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In France, a new "comprehensive law" aims to strengthen preventative measures, the judicial process and support for child victims of sexual violence. Yet advocacy groups, lawyers, and healthcare professionals point out that the legislation has numerous shortcomings. We take a closer look in this edition of France in Focus. Warning: viewers may find parts of this report disturbing. In France, one child is reportedly raped or sexually assaulted every three minutes. CIIVISE, the independent commission on incest and sexual violence involving minors, estimates that 160,000 children are victims of these crimes every year. The murder and rape of 11-year-old Lyhanna in May shocked the country and accelerated the creation of a "comprehensive law". Its aim is to intervene at every level, from preventative measures to the judicial response, including the protection and support of victims. Silence Mié Kohiyama was five years old when she was raped by her cousin. She says she lived with traumatic amnesia for 32 years before her memories of the incident returned. Now a co-founder of the Be Brave France charity, she advocates for the elimination of statutes of limitations. She explained to the National Assembly in April: "When these victims face a wall of refusal from the justice system, it is an absolutely devastating form of violence. You have to be incredibly strong not to give up and kill yourself."  Her story illustrates one of the challenges of childhood sexual abuse: it can take some victims decades to speak out and file a complaint. Since 2018 in France, the statute of limitations for rapes committed against minors has been 30 years from the age of majority, meaning up to age 48. But for victims who were raped before 2018, the law is different. In the rest of the European Union, half of its member states have abolished statutes of limitations for the most serious sexual crimes. Carine Durrieu-Diebolt is a lawyer who specialises in defending these victims; she believes the law is too complex. "In France now, a victim who was raped as a minor has 30 years from the time they reach adulthood to take legal action. So, until the age of 48. But that's not the case for every victim, because the law changes and it doesn't apply in the same way to everyone. So abolishing the statute of limitations would simplify the law and give everyone the same legal framework." The issue is all the more sensitive because DNA evidence diminishes and becomes unusable over time. But Durrieu-Diebolt believes investigators should devote more resources to the preliminary investigation: "Very often, in cases of sexual assault, not everything is done that could be. For example, there isn't always a search of the perpetrator's home. Wiretaps are very rarely used in these cases, whereas in drug cases, all these measures are employed. There is no need for physical evidence of rape on the victim's body to prove that a rape occurred." Ordinary citizens-turned-cyber vigilantes Sexual violence against children is rising on the Internet. "Punisher," a volunteer with Les Enfants d'Argus association, has been tracking child sex offenders on social media for six years. The association says he has helped identify more than 200 individuals. Volunteers often create fake profiles of children to monitor the requests that they receive and compile files that are then forwarded to the authorities. But these police forces are facing a huge volume of cases. In 2025, the Office for Minors (OFMIN) reported receiving approximately 200,000 reports – that's nearly 500 every day. Its director, Division Commissioner Aurélie Besançon, says the office has only about 60 agents. The investigators' work is complicated further by artificial intelligence. Offenders can now create or modify images and videos in a highly realistic manner using the face of a child or teenager, easily fooling their prey, and making it harder for investigators to track them down. For AI specialist Ninon Bajard, young internet users must remain cautious. "The rule in 2026 is simple: don't believe anything you see online. If there's even the slightest doubt, don't send anything, so you can't be blackmailed." Preventative measures Sexual Violence Resource Centres (CRIAVS) conduct research, compile information, and train professionals on how to deal with perpetrators. There are 27 of these centres across France. Most have set up a free, confidential helpline for people who are sexually attracted to children. For healthcare professionals at the CRIAVS Rhône-Alpes, in east-central France, the goal is to intervene before the offence is committed. Contrary to popular belief, not all perpetrators of sexual violence against minors can be classed as paedophiles, notes Mathias Poiteau, a psychologist at Le Vinatier Hospital in Lyon. "The vast majority of people who commit sexual acts against minors don't have a paedophilic attraction. We're often dealing with either extreme immaturity, or issues of control, aggression and a desire for power and domination because a minor is more vulnerable." The STOP helpline received more than 4,500 calls in 2025 – triple the number of calls as the year it was launched, 2021. Laure Vivier, medical secretary at CRIAVS Rhône-Alpes, explains: "Paedophilia is a disorder. That can be difficult to hear, of course. But some people who have these fantasies didn't choose to have them. Without in any way condoning what these people are experiencing, we have to recognise that instead of leaving them on their own, we need to talk to them so that the fantasy remains just a fantasy." But the programme has its limits: calling the helpline does not mean that the person will subsequently agree to medical or psychological treatment. Below is a list of free emergency numbers India  1098 Child helpline 181 Women's helpline United Kingdom 0800 1111 ChildLine (for children and young people) 0800 136 663 (for child abuse in education) 0808 800 5000 (advice and support to adults worried about a child) USA Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (to find the number in your state) RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline, 24/7 1-800-656-4673 Australia 1800 55 1800 Kids Helpline, a 24/7 nationwide support service specifically for children and young people aged 5 to 25. Nigeria 0800 800 8001 Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre South Africa 116 National child helpline Tanzania 116 National child helpline Ghana 0800 800 800 Helpline for victims of sexual and gender-based violence Kenya 116 National child helpline

As France prepares for Pope Leo XIV's visit, a surprising trend has emerged in recent years: the number of baptisms among teenagers and young adults has skyrocketed. More than 21,000 catechumens, those undergoing the period of preparation for baptism into the Christian Church, have been recorded so far in 2026. How can this renewed interest in the Catholic faith be explained? Florence Gaillard reports for France in Focus. A pandemic, lockdowns, the return of war to Europe, climate change: all of these are proven sources of anxiety, even depression, among young people in France. With some feeling adrift, they're turning to religion and knocking on the door of the Catholic Church. In 2026, more than 21,000 adults and teenagers were baptised, a figure that has more than tripled in the past decade. A search for meaning and community For Johan, who had long prioritised athletic performance, his grandmother's death sparked a search for meaning and spirituality. For Morgane, who grew up in public housing with a single parent, the need for community became apparent. For Malick, who grew up in Senegal in a Muslim family, reading the Bible proved a turning point. All three asked to be baptised as adults. The growing role of friends Charles Mercier, a historian of contemporary Catholicism, told FRANCE 24: "Religion is no longer an inheritance received at birth but has become an individual choice. Young people therefore no longer experience it as a constraint or an obligation." In a secular, multicultural country, faith has become a topic of conversation and inspiration among friends. Johan, for instance, asked his friend Matthieu to take him to Mass for the first time, and later to be his godfather at his baptism. The observance of Ramadan among young Muslims has also inspired young Catholics to rediscover their own traditions, particularly Lent in the lead-up to Easter. The rise of influencers A new era calls for new ways of communicating. According to a survey conducted by the French Bishops' Conference and La Croix, nearly 20 percent of catechumens say that influencers with thousands of followers on social media played an important role in their spiritual journey. Malick, for one, was guided to Trinity Parish in Paris, where a weekly Mass draws nearly a thousand young people, by influencer Brother Paul-Adrien. For Mercier, the rise of catechumenates is not a return to tradition, as some believed when the phenomenon first began, but rather a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.

