Investigations - World news, culture and opinion

Pravfond, the discreet slush fund for Russian spies and their foreign legal woes

Under the guise of helping its nationals abroad, this Russian foreign ministry foundation has funded disinformation projects and the legal defense of people suspected of espionage.

Published yesterday at 7:01 pm (Paris), updated yesterday at 7:01 pm Damien Leloup, Thomas Eydoux, Lucas Minisini and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation

Euromore, Russia's new information warfare weapon

Organizations close to the Kremlin have funded the creation of a news website intended to take over from Russian state-run media outlets RT and Sputnik, which have been banned in Europe since the invasion of Ukraine.

Published yesterday at 7:01 pm (Paris) Lucas Minisini, Maxime Vaudano, Thomas Eydoux and Damien Leloup

Video investigation

Israel-Hamas war: What analysis of Israel's attack on Rafah displacement camp reveals

The Israeli military said it was not directly responsible for the fire that killed at least 45 people on Sunday night, suggesting Palestinian ammunition may have triggered it. Le Monde analyzed footage from the attack to verify their claims.

Published on May 31, 2024, at 11:07 am (Paris) Liselotte Mas, Asia Balluffier, Rüzgar Mehmet Akgün and Le Monde's video investigation team

Investigation

Rwandan regime used Pegasus spyware on opponents and allies for years

'Rwanda Classified.' Spyware from the Israeli company NSO Group has been a particularly important part of the government's arsenal of surveillance and repression tools under President Paul Kagame.

Published on May 29, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 6:02 pm Florian Reynaud Phineas Rueckert

Investigation

In Rwanda, a formidable soft power system ensures the regime's tranquillity

'Rwanda Classified.' Despite the involvement of Rwandan soldiers in the unrest in the DRC, Kigali enjoys the goodwill of African countries and the West, notably by making itself indispensable to UN missions.

Published on May 29, 2024, at 4:17 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 4:19 pm Christophe Châtelot

Profile

The dark side of Paul Kagame, the Rwandan autocrat who fascinates the West

'Rwanda Classified.' The president has transformed a country battered by the 1994 genocide. But at what price? Amid repression, surveillance and influence, Rwandans will be voting on July 15 in a presidential election that is a foregone conclusion, with opponents sidelined.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 4:19 pm Christophe Châtelot

Investigation

The death of journalist John Ntwali in Kigali: an impossible investigation

'Rwanda Classified.' One of Rwanda's last independent journalists was killed in a road accident in January 2023. In a country that represses media critical of the government, many question the official version.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on May 29, 2024, at 4:19 pm Le Monde

Investigation

'Cryptoqueen' Ruja Ignatova, mastermind of the OneCoin scam, was still investing in Dubai while under indictment

The Bulgarian businesswoman and other founders of the cryptocurrency that turned out to be yet another pyramid scheme were even able to complete luxury real estate transactions after the scandal had already broken.

Published on May 28, 2024, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on May 28, 2024, at 7:58 am Jérémie Baruch

Investigation

Migrants speak: In the Sahara, 'the Moroccan police set dogs on us'

Many migrants arriving from Mauritania report having been abused and abandoned in the desert by Moroccan security forces who receive resources from European countries.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 5:10 am (Paris) Tomas Statius Andrei Popoviciu Maud Jullien

Investigation

How EU funds enable North African countries to push back Europe-bound migrants into the desert

An investigation carried out by Le Monde, Lighthouse Reports and seven international media outlets found that migrants are being arrested by the hundreds and deported to desert areas in Morocco, Tunisia and Mauritania. Human rights are being violated with the backing of the European Union's resources.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 5:01 am (Paris), updated on May 23, 2024, at 10:25 am Nissim Gasteli, Maud Jullien, Tomas Statius and Andrei Popoviciu

Investigation

In Tunisia, Cameroonians are intercepted at sea and abandoned at the Algerian border

Using patrol boats donated by Italy, Tunisian authorities are blocking the sea route to Lampedusa, before removing migrants to desert areas.

Published on May 21, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on May 21, 2024, at 7:32 am Nissim Gasteli

Investigation

#MeToo in the French military: Female soldiers speak out

French female soldiers are speaking out about the sexual violence they have suffered in the course of their duties, and the armed forces are struggling to stay on top of a growing movement. Le Monde found that women are being penalized, while their alleged attackers remain in post.

