One billion people in slums at risk of being infected with coronavirus

France is home to some of the biggest luxury brands in the world. While many everyday businesses have struggled to bounce back from the health crisis, it’s been just the opposite for the most exclusive French labels. Jean-Noël Kapferer, professor emeritus of marketing, talks us through the success of luxury brands bouncing back from the pandemic. We also see how the luxury sector is making its way into the second-hand market, bringing in a whole new clientele.

In the south of France, the rocky inlets known as "Les Calanques" become popular as soon as spring arrives. Whether it's in Figuerolles, Cassis, Port-Miou or Marseille, these little coves are only accessible by sea. With their turquoise waters, they are small havens of peace. FRANCE 24 takes you to meet the people who live there all year round, guardians of this stunning natural beauty.

Nine years after Timbuktu welcomed them as liberators, French troops are withdrawing from their final outpost in Mali's far north. There's no unruliness here, but also no cries of mission accomplished: the jihadist radicals who scattered when French-led forces intervened have long since morphed into a low-intensity insurgency with raids as far away as the far north of Benin. With the summer's chaos in Afghanistan still fresh in memories, when is the right time to end military intervention?

A quarter of couples experience infertility despite regular sex, according to the French national research institute INSERM. The reasons include exposure to pollutants, endocrine disruptors, trying for a child later on in life, smoking and obesity. But in more than 15 percent of cases, the cause of the infertility remains unconfirmed. France's health minister has decided to take action by putting together a working group to better understand the issue and suggest changes by the end of the year. FRANCE 24's Eléonore Vanel and Camille Nedelec report.

Covid-19 has impacted businesses around the world. But despite rising costs, labour shortages and supply chain problems, French bosses are feeling more positive that at any point since the year 2000, according to a November survey. Stephen Carroll meets two entrepreneurs who are making and selling products in France: Christèle Merter, founder and CEO of the eco-conscious clothing company La Gentle Factory; and Benjamin Kuentz, who makes French whisky under his own label Maison Benjamin Kuentz.

Covid-19 has impacted businesses around the world. But despite rising costs, labour shortages and supply chain problems, French bosses are feeling more positive that at any point since the year 2000, according to a November survey. Stephen Carroll meets two entrepreneurs who are making and selling products in France: Christèle Merter, founder and CEO of the eco-conscious clothing company La Gentle Factory; and Benjamin Kuentz, who makes French whisky under his own label Maison Benjamin Kuentz.

The shutdown was initiated over fears of the rapid spread of the omicron variant. Meanwhile, Germany's health minister has ruled out a lockdown before Christmas. Follow DW for the latest.

In this edition, we’re focusing on the French delicacy of foie gras. One of France’s most cherished foods, it’s a staple at Christmas tables across the country. But foie gras is also a source of controversy. There are ethical concerns about how it is produced, which has led several French cities to ban it for official gatherings. The move has launched a fierce national debate.

France's Mercantour National Park is a green sanctuary at the heart of the Alps. It's best known for being one of the wildest in France and having one of the most varied landscapes. Its unique location, near the French Riviera, brings Mediterranean touches to these Alpine mountains. This area is also where the wolf returned to France from Italy in 1992. We take a closer look at this sanctuary for wildlife.

French armed forces have said they killed a senior "Islamic State" member believed to have been involved in a 2020 attack that left six French aid workers dead.

French troops left their military base in Timbuktu as part of a reorganization of Operation Barkhane announced by French president Emmanuel Macron in June. The Kidal and Tessalit bases were handed over to the Malian army in October and November, respectively.

As the pandemic rages on, the situation is affecting the mental health of many people, including the young. In France, universities are closed but are set to open again for one day per week, after one Strasbourg student's cry for help made waves.