Our Focus programme brings you exclusive reports from around the world, followed by comment and analysis from our newsroom in Paris. Monday to Friday at 7.15 am and 11.15 pm.
US ambassador killed amid growing insecurity in Libya
The lack of security in Libya was brought abruptly to the world's attention this week as the US ambassador, Christopher Stevens, was killed in Benghazi. Since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in August 2011, the country has spiralled out of control with self-appointed militias placing themselves in charge of policing. The new government desperately needs to get proper law and order authorities in place; Gaddafi's $23bn arsenal of weapons has been looted and locals fear for their safety.
Sri Lanka organised Saturday the first vote since the government forces defeated the Tigers three months ago. However, the situation is still unsecured and the country still ethnically divided with 300 000 Tamils detained in refugee camps.
On August 7 2008, Georgia and Russia went to war over the small breakaway province of South Ossetia. One year on, tensions on the ground remain high, to the point that there are even fears in some quarters of another war.
Over one week after the end of deadly clashes between governmental forces and an obscure cult inspired by Afghanistan's Taliban, the city of Maidiguru in northern Nigeria is still under shock.
Last week, China's Supreme Court said it wished to drastically reduce the number of death sentences handed out each year - reportedly more than the rest of the world put together. But abolishing the death penalty altogether is not on the agenda.
Hernan Castillo, author of a book linking Hugo Chavez to the FARC rebel group, is one of a number of Venezuelan thinkers leaving a hostile country they feel now resembles a police state for fear of persecution for their political views.
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