mali's new president is said to be officially enough curated today. he french president among the leaders honoring him. new clashes break out near cairo. egyptian security forces stormed the area. militant attacks have been on the rise since the overthrow of the president in july. a surprise vote in the senate could mark the end of child beauty pageants and france. mali's new president is set to

be officially inaugurated today. he was sworn in at an event earlier this month. today, he will be honored by a series of world leaders. françois hollande will be speaking at the ceremony today just eight months aftermali -- after mali was re united -- reu nited. what can the government do immediately to try to bring the country back together cap go -- together? >> france continues to play a big role in africa. france's popularity is at an all-time high. friends can take credit for

stopping the advance of extremists and dismantling the country. putting the country back together will not be easy. there is a good chance they may succeed. the new president has shown he is ready to listen to the people in the north, to all ethnic groups and some others like arabs and those that have been fighting for independence. he has made some important moves, for example, establishing a ministry for the northern regions. the succession of presidents have ignored the desert north for many decades, which has led to the independence movements. the state has to be present in the vast country and provide services to the people. the people in the north feel like they have been ignored. that is the first task, along

with reconciling the various ethnic groups and trying to avoid reprisals for what has happened over the next two years. the other major problem is the rebuilding of the malian military, which has totally collapsed. the european union is playing an important role. they will train six house and men to make them -- 6000 men to make them into a force that includes the various ethnic roots. there was the training of a second battalion of 700 men. it is a difficult process because the military is in shatters. >> french president françois hollande arrived to their. he is not the only foreign dignitary. the king of morocco.

mali has great importance to the world. what is the process for stabilizing mali and what are the chances for success? >> the tragedy focused the international community on what is happening there. it has become a wild west, vast area where all kinds of track aching -- trafficking has been going on and terrorist groups have been able to do what they wanted. that could be a terrorist threat to the mediterranean basis. they are pouring in aid almost 13,000 u.n. troops will be stationed there. the international community has promised 3.2 billion euros to help rebuild the country. france has 3000 troops on the ground. they want to reduce that to

about 1000 by the end of the year. all of the u.n. agencies and the major non-governmental agencies won't try to put this country back together and -- want to put this country back together. mali is one of the poorest countries on earth. we will cf. the m-- see if the malian people are up to it. they realize they lost their country and they really want to put it back together and have a new start. >> let's go to our reporter at the airport. what is your feeling from the people you have been speaking to? is there a sense of optimism or hope for the future for the people there in mali? >> there is hope for the future.

they were close to the brink. they know that the past is not helpful, especially the fact that the new president was overwhelmingly elected. he is a man of the past. he is a politician who has disappointed the malians. they are aware that there are huge challenges oh -- ahead to make sure democracy will become strong. there are supposed to be parliamentary elections. nothing has been decided. there are 3.2 euros that were pledged and they are waiting to

see how it will be spent. what happened in mali was a rebellion by people in the north because they work marginalized. their needs will need to be addressed. it will be a challenge for the new president. >> thank you for that. what are your thoughts on these legislative elections yeah oh can they be done -- what are your thoughts on these legislative elections? >> if the presidential election is any indication, the presidential election came off quite well under extremely difficult circumstances. most people did not think they could happen that soon. there were a lot of problems. a lot of technical problems. a lot of people who could not vote. there are almost 200,000

refugees in the surrounding countries. the voter turnout there was almost a zero -- almost zero. they should be able to fix the remaining technical problems. hopefully, the election will be transparent and clean. there is a reason for hope. the first round is not until november 20 four. the second round is december 15. they have -- the first round is not until november 24. they have over 3000 internally displaced people. if the elections are transparent and democratic, there will be a government in place. hopefully, malian democracy will

be in place and they can start to solve some of the problems. >> you will be with us a bit later as we will be broadcasting the speech from the french president, françois hollande. some words from the new malian president. let's go to egypt where deadly clashes roque out and security forces stormed a -- clashes broke out and security forces stormed a known hideout. the army will continue to search for islamist fighters. attacks have been on the rise since the overthrow of mohamed morsi, egypt's first freely elected president. >> a dawn raid turned deadly

