talks : Reports, news and investigations

The US Secretary of State and French counterpart Laurent Fabius underlined that important obstacles remain before the talks close on Monday.

The Russian and French leaders are to meet for talks on Ukraine and 'bi-lateral issues' on the eve of June 6 D-Day commemorations in France.

The US Secretary of State meets in Paris with Russian foreign minister on Sunday evening for talks at the Russian ambassador's residence.

The US Secretary of State and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov are to meet on Sunday in an effort to defuse tensions in current standoff.

Embattled Jean-Marc Ayrault, while not promising tax cuts, launches a plan of national consultations to improve the just application of taxes.

Iranian foreign minister says Geneva deal on its nuclear programme could have been reached if 'one of the delegations' had not blocked it.

French foreign minister will meet Palestinian and Israeli leaders this weekend to encourage them to continue with direct negotiatations.

Syria and Iran led the agenda in first official talks between new US Secretary of State John Kerry and French President François Hollande.

Talks before G8 and NATO summits between presidents Obama and Hollande at the White House focussed on Europe's economy and Afghanistan.

talks