Our Focus programme brings you exclusive reports from around the world, followed by comment and analysis from our newsroom. Monday to Friday at 7.45 am Paris time.
He's had 14 years in power and he wants six more. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has survived a coup attempt, protests and several votes against his administration. He swept to victory easily back in 2006, but now faces a serious challenge from long-time opponent Henrique Capriles. The 40-year-old lawyer is backed by a coalition of more than 30 opposition parties.
The Russian parliament has passed a law forcing all NGOs in Russia that receive funds from abroad to brand themselves as "foreign agents". Since the law took hold, several organisations have said they may have to close. As the Kremlin accuses them of conducting political activities financed from abroad, all of these organisations are coming under unprecedented pressure from the government.
Another arrest has been made in the so-called "Tapie Affair" that's been making headlines in France. First, IMF chief Christine Lagarde was questioned by police officers as a witness over a €400 million compenation package paid to French tycoon Bernard Tapie. Now Pierre Estoup - a judge on the arbitration panel who made the award to Tapie - is facing accusations of fraud, after it emerged he and Tapie are long-standing friends.
When Israel bombed "stocks of weapons" in Damascus destined for Hezbollah, it risked retaliation from the Shiite armed group. Now embroiled in the Syrian conflict, Hezbollah has not yet responded. But the Jewish state has intensified its violations of Lebanese airspace and carried out an increased number of simulated attacks on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Tension in the area is particularly high, as our reporters found out.
On Monday, the 27 member states of the EU agreed to lift the arms embargo in place against Syria. From August 1st, the EU will be able to supply the rebels with weapons, in order to help them in their two year-long battle to overthrow Bashar al-Assad. But many questions remain, such as how to ensure the weapons do not end up in the wrong hands.
With the departure of foreign troops next year, more and more Afghans are fleeing their country. They fear for their jobs after the pull-out; unemployment is already running at 40%. Many also fear a return of the Taliban. People are applying for visas in all foreign embassies, with the most solicited being the Iranian one. Iran shares a language and culture with Afghanistan, yet it's not easy for Afghans to move there. Those who manage it are often expelled and sent home.
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