President Francois Hollande denied he was returning France to the age of state interventionism as he launched 34 projects.

The deal announced by the United States and Russia providing for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons by the middle of next year, is accompanied by a threat.

Two of the strongest advocates of the need to "teach Bashar al-Assad a lesson" appear to be having difficulty in ensuring their actions have many supporters.

As New York City's three-term Mayor, multi-billionaire Michael Bloomberg, reaches the twilight of his 12-year reign over the Big Apple, the fight to fill his shoes entered a nail-biting phase this week.

A week after Labor was crushed in an election that stripped the former Government of more than 15 seats Australian politics is still shaking itself down.