This year, several French landmarks are paying tribute to French queen Marie-Antoinette. Despite her public execution taking place more than 230 years ago, the monarch continues to fascinate both at home and abroad. Our reporters dive into the reasons behind the lasting interest and explore why she could be considered France’s first influencer. In May, the Versailles Palace launched its inaugural Marie-Antoinette at Trianon ball. Partygoers stepped back into the 18th century to retrace the queen’s life, with the help of musicians, dancers and actors. As well as the Petit and Grand Trianons (or royal villas in English), some got rare access to the secluded grotto the late queen had built. “It’s never open to the general public so it’s an extraordinary privilege,” explained one ticket holder. The event sold out in just a few hours, with many of its visitors travelling from abroad. “It’s probably exhibitions about Louis XIV or Marie-Antoinette that are the most successful in Versailles. Marie-Antoinette is one of the most depicted queens ever,” explains Château de Versailles Spectacles director Laurent Brunner.    An icon in popular culture Marie-Antoinette’s influence continues today, inspiring brands, writers, artists and filmmakers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the cult classic “Marie Antoinette” by Sofia Coppola. The film is being re-released in theatres this autumn in conjunction with an exhibition at Versailles Palace, and the publication of a behind-the-scenes book.  “Sofia called me up and asked me if I would be interested in coming (to Versailles) and taking some snapshots on the set. So I hopped on a plane and I went to France with my one little camera,” explains “Making Marie-Antoinette” author Andrew Durham. The new book, published by MACK shows snapshots of 21st century movie stars, styled in 18th century costumes with a pop culture twist. Durham decided to publish the series after spotting someone at a coffee shop in LA with one of his photos on their T-shirt, yet another demonstration of the ill-fated queen’s lasting legacy.

Two years after her dazzling performance atop the Eiffel Tower for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Céline Dion is back in the French capital for a series of sold-out concerts – and fans are over the moon. Some 500,000 people are expected to attend the concerts. In the Paris suburb of Nanterre, dozens of fans took part in a karaoke event organised by the city, hoping to win the last remaining tickets. “It takes me right back to my childhood,” said one fan who has been listening to the singer for four decades. For another fan, the Canadian singer is the true Queen of Pop: “I’d rather go and see Céline than Beyoncé or Lady Gaga. I love them too, but Céline is on another level!”  Another of her biggest admirers has made a career out of being Céline. Sébastien Costic has imitated Dion across Europe for the past 30 years. A former primary school teacher, when he performs, he has the full Céline look: custom-made accessories, gowns, wigs and high heels. Since the announcement of Céline’s comeback, bookings for his tribute shows have doubled.  For Costic, Dion holds a very special place in the hearts of French people: “Today, you almost forget that she isn’t French. You feel like she’s one of us (...) because she’s so close to people – in her attitude, her popularity, and through the songs she’s shared with the world. She has also helped people around the world discover the French language.”  After being diagnosed with a rare and debilitating neurological condition, Dion was forced to put her career on hold in early 2020. Then, against all odds, she made a surprise appearance on the Eiffel Tower during the Paris Olympic Games. Her resilience was celebrated around the world. “D’eux”: A turning point  In 1994, Céline Dion teamed up with popular French song-writer Jean-Jacques Goldman for the album D’eux. Their partnership struck the right chord: around 11 million copies were sold, making it the best-selling French-language album of all time. Co-producer Erick Benzi explains in this edition of France in Focus that, “In the United States, a singer’s voice is often used as an instrument. In France, we’re more into storytelling”.  Dion rethought the way she sang. It took her “roughly ten seconds” to understand that in French, she didn’t need to push every single note, Benzi recalls. As a result, Céline recorded three songs in one day, instead of one. Her extraordinary efficiency earned her the nickname OVNI or “Objet Vocal Non Identifié (Unidentified Vocal Object, a play on words of the acronym OVNI which stands for Objet Volant Non Identifié – the equivalent of UFO in English).  A star who keeps it real  Céline Dion’s voice is not the only reason for her vast success. She has won audiences over with her generosity and her genuine connection with fans. “She’s incredibly sincere. She doesn’t act like she’s a star”, says Thérèse Zaydman, adding “Céline Dion is the youngest of 14 children. Her parents didn’t have much money. When she was little, she slept in the drawer of a dresser! So I think she’s stayed true to her roots.”  Céline has never shied away from sharing the challenges she has faced in life: the death of her husband, René Angélil, her personal struggles and, in 2022, her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome.  Two years later, her surprise appearance on the Eiffel Tower, where she performed “L’Hymne à l’amour”, moved the entire nation. Today, fans are counting down the days until they can finally see their idol on stage: the international superstar who calls France her second "chez moi”.

