation of Sharia law. Our reporters Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois were able to follow Taliban fighters on patrol in Kabul and also gain access to a hearing of an Islamic court.

Afghanistan: On patrol in Kabul, Taliban enforce law and order

Children whose births were never officially declared are known as "ghosts" or "invisible" children. It's an administrative irregularity with far-reaching consequences: millions of African children are excluded from the education system simply for not having a birth certificate. In Gabon, the government estimates that 7,400 children were missing the precious document in 2018, often because of their parents' ignorance of the administrative procedure after the birth of their child. Our team reports.

Gabon's 'invisible' children: No birth certificate means no school

After testing on more than 800,000 children in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya, the WHO has recommended the use of a vaccine against malaria, a disease that kills nearly 400,000 people every year, mostly children under five. The jab is effective against one of the parasites that transmits the disease and reduces the risk of severe cases by 30 percent, which is enough to save tens of thousands of lives. Associated with other methods, it could drastically reduce the number of sick people each year. Could it even contain the epidemic? Our correspondents report.

High hopes for anti-malaria vaccine

Lake Victoria, the planet's second-largest freshwater lake and the largest in Africa, is in serious danger from pollution. Because lakeside communities from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have practically no access to sewage infrastructure, a constant flow of sewage, fertilisers, garbage and plastic waste is suffocating what has long been the main provider of food and livelihoods in this part of East Africa. Despite what seems like an uphill struggle, young activists are sounding the alarm in order to raise awareness. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's James Vasina and Camille Nedelec.

Lake Victoria's massive pollution: Africa's largest lake is dying

Covid-19 has caused over 600,000 deaths in Brazil. But who, or what, is responsible for the situation that many see as a complete mishandling of the health crisis? A parliamentary commission suggests President Bolsonaro should now face charges of crimes against humanity for his responsibility in the management of the pandemic. Our Brazil bureau has more on the story.

Brazil's 'Covidgate'? Jair Bolsonaro under pressure from repeated scandals

Brazil’s "Covidgate"? Jair Bolsonaro under pressure from repeated scandals

Eswatini, a landlocked country nestled between South Africa and Mozambique, was called "Swaziland" until 2018. The very last absolute monarchy on the African continent has been facing a growing wave of unrest since June 2021. What initially started as peaceful demonstrations was met with repression, violence and death. King Mswati III is being blamed for not listening to his subjects' demand for a modern political system and more democracy. As the protest movement keeps growing, Caroline Dumay and her team bring us this report from the troubled monarchy.

Protesters in Eswatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy, long for democracy

Our Focus programme brings you exclusive reports from around the world. From Monday to Friday at 7.50 am Paris time.

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