Thirty years at the top for Paul Biya - and no sign of stopping

This month marks the 30th anniversary of Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s rise to power. While his supporters claim Biya has brought the country stability and peace, many of their countrymen disagree. Around 70% of young workers are stuck in low-income jobs, while formal employment has represented less than 10% of the labour force since the 1990s. Biya is 79 years old and yet there isn’t an obvious candidate to replace him at the helm.

FOCUS

26/08/2009 - USA

Ted Kennedy: the dream lives on

Edward Kennedy, the "Lion of the Senate", has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. A gifted orator and liberal champion, the brother of JFK and "Bobby" Kennedy was also the last patriarch of the country's most famous political dynasty.

26/08/2009 - INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Gearing up for the autumn swine flu surge

Two months after the United Nations' health agency warned that Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak had become a pandemic, schools and health authorities across the Northern Hemisphere are rushing to prepare for the new term.

25/08/2009 - FRANCE

Sarkozy meets France's top bankers, again

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has once more met with France's top bankers amid growing public anger over excessive pay. Banks have now agreed to adopt a system of performance-linked pay bonuses, but will it prove effective?

MALAYSIA

Woman sentenced to caning for drinking beer

Our Focus programme looks at the case of Kartika Sari Dewa Shukarn, a Malaysian model who pleaded guilty to drinking beer in public and has been sentenced to caning after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan comes to an end.

USA

Obama's healthcare reforms under pressure

President Barack Obama’s ambitious healthcare reforms are under pressure. Republicans have staged a highly effective campaign to block what they view as a “socialist” policy, leading to heated scenes in town halls all over the USA.