Nearly 1,000 years after chronicling the Norman conquest of England, the Bayeux Tapestry is making history once again. The fragile 11th-century embroidery has arrived in London on an unprecedented loan to the British Museum, prompting delight and concern in equal measure. Celebrated as one of Europe's greatest medieval treasures, its journey has reignited debates over heritage, diplomacy and the risks of moving delicate cultural artefacts. Today, many scholars believe its 58 vivid scenes recounting the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 were stitched in England. More than nine centuries after William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold, the tapestry has become a symbol of the love-hate relationship between England and France. "The tapestry's always been a political object," according to former British ambassador Lord Peter Ricketts, who helped coordinate the loan. "It's absolutely the founding story of our modern history. It's the date everybody knows from school: 1066." For historians, the embroidery's enduring appeal lies in its remarkable detail. "You don't really get many other historical sources that are that evocative of the everyday person's experience of war," explains academic Millie Horton-Insch. From royal intrigue and military strategy to horses, ships and soldiers, the tapestry offers an extraordinary window onto medieval life. A loan decades in the making Successive British governments have sought to borrow the tapestry over the years, including for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, but France has always refused. A breakthrough came in 2018, when President Emmanuel Macron floated the idea during talks with then British Prime Minister Theresa May. Brexit tensions and the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the project, alongside concerns about the feasibility of transporting such a fragile object. Yet when the museum in Bayeux, where the tapestry had been on display since 1983, closed for major renovations, the tapestry had to be placed into storage. Closed since September 2025, the site is undergoing a €40 million transformation, with the new museum and annexe due to open in 2027. During a detailed conservation assessment in 2020, experts concluded that the tapestry should no longer hang vertically but instead be displayed along its full length on a gently sloping support, reducing stress on its ageing fibres. The new annexe has been designed to accommodate the tapestry under those specific conditions. For Bayeux's residents, its temporary absence is bittersweet. "We live with the Bayeux Tapestry," said one local. "The whole town lives with it and we're proud of it." Others see the loan as fitting for an artwork that illustrates the birth of the Anglo-Norman monarchy. "The English used to come and see it here," explained tour guide Christèle Tait. "We're sending it there. We just hope they'll give it back!" Conservation concerns overshadow a highly symbolic journey Amid the cultural and political significance of this priceless artefact, transporting the tapestry has sparked fierce criticism in some quarters. Its most recent scientific assessment identified thousands of stains, holes and tears, prompting recommendations for restoration. Critics argue that moving such a fragile textile is an unnecessary risk, particularly as some technical details of the transport operation were not disclosed in advance by the French Ministry of Culture. Art historian and journalist Didier Rykner launched a petition opposing the loan in 2025. He argues that experts have never fully measured how the tapestry might respond to vibrations during transport. "We've never transported something this fragile," he says. French authorities, meanwhile, insist that every precaution has been taken, pointing to the custom-built, climate-controlled crate used for the journey. Curators at the British Museum also say the bespoke transport technology developed for the move is unprecedented. "There is never any movement that goes without any risk whatsoever," acknowledges lead curator Michael Lewis. "But the procedures put in place have been designed to reduce that risk to as low a level as reasonably possible." At a time when public spending on the arts has been cut in both countries, this high-profile Franco-British operation has prompted debate over the role of governments in cultural heritage. Yet while 1066 is synonymous with conflict for generations of Britons, 2026 may be remembered as the year two countries came together to celebrate a shared history – and the extraordinary work of art born from it.

