INTERNATIONAL REPORT

The cartoon journalist Tintin has been solving mysteries and bamboozling the bad guys since 1929. There's no mystery about the enduring appeal of this cartoon character, or of the original artwork for the comic books, drawn by Belgian artist Hergé. Fans of the boy reporter love the drawings for their simplicity of line, their energy and their humour. But the originals also attract record prices at art auctions. We sent our own intrepid reporter, Dhananjay Kadilkar, along to the Paris branch of Christie's auction house to find out more . . .

A rural county in eastern Kenya has become the home of the country’s first-ever silk industry, using a special species known as Eri Silkworms. Local farmers rear these silkworms and harvest silk cocoons in less than a month. They then sell the raw silk to a local social enterprise. Correspondent David John Bwakali visited them and filed this report exploring the journey of silk from farm to fabric is a semi-arid corner of rural Kenya.

The after-hours office party is an integral part of South Korea’s business culture. Typically, a boss takes his staff out on the company credit card for dinner, drinks and then some karaoke. The outings are meant to build team spirit but, for many female employees, these late night sessions are something they dread. From Seoul, Jason Strother reports that, thanks to the #MeToo movement, some bosses are starting to listen to their workers’ concerns.

Along the coast of West Africa, global demand for fish is endangering a long-established way of life. Many people in Senegal and Gambia depend on fish for both food and income.   About a quarter of all the fish caught in the oceans don’t land directly on our plates. They’re churned into something called fishmeal. That fishmeal is mainly used to feed farmed fish, which account for more than half of the seafood we consume globally. A recent influx of foreign-owned fishmeal factories is threatening the livelihoods of fishermen in Senegal.Emmanuelle Landais reports. Click the 'play' button above to listen to the audio report, or subscribe to our podcast by searching 'RFI international report.

Residents in India's capital New Delhi have been struggling to breathe clean air for weeks due to pollution, in part coming from farm fires in neighbouring states. What can they do? They are using anti-pollution masks outside and air purifiers at home to ensure that they do not breathe toxic air.Some people are turning to a bar that is selling “pure air”. Customers are given a nasal canula, which is a lightweight tube, used for oxygen intake.   It offers customers several aromas to choose from that can be infused with oxygen that is odorless.Murali Krishnan reports. Click the 'play' button above to listen to the audio report, or subscribe to our podcast by searching 'RFI international report.