North Korea leader urges development of bigger rockets

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has ordered the development of bigger rockets, state media said Saturday, after Pyongyang sparked international condemnation with a long-range rocket launch.

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says ready for 'positive step' at nuclear talks

BERLIN: Iran is ready to make a "positive step" at talks in Moscow on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, adding that he hoped for progress at next week's crucial meeting.

West Africa to seek UN mandate for action on Mali

PARIS (Reuters) - West African nations will seek a U.N. Security Council mandate for military intervention in Mali where rising Islamist militancy has made the country an international security threat, Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said on Monday.

A loyal, multi-faceted partnership

A loyal and solid friendship unites our two countries. These precious ties, which we must maintain staunchly, were founded on a commonality of values based on an attachment shared by both our states to democracy, multilateralism, dialogue between civilisations, which requires a sustained policy of cultural exchanges.

The richness of this multi-faceted partnership is especially illustrated in the sector of sustainable development and transport.