Nice was hit by the deadliest attack in its history on July 14, 2016. In the attack claimed by the Islamic State group, a truck ploughed into the Promenade des Anglais avenue, striking crowds of spectators who had gathered to watch the Bastille Day fireworks. The attacker killed 86 people and injured hundreds more. Ten years later, our teams returned to the scene of the tragedy to meet survivors and hear their stories. For the past 10 years, Anne Murris has lived with the pain of losing her daughter Camille, who was killed at the age of 27 when she was struck by the truck on the Promenade des Anglais. “She was a charming young woman, with a mischievous side. She loved making people laugh and laughed easily,” recalls her mother, tears filling her eyes. On the evening of July 14, 2016, Anne Murris learned of the attack through a notification on her phone while travelling in Scandinavia with her husband, Camille’s father. “It was total panic, because we knew Camille was there.” An endless wait The couple returned to France and spent four agonising days searching for their daughter. Anne Murris describes the wait as “torture”, saying she suffered “repeated episodes of tetany”. When a judicial police officer finally confirmed their daughter’s death, the family was offered the chance to see her body. But all that remained were “just two hands behind a glass pane”. Anne collapsed in grief. “I know there was a great deal of sensitivity shown towards some families, but that wasn’t the case for us. It was extremely traumatic. Staff should have been better trained and supported by a psychologist when delivering such news.” A mother’s fight In 2018, Anne Murris founded the association Mémorial des Anges. Since then, she has devoted herself to supporting other victims’ families and preserving the memory of those who died. She has launched numerous projects to transform her grief into action: a memorial museum in Nice, an exhibition at Villa Masséna marking the 10th anniversary of the attack, a street photography exhibition, talks in schools, and the placement of 86 pebbles – one for each person killed – in the Himalayas. “My daughter’s death cannot make sense. How can anyone make sense of such a barbaric act? The only thing I can do is give meaning to my suffering by working to preserve her memory and promote prevention against radicalisation,” she says. Anne says these actions also give her “the feeling that she is taking care of Camille”. A quiet hero Anne Murris testified during both the initial trial and the appeal proceedings, which resulted in two men linked to the attack receiving 18-year prison sentences for involvement in a terrorist conspiracy. During the hearings, she met another survivor of the attack: Gilles Gamberi. On the evening of July 14, while attending the concert on the Promenade des Anglais, he heard “a tremendous crash and, above all, screams”. He saw the truck continue through the crowd before eventually coming to a stop. At first, he believed it was an accident. “I thought it was a traffic accident, or that the driver had fainted.” When he approached the cab, the attacker pointed a gun at him. Gamberi tried, unsuccessfully, to disarm him. “I heard two gunshots. I realised he was shooting at me.” After jumping away from the truck, he encountered a police officer running towards him. Gamberi was able to provide crucial information about the attacker’s position inside the vehicle. The attacker was then shot dead by police. For years, Gamberi chose not to speak publicly about his actions. He later came forward to correct what he described as inaccurate accounts. “People were saying that I had tried to stop the truck, when in fact it had already come to a stop.” A quarter of those killed were children Soad Darwiche was 15 years old when she came to watch the Bastille Day fireworks with her grandmother, aunt, uncle and younger sister Emma. “I didn’t really understand what was happening. I just followed the movement of the crowd,” she recalls. She took refuge in a hotel by the sea, unaware of what had happened to her family. The following day, she learned that the three adults who had been with her had died. Her 12-year-old sister Emma had been seriously injured. “Today, she suffers from traumatic amnesia,” explains Dina Darwiche, the eldest of the three sisters, who was away on holiday in Brittany with their mother when the attack happened. “Emma doesn’t want to hear anything about it. Even when she has dreams or flashbacks, she wakes up saying: ‘I don’t want to remember.’” Dina rushed to Nice after hearing the news, alongside their devastated mother. Ten years later, the sisters have rebuilt their lives. Dina has become a teacher and volunteer firefighter. Soad works in a restaurant and has bought her own apartment. They have managed to create a new routine, balancing work, friendships and their passions for sport and drawing. But the pain remains. “We think about our grandmother, our aunt and our uncle very often, even if we don’t talk about it much, because it is still very painful,” says Dina. She remembers her grandmother as “strong and independent”, and her aunt and uncle – both maths teachers – as a couple who loved life and enjoyed going out to restaurants and cultural events. Soad adds: “My uncle and aunt were as much in love as they were on their first day.” The Darwiche sisters have been officially recognised as victims of the attack. Like them, nearly 3,000 people affected by the Nice attack have received support from the Guarantee Fund for Victims of Terrorism. Around a quarter of those affected were minors.

Dates have officially been set for France's 2027 presidential election. With less than a year to go, the country is already gearing up for Emmanuel Macron's successor. FRANCE 24 English and French teamed up to meet voters in the run-up to the crucial poll. Our reporters visited Châteaudun, a town of 13,000 inhabitants that has mirrored the national vote in every French presidential election for over 20 years. There, they met Antoine, a high-school maths teacher; Stéphanie, who cares for children in foster care; and Gilbert, a retiree who helps migrants learn to speak French. For them, politics is not a taboo subject, even in front of our camera. For now, they are undecided voters, but we will see how their opinions evolve as campaigning heats up.

Didier Deschamps has been coaching the French men's national football team for 14 years, a record period at the helm. He and his players are now aiming for a third World Cup title. The tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico will be his last competition as head of Les Bleus. France in Focus takes a closer look at the man whose name is synonymous with French football success. Read moreMbappé heads up France squad in Deschamps' final World Cup bid Long before he became the face of French football, Didier Deschamps was a teenager running around the fields of Bayonne, in southwestern France. He played every sport he could: rugby, athletics, handball and cross-country running. His career in football came almost by chance. Encouraged by his childhood friend Emmanuel Darnauthandy, Deschamps joined a local club at the age of 11. What began as a hobby quickly turned into something more serious. His first youth coach, Norbert Navarro, immediately noticed a player ahead of the game: physically strong, tactically aware and fiercely competitive. Within two weeks of joining the Aviron Bayonnais FC, he was already playing with the age group above. It was to be the start of an incredible journey. A born captain  Throughout Deschamps' career, the captain's armband became almost a permanent accessory. Whether at Nantes, Marseille, Juventus or with the French national team, teammates naturally looked to him for direction. "He had this ability to read the game, to take charge, but always with the right word for his teammates," says his first coach Navarro. "That is innate, it is not calculated." Those qualities helped transform the midfielder into one of the most decorated figures in European football. Deschamps understood early on that football is not always won by the most spectacular players. Often, it is won by the most organised team. Individual talent helps, but teamwork is a priority. A dream that became reality  As a teenager watching France face Brazil at the 1986 World Cup, Deschamps imagined himself one day winning the top title. Twelve years later, that dream became reality. In 1998, he captained France to its first-ever World Cup title on home soil. The image of Deschamps lifting the trophy after a 3-0 victory over Brazil remains one of the defining moments in the history of French football. Two years later, he won the European Championship. By the time he retired as a player, he had won league titles in France and Italy, as well as the UEFA Champions League. Yet his greatest successes were still to come. Rebuilding Les Bleus  When Deschamps started coaching France in 2012, the national team were still recovering from a disastrous 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where French players went on strike. Deschamps set himself a goal: rebuilding the reputation of Les Bleus. He integrated a new generation of talent, including Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé, while restoring a sense of collective purpose. "The guys were prepared to die on the pitch for their coach. To go far in a major tournament, you need a top-quality squad but also a coach that can get the best out of them," explains Philippe Tournon, author of "La vie en bleu". Critics often accuse Deschamps' teams of being pragmatic rather than spectacular. But from Deschamps' point of view, the only thing that counts is the score. His method paid off in 2018, when France bounced back and won a second World Cup title, this time in Russia. Deschamps' legacy  Deschamps has now been coaching the French national team for a record 14 years. His longevity owes much to an ability to evolve. He has managed several generations of players, adapting his communication and leadership style without compromising his standards. Read more France kick off World Cup campaign, with Senegal looking to repeat 2002 upset "There's a lot of detail in what he does, in what he says, in the preparation for set pieces. There are a lot of individual instructions, it's a very precise system of play," says his longtime assistant coach Guy Stephan. "We're in a period where the players are around 21 years old. It's a generation that doesn't listen as well as before, which means the team talks can't go on too long: 10 minutes max." From the football pitches of Bayonne to the world stage, Deschamps and his team are now aiming for yet another goal over in the US: a third World Cup trophy for his final competition as head of Les Bleus.

