Belgium in stalemate once again as Flemish/French rift deepens

For the fifth time in three years, tensions between French- and Flemish-speaking parts of Belgium have brought the government to its knees. In the south, there are only French speakers, while the north only has Flemish speakers. The Brussels-Halle-Vilvoorde electoral district (BHV) however, is bilingual: French speakers can vote for French-speaking parties, even if they live in Flemish municipalities. Flemish politicians say the system is unfair and have quit the government in protest.

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10/05/2013 - BULGARIA

The modern-day slave trade

Commemorations were held across France on Friday May 10th for "Slavery Remembrance Day". The slave trade in France was officially abolished in 1848, but modern-day slavery still appears alive and well in Europe. We take a look at a report from Bulgaria on the plight of women caught up in the sex trade.

10/05/2013 - PAKISTAN

The Taliban's election campaign of violence

The Taliban have been doing their best to disrupt Pakistan's May 11th election. It's been the deadliest campaign in the country's history with hundreds killed and many others kidnapped. The Taliban unleashed a campaign of terror calling democracy "un-Islamic" and vowed to attack anyone who associated with it. Our correspondents Taha Siddiqui and Julien Fouchet went to Peshawar, where candidates found themselves under threat 24/7.

09/05/2013 - ITALY

Berlusconi tax fraud conviction upheld

An Italian court has upheld a ruling in Silvio Berlusconi's trial for tax fraud. The former prime minister had appealed the conviction, which came with a four-year prison sentence. His lawyers now say they will contest the decision before Italy's highest court of appeal. This comes shortly after Berlusconi's centre-right PDL party joined a grand coalition with the centre-left PD.

09/05/2013 - USA

Three women held captive for over a decade found alive in Ohio

Three women who had been missing for around a decade have been found alive in Ohio. Kidnapped and held in a house in Cleveland for years, they managed to escape their captor on Monday. The owner of the house and his two brothers have now been arrested over the kidnappings of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight.

09/05/2013 - MEXICO

Mexicans sceptical of new law to compensate crime victims

Mexico's new president, Enrique Pena Nieto, has signed a bill into law that promises recognition and compensation to victims of crimes, in particular those citizens who have become caught up in the country's drug wars. But as France 24's reporters in Mexico found out, many are sceptical it will make any difference.