Noor, the soap that breaks up couples
Everyone's talking about Noor this summer. The Turkish series has caused such a storm in the Middle East, it's even been blamed for breaking up marriages and causing suicides. Read more...
Do NBA stars really make a difference?
Many of NBA pros will be playing for their national teams in China. The USA, with 12 NBA players, has the largest contingent. But does the chance of winning an Olympic title increase with the number of NBA players on the team? Read more
A strangely quiet city
Between installing hyper-security measures and exhorting locals to leave the city, the Chinese government has changed the face of the capital. Take a tour of an empty Beijing. Read more
D-day for the opening ceremony
Finally, residents in Beijing are delighted to see the Olympic flame burning in the Chinese sky. Our Observers present in Beijing and Shanghai sent their pictures and comments to help you experience the opening day of the Games. Read more
A FRANCE 24 article censored in Tunisia?
We’re all stuck in a social elevator says French union
In these modern times, it's a lift that takes you from one rung of the social ladder to the next. And in France, the lift is out of order. This is the scenario for a new French comedy, produced by a trade union. Seven colleagues, all desperate to get to the next level, but stuck in the lift. It's certainly funny, but will it attract people to get involved in unions? Read more and watch the clips...
Beijing dreams of a clean Games
Chinese authorities are determined to host a clean Games. To accomplish this, and avoid the repeated embarrassments of the 2004 Athens Games, a staggering 4,500 drug tests have been programmed. Twenty eight cases were revealed in the last Olympics, up from Sydney's 10 in the year 2000. Read more
Nouakchott’s bloodless coup seen by an expat
Not even a year and a half since he came into power, the first ever democratically elected president since Mauritania's independence in 1960 was ousted in a coup on Wednesday. Our Observer in Nouakchott tells us about her experiences of the day. Read more...
Beijing Olympics: "a very exclusive party"
After fighting off lengthy and widespread opposition in the run up to the event, the Beijing Olympics took to the starting line on Wednesday night. An Observers in Tianjin, where one such event is being held, described the atmosphere in the city. Read more...
Berlusconi's soldiers walk the streets of Italy
The Italian government has sent soldiers out into the streets of the country's major cities in an attempt to curb crime and prevent terrorist attacks. A tactic usually employed in war time, the deployment has given rise to mixed reactions. Read more...
