- FRANCE 24

18/01/2012 - REPORTERS

A Burmese spring

After half a century of military dictatorship, there are signs of growing democratic openness in Burma. After freeing Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in 2010, the regime has now released political prisoners and opened a dialogue with separatist guerrillas. Our reporters travelled across the country to find out why one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world is suddenly opening up.

(1) comment

19/12/2011 - REPORTERS

Exclusive report: Inside North Korea

Just a few weeks before North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died, reportedly of a heart attack, FRANCE 24’s Cyril Payen managed to go into North Korea - one of the most closed countries in the world.

(4) comments

08/11/2011 - THAILAND

Price of rice set to soar

Thailand, the world's biggest producer of rice, has been hit hard by floods with 3.5 million tonnes of rice thought to have been damaged. But even before the floods hit, there was another problem: the government is offering to buy rice at a 50% premium. Their plan is to stockpile the rice to increase the price then to sell the produce at a higher rate to alleviate poverty among farmers.

04/11/2011 - REPORTERS

Slaves to sulphur

They descend into the hellish conditions of a volcano, inhale toxic fumes, and carry their bodyweight in sulphur ore - all for $3 a day. This is the plight of the miners of Kawa Ijen in Java, who toil at one of the last mines in the world to employ such methods. Our report takes you into the choking atmosphere of a working day unthinkable for most of us.

28/09/2011 - BURMA

Rape as a weapon of war?

This is the sad and disturbing story of a teenage girl from Shan State, Burma. Her parents were shot before her very eyes, and she was then raped by Burmese junta soldiers. Many other women have endured such an ordeal and have sought refuge across the border in Thailand. They claim the Burmese authorities are clearly giving the go-ahead to use rape as a military weapon in operations against ethnic rebellions.

21/07/2011 - THAILAND

The future's Red - but not yet united

The elections are done and dusted and the Thai people are now waiting for Yingluck Shinawatra to form her government. But even among those who voted for her, there's still some feeling of dissatisfaction and division in Thai politics. Yingluck is yet to prove that she is her own person and not just a proxy of her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin.

29/06/2011 - THAILAND

A new flag bearer for the 'Red Shirts'

Five years after being ousted in a coup, could former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra be making a comeback? His younger sister is a candidate in the elections being held this weekend and she's winning the allegiance of a large proportion of her brother's supporters, the "Red Shirts". But there are fears that the vote could trigger a repeat of last year's protests which held Bangkok under siege for two months.

15/06/2011 - REPORTERS

Exclusive: On the trail of al Qaeda’s Southeast Asian soldiers

In parts of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, Osama Bin Laden is being mourned by young Islamist activists who are swearing to avenge him. From the jungles of the Philippines to the jails of Indonesia, FRANCE 24 reporters went on the trail of al Qaeda's Asian network for this exclusive report.

(4) comments

01/04/2011 - REPORTERS

Japan: Kessennuma, a town in ruins

When the massive earthquake and tsunami struck, life in the peaceful town of Kesennuma in north-eastern Japan changed forever. In a matter of minutes, the town was in ruins. France 24’s reporting team met distraught townspeople struggling to survive - and rescue workers racing against time to save lives

01/03/2011 - REPORTERS

Thailand: the war of the 'Body Snatchers'

In central Bangkok, teams of "Body Snatchers" race to the latest crime or accident scene to help save lives. But with big bucks at stake, competition is rife between difference rescue companies, who try to collect as many bodies as possible.