Can a country run itself without a government? ... Yes!

It's over a year since the government of Prime Minister Yves Leterme resigned, unable to reach a compromise between warring MPs from the Flemish and Walloon regions of the country. Belgium is divided starkly along linguistic faultlines, but the country is still managing to run itself, even after 12 months with a power vacuum.

FOCUS

03/05/2013 - MALAYSIA

Malaysian opposition optimistic ahead of general election

Malaysians head to the polls this Sunday, and for the first time since independence in 1957, an opposition party could clinch victory. The ruling party, Barisan Nasional, is the world's longest continually elected governing coalition. Yet it has become increasingly unpopular over the past five years. Malaysians are now voicing disapproval at widespread allegations of corruption.

02/05/2013 - SYRIA

Refugees seek a better life in France

More than 1.4 million Syrians have now fled the war-torn country as fighting continues to rage. Most refugees have settled in neighbouring Middle Eastern states where many cram into overcrowded camps, but a number have made their way to European countries like France. Our reporters caught up with some Syrian refugees who are now living in Paris.

02/05/2013 - DAGESTAN

Quelling the insurgency in Dagestan

The Russian republic of Dagestan, in the North Caucasus, has hit the headlines recently because of its connections with Boston marathon bombing suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Their parents live there and both brothers spent time there. The region has seen increasing Islamic radicalisation and a fierce struggle by the authorities to quell the insurgency.

01/05/2013 - LIBYA

Libya militiamen step up pressure on government

Powerful militiamen are once again showing their muscle to press their demands on how Libya should be run. The gunmen are still surrounding the justice and foreign ministries in Tripoli. They are calling for an "isolation law" to pass, which would bar any former member of the Gaddafi regime from political life. But some believe they are using the law as a pretext to try to bring down Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.

01/05/2013 - FRANCE

Tackling unemployment with 'Generation Contracts'

With French unemployment at record levels, President François Hollande has launched a number of programmes to tackle joblessness, such as "Contracts of the Future," and "Generation Contracts", aimed at the young in particular. The government has promised financial help to companies willing to hire people under the age of 26, and more money to companies willing to hold on to senior workers that can train them up.