George Clooney, Bono, Angelina Jolie... They are all part of a growing "celebrity" diplomatic corps. We might be prepared to change our favourite brand of shampoo because of a celebrity endorsement – but are decision makers really changing their policy thanks to stars? And more importantly, should they be doing so?
As Nicolas Sarkozy enters the presidential election race we take a look at the issues likely to dominate the campaign. The recent cold snap highlighted the acuteness of France's housing shortage. Housing advocates are now fighting to make it a headline election issue. With an estimated 10 million French people affected by a lack of appropriate housing, this issue has the potential to be a vote winner. Catherine Nicholson and Marine Casalis find out who is promising what.
Join us for a rendez-vous on Paris’ river Seine as we investigate the complex relationship between modern city living and water. In this edition of Environment we take you to Bangkok – a city sinking into the sea. Our correspondents also report on the technological wizardry that’s given Singapore its water independence. Finally we find out why illegal drugs could be sneaking into your daily drinking water – and how it can be prevented.
A medical emergency is spreading : the phenomenon of medical deserts. Across Europe, rural areas are increasingly lacking in doctors, as older practitioners go into retirement, and younger ones favor the lifestyle of the city. We investigate how they might be lured back to the country and meet some of the foreign doctors being parachuted in to plug the gaps.
A ruined economy, endemic corruption, and weeks of public unrest: Greece is sliding towards disaster. Our reporters on the ground found a population torn between anger and disillusion. France 24 takes a closer look at Greece on the edge.
Catherine Nicholson 
