Mali election timeline 'can be changed': ministerThe minister responsible for organising elections meant to haul Mali out of crisis said Friday the timeline can be changed, after interim president Dioncounda Traore raised eyebrows by promising a vote by July 31.
16 February 2013
Japan suggests hotline to Beijing over island spat Japan has suggested setting up a military hotline with China to avoid clashes between the two countries, which are at loggerheads over a group of disputed islands.
09 February 2013
France bombs Islamist supply routes in Mali French fighter jets have pounded Islamist supply bases in northern Mali seeking to flush the insurgents out of hiding, as France and the US on Monday called for African troops to quickly take over the operation.
05 February 2013
US police probe Chris Brown fight with rapper Ocean Los Angeles police are investigating a fight between singer Chris Brown -- still on probation for beating girlfriend Rihanna in 2009 -- and rapper Frank Ocean.
30 January 2013
British PM reaches out to Europe at Davos British Prime Minister David Cameron insisted he was not turning his back on Europe as he came face to face with world leaders for the first time since unveiling plans for an EU referendum.
27 January 2013
US calls for 'unconditional' Sudan talks with rebels The United States on Thursday called on Sudan to hold "unconditional" talks with rebels battling government forces in two strife-torn states where the UN says thousands are close to starvation.
27 January 2013
DR Congo rebels impose new leaders and taxes: officials Officials in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo accuse a rebel force of replacing traditional leaders and extorting heavy taxes from the people, while peace talks take place in Uganda under a ceasefire.
23 January 2013
Clinton stands by Japan on China island row US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a veiled warning Friday to China not to challenge Japan's control of disputed islands as Tokyo's new government vowed not to aggravate tensions.
20 January 2013
White House, Pentagon disagree over Mali: report The White House and the US Defense Department are at odds over the danger posed by radical Islamic groups that have taken control of parts of Mali and are stirring up trouble in other parts of West Africa.
20 January 2013
Britain, Algeria working 'closely' on hostage crisis Britain is working "very closely at all levels" with Algeria after one of its citizens was reportedly killed and several others seized during an attack on an Algerian gas field, Foreign Secretary William Hague said Wednesday.
18 January 2013
France faces tough, potentially long, fight in Mali French forces intervening in Mali are facing a determined, experienced and well-armed foe and will not be able to quickly count on the backing of an organised African ground force.
16 January 2013
Assad's removal from power 'impossible': RussiaRussia said Sunday that removing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power was not part of past international agreements on the crisis and was impossible to implement.
14 January 2013
Russia calls for 'transition process' in Syria Russia called Saturday for the launch of a political transition process in Syria, a day after peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met with diplomats from Moscow and Washington in a bid to resolve the nearly two-year-old conflict.
12 January 2013
UN peace envoy to meet Russian, US officials on Syria UN-Arab League peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was set to meet top US and Russian officials Friday to discuss the Syrian conflict, a day after Damascus denounced his "bias" against President Bashar al-Assad.
12 January 2013
Syria's other struggle: balancing sharia and justice In the heart of Syria's rebel territory, away from the blasts and bullets of the frontlines, another struggle is playing out: one for a new justice system that could shape the future face of the country should the regime fall.
09 January 2013
Syria's Alawite area Assad's last resort: analysts The last option for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is determined not to back down after 21 months of deadly conflict, is to battle to the end from a fortified Alawite statelet, analysts believe.
06 January 2013
Australia warns citizens against fighting in Syria Australians who take part in the fighting in Syria face up to 20 years in jail, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Bob Carr said Friday after a Melbourne man was reportedly killed in the conflict.
05 January 2013
Syria conflict kills 60,000, says UN, as clashes rage More than 60,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict, the UN said on Wednesday, as dozens more died or were wounded when an air strike hit a service station near Damascus.