Just outside the French capital sprawls the world's largest antiques destination: the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market. It's a timeless escape, and one of the most visited sites in France. We take you on a tour in this edition of France in Focus. Whitney has flown in from Florida with one thing on her mind: hunting for treasures at the Paris Saint-Ouen Flea Market. Her guide is Riad Kneife, who has been leading wealthy clients through these alleys for 25 years. Together, they dive in and it doesn't take long before Whitney falls for a vintage Chanel dress with a €3,300 price tag. She's not short of temptation. Antique and designer furniture, artworks, jewellery, ornaments, collectible perfumes... With over 1,500 vendors, there's something for every taste and every budget. The market's story began in the late 19th century, when rag-and-bone men pushed out of Paris by new sanitation laws descended on Saint-Ouen. Prefect Eugène Poubelle had just made sealed rubbish bins compulsory in the capital, and with them went the scavengers' livelihood. By the 1920s, what had been an informal gathering had become a permanent, organised institution. Today the site encompasses 12 distinct markets, each with its own personality – from Vernaison, the oldest, with its rambling village charm, to the sleek and upscale Paul Bert Serpette and Biron, to the Dauphine market, a haven for pop culture lovers that's home to vintage video games and the densest cluster of record shops in Europe.

Smartphones, video games, online homework: screens are everywhere in teenagers' lives. Faced with the risks of addiction and the effects on mental and physical health, some French parents and teachers are pushing back.  Rayan is 13 years old and, like nine out of 10 children his age, he owns a smartphone. Until a few months ago, he would spend several hours a day playing free online games. "I just wanted to stay home in my bedroom all the time, shutters closed, playing Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft, Brawlstars..." he recalls.  Within weeks, Rayan was hooked. On days off school, he could spend up to 12 hours a day in front of a screen. His concentration suffered, and so did his grades. "He stopped going out, he was always in his room. You had to nag him, and when you took his phone away, he'd storm off to his room and turn the whole place upside down," his mother recalls. Rayan himself admits he had lost all self-control: "I had this deep anger inside because gaming was supposed to relax me, but in the end it was doing the exact opposite." His parents felt completely out of their depth. "He wasn't my son anymore, it was really hard... We didn't know what to do with him anymore," his mother explains. "We also felt like we were bad parents," his father says. Feeling out of their depth, his parents eventually decided to ask for help.  'The only comparison that holds up is alcohol or hard drugs'  At the Georges Daumézon Hospital near Orléans, psychologist Sabine Duflo sees screen-addicted teenagers once a week. Ninety percent of her patients are boys around the age of fourteen, who play free online multi-player video games. All these games share one thing in common: random rewards. "It's that randomness that creates the addiction," explains Duflo. "The only fair comparison is alcohol or hard drugs," adds the psychologist, who is also the founder of the Collective on Screen Overexposure (COSE). In her view, there is only one solution for overcoming this addiction: withdrawal. "If your child was 13, had a drinking problem, and I prescribed a detox, you'd think that was perfectly reasonable, right? It's the same thing with video games." The first few days of withdrawal were hard for Rayan, but within a few weeks, he started noticing a difference. "I actually think more about my friends now, about going out with them," he says. His mother says he's become much more of a chatterbox.  Today in France, most children get their first smartphone at the age of nine, and according to the national health authority, spend more than four hours a day on screens outside of school time. Many health professionals are raising the alarm about the risks to children's and teenagers' mental and physical health: deteriorating sleep quality, exposure to violent or pornographic content, stress, anxiety, depression and declining attention spans.  Faced with the dangers of smartphones, parents join forces  In response to these risks, some French parents are banding together. Anne-Laure Bailly coordinates the "Growing Up Better Without a Smartphone" initiative in the Paris region, encouraging families to hold off on giving their child a smartphone for as long as possible and not before the age of 15. "If your child's friends don't have a smartphone, it will be much easier to resist," she says.  Gaëlle de Waru signed up for the initiative to protect her children. "The last thing I want is a child who's hooked on screens," she says. Her daughter Clémentine is nearly 14 and only has a flip phone, just like two of her closest friends. Clémentine says she notices the difference: "We actually spend real time together; we talk so much more."  Contradictory messages  Despite parents' best efforts, it's almost impossible to keep their children off screens because teachers routinely assign homework that requires going online. "I resist, and then the school turns around and asks for the opposite," says de Waru. We asked the French ministry of education what solutions were being considered to avoid forcing parents to equip their children with smartphones. We received no response.  But some schools are taking matters into their own hands. At Collège Alphonse Daudet in Paris, principal Sébastien Blondot has banned students from using the school management platform Pronote and has asked teachers to stop assigning homework that requires a screen. "The idea is very simple: explaining to students and parents that a child does not need a smartphone to do their schoolwork," he says. That said, technology has not been banned altogether. "We're not banning digital tools, we're managing them," says teacher Yohan Abou. "It also helps put parents back at the centre of their child's education," adds Meriem Guendafa, chair of the school's local parent council.  These initiatives, driven by a handful of teachers and parents, are still few and far between. But they reflect a shared determination: to let teenagers experience their school years without falling into an all-digital world.

