SPECIAL REPORTS

Last modification: 14/12/11 - SPECIAL REPORT

Democracy put to the test in DR Congo

On November 28, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held presidential and parliamentary elections for the second time in the country's history. The incumbent, Joseph Kabila, who has been in power since 2001 and won the previous election in 2006, is seeking re-election. The lead-up to the second round of the 2006 vote saw rivalling camps face off in deadly gun battles. The presidential poll will take place in a single round this time and tensions are running high.
Last modification: 14/12/11 - SPECIAL REPORT

Karachigate: Terrorists or French ruling elite behind killing?

In 2002 a suicide bomber killed 11 French marine engineers in Karachi, Pakistan. Initially Islamic terrorists were blamed, but French investigative judges and journalists have since turned up new clues. Were the killings linked to submarine sales to Pakistan in the 1990s? Did France's most prominent politicians conjure up a complex kickback scheme that went wrong? Now the families of the bombing victims want answers.
Last modification: 07/12/11 - FRANCE 24

FRANCE 24 celebrates five years on the air

FRANCE 24 is celebrating five years of broadcasting in French, English and Arabic. The channel was launched on 6 December 2006 and today has over 30 million weekly viewers and some one million ‘Likes’ on Facebook. Two million people have downloaded our awardwinning mobile app and some 250,000 follow us on Twitter. To honour the occasion, we've prepared an exceptional day of news for our viewers all over the world. Happy Birthday, FRANCE 24!
Last modification: 29/11/11 - SPECIAL REPORT

Italy: Monti to the rescue

Caught under the weight of a massive debt that has reached 120% of its GDP, Italy has been scrambling to regain economic stability and save itself from Europe’s sovereign debt crisis. Following the ignominious departure of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on November 12, the task of implementing the unpalatable cost-cutting reforms demanded by Italy’s European partners has fallen on Mario Monti, a former European commissioner. Monti, whose technocratic cabinet contains no politicians, has said he intends to serve a full term until 2013.
Last modification: 23/11/11 - JAPAN

From devastating earthquake to major nuclear crisis

It is Japan's biggest crisis since the Second World War. On Friday March 11, a massive 8.9 magnitude quake struck near Japan's east coast and was followed by a devastating tsunami, which wiped out swathes of the country's coastline. The deadly tidal wave also knocked out several reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power station, giving the world its biggest nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.
Last modification: 16/11/11 - ROYAL WEDDING

Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot

Britain is preparing for its biggest royal event in 30 years. The marriage of the future king of England to Kate Middleton has captured the public’s imagination and dominated the front pages of magazines and newspapers around the world. The second in line to the throne, a Royal Air Force helicopter pilot, proposed last fall to Kate, 29, the daughter of self-made millionaires, using Princess Diana's engagement ring.
Last modification: 04/11/11 - ECONOMY

Greece cut to the bone

Will Greek islands soon be on sale? It may sound far-fetched, but it’s one of the proposed solutions to save the country, which is drowning in debt and on the brink of default. The €110 billion bailout granted by the EU and IMF in May 2010 may not be enough, and Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou is pushing through tough new austerity measures – much to the displeasure of millions of Greek citizens who have taken to the streets over the past months.
Last modification: 02/10/11 - SPECIAL REPORT

Rugby World Cup: scrum time in 'All Blacks' territory

New Zealand is playing host to the world and is also the overwhelming favourite in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. From September 9 to October 23, find all the scores, highlights and more from the pitch in our special report.
Last modification: 15/09/11 - USA

September 11, 2001: Ten years later

On September 11, 2001, four airliners were hijacked by 19 al Qaeda terrorists. Two of them slammed into New York’s World Trade Center while a third hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth crashed in a field in rural Pennsylvania. More than 2,900 people were killed in the worst terrorist attack on US soil. In the aftermath of 9/11, then US president George W. Bush launched a “war on terror” that saw a global crackdown on Islamist militants as well as the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Last modification: 02/08/11 - EGYPT

Egypt after Mubarak

After an 18-day revolution that forced president Hosni Mubarak from power, a military council is guiding Egypt through a “peaceful transition” that has already included a referendum-approved package of constitutional amendments. Military leaders have announced that presidential elections will be held in November, leaving the country’s emerging political groups only a few months to organise ahead of the much-awaited poll.
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