http://www.mail.com/people/1323112-francois-hollande.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.23/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/people/1323112-francois-hollande.html http://www.mail.com/news/world/1862376-french-leader-to-visit-mali-talk-troop-levels.html PARIS (AP) — President Francois Hollande says he'll suggest when France will reduce troop levels in Mali during a trip there Saturday, nearly four weeks after a French-led operation against Islamic extremists began in the vast West African nation. Hollande, who will be accompanied by France's foreign and defense ministers, hopes to also boost his troops' ... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:23:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1862376-french-leader-to-visit-mali-talk-troop-levels.html 2013-02-01T16:23:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1861124-syrian-opposition-willing-to-meet-with-regime.html MUNICH (AP) — Syria's top opposition leader said Friday that he was willing to sit down for talks with President Bashar Assad's government to "ease the pain of the Syrian people," but emphasized that his goal is to "overthrow the regime by peaceful means." Addressing a gathering of the world's top diplomats and defense officials at the Munich Security Con... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1861124-syrian-opposition-willing-to-meet-with-regime.html 2013-02-01T22:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859552-syria-top-focus-biden-3-country-trip.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The ongoing civil war in Syria will be a primary focus when Vice President Joe Biden embarks on a three-country swing through Europe. Biden leaves Thursday for Germany, France and the United Kingdom. It's his first international trip since the Obama administration's second term started. While in Munich, Biden will meet with Moaz al-Khati... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:33:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859552-syria-top-focus-biden-3-country-trip.html 2013-01-31T16:33:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1858322-french-gay-marriage-plans-stir-parenthood-debate.html PARIS (AP) — The French are all for sex and all for family — so long as you're having sex to create one. Anything dealing with assisted reproduction makes a sizable portion of them uncomfortable, as the president's plans to legalize gay marriage have unexpectedly exposed. The debate over whether society and science are overreaching when it comes to parent... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:16:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1858322-french-gay-marriage-plans-stir-parenthood-debate.html 2013-01-31T14:16:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1853410-6-police-injured-fight-with-steel-workers.html BRUSSELS (AP) — Six Belgian police officers were injured in Tuesday's scuffles with some 2,000 steel workers protesting plans to lay off 1,300 workers at several ArcelorMittal plants in Liege. Workers attempting to get close to the regional government offices in southern Namur threw bricks at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Police sa... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1853410-6-police-injured-fight-with-steel-workers.html 2013-01-29T15:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1849252-pro-gay-marriage-protesters-hit-paris-streets.html PARIS (AP) — Tens of thousands of people marched in Paris Sunday in support of a government-sponsored bill that would legalize marriage and adoption for same-sex couples. Demonstrators waved banners emblazoned with phrases such as "Equality of rights is not a threat" as they began marching Sunday from Denfert-Rochereau square in the southern part of the c... Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1849252-pro-gay-marriage-protesters-hit-paris-streets.html 2013-01-27T16:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1845004-mexicos-legal-soul-search-frenchwoman-freed.html MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexicans are engaged in national soul searching over their country's flawed justice system as newly freed Florence Cassez, earlier convicted of and sentenced for being part of a kidnapping ring, makes the celebrity circuit in her native France. While Cassez received a hero's welcome home, meeting with French President Francois Hollande ... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:18:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1845004-mexicos-legal-soul-search-frenchwoman-freed.html 2013-01-25T20:18:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1842948-mexico-france-divided-release-frenchwoman.html PARIS (AP) — She left Mexico to jeers of "killer!" but touched down Thursday in Paris to the fanfare of a state welcome. Seven years in prison in Mexico on kidnapping charges and a flawed trial made Frenchwoman Florence Cassez a cause celebre in France, where her innocence seemed nearly beyond question upon her return. Even though the court that ordered h... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1842948-mexico-france-divided-release-frenchwoman.html 2013-01-24T19:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1841828-mexican-court-frees-frenchwoman-kidnapping-case.html MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Frenchwoman who had spent seven years in prison in Mexico on kidnapping charges was flying back to Paris on Thursday after Mexico's Supreme Court ordered her freed because of flaws in her trial, bringing a close to a case that had strained relations between the countries. Florence Cassez's arrest, trial and 60-year prison sentence mad... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1841828-mexican-court-frees-frenchwoman-kidnapping-case.html 2013-01-24T09:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1842534-malis-ansar-dine-splits-2.html SAN, Mali (AP) — One wing of Mali's Ansar Dine rebel group has split off to create its own movement, saying that they want to negotiate a solution to the crisis in Mali in a declaration that indicates at least some of the members of the al-Qaida-linked group are searching for an exit in the wake of French airstrikes. Former Ansar Dine leader Alghabass Ag ... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:43:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1842534-malis-ansar-dine-splits-2.html 2013-01-24T08:43:00Z http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1837266-lagerfeld-supports-gay-marriage-lesbian-couture.html PARIS (AP) — Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's veteran couturier, has shown his support for the legalization of gay marriage in France by sending two models down a catwalk wearing couture bridal gowns. He did that to cap Paris' Grand Palais fashion show on Tuesday and also had a young nephew of his accompany the women models as they walked forward holding hands. F... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 15:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/entertainment/celebrity/1837266-lagerfeld-supports-gay-marriage-lesbian-couture.html 2013-01-22T15:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1837632-germany-france-seek-unity-europe.html BERLIN (AP) — Germany and France will produce joint proposals on improving economic coordination in the European Union this spring, the countries' leaders said Tuesday, downplaying recent differences as they marked the 50th anniversary of a landmark reconciliation accord. Conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel and Socialist President Francois Hollande have... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1837632-germany-france-seek-unity-europe.html 2013-01-22T13:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1837056-germany-france-to-improve-economic-coordination.html BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany and France plan to work together on proposals on how to improve economic coordination in the European Union this spring as the continent struggles to overcome its debt crisis and generate growth. Merkel said after meeting French President Francois Hollande Tuesday the two countries are "aware of our grea... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 12:04:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1837056-germany-france-to-improve-economic-coordination.html 2013-01-22T12:04:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1834766-dutchman-elected-chief-eurogroup.html BRUSSELS (AP) — The Dutch finance minister, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, was elected Monday as the new president of the group of euro area finance ministers. Dijsselbloem, 46, who has only been the Netherlands' finance minister since November, will now face one of the world's most daunting financial tasks — helping to lead the group of 17 European Union countries... Mon, 21 Jan 2013 21:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1834766-dutchman-elected-chief-eurogroup.html 2013-01-21T21:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1835144-timeline-french-led-mali-military-intervention.html A timeline of the French-led military intervention in Mali, which is now in its second week: Jan. 10 — Islamists push south and seize the central Malian town of Konna, marking the furthest south they have ventured since taking control of northern Mali's main cities following a March 2012 coup in Bamako, the capital in Mali's south. Jan... Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:19:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1835144-timeline-french-led-mali-military-intervention.html 2013-01-21T14:19:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1831568-algeria-32-militants-killed-with-23-hostages.html ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — In a bloody finale, Algerian special forces stormed a natural gas complex in the Sahara desert on Saturday to end a standoff with Islamist extremists that left at least 23 hostages dead and killed all 32 militants involved, the Algerian government said. With few details emerging from the remote site in eastern Algeria, it was uncle... Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:04:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1831568-algeria-32-militants-killed-with-23-hostages.html 2013-01-20T00:04:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1830362-french-journalist-killed-syria.html ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — French President Francois Hollande offered condolences Friday for a French journalist slain in the Syrian city of Aleppo while reporting on the civil war there. The journalist, Yves Debay, was covering clashes between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar Assad when he was shot by a regime sniper on Thursday, according to the A... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1830362-french-journalist-killed-syria.html 2013-01-18T17:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1826820-hostages-10-nations-algeria.html Islamic militants said they captured 41 foreign hostages at a natural gas complex in the Algerian desert. Some were killed in an Algerian military assault, though figures varied widely. Here's a summary of the latest information on the hostages: — ALGERIA: Hundreds of Algerians worked at the gas plant, but the Algerian media say most were released. The No... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/1826820-hostages-10-nations-algeria.html 2013-01-18T01:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1826448-us-helping-hesitant-mali-intervention.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has declared it cannot accept new terrorist sanctuaries in Mali or anywhere else and has promised to support French and African efforts to restore security. Yet after almost a year of disorder in the West African nation, Washington is still keeping the conflict at arm's length. France has been engaged in a weeklo... Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1826448-us-helping-hesitant-mali-intervention.html 2013-01-17T11:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1824976-allies-reluctant-france-mali.html PARIS (AP) — France's allies have offered vocal support for the country's military operation in Mali, but when it comes to sending troops or weapons, they are agreeing to the bare minimum: a transport plane here and there, a handful of support staff and a lot of promises to think about it. This is not the kind of international backing that French Presiden... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:57:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1824976-allies-reluctant-france-mali.html 2013-01-16T17:57:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1823806-somali-militants-they-will-kill-french-hostage.html MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's al-Qaida-linked rebels said Wednesday that they will kill the French intelligence agent they hold hostage. The Islamist extremists said that France signed the death warrant of a French intelligence agent by launching a rescue operation last weekend that failed to free him, in a statement released Wednesday. ... Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:28:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1823806-somali-militants-they-will-kill-french-hostage.html 2013-01-16T13:28:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821356-french-triple-troops-mali-prepare-assault.html BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — After a punishing bombing campaign failed to halt the advance of al-Qaida-linked fighters, France pledged Tuesday to triple the size of its force in Mali, sending in hundreds more troops as it prepared for a land assault to dislodge the militants occupying the northern half of the country. The move reversed France's earlier insistence ... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:55:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821356-french-triple-troops-mali-prepare-assault.html 2013-01-15T22:55:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821366-france-girds-threats-amid-mali-operation.html PARIS (AP) — France's military campaign to stop advancing Islamist insurgents in Mali has been met with a volley of threats from the extremists, feeding fears that the French could be targeted within their own borders. On Tuesday, as security forces stepped up patrols everywhere from airports to the Eiffel Tower, France's top security official issued a grim warning: the enem... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1821366-france-girds-threats-amid-mali-operation.html 2013-01-15T20:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1821654-panetta-us-troops-ground-mali.html MADRID, Spain (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that the U.S. has ruled out putting any American troops on the ground in Mali, but officials are hoping the French will succeed in establishing better security for the West African nation. Panetta spoke at a press conference in Lisbon with Portuguese Defense Minister Jose Aguiar Branco. The ... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 18:39:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1821654-panetta-us-troops-ground-mali.html 2013-01-15T18:39:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1822104-france-to-send-2500-troops-to-mali-official.html PARIS (AP) — An official at France's Defense Ministry says the country will "gradually deploy" a total of 2,500 troops to Mali, and the French president says the military operation will last until security has been restored and African forces are ready to take charge. A French Defense Ministry official who was not able to speak publicly about the total an... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1822104-france-to-send-2500-troops-to-mali-official.html 2013-01-15T14:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1821270-warplane-sale-french-agenda-uae.html ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — France's president opened talks with top leaders in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday in hopes of pushing ahead efforts to sell up to 60 Rafale fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates and strengthen French ties in Gulf energy and defense industries. The meetings by Francois Hollande, which include the UAE's president and head of... Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1821270-warplane-sale-french-agenda-uae.html 2013-01-15T08:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1819050-mali-rebels-gains-vow-to-avenge-french-bombs.html BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Despite a punishing bombardment by French warplanes, al-Qaida-linked insurgents grabbed more territory in Mali on Monday, seizing a strategic military camp that brought them far closer to the government's seat of power. Declaring France had "opened the gates of hell" with its assault, the rebels threatened retribution. "France ... has ... Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:40:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1819050-mali-rebels-gains-vow-to-avenge-french-bombs.html 2013-01-14T21:40:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1820368-french-president-bares-tough-side-africa-fights.html PARIS (AP) — Bombing militants in Mali may be the most popular thing Francois Hollande has done as France's president. The bespectacled and self-described "normal" man who was once lampooned as resembling flimsy yellow custard, is now flexing France's military muscle against al-Qaida-linked Islamist extremists who he believes pose a threat to northwest Af... Mon, 14 Jan 2013 20:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1820368-french-president-bares-tough-side-africa-fights.html 2013-01-14T20:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1819918-panetta-us-helping-french-forces-with-intel.html LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The U.S. is already providing intelligence-gathering assistance to the French in their assault on Islamist extremists in Mali, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said, and officials would not rule out having American aircraft land in the West African nation as part of future efforts to lend airlift and logistical support. Speaking to r... Mon, 14 Jan 2013 19:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1819918-panetta-us-helping-french-forces-with-intel.html 2013-01-14T19:56:00Z