Published on May 19, 2024, at 4:00 am (Paris) Leila Minano Julia Pascual Yves Tréca-Durand

Investigation

Goodyear affair: Judicial authorities conduct raids in France, Belgium and Luxembourg

The offensive by judicial authorities is part of an investigation into how the American manufacturer opaquely managed, for years, a crisis concerning some of its truck tires suspected of having caused accidents.

Published on May 14, 2024, at 3:29 pm (Paris), updated on May 14, 2024, at 3:41 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

How Israel is reshaping the Gaza Strip

While the future governance of the Palestinian territory is being debated within the Israeli government, the armed forces have systematically destroyed buildings along at least 1 kilometer of the border, creating a militarized corridor isolating Gaza City.

Published on May 11, 2024, at 5:20 am (Paris), updated on May 17, 2024, at 9:14 am Louis Imbert, Francesca Fattori, Delphine Papin, Riccardo Pravettoni and Victor Simonnet

Investigation

Tense working climate, suspicions of tax evasion: Disney France caught in a storm

A new redundancy plan at Disney France, a subsidiary of the entertainment giant, is causing confusion and unease among employees.

Published on May 3, 2024, at 8:48 pm (Paris), updated on May 6, 2024, at 10:49 am Iris Derœux

Visual Story

Drugs in Paris: The leak that implicated a police chief

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 4. Le Monde learned that a highly experienced chief brigadier, who for a long time was in charge of narcotics in the Paris suburbs, is suspected of having colluded with major drug traffickers.

Published on May 3, 2024, at 10:13 am (Paris), updated on May 3, 2024, at 12:35 pm Luc Bronner infographic

Visual Story

Uber Narcos

Customer service, franchises, discounts – using the same model as food deliveries, home drug delivery has rapidly developed in France.

Published on May 2, 2024, at 5:48 pm (Paris) Alexandre Kauffmann infographic

Visual Story

A deep dive into a small narcotics business

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 2. For months, police discreetly surveilled a major dealing spot in a northern suburb of Paris. Le Monde takes you behind the scenes of the investigation, revealing the inside workings of a drug-dealing business.

Published on May 1, 2024, at 12:16 pm (Paris), updated on May 2, 2024, at 12:20 pm Luc Bronner infographic

Visual Story

Video investigation: The new methods of drug traffickers in France

To understand how hundreds of kilos of cocaine arrive at French ports, Le Monde investigated a drug trafficking network that had almost everything it needed to succeed: shell companies, false identities and chemists. But several mistakes led to its downfall.

Published on April 30, 2024, at 7:00 pm (Paris), updated on May 1, 2024, at 12:08 pm Liselotte Mas, Marceau Bretonnier, Simon Piel, Thomas Saintourens, Le Monde's video investigation team and Sinead McCausland infographic

Visual Story

Cons, Covid and cocaine: The fall of the 'sugar cartel'

Overdose. France under the influence | Part 1. An investigation by Le Monde has found that French and Colombian drug traffickers mastered a game-changing process for smuggling narcotics into Europe, by chemically infusing sugar with cocaine.

Published on April 30, 2024, at 12:33 pm (Paris), updated on April 30, 2024, at 1:10 pm Liselotte Mas Simon Piel Thomas Saintourens infographic

Investigation

French judicial authorities seize properties belonging to Putin associates

A villa in the Basque Country linked to Vladimir Putin's ex-wife and a Paris apartment owned by the ex-wife of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov were seized in December 2023 as part of investigations into money laundering.

Published on April 17, 2024, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on April 18, 2024, at 4:03 pm Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation

Goodyear faces a judicial storm

'The Goodyear affair' (4/4). In the early 2020s, new expert reports put the blame on certain Goodyear tires, which were responsible for numerous truck accidents. Then two whistle-blowers provided Le Monde with internal documents from the company, now under threat from the judiciary.

Published on March 29, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on March 29, 2024, at 8:30 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

Burst tires: Goodyear's maneuvers to avoid a scandal

'The Goodyear affair' (3/4). During the 2010s, the manufacturer discreetly compensated dozens of accident victims, while demanding their silence. But Sophie Rollet, the widow of a truck driver who died in a 2014 accident provoked by a defective tire, was convinced that the multinational was responsible, and kept investigating.

Published on March 28, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on March 29, 2024, at 8:31 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

How a series of accidents involving its tires put Goodyear under pressure

'The Goodyear affair' (2/4). As a series of truck tire blowouts provoked numerous fatal accidents in the 2010s, the American firm sought to contain the crisis. Its priority was to preserve its image, not to organize an emergency recall of all implicated products, despite alarming expert reports.

