While touring the Middle East, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner raised doubts about the US President's hope to reach a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians before the end of the year, partly because of Israel's settlement policy.

As UN chief Ban Ki-moon visits Burma, FRANCE 24's Anaïs Boussat and Alice Beaumont report from the Irrawaddy delta, where entire villages have been stripped of all sources of livelihood, their traumatized inhabitants still in a state of shock.

Russia's newly elected president Dmitry Medvedev embarked on his first official foreign tour in office. His first stop is Kazakhstan, whose president Nursultan Nezabayev said the two nations were "strategically" linked.

Following a historic agreement in Doha between the Lebanese government and opposition leaders, parliament speaker Nabhi Berry has summoned MPs to elect General Michel Sleiman to the presidency on Sunday.

Eight French labour unions representing civil servants, including rail and public transport workers, called for a 36-hour strike starting Wednesday evening to protest the government's pension reform plans. (Report: H.Drouet, K.Hakiki)

Israel and Syria have squabbled over the strategic Golan Heights (photo) for decades. So, when the two arch foes publically acknowledged Turkish-mediated peace negotiations, it raised eyebrows across the globe.

Tuareg rebels attacked an army post in Abeibara, near Mali's northeastern border with Algeria, killing at least 10 government soldiers. A Tuareg source told AFP the attack was launched to avenge the April 2008 death of rebel leader Barka Cheik.

The South African army teamed up with police to help control the sprawling violence against immigrants, as mobs of armed youths target Zimbabweans, Mozambicans and Nigerians. A. Duval-Smith reports from the scene.

At least 43 Nigerian soldiers returning from a peacekeeping mission for the African Union force in Darfur died when their convoy collided with a petrol tanker.

Watch our daily show about the Cannes Film Festival, today featuring Steven Soderbergh's eagerly awaited "Che", "Johnny Mad Dog" from Liberia, and a Brazilian beach party.

On a "non-political" visit to London, the Dalai Lama stated he was ready to cooperate with the Olympic Games in Beijing, on condition that he is invited and that China agrees to further discussions on Tibet.

In Asian morning trade, the price of oil soared past 135 dollars a barrel for the first time. Dealers blame unexpected drops in US crude and gasoline stocks in a tight market.

President Mikheil Saakashvili claims he has won parliamentary elections in Georgia. Early results showed his United National Movement was leading, though the opposition cried foul. (Report: N. Rushworth)

Manchester United claimed the 2008 Champion's League title after winning the final in Moscow on Wednesday. The Red Devils beat Chelsea 6-5 in the penalty shootout. The two teams drew 1-1 after regular time and overtime.

President Mikheil Saakashvili's party looked set for a big win in Georgia's parliamentary elections, with exit polls giving the United National Movement over 63 percent as the opposition cried foul. (Report: N. Rushworth)

The French government gave in to the pressure of days of heated protests by angry fisherman, offering 110 million euros in aid to meet the rising costs of marine diesel that has risen by 30 percent since the beginning of the year.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government approved a new set of strict laws against illegal immigration on Wednesday at the first full session of the cabinet, held in Naples to focus on the garbage crisis. Alexis Masciarelli reports.

Our special correspondent Anaïs Boussat talks about the crisis facing the inhabitants of the Irrawaddy Delta, despite declarations from the junta that a “phase of reconstruction” is underway. Watch the testimony by a political opponent.

Syria and Israel confirmed they will hold indirect peace talks, with Turkey as a mediator. Previous talks broke down in 2000 over the fate of the Golan Heights. Israeli said the negotiations were in a 'serious spirit.' Annette Young reports.