with a senior security officer killed in the crossfire. they entered the town with the goal of restoring government control over the known islam is stronghold. on august 14, the police station was hit with a rocket propelled grenades. 11 police officers were killed. police vehicles have quickly surrounded the town, using tear gas to help their advance. a daytime curfew has been imposed on residents as please go door-to-door searching for 140 men, including those involved in the august 14 attacks. please set up barricades around the outskirts. it is part of a wider attempt to restore order around areas loyal

to mohamed morsi, who was forced out of office in july. egypt has announced it will shorten its curfew to start at midnight rather than 11:00 p.m. the curfew was imposed after two sit-ins were broken up. on friday, traditionally a day of protest, the curfew will continue to begin at 7:00 p.m. the syrian president has slammed a u.n. report on chemical weapons as unrealistic. in an interview, he continued to assist -- insist the rebels were to blame for a chemical attack last month. he said the government will abide to an agreement to turn over his chemical weapons. >> the credibility of the videos have not been verified. the only verified being, the

samples that the delegation. of blood and other things. you cannot build a report on videos. >> they are blazing -- basing it on the blood samples. >> the president of iran says his country has never and will never seek a nuclear bomb. in an interview with the news, he says he has full authority to resolve a nuclear standoff with the west. those comments come days before he makes his first appearance at the u n assembly. in libya calm -- in libya, qaddafi's son was due at a pretrial hearing in tripoli today. there were doubts whether his

captors would allow him to attend. he and the former spy chief are facing charges over alleged crimes committed during qaddafi's 42 years in power. if found guilty, they could face the death penalty. >> once painted as a reformer, he became his father's most vocal champion. >> is our country. it is our people. we live and die here. >> he was arrested in november of 2011 months after qaddafi's death. he is accused of murder, torture, and other crimes committed while he helped coordinate the violent torture of protesters.

the intelligence chief was entrusted with the dark side of the libyan spying operation. he is accused of masterminding the 1998 -- 1988 lockerbie bombing. he oversaw years of torture, murder, and oppression as head of the secret police. the two men are charged with crimes related to could doff the's four decade 00 -- could doff the's 0-- qaddafi's four decade long rule. libyan officials are anxious to show that the central government is in control and can handle the high-profile trial. they have ordered militias to

transfer him to tripoli. >> a european union customs officer has been shot dead in the northern region of close of all --kosov -- kosovo. it is the first deadly attack on the eu mission since it was created. the situation does remain tense. in the u.s., starbucks is telling its customers to check their guns at the door. the coffee chain says firearms are no longer welcome, but stopped short of an outright dan. that -- out rightban -- ou tright. ban. supporters celebrated their deferral to local laws. starbucks is known to take firm

political stances, but this time it is not taking sides. france's answer to the all american kids beauty pageants. they may soon be outlawed. the senate voted to ban judy competitions for girls --beauty -- beauty competitions for girls under 16 years old. >> she loves beauty pageants and she has been a successful contestant. >> i like fashion, smiling, and posing. >> her dreams could be cut short. parliament has voted to ban ug -- beauty contests for girls under 16. >> a are a symbol of the way

women are defined -- they are a symbol of the way women are defined by their beauty. >> french pageants are not on the same scale as their flashy american equivalents. the bill will go to the lower house of parliament for discussion and a later vote. pageant organizers could face two years in prison and 30,000 euro and finds. >> let's go back to the airport where leaders around africa are arriving for the inauguration of the new president of mali. he was sworn in officially a few weeks ago. there will be a larger ceremonial inauguration. french president françois hollande will be speaking. we will be carrying that speech for you. you are watching "france 24."

please stay with us. >> welcome to this edition of the week in the americas. who was aaron alexis. authorities are trying to figure out how and why a rookie four- year-old man -- a turkey for 0 =-- 34-year-old man was able to kill 12 people. a man with serious mental health issues walked onto a naval base and killed 12 people. aaron alexis had been in trouble with the police before. a recent background check revealed nothing but a traffic fine. we have this report. >> a confusing picture has emerged of aaron alexis the

