A high-ranking French military official says a major military offensive against local fighters in the north of Mali continues. French, Malian, and UN troops are involved in the operation, named Hydra, which is expected to last at least 10 days, according to French military spokesman Colonel Gilles Jaron. 

Leaders of the 15-nation west African bloc Ecowas met on Friday in Senegal to call for “urgent steps” from the international community to secure peace in Mali and discuss the creation of a single currency. While the economy was expected to top the agenda, the Economic Community of West African …

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday left for Istanbul to enhance his country’s economic relations Turkey. During his three-day visit, Abe will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which the two