Mass protests have rocked several Arab countries this year in an echo of the 2011 revolts that toppled long-time dictators in countries including Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.

Jacques Chirac, who died on Thursday at the age of 86, was a charismatic giant of French post-war politics whose popular touch gave him enduring appeal to voters, even after a conviction for graft.

Key dates in the history of communist China, founded 70 years ago.

- 1949: communist republic declared - 

The announcement Tuesday of a formal impeachment inquiry by the Democrats in the House of Representatives into President Donald Trump for abuse of power is a high-stakes gambit with uncertain consequences.

The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 paved the way for the reunification less than a year later of Germany, split into East and West for 45 years.

Impoverished Yemen has been mired in a devastating conflict since Iran-backed fighters overran the capital Sanaa five years ago prompting Saudi Arabia and its allies to launch a military intervention the following year.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have spiralled since US President Donald Trump came to power, quit the multilateral deal on Iran's nuclear programme and reimposed sweeping sanctions.

Tens of millions of Shiite Muslims from around the world visited Iraq on Sept. 10 this year to see the shrines of Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and his brother Abbas on the day of “Ashura.”

This annual pilgrimage marks the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic new year. As the Islamic calendar is a lunar one, the day of Ashura changes from year to year.

Eight years after triggering the Arab Spring, Tunisia is held up as a model of democratic transition, while other countries that experienced the mass uprisings are gripped by chaos, repression or war.

Despite priding itself on being the sole country to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings as a functioning democracy, Tunisia faces challenges on its new political path.