Published on March 27, 2024, at 6:03 pm (Paris), updated on March 28, 2024, at 6:08 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

How gig workers around the world unwittingly helped train Moscow's surveillance systems

Surveillance companies sanctioned for their role in detaining protesters and activists in Russia have used gig workers around the world to train their facial recognition systems.

Published on March 27, 2024, at 4:38 pm (Paris), updated on March 27, 2024, at 5:01 pm Niamh McIntyre

Investigation

Investigation: Tire manufacturer Goodyear faces global blowout scandal

'The Goodyear affair' (1/4). In a four-part series, Le Monde reveals how the American tire giant opaquely managed a major crisis concerning its truck tires, which are suspected of being the cause of numerous accidents in France and beyond.

Published on March 26, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris), updated on March 27, 2024, at 6:05 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Interview

Confiscation of criminal assets in France: 'We have redistributed over €272 million'

The agency that confiscates criminal assets in France is proud of a record-setting year. Director Vanessa Perrée explains why this serves the public good and should be expanded.

Published on March 21, 2024, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on March 21, 2024, at 8:38 am Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation

Gaza: New accounts of the 'flour massacre'

On February 29, 118 Palestinians were killed and 760 injured while waiting for a humanitarian aid convoy, according to the local Ministry of Health. Survivors tell Le Monde they were the target of Israeli fire.

Published on March 9, 2024, at 6:05 pm (Paris) Clothilde Mraffko

Profile

#StoryKillers: The French lobbyist with many faces

Jean-Pierre Duthion is a key player in a far-reaching judicial procedure on foreign interference, led by French investigators and launched after the revelations of the 'Story Killers' project.

Published on February 15, 2024, at 3:08 pm (Paris) Rémi Dupré, Abdelhak El Idrissi, Damien Leloup and Florian Reynaud

Investigation

#StoryKillers, one year later: Shady middlemen are at the heart of French probe

Le Monde, Forbidden Stories and partner media published a series of revelations into foreign interference in 2023. One year on, a vast judicial procedure has unraveled the workings of these influence campaigns in France.

Published on February 15, 2024, at 11:02 am (Paris), updated on February 15, 2024, at 11:04 am Rémi Dupré, Abdelhak El Idrissi, Damien Leloup and Florian Reynaud

Investigation

Gazprombank executives quietly sold their French villas after the Ukraine invasion

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, properties linked to Russian bank boss Andrey Akimov, his family and associates have been sold. Some were held under dummy corporations and financed from tax havens.

Published on February 9, 2024, at 5:08 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation

'It's the story of a kidnapped child': Actress Judith Godrèche accuses director Benoît Jacquot of rape

Based on interviews, documents, and witnesses, Le Monde investigated the 'grip' exerted on a young girl of 14 by a much older filmmaker during the 1980s. He claims they had a loving relationship.

Published on February 7, 2024, at 4:45 pm (Paris), updated on February 7, 2024, at 7:41 pm Lorraine de Foucher Jérôme Lefilliâtre

Investigation

Record levels of 'forever chemicals' found in one French village's water

Unprecedented analyses are revealing spectacular levels of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in streams around a PFAS production plant in Salindres, in southern France, as well as in the village's drinking water.

Published on February 7, 2024, at 3:00 pm (Paris), updated on February 17, 2024, at 10:16 am Stéphane Horel

News

French dairy giant Lactalis raided on suspicion of massive tax evasion

The investigation by the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office is aimed at determining whether the multinational evaded French taxes by transferring profits to its companies in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Published on February 6, 2024, at 11:39 pm (Paris), updated on February 7, 2024, at 10:15 am Abdelhak El Idrissi Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Investigation

One in four MEPs is implicated in judicial cases or scandals

A few months ahead of the European elections, an unprecedented tally reveals the extent to which incumbent MEPs have been accused of breaches of the law and misconduct, including corruption, embezzlement and harassment.

Published on February 2, 2024, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on February 2, 2024, at 10:33 am Anne Michel Vincent Nouvet

Investigation

How the Chinese esoteric movement Create Abundance is weaving its web in France

This spiritual group is multiplying cultural and academic partnerships to establish itself in France. Its benevolent discourse conceals an organization with cult-like leanings, which has been accused of defrauding thousands of people in China and is suspected of being linked to a murder in Canada.

