- FRANCE 24

30/01/2012 - HUNGARY

Life after the red sludge disaster

On October 4th 2010, the wall of the waste reservoir of the MAL aluminium plant in western Hungary gave way. A million cubic metres of red sludge poured out over a number of settlements, with the town of Devecser and the village of Kolontar the worst hit. Nine people died, and whole districts had to be written off.

26/01/2012 - UKRAINE

Fears for the health of jailed former Ukrainian PM

The health of Ukraine's former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, is of growing concern. Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison last October for alleged abuse of office over a gas contract signed with Russia in 2009. The EU, the US and Russia have all said the sentence was politically motivated and unfair, however disadvantageous the gas contract might have been. Worse, there are now accusations that the Ukrainian authorities may be trying to kill her through neglect.

09/01/2012 - HUNGARY

Hungary's new constitution raises concern

In Hungary, concerns are mounting over the possible abuse of power by Viktor Orban's conservative nationalist government. The country's new constitution has changed the electoral law and its members now hold nearly all positions of power in the country. Investors and the IMF have been largely scared off, which has Europe increasingly worried about Hungary defaulting on its debt.

19/12/2011 - Ukraine

Ukraine, Yanukovych style

Ukraine and the EU have drawn up a free trade and association deal that would be Kiev's biggest ever step towards European integration. However, Brussels is worried about Ukrainian democracy drifting towards authoritarianism under President Viktor Yanukovych. Some countries are refusing to sign the deal unless his imprisoned rival, Yulia Tymoshenko is released. Is Ukraine giving up on Europe and turning back towards Russia? Our correspondent Gulliver Cragg reports from Yanukovych's heartland.

05/10/2011 - POLAND

A risky election

Poland is gearing up for a general election on Sunday, a risky thing to do for a government holding the EU's rotating presidency. Just a few months ago, the coalition led by the Civic Platform party looked set to cruise to re-election, making Donald Tusk the first post-communist premier to serve two terms. But things aren't looking so certain now...

19/09/2011 - PLANET HOPE

Is shale gas good for the planet?

Poland dreams of energy independence. The country’s enormous fields of shale gas could be enough to supply its needs for the next 300 years. But environmentalists have attacked the extraction method. We investigate a country torn between preserving the environment and the desire for energy independence.

25/08/2011 - UKRAINE

Ukraine marks 20th anniversary amid economic and political gloom

Exactly 20 years ago today, the parliament of Soviet Ukraine voted to declare independence, and a new country - the largest in Europe - was born. Yet many of those Ukrainians who ratified that decision en masse in 1991 are less enthusiastic today. Fewer than half say they'd vote for independence again. It isn't a sense of nationhood that's lacking, but faith in their political leaders.

(1) comment

18/07/2011 - BELARUS

Belarusians become latest to harness protest power of social networks

After a crackdown on protests against an apparently fixed election, opposition to Aleksandr Lukashenko's rule had gone quiet. But the worst economic crisis there since the fall of the Soviet Union has hit Belarusians hard, and they're losing patience with their leader. Since early June, a new movement has emerged: every Wednesday, so-called 'silent protests' are held, directed via social networking sites.

08/06/2011 - POLAND

Polish reputation for football violence could tarnish Euro 2012

All being well, the Euro 2012 football championships will kick off in Warsaw in June next year. Poland is hosting the tournament jointly with Ukraine - the first time it will have been held east of the former Iron Curtain. But UEFA has major concerns about the prospect of football hooligans disrupting the tournament.

(3) comments

28/04/2011 - POLAND

Birthplace of Pope John Paul II prepares for his beatification

On Sunday May 1st, Pope John Paul II is to be beatified. This is the last major hurdle on the path to sainthood and means he becomes a "blessed". The man born Karol Wojtyla was put on the fast track to sainthood by the Vatican, after cries of "Santo Subito!" (Sainthood Now!) erupted during his funeral six years ago.