The son of former French president François Mitterrand, Jean-Christophe, and Senator Charles Pasqua, a former French interior minister, are among those convicted by a Paris court in the "Angolagate" arms-to-Africa trial.

In an exclusive FRANCE 24 report, our special correspondents in Afghanistan, Lucas Menget and Johan Bodin, followed a French military operation against Taliban fighters in the restive Kapisa valley, north-east of Kabul.

The war crimes trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic resumed in The Hague on Tuesday, despite his boycott of the proceedings. Prosecutors said Karadzic had "harnessed the forces of nationalism" to advance his ethnic cleansing agenda.

Lebanese security forces say eight rockets landed near the southern village of Houla, minutes after a rocket was fired into northern Israel.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed the demands of farmers' unions and agricultural employers in a speech on Tuesday, promising to protect the industry through one billion euros in government loans, 650 million euros in aid, and tax cuts.

The Church of Scientology in France has been found guilty of defrauding its followers and its leaders have been handed fines and suspended prison sentences. However, the court did not ban the organisation's activities in France.

This Is It", a film featuring the rehearsal sessions of Michael Jackson's comeback concert, makes its world debut on Tuesday. Jackson's "last performance" will be screened simultaneously in more than 15 venues, in five continents.

Eight US soldiers died in a bomb attack in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday. This made October the deadliest month for US troops in Afghanistan since they originally entered the country eight years ago.

The EU has issued an arms embargo on Guinea and slapped financial and travel sanctions on members of the country's ruling junta. The African country was plunged into crisis following the massacre of opposition protesters in Conakry in September.

The Czech Republic's highest court has said it will adjourn until November 3, delaying its ruling on whether the Lisbon Treaty violates the country's constitution.

Lawyers for Samantha Geimer, the victim in the Roman Polanski child sex case, have reiterated their client's request for authorities to dismiss the criminal case against the famous film director.

Amnesty International accused Israel on Tuesday of restricting Palestinian access to water while allowing Jewish settlers generous supplies. Israel says it allows access to twice as much water than it is required to under existing agreements.

RFI The Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has backed a proposal from Malaysia to grant greater autonomy to the troubled south of the country. http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/118/article_5631.asp

A nephew of de facto leader Roberto Micheletti was killed in a possible political attack and a colonel was shot dead in a separate incident. Micheletti (pictured) has ruled Honduras since a June 28 coup.

Al Qaeda's Iraqi wing has claimed responsibility for Sunday's double suicide bombings in Baghdad that killed around 100 people and wounded over 500 more.

The first test flight of a rocket designed to replace the aging US space shuttle fleet is scheduled for Tuesday amid uncertainty over the future of manned space flight.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (pictured) are "worlds apart", a spokesman for the prime minister said after a meeting to find a way out of political deadlock.