Published on February 1, 2024, at 8:18 pm (Paris), updated on February 1, 2024, at 8:20 pm Jérémie Baruch

Investigation

Torture in Azerbaijan: How European funds flow to Baku's prisons

Six members of the investigative website Abzas Media were arrested, officially for 'trafficking in foreign currency.' The Forbidden Stories journalist collective continued their investigation into the prison system subsidized by the Council of Europe.

Published on February 1, 2024, at 5:19 pm (Paris), updated on February 1, 2024, at 5:28 pm Laurent Richard Mariana Abreu

Investigation

Big causes and some manipulation: The dubious practices of an 'impact' crypto start-up

A French company called Erable – formerly Cardashift – aims to 'support sustainable development' through blockchain and NFTs. However, to achieve this, it appears to have resorted to some of the more questionable methods in the crypto asset world.

Published on February 1, 2024, at 9:57 am (Paris), updated on February 1, 2024, at 9:58 am Damien Leloup

News

European officials test positive for forever chemicals

NGOs have measured 'forever chemicals' in the blood of a dozen European politicians. Among them is former European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans, who is calling for a ban on these substances.

Published on February 1, 2024, at 1:21 am (Paris), updated on February 17, 2024, at 10:23 am Stéphane Horel

Investigation

Thefts of rare Pushkin books cause stir at French national library

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, first editions of the great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin have disappeared from the BNF in Paris and libraries across Europe. Is there a Kremlin-sponsored operation underway?

Published on January 30, 2024, at 8:08 pm (Paris), updated on January 30, 2024, at 10:17 pm Guillaume Loiret

Investigation

Revealed: France's bottled water plants widely used fraudulent purifying techniques

For years, bottlers have used illegal purification techniques for water labeled as 'spring' and 'natural mineral.' A joint investigation by Le Monde and Radio France reveals that at least a third of France-based brands are implicated, including subsidiaries of Nestlé, which has admitted to these practices. The French government has been aware of this since 2021. In response, it quietly eased regulations.

Published on January 30, 2024, at 12:08 pm (Paris), updated on January 30, 2024, at 2:56 pm Stéphane Foucart

Investigation

Depardieu in North Korea: The preposterous making of a profane documentary

On December 7, 2023, a French TV program aired excerpts from a documentary shot in 2018 in North Korea, in which Gérard Depardieu makes obscene remarks about women. The never-released film by the writer Yann Moix sparked a legal battle and led to the downfall of an idol.

Published on January 26, 2024, at 5:50 am (Paris), updated on January 30, 2024, at 2:35 pm François Krug

Investigation

Monaco: When the time comes to settle accounts

'Monaco: The secret notebooks' (4/4). By dismissing Claude Palmero, his former éminence grise, in June 2023, Prince Albert II risked publicly exposing the handling of his family's assets. The conflict between the two men could have unfortunate political and fiscal consequences for the Principality.

Published on January 25, 2024, at 3:45 pm (Paris), updated on January 25, 2024, at 5:51 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

Monaco: Special funds and discreet missions in the prince's shadow

'Monaco: The secret notebooks' (2/4). The notes of Claude Palmero, Prince Albert's former estate administrator, show he was much more than a mere accountant. Before being ousted in June 2023, he was the sovereign's indispensable shadow adviser, in charge not only of hidden budgets but also of sensitive dossiers, and even a form of espionage.

Published on January 23, 2024, at 6:17 pm (Paris), updated on January 25, 2024, at 2:58 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

Monaco: The princely family's financial secrets revealed

'Monaco: The secret notebooks' (Part 1/4): Le Monde delves into the notes of Claude Palmero, Prince Albert's former estate administrator who held that position for more than 20 years, until his ousting in 2023. His five notebooks make for explosive reading.

Published on January 22, 2024, at 6:54 pm (Paris), updated on February 8, 2024, at 2:42 pm Gérard Davet Fabrice Lhomme

Investigation

At Olympique Lyonnais, a nationalist atmosphere persists in the stands

In both of OL's kops, a far-right minority has marked its territory. Some feel confident enough to express their racism, openly or more covertly, especially during away matches.

Published on January 21, 2024, at 4:30 pm (Paris) Florian Lefèvre

Feature

Monaco scrambles to avoid appearing on money laundering 'grey list'

Monaco has adopted a series of fast-track reforms to make up for its anti-money laundering system which was deemed inadequate.

Published on January 21, 2024, at 3:00 pm (Paris), updated on January 21, 2024, at 3:01 pm Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation

Video investigation: Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians detained in Gaza

Multiple videos showing Palestinians stripped in the street were shared on social media. Le Monde analyzed these videos, revealing the Israeli army's degrading practices against Palestinian prisoners.

