United Nations soldiers will take over from African troops in conflict-scarred Mali from Monday, making up the organisation’s third-largest peacekeeping force by the end of the year. A 12,600-strong force will take over security duties from French troops who entered Mali in January to halt an Islamist advance

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy will on Monday confer with Serbian officials in Belgrade. Several other EU officials will visit next week as a result of the Council’s decision to open membership talks with Serbia.

he French government on Friday said it welcomes the entry of Croatia into the European Union, thus becoming the EU’s 28th member. Croatia is due to officially join the EU on July 1 after more than eight years of