In France, a data breach occurs once every hour. In recent months, several public bodies have been affected: La Poste, France Travail and the ANTS, the portal that issues identity documents. This confidential information, which is sometimes highly sensitive, is sold on forums. It's then often purchased by cybercriminals and used to fuel all kinds of scams, including fraudulent operations involving bogus bank managers or brokers. It is often impossible for the victims to discern what is actually fake, and they're then left to deal with the consequences alone.  Twenty-eight-year-old Amaia is a fitness coach. While she was waiting for a parcel to be delivered from the UK, she received a text message asking her to pay customs fees so that it could be dispatched to her. The young woman clicked on the link and did as she was told: it was the start of a nightmare. "Two or three hours later, I received a call from an unknown number, supposedly from my bank advisor, who told me that a fraudulent transaction had taken place that very morning," says Amaia.  Scams fuelled by data  The frightened young woman believed she was speaking to her bank manager, but the person on the other end of the line was actually the scammer himself. This was when the net started closing in on Amaia. "He reassured me by saying, 'Don't worry, we'll sort it all out so there won't be any problems.' After that they made me carry out a whole series of operations. I thought I was rejecting the fraudulent transactions but in fact, they were getting me to approve them."   The cybercriminal knew a great deal about Amaia and managed to gain her trust; he even persuaded her to reveal her credit card details. All in all, the fraudster managed to steal €8,000 from Amaia. The young woman filed a complaint, to no avail.  A €200 million fund to tackle an urgent issue  Like Amaia, there are thousands of victims of online scams. Attacks have been facilitated by the numerous data breaches affecting businesses and public bodies in recent months. The ANTS, the French portal that issues official identity documents, is one of them; they had 11.6 million items of administrative data stolen. Following this major breach, the government announced a €200 million emergency plan to get up to date on cybersecurity. But this budget will only allow it to play "catch-up", according to Anne Le Hénanff, minister for AI and digital affairs. "We're currently experiencing a digital revolution driven by artificial intelligence, which itself consumes a great deal of our data and could accelerate these scams and everything that might result from them," warns ethical hacker Clément Domingo. "Until sufficient funding is allocated to the issue, it will be difficult to raise the level of data protection." Increasingly sensitive information is being stolen and the authorities are sounding the alarm: the consequences of these leaks are spilling over from the digital realm into the physical world. "The first case involves a data leak from the French shooting federation. Fake police officers turned up at people's homes claiming weapons had been stolen," explains Jérôme Notin, president of the Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr platform. "The second case involves data leaks linked to websites managing crypto assets, leading to kidnappings, hostage-taking, acts of violence and torture of the victims or their families." Platforms that aim to offer support for the general public do exist – 17 Cyber or Cybermalveillance.gouv.fr are two such examples – but these sites are primarily designed to raise awareness and facilitate the filing of complaints. In most cases, the cybercriminals are not identified and the victims are not compensated. "Over the last few years, most of the attacks have been coming from young cybercriminals – French ones, at that. Some are still teenagers and have realised they can make money quickly and easily; for some of them, this amounts to as much as €5,000 to €10,000 a week," explains Domingo. Some cyber security experts recommend changing your digital identity by adopting an alias, using a password manager, or having parcels delivered to a collection point to protect yourself from scams. But most importantly: never click on links received via text message or email, and never give out sensitive information over the phone.

The number of children diagnosed with cancer in France is on the rise. Other serious medical conditions – birth defects, neurodevelopmental disorders and reduced IQ – are following the same alarming trend. Scientists are increasingly pointing to pesticides as a major risk factor. Yet France remains Europe's leading consumer of pesticides and ranks third worldwide. Across the country, parents and doctors are speaking out about the use of pesticides and their impact on the health of children.  The scientific evidence is mounting. In its latest report published in 2021, France's public health institute (Inserm) established a link between pesticide exposure – particularly during pregnancy and early childhood – and a higher risk of childhood cancer. "I believe we have enough evidence to consider a ban on pesticides," says Dominique Tripodi, head of the department of occupational health at Nantes University Hospital. The hospital recently launched a new programme dedicated to children whose illness could be linked to their parents' pesticide use. Tripodi is in charge of assisting patients who wish to file an official request for compensation. In 2020, the French government created a special fund for victims, effectively recognising the dangers posed by the chemicals. The fund was recently extended to infants in utero. Laure Marivain, a former florist, became the first beneficiary in 2023. The fund recognised that her exposure to pesticides while pregnant contributed to the death of her daughter. "Who could imagine there would be so many different substances, and that all those substances would enter my body and poison the daughter I was carrying?" she asks.  Emmy was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia when she was four years old. She passed away seven years later. Crossing the placental barrier Research shows that pesticides can cross the placenta, accumulate in foetal tissues – especially the brain – and trigger serious, often irreversible illnesses. "It's one of the few chemicals we produce specifically to kill living organisms," explains Karen Chardon, a professor of neurophysiology and deputy director at the Peritox Laboratory in Amiens. "From the start, it was reasonable to worry about its potential harmful effects on humans." Peritox is the only lab in the world to study how toxic environments disrupt vital systems in infants, from preconception through to the first days of life. Their findings are alarming: 85 percent of newborn stool samples studied contained at least one of the 20 pesticides tested. Protecting mothers and children Medical experts recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women limit their exposure to pesticides, for their own health and that of their child. Couples trying to conceive are also advised to take precautions, avoiding pesticides at work and opting for a varied organic diet. "Knowing the link between pollutants and paediatric conditions, and seeing children every day with a cleft lip and palate, I feel compelled to inform parents," says Pierre Corre, a maxillofacial surgeon at Nantes University Hospital.

In Paris, parents are now dropping their children off at school in a climate of anxiety. For several months, reports of physical and sexual abuse involving nursery school children have been mounting. These cases are said to have taken place during after-school care and lunch breaks, when the children are supervised by non-teaching staff. In 2026 alone, 78 youth workers were suspended in Paris, 31 of them on suspicion of sexual abuse. Warning: viewers may find this report disturbing. Watch moreNew Paris mayor vows to tackle systemic abuse in after-school programmes While much media attention has focused on the scandal in Parisian schools, the abuse is a nationwide issue. Amid a culture of silence, denial, inadequate training for employees and flawed recruitment practices, how can such serious failures be explained? Parents' warnings ignored In April 2026, several dozen parents gathered for a demonstration in front of Paris's City Hall. Shaken by reports of the physical and sexual abuse of children during lunchtimes and after-school care, they were calling for decisive action from their representatives. "What we'd like is to restore trust as soon as possible so we can all get back to normal," said Lyna, a concerned mother who decided to withdraw her children from the after-school programme. Since this scandal came to light, Nathalie has been plagued by guilt. Her son, now eight years old, attended one of the dozens of schools involved. "At the time, he was having very violent outbursts. We couldn't understand why. He wasn't well. He was always saying, 'I hate them. I don't like it. I don't want to go to the after-school club.'" Like other parents, she had tried to raise the alarm. But her concerns fell on deaf ears. Olivier knew nothing about the situation at the school when his children started there last September. Soon, his daughter began having serious trouble sleeping, and his son would regularly come home with bruises and scratches. In January, Olivier and his wife recognised their children's school in video clips circulating from a report on violence in after-school care. When the children returned from school, they questioned them. The family's life was turned upside down. "They obviously told us about the violence and the shouting, but they also told us about the sexual abuse, the behaviour, the inappropriate touching," says Olivier, who is devastated. Several months after coming forward, the two children are still suffering from severe psychological after-effects, typical of victims of abuse. Children's accounts often doubted That trauma has been revisited and triggered by the inefficiencies of the justice system: the children had to repeat their accounts several times due to a lack of appropriate procedures. In France, doubt is still too often cast over children's accounts. "These opinions go against the scientific data. Numerous studies show that in less than 1 percent of cases, the child is lying," explains Luis Alvarez, a child psychiatrist. Overwhelming accounts of violence in after-school care have been flooding into the founders of the 'Afterschool programmes in crisis' association. Created by Anne and Elisabeth, this collective put out a call for testimonies in 2021. "We received over 80 testimonies in 10 days. That's when we realised it was systemic," explains Elisabeth. Inadequate training and flawed recruitment processes The majority of accounts reveal physical and psychological abuse, often downplayed by the adults in charge of the children. The whistleblowers point to a deeply flawed system. Inadequate recruitment, unsuitable training, precarious working conditions and the absence of a clear national framework: these are the main issues that, in their view, explain the violations. Given the scale of these revelations, the City of Paris has launched a €20 million action plan to better protect children in after-school care. Measures include improving reporting procedures, training staff and setting up support groups for children who have been victims of abuse. Initiatives to raise awareness of consent are also emerging, in order to better equip children to deal with violence. More broadly, this scandal highlights the urgent need to listen to children more carefully, to protect them and take their accounts seriously.