Published on January 18, 2024, at 6:24 pm (Paris), updated on January 19, 2024, at 4:18 pm Lise Kiennemann, Juliette Prigent, Le Monde's video investigation team and Sinead McCausland 04:44

Your stories

Gazan civilians arrested by Israel share torment of disappearances, humiliations and torture

Residents of neighborhoods occupied by Israeli troops are subjected to mass arrest campaigns. Those who have been released say that beatings, bullying and degrading treatment are the norm.

Published on January 18, 2024, at 12:00 pm (Paris), updated on January 18, 2024, at 6:24 pm Clothilde Mraffko

Investigation

BNP Paribas caught in a Cypriot money laundering investigation

The French bank managed investments worth several hundred million euros on behalf of a Cypriot company that French and American investigators are looking into.

Published on December 26, 2023, at 11:55 am (Paris) Anne Michel Abdelhak El Idrissi

Investigation

Gazprom's shadow looms over one of the French Riviera's most luxurious villas

Officially owned by a Russian-Armenian billionaire, Villa del Mare is linked to the Russian gas giant through a string of companies. French authorities have opened an investigation into money laundering.

Published on December 22, 2023, at 5:08 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi Julien Bouissou

Investigation

'We're not slaves': Champagne's seasonal harvesters face abuse

In the Champagne region, 120,000 seasonal workers are employed each year to harvest the grapes that make the famous sparkling wine. But several court cases are forcing champagne houses to reconsider their working and accommodation conditions.

Published on December 16, 2023, at 5:30 am (Paris) Ishaq Ali Anis, Jeevan Ravindran, Robert Schmidt and Stéphanie Wenger

Investigation

How Chinese spies used a far-right politician for anti-EU influence operations

Der Spiegel, the Financial Times and Le Monde accessed hundreds of messages exchanged by a Chinese intelligence agent known as Daniel Woo and one of his European contacts, former Belgian MP Frank Creyelman.

Published on December 15, 2023, at 10:09 am (Paris), updated on December 15, 2023, at 12:48 pm Lucas Minisini Thomas Eydoux

Investigation

Now hiring: Russian propaganda networks want French freelance journalists

Analysis of a network of individuals suspected of aiding Russian propaganda operations in Europe points to the involvement of operators with ties to the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service.

Published on December 13, 2023, at 5:01 pm (Paris), updated on December 14, 2023, at 3:08 pm Damien Leloup Florian Reynaud

Investigation

The United Arab Emirates' takeover of African forests

As the oil-rich country hosts COP28, an Emirati company has signed agreements in Liberia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to convert part of their land into carbon credits – acts of 'greenwashing' and 'colonialism,' some NGOs say.

Published on December 10, 2023, at 5:09 am (Paris), updated on December 10, 2023, at 5:09 am Clément Bonnerot

Investigation

From Mexico's Sinaloa to the skyscrapers of Dubai, the art of laundering fentanyl money

Bertrand Monnet, a business professor and a specialist in crime economics, conducted a field study into the trafficking of this devastating opioid. He explains how the Mexican Sinaloa cartel launders its enormous profits in the emirate.

Published on December 8, 2023, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on December 8, 2023, at 9:22 am Bertrand Monnet

Investigation

The use of opaque algorithms facilitates abuses within public services

Automated data processing is increasingly used by public services, and there are few safeguards.

Published on December 5, 2023, at 12:26 pm (Paris) Adrien Sénécat

Visual Story

Is data neutral? How an algorithm decides which French households to audit for welfare fraud

Le Monde dissected the code of the algorithm used to calculate the 'risk score' of social benefit recipients – their supposed likelihood of committing fraud, based on characteristics such as age, family situation or income.

Published on December 5, 2023, at 5:30 am (Paris), updated on December 9, 2023, at 10:21 am Manon Romain, Adrien Sénécat, Elsa Delmas, Thomas Steffen, Léa Girardot and Lighthouse Reports infographic

Investigation

Forever chemicals found in the blood of residents of one French town

Despite high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in the water of the southeastern town of Rumilly back in 2017, the authorities have neither acted on this information nor alerted residents.

Published on November 29, 2023, at 2:12 pm (Paris), updated on February 17, 2024, at 10:27 am Stéphane Horel

News

Top French court upholds Uber conviction

Judges at France's top court on Tuesday said that Uber provided an illegal taxi service with its product Uber Pop.

Published on November 28, 2023, at 7:08 pm (Paris) Le Monde with AFP