Latest update: 04/10/2012 

- Cameroon - Paul Biya - political prisoners - trial


The case of Michel Thierry Atangana

French businessman Michel Thierry Atangana has spent the past 15 years behind bars in Cameroon. In 1997 he was accused of embezzling public funds, put on trial without a lawyer and sentenced to 15 years in jail. A court in the capital Yaoundé will soon decide if he can walk out of prison a free man or remain in his cell for another 15 years. For Mr Atangana’s family, lawyer and many observers of Cameroonian politics, both his trials were purely political.

Hollande the salesman visits new Chinese president
25/04/2013 - CHINA

Hollande the salesman visits new Chinese president

French President Francois Hollande has become the first foreign head of state to be received by new Chinese leader Xi Jinping. While his predecessor irked China over issues such as Tibet, Hollande is seeking to forget the past and start relations afresh - not least to boost the French economy. His hopes of launching new trade ties are helped by the fact that Shanghai is home to the largest community of French expatriates in China... and that the Chinese love all things French.
TV fans defend Afghan soap opera against conservative critics
24/04/2013 - AFGHANISTAN

TV fans defend Afghan soap opera against conservative critics

Afghanistan's TV industry is thriving. Since the Taliban were ousted in 2001, more than 40 channels have been created. Shows are usually imported from India, Turkey and even South Korea. But one of them is different: "University FM" is an Afghan-made soap opera that's breaking taboos by running storylines on arranged marriages and Islamism. The show has done well in the ratings, but it's provoked anger, particularly in a country where actresses are still considered by many to be prostitutes.
France legalises same-sex marriage in face of protests
23/04/2013 - FRANCE

France legalises same-sex marriage in face of protests

It's an issue that has divided French society for months, but this Tuesday, the National Assembly finally approved a bill making France the 14th country in the world to allow same-sex marriage. The bill also grants gay and lesbian couples the right to adopt children. But the past months have been marred by widespread demonstrations, for and against, and even a spate of violent homophobic attacks. We look back at the debate and division leading up to Tuesday's historic vote.
Polish community seeks to learn more about its Jewish heritage
23/04/2013 - POLAND

Polish community seeks to learn more about its Jewish heritage

Poland is marking 70 years since the start of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. It was the first major act of resistance against the occupying Nazis during World War II and went down in history as a heroic act to restore the dignity of a condemned people. Indeed, of the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis, half of them were Polish. Poland had the largest Jewish population of any country before World War II; it now has only around 20,000.
Half of Guantanamo prisoners on hunger strike
22/04/2013 - USA

Half of Guantanamo prisoners on hunger strike

The United States military announced on Tuesday that half of the prisoners at the Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba are on hunger strike. They are protesting their indefinite confinement and a recent crackdown on behaviour. Yet until recently, detainees were said to be gradually enjoying more freedoms: most could spend up to 22 hours a day in recreation yards with fellow prisoners, watch satellite TV and take courses, including language lessons.

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Michel Thierry Atangana

If you were fair and a credible source of information you would "the French Cameroonian" business Michel Thierry Atangana. Mr Atangana is a naturelized French citizen of Cameroonian origin. At the time of his arrest his was still a Cameroonina citizen and gained French citizen while in Jail throuh his French wife. It's unbelievable the way the government controlled french media pretend to dictate to African countries what they should do when French neocolonial interests are at stake. Simply shameful and unacceptable!

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