International donor conference for war-torn Mali opens An international donor conference to drum up funds and troops to help the military operation against Islamist militants in Mali opened on Tuesday at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital.
French-led troops close in on Timbuktu French-led troops were closing in on Mali's fabled desert city of Timbuktu after capturing a string of other towns in their offensive against Islamists in the north of the country.
28 January 2013
Australia joins Europeans in Benghazi threat alert Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Australia have all urged their citizens to leave the Libyan city of Benghazi due to a "specific, imminent threat to Westerners", linked to French action in Mali.
27 January 2013
Music industry finally on road to recovery News that the global music industry has finally turned the corner and is on the road to recovery should help get the annual four-day gathering of many of the world's top music execs at the MIDEM trade fair.
26 January 2013
French planes destroy Islamist bases in Mali French warplanes have destroyed two Islamist bases in northern Mali as an Al-Qaeda-linked group there split, with the splinter group calling for talks to end the offensive against the militants.
26 January 2013
Robuchon outlets top Asian restaurant poll Two restaurants run by French celebrity chef Joel Robuchon in Macau and Hong Kong have placed first and third in an annual poll of Asia's Top 20 fine dining establishments.
26 January 2013
Mexico top court frees French woman jailed for kidnap A French woman was freed from Mexican prison Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruled that police violated her rights by staging her arrest for kidnapping on national television seven years ago.
France says military goal is 'total reconquest of Mali' French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday the end goal of France's military action in Mali was to retake control of the whole country from Islamist militants who have seized the north.
22 January 2013
Transport disrupted as France blanketed in snow Heavy snowfall hit large parts of France on Sunday, putting Paris under a picturesque blanket of white stuff but causing major disruptions to air, road and rail transport.
Versace couture sparkles as menswear ends on snowy note Donatella Versace dazzled Paris on a dark, snowy night Sunday with a spring couture collection heavy on 24-carat gold pinstripes and crystal embroidery that some might say tended towards bling.
Mali operation another burden for French budget The French offensive in Mali will burden a defence budget that was expected to get relief from the withdrawal of French forces from Afghanistan.
21 January 2013
Camillo goes back to basics for Cerruti fashion debut New Cerruti designer Aldo Maria Camillo presented a classic collection at the Paris menswear shows with a firm emphasis on the trinity of "fabrics, colours and silhouette".
20 January 2013
Vowing to 'destroy terrorists,' France adopts words of war With its talk of "destroying" enemies and confronting "jihadi terrorists", France has adopted a language of war for its intervention in Mali that few expected from Socialist President Francois Hollande.
18 January 2013
French ground troops prepare to battle Islamists The first troops from a multinational African intervention force were expected in Mali Wednesday as French soldiers drove out to face Islamist fighters in the north, in their first operation.