France's controversial Montparnasse Tower is entering a new era. A stark symbol of post-war modernism in the heart of Paris, the skyscraper inaugurated in 1973 is set to get a facelift. Work is expected to begin this summer and continue until at least 2030. We take a closer look in this edition of France in Focus. Rising 210 metres above the French capital, the Montparnasse Tower has never left anyone indifferent. For many, it remains an anomaly in the Parisian skyline, "a huge block with no expression whatsoever". Over the past five decades, it has even earned nicknames like "the wart", "the eyesore" and "the tombstone".  Yet despite its reputation, the edifice continues to draw crowds. More than 30 million visitors have gone to its rooftop terrace to admire sweeping views of the city. Up there, criticism often gives way to awe. "It's massive!" exclaims one visitor, seeing the Louvre and surrounding landmarks for the first time from above.  A €600 million transformation  Since March 31, 2026, the Tour Montparnasse has been closed to the public to make way for construction work. The project, estimated at over €600 million, is backed by private investors, including the asset manager LFPI, the health insurer MGEN, the insurance company AXA and businessman Xavier Niel.  Plans include a complete redesign of the façade, the addition of green and recreational spaces, a luxury hotel and improved energy performance. The aim is to make the skyscraper both more attractive and more environmentally sustainable.  However, these promises have failed to convince everyone. Some local residents and heritage groups remain sceptical, arguing that the environmental measures fall short.  "Only about 30 percent of the surface area will actually be made greener," says Patrice Maire, head of the Monts14 residents' association, who sees the project as more of a marketing stunt than a genuine ecological transformation. In his view, the future tower will continue to be an "eyesore" in the world's most beautiful city.  A long-standing controversy  The debate surrounding the tower is nothing new. In the late 1960s, authorities sought to modernise the Montparnasse district, even if that meant breaking with its artistic and bohemian identity. They dreamed of turning Paris into a modern, Manhattan-style skyline.    Yet from the moment it was completed, the tower divided opinion so sharply that just four years after its inauguration, the city introduced strict height limits, banning buildings over 37 metres (around ten floors).  Although these rules were eased in 2010 in response to overcrowding, the renovation of the Tour Montparnasse has reignited this long-running debate.  Complicating matters further are ongoing negotiations between co-owners and public authorities, which have dragged on for more than a decade and have repeatedly delayed the project.  "Paris imposes certain conditions, but it's not their project," explains Robert Benchetrit, who has worked within the Montparnasse complex for over 30 years. "It's a private initiative, led by co-owners with the financial means to carry out renovation and improvement works. If the city had its way, it would all be social housing."  An ageing complex  In all, three buildings are set to be refurbished. Work on the main tower and its smaller counterpart, the Tour CIT, is due to begin this summer, while the shopping centre at their base is scheduled for renovations in 2028.  Once a thriving retail hub, the mall is now largely deserted, dark and smelly. A handful of businesses remain, including Western Corporation, a long-standing cowboy boot shop. Its owner, Daniel Verdure, acknowledges that renovation is overdue: "It should have been done a long time ago. We've been working in these conditions for 53 years!"  Yet uncertainty looms for independent retailers, faced with the prospect of rising rents. "It's like having a sword of Damocles hanging over our heads," says his son, Raphaël Verdure. "Also, will they still want multi-brand shops with a more traditional approach? Nowadays, everything is very standardised; it's all Zara, Mango, H&M."  The redevelopment of the shopping centre is subject to public consultation, meaning the project could still evolve.

Every day in France, two to three people die at work. Why are workplace fatalities still occurring in 2026? Which sectors are most affected? And what can be done to reduce the toll? We met the families of victims and the labour inspectors who, despite limited resources, are working to prevent these deaths. On July 15, 2025, Matis Dugast, a 19-year-old day labourer, died after being buried under 30 tonnes of tarmac at a road resurfacing site in southwest France. “He was trapped for 15 to 20 minutes under tarmac heated to 180 degrees Celsius. Emergency services were unable to save him,” says his mother, Murielle Dugast. The investigation is still ongoing, and the legal process has been slow. Today, she is speaking out to break what she calls a persistent silence. “We don’t talk enough about workplace accidents,” she says. “Yet work kills.” Victims often young and in precarious jobs As a history and geography teacher, Matthieu Lépine has spent the past decade compiling data on fatal workplace accidents using local press reports. The author of "L’Hécatombe invisible: enquête sur les morts au travail" (The Invisible Massacre: An Investigation into Workplace Fatalities) says victims are predominantly men, often young and in temporary or insecure employment. “When you are young or in a precarious situation, you are more likely to accept dangerous working conditions because you are in a position of inferiority,” he explains. The sectors most affected are construction, heavy industry and transport. In 2024, France’s national health system recorded 764 deaths linked to workplace accidents. That figure excludes civil servants, farmers and the self-employed, suggesting the real number may be significantly higher. A safety culture that falls short In France, labour inspectors are tasked with enforcing safety standards. Yoann Journaux, a labour inspector in the Paris region, says he frequently encounters breaches. “Safety is not a priority, which helps explain France’s poor record on fatal workplace accidents,” he says. A declining number of inspectors has made oversight more difficult. Across the country, nearly 300 positions remain unfilled, limiting both site inspections and preventive work. Families fighting for justice Sylvie and Fabrice Pertet lost their 21-year-old son, Jules, on July 26, 2023. He worked for the recycling company Paprec in Nîmes. While cleaning a bag-suction machine, it was restarted by another employee. Jules was pulled in and died instantly. “Three days before the accident, he told me he wanted to resign because he didn’t feel safe,” says his mother. According to the labour inspector, “the accident should never have happened.” It is illegal to operate non-compliant machinery; the machine involved had 79 safety breaches, at least two of which were decisive. Paprec rejects liability. “Some of these non-compliances existed, but they are not linked to the accident,” says the company’s lawyer, Fanny Colin. “The accident was caused by other employees failing to follow safety procedures.” Are penalties too lenient? For Jules’s parents, shifting blame onto workers is unacceptable. Like many families, they are calling for tougher penalties for companies that fail to ensure safe working conditions. Véronique Millot, vice-president of the collective Familles – Stop à la Mort au Travail, argues that fines should be proportional to company turnover. “In 2021, the average fine was €30,000. That is an extremely light penalty for being responsible for someone’s death,” she says. On March 26, Paprec was found guilty of manslaughter and fined €225,000. The manager of the Nîmes site received a three-year suspended sentence and a €10,000 fine. Both have appealed. Two further trials involving the company are due in the coming weeks. In April, a court in Montpellier will hear the case of Paul Masselin, who was 23 when he was caught in a similar machine. He survived but with severe, permanent disabilities. In May, Paprec will again appear in court in Nîmes over the death of Andres Cotonda, a 61-year-old logistics manager crushed by a bale of waste on May 23, 2025 – at the same site where Jules Pertet died two years earlier.