34-year-old from texas. anger management issues point to a troubled past. he is described as a friendly and peaceloving man. >> it is like dr. jekyll-mr. hyde. who was this guy? the guy that i knew was so honorable. >> others hinted at a different side to his character. >> he was frustrated with the government. as a veteran, he did not feel like he was getting treated right or fairly. >> he joined the navy reserve in 2007, where he served as an aviation the tricks and -- electrician and fort worth texas. he had a number of weapons related incidents in his name. in 2000 10, he was arrested on

suspicion of firing shots -- 2010, he was arrested on suspicion of firing shots in and out parliament. his father said he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. they were related to the events of september 11. he was forced to leave the navy reserve. he found work as a waiter and converted to buddhism after developing a keen interest in the thai culture and language. >> he is a good guy. i cannot say if he did it or not. nothing told me he was going to be aggressive or that he was going to kill someone. >> he moved from texas to the u.s. capitol a few weeks ago were he was a contractor.

he had a valid pass into the navy yard, but it is not known how he brought weapons onto the base. >> the race is on to secure one of the world's most powerful positions. ben bernanke is due to set down. -- stepped down. if successful, janet yellin will become the first woman to hold the job. yellen -- yellen will become the first woman to hold the job as fed chairman. the front runner is already out of the race. mary summers is no longer a candidate despite his endorsement from the president. -- larry summers is no longer a candidate despite his endorsement from the president. >> he can cut through the heart of the most complex and novel

policy challenges. >> summers came under criticism for sexist comments. his decision to withdraw his name came as a surprise to observe her -- observers. janetyellen -- janet yellen has strong support from democrats. she will have competition from five other major contenders. among them, three former vice president's of the fed. -- vice presidents of the fed. timothy geithner is said to be interested in the position. economic heavyweights are ready to take on the considerable challenge of managing america's central banking system.

it defines u.s. monetary policy and promotes maximum employment. bernanke moved to inject hundreds of billions of dollars into the banking system after the crash on wall street. all eyes are on the white house. barack obama will name the next chairman of the fed before the decision is approved by the senate. >> preserving state neutrality or cracking down on religious freedom. that is the debate underway in québec as the government tries to push through a chart of values. if the bill is passed, it will become illegal for any state in floyd e to wear religious signs and symbols. -- employee to where religious signs and symbols. >> if the charger is adopted she will be able to keep it.

she does not like what she thinks is a double standard. >> if we ask a colleague to remove her headscarf, i do not see why i should keep my cross. it is important to me, but it is about fairness. >> the government published a series of government -- of drawings to show which symbols are ostentatious and which are not. for the director of this institution, the charge can be beneficial, but it should not go as far as the veil or the cross. >> i respect the individual as a person as long as they do not show off their religion. >> many women working in the health care profession wear a veil. that bothers the mayor of a montréal borough. >> people are feeling uncomfortable.

>> many decry the charter as a policy because parliament has no plan to remove the cross from the national assembly. turbines are worn in parliament. the charger is criticized in other provinces. the english-language press does not mince is the words. >> freedom of religion is the basic right in canada. we do not understand how québec can threaten this value. this fundamental right. >> the debate has only just begun. some have already seized the opportunity to invite those happy with the charter to leave québec regardless of their religion. >> a woman of indian descent won

the miss america crown for the first time this week. she called it a victory for diversity in the usa. not everyone agrees. some made racist comments on twitter, renting her a terrorist -- branding her a terrorist. she has chosen to rise above that comment. she says she is first and foremost an american.

>> three british workers -- abbas tarver, a midwife, and a paramedic. -- a bus driver, a midwife, and a paramedic. they do their jobs in some of the toughest conditions on the planet. >> that was a really cruel birth. >> that is one satisfied customer. >> how do you guys do this in these conditions? >> angie dimon is leaving her home in the welsh valleys and her job as a cardiff paramedic to work in guatemala city.