France in focus

Jan 27 2025 22 ep. 12 mins 53

France in focus Podcast artwork

An in-depth look at the political and social events shaping France. Monday at 3:45pm Paris time.

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Eighty years on, French deportee remembers horror of Auschwitz and difficult return home

Jan 27 2025 12 mins

On January 27, 1945, the French population had yet to grasp the full horror of the Holocaust. After the Soviet army finally liberated Auschwitz and the allies advanced on the Western front, the first survivors began to trickle back to their home countries and the true scale of the tragedy began to emerge. Esther Dzik was one of the survivors who returned to Paris in 1945. She'd bee

France's Pelicot case: Questioning toxic masculinity

Jan 22 2025 11 mins

The Pelicot rape trial at the end of 2024 put the issue of sexual violence at the centre of public debate in France. Seen as a real turning point, the case has also raised questions about men's responsibility in rape culture. From the #Notallmen slogan circulating on social media, to discussion groups where some men have been examining their own behaviour, the case has prompted man

2019 Paris gas explosion: Six years on, life resumes after the blast

Jan 14 2025 12 mins

On January 12, 2019, the residents of rue de Trévise in Paris's 9th arrondissement (district) were woken by a huge explosion prompted by a gas leak. As they were rushed out of the building by the emergency services, the full horror became apparent: four dead, dozens injured and an entire neighbourhood destroyed. Six years later, some former residents are finally able to return hom

The Chauvet cave: Unlocking France's prehistoric past

Dec 16 2024 12 mins

This week, France in Focus heads underground to explore the "Sistine Chapel" of prehistory. Thirty years ago, three explorers discovered the Chauvet cave, a site in southeastern France that was cut off from the world for thousands of years. Inside, paintings and engravings dating back 36,000 years decorate the walls. The site is sealed off to the general public, but each year a tea

Oysters in hot water: Pollution and poaching threaten production

Dec 10 2024 11 mins

For oyster farmers, the year-end holiday period is a vital one as they make around a third to half of their annual sales during this time. But last year was catastrophic for some oyster producing regions in France after sales were banned following a spate of food poisonings in parts of the country. Along with a tarnished image, oyster farmers also have to deal with an uptick in poa

Notre-Dame Cathedral: At the heart of a changing neighbourhood in Paris

Dec 03 2024 11 mins

Since the 2019 fire that devastated Notre-Dame, the historic centre of Paris has been affected by extensive renovation works. Now, five years later, the reopening of the cathedral on Saturday, December 7 is bringing hope to locals and businesses that have faced years of disruption, dwindling tourism and financial struggles.

Eurostar: Thirty years of challenges

Nov 11 2024 12 mins

On November 14, 1994, the rail operator Eurostar launched its high-speed services through the Channel Tunnel. A historic day that saw Paris and London connected in record time but the 30-year journey hasn't always run smoothly. FRANCE 24 takes a closer look.

Vendée Globe 2024: Conquering the oceans and the seas

Nov 05 2024 12 mins

The Vendée Globe, the greatest sailing race in the world, is often called the Everest of the Seas. It’s extreme and it’s all about resilience and high technology. Every four years, skippers set out to conquer the most hostile oceans. This solo, non-stop, unassisted race around the planet that lasts nearly three months is a dangerous yet thrilling adventure. Ahead of this year'

Meeting France's UFO detectives

Oct 21 2024 11 mins

Is there anybody out there? In France, an organisation exists whose sole role is to answer this question. The GEIPAN, part of the French space agency, decodes dozens of cases each year. They try to find rational reasons to seemingly impossible sightings. In most cases they succeed, but a total of 99 phenomena remain unexplained to this day. Our reporters Joanna Cockerell and Sylvai

French music flexes its muscles abroad

Sep 30 2024 12 mins

French-language music took centre stage during the Paris Olympics, with giant karaokés, star-studded ceremonies and a medley of styles and sounds. Boosted also by TV series, online streaming and a 30 percent increase in French music exports, Francophone songs are on a roll. In this week’s France in Focus, we take a deep dive into the French music scene and look at whether it can