TV shows, VOD, exclusive interviews and reports - France 24

Today is World Press Freedom Day—but there is little to celebrate. The latest index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows this is the worst year in its 25-year history, with the global average score at a record low. For the first time, more than half of all countries are classified as having “difficult” or “very serious” press freedom conditions, and just one percent of the world’s population lives in countries rated “good.” At the bottom, Eritrea remains the most dangerous place for journalists, while Gaza Strip is among the deadliest places to report. To discuss, France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent at The Sunday Times, who is calling for an independent body to investigate crimes against journalists.

PSG did not prepare in the best possible way for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. With a reshuffled squad, PSG were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Lorient. The result had no impact on the title race, as Lens also failed to win at Nice (1-1) and remain six points behind PSG.

From Ukraine’s evolving battlefield, where drone warfare is redefining frontlines and so-called “killing zones,” to reports of “Martian drones” and their impact on both Russian and Ukrainian forces, we also look at the expanding use of unmanned systems in rescue operations, including the evacuation of a 77-year-old woman in Odesa region. France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Olena Krizhanivska, a Ukrainian defence analyst specialising in drones and unmanned systems, and founder of Ukraine’s Arms Monitor.

As Mali’s military struggles to maintain control amid a growing jihadist insurgency, a number of its own soldiers have been arrested, accused of collaborating with Al-Qaeda-linked militants in coordinating widespread attacks. Islamist group JNIM, alongside separatist rebels, has reportedly seized two northern cities, killed the defence minister, and is now attempting to impose a blockade on the capital, Bamako. We take a closer look at what’s happening on the ground, the escalating security crisis, and the role of Russian mercenaries in supporting the government. France 24’s Gavin Lee is joined by Beverley Ochieng, a specialist in West Africa and political risk analyst at Control Risks, to discuss.

Women are increasingly being arrested and tried for drug trafficking here in France. This trend is linked to networks recruiting more women to cater to their female clientele. We have a special report on women in the drug trade and how they got involved.

After a legendary European night against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, PSG get back to the routine of the French league with a match against Lorient on Saturday at the Parc des Princes. But there is no question of Paris taking this game lightly: PSG have not yet secured the title and cannot afford to drop points, especially as Lens, second and just six points behind, are still very much in the race.

In tonight's programme, the army and its Russian mercenary allies surrender the strategic Tessalit military base near the Algerian border. Also in DRC, Joseph Kabila hits back at US accusations he’s backing rebel fighters. And Gabon is the guest of honour at The Anoumabo Urban Music Festival in Abidjan.

In a week that’s seen a third apparent assassination attempt against President Trump with shots fired at the White House Correspondents Dinner. The suspect, 31 year old Cole Thomas Allen, had booked a room at the Washington Hilton, and taken a selfie in his room which prosecutors say shows him arming up 30 minutes before storming the ceremony. Tackled by secret services before he could run down a staircase to the ballroom, the President and his team were rushed away as journalists dived under tables.

Gavin Lee welcomes Adrian Blomfield, Senior Foreign Correspondent at The Telegraph. His reporting from the Strait of Hormuz offers a rare, intimate view beyond satellite imagery and policy abstraction. “One of the things you get a sense of when you're out on the water,” he reflects, “is just how much more complicated the picture is.” That complexity is not theoretical. It is kinetic, obscured by haze and shaped by “about 300 small speedboats… bouncing along the water” at high speeds, forming a dense and ambiguous maritime ecosystem where smugglers, civilians and military actors blur into a single, indistinguishable flow.

This week on Paris des Arts, Valérie Fayolle meets the man electrifying the stage at Paris's Théâtre Édouard VII. With his raw energy, comedian Redouane Bougheraba opens up about his latest one-man show, "Mon Premier Spectacle".

Over the last 18 years, the FEMUA has established itself as a major date in the African cultural calendar, with concerts in Anoumabo and Dimbokro in Ivory Coast. Showcasing a continent of musical styles – including Afrobeat, rumba and rap – the event was founded by A'Salfo, frontman for the band Magic System. FRANCE 24's reporters tell us more about this year's line-up, special guest country Gabon and the wealth of cultural events taking place at FEMUA 2026.

Behind ordinary-looking TikTok adverts for "rose sellers" lies a sordid reality: a recruitment scheme linked to prostitution, often targeting minors. A team from our sister channel France 2 dug into hundreds of social media videos showing how pimps in France are recruiting young girls via TikTok, promising them easy money and a glamorous lifestyle. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Lauren Bain.

In France, a new trend is raising eyebrows as an increasing number of children and pre-teens adopt elaborate skincare routines. But behind the glossy promise of perfect skin, experts warn that many of these products are ill-suited to young faces and may even increase the risk of allergies.

Moments after a would-be assassin attempted to storm last weekend's White House Correspondents' Dinner, social media was flooded with conspiracy theories that the shooting was "staged". This week, FRANCE 24's media show Scoop looks at mainstream coverage and asks if it is amplifying or combatting the conspiracy theories. Our guest is David Gilbert, a reporter at Wired who covers disinformation and online extremism.

During her recent visit to France, we caught up with Sweden's minister for EU affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz. We discuss the energy crunch and what it means for Europe's competitiveness; Sweden's and the EU's relationship with Ukraine; and Sweden's dynamic tech and innovation scene.

From North Korea to Japan to the United States, the members of K-pop band 1VERSE are from diverse backgrounds. Yuka Royer sat down with Seok, Aito, Kenny and Nathan, as they made a stop in Paris during their world tour.

In this week's Talking Europe, we take a moment to check the pulse of the European Parliament following a spate of European elections, to see how they'll impact the EU – and whether the EU should weigh on European domestic politics at all.

In Canada's oil heartland of Alberta, separatism is no longer just a slogan. An unprecedented movement of independence supporters, aided by a reform from the western province's conservative government, has just cleared the way for a referendum to be held on October 19. This is a first in Canada since Quebec's failed independence referendum in 1995.

PRESS REVIEW – Friday, May 1: The British papers are still covering the anti-Semitic attack in London. Meanwhile, The New York Times investigates hybrid warfare methods against Jewish targets. Next, a British advertising company is greenwashing the US oil industry. Also, Banksy has made another appearance. Finally, a trainee bus driver has a bad day at the office south of Paris.

As Mali's junta mourns the death of Defence Minister General Sadio CamaraIn, with thousands coming out to pay tribute, FRANCE 24's François Picard welcomes Paul Melly, Consulting Fellow for the Africa Programme at Chatham House and expert on the Sahel region. He offers a sobering assessment of Mali’s deepening crisis, framing current events within both historical precedent and a radically altered geopolitical landscape. While echoes of the 2012 Mali crisis are unmistakable, "are we in the same situation as in 2012 when the French military had to swoop in to save Mali's capital from being overrun by insurgents?" asks François Picard.