Angela Merkel swept to a second mandate in Germany's election at the head of a new centre-right alliance, pleding to jumpstart Europe's ailing powerhouse economy.

From its conception in Paris, "le fooding" continues its revolt against the gourmet establishment across the Atlantic. A look at the programme, cuisine and DJs set to perform at the New York debut.

Brigitte Bardot, the 1950s French film icon, turns 75 on Monday with a very first exhibition in her honour. The Paris show, gathering some 2,000 photos, films and mementos -- builds up the legend of the woman who came to embody sexual liberation.

A Swiss Justice Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that arrested Oscar winning film director Roman Polanski was in custody to await extradition under a US warrant, over three-decade-old charges of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.

More than 120,000 people packed a field outside the Czech city of Brno on Sunday for an open air mass by Pope Benedict XVI who is on a high profile visit on the 20th anniversary of the fall of communism.

Mineral deposit mine dumps in South Africa have been around since the start of the country's Gold Rush in the 1880s -- but have only recently become the site of a new sport, sandboarding. It's given urbanites in inland Johannesburg the opportunity to experience some sun and sand, and makes use of what was long considered a local eyesore.

Chancellor Angela Merkel made an 11th-hour push for votes Saturday, on the eve of an election expected to return her to power but perhaps not in the new coalition she wants. Images and soundbites.

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert made his first appearance in court on Friday to face charges of graft. As the first Israeli premier to face criminal charges in