- FRANCE 24

04/04/2011 - PAKISTAN

Is the government losing control in Pakistan?

When Pakistan's Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti was assassinated for opposing the country's controversial blasphemy law, the majority of his colleagues shunned his funeral. It was seen as a sign that the government is becoming increasingly afraid of upsetting powerful Islamist groups.

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18/03/2011 - REPORTERS

Bahrain: powder keg of the Gulf?

The smallest kingdom in the Arab world is seeing protests against authorities go from strength to strength. The Shiite majority is demonstrating against the Sunni Al Khalifa dynasty, which has ruled Bahrain with an iron fist for two centuries. Shiites say they are victims of social and political discrimination.

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23/12/2010 - REPORTERS

Persecution of Ahmadi community in Pakistan

Pakistan's conflict with Taliban militants is always in the news. What is never reported is the persecution of ethnic minorities there. Members of the Ahmadi community say they are Muslim. But their exact beliefs make them a target. Muslims, particularly fundamentalists, say they want to wipe them out. The state is accused of standing by and letting the persecution go on. France 24's Cédric Molle-Laurençon has been to the heart of the Ahmadi community in Lahore.

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09/12/2010 - REPORTERS

Portugal sinks in silence

While Europe and the IMF rush to Ireland’s aid, Portugal is sinking deeper into crisis. Faced with the country’s economic difficulties, the government has announced an unprecedented austerity plan: VAT is to go up, civil servants’ salaries are to be frozen or even cut, and benefits are to be reduced too. These austerity measures are causing anxiety among the population, already confronted with hard times.

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19/11/2010 - REPORTERS

Pakistan: after the flood comes anger

In August, more than a quarter of Pakistan was submerged under water. The floods, sparked by heavy monsoon rains, were the worst Pakistan has ever seen. Around 2,000 people were killed and 20 million Pakistanis lost everything: their homes, their possessions, their crops. The catastrophe brought Pakistan to its knees.

12/10/2010 - PAKISTAN

What makes a militant?

Pakistan has become a popular destination for westerners to go and receive Islamic teaching. The Binoria Madrassa in Karachi is one such institute and is world renowned. Those who work at the school say they're not training up terrorists but are instead teaching students important Islamic morals which may have become lost in the Western world. Their website, however, tells a very different story.

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12/08/2010 - PAKISTAN

Will Islamist aid increase Islamist recruits?

Flooding in Pakistan is opening the door to extremist Islamic groups in the country. With the government struggling to deal with the humanitarian crisis that has left 1,600 people dead and even more homeless, fundamentalist groups are stepping in to help. Some fear that this may increase not only the number of sympathisers but, even more worryingly, foster new recruits.

11/06/2010 - REPORTERS

Afghanistan: building an army

In a year’s time, coalition troops will begin leaving Afghanistan and the Afghan army will start taking charge of security. But are they ready? Can Afghanistan’s military succeed in beating the invisible enemy, one that has evaded the world’s most powerful armies? Find out about the fears and challenges of the 41st Kandak, an Afghan battalion in the country’s volatile south.

25/02/2010 - PAKISTAN

Karachi, Taliban haven

Several senior militants from Afghanistan have been captured in Karachi in recent weeks, including the Afghan Taliban's second-in-command, Mullah Baradar. The arrests show the city has become a refuge for Afghan Taliban leaders. Yet at the same time, observers suggest Pakistan is becoming more willing to crack down on Karachi's growing militant population.

12/02/2010 - REPORTERS

Pakistan: when violence becomes ordinary

From booby-trapped cars to suicide bombers, the city of Peshawar in Pakistan is the scene of regular deadly attacks, often aimed at the police. FRANCE 24 went to the heart of this dangerous city to meet these policemen who are often helpless witnesses of a violence that has become commonplace.

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