The Cahuzac scandal and the resulting (doomed but symbolic) no-confidence vote have placed French political focus squarely back on the domestic scene, where Hollande has proved thus far to be the most unpopular president in decades. Europe,Barack Obama,Bernard Cazeneuve,European Union,France,François Hollande,Jerome Cahuzac,Mali,Nicolas Sarkozy,Socialist Party,Matt Taylor

From building trust with militant leaders to streamlining the distribution of humanitarian aid, Ghassan Hitto has his work cut out for him. Middle East,Bashar al-Assad,France,François Hollande,Free Syrian Army,Ghassan Hitto,rebels,Syria,Syrian National Coalition,Turkey,Matt Taylor

Russia remains one of the main obstacles to more robust international pressure against the Syrian regime, it is also one of the few countries potentially able to exert influence on the autocrat. Europe,Middle East,Al-Assad family,Bashar al-Assad,François Hollande,John Kerry,Moscow,Rosoboronexport,Russia,Sergei Lavrov,Syria,Syrian uprising,Turkey,United States,Mark Galeotti

After years of relying on back-channel ransoms, France refuses to negotiate release of French family. Africa,Europe,Al-Qaeda,Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb,Boko Haram,Cameroon,France,Francois Hollande,Hostage taking,Jean-Yves Le Drian,Mali,Nigeria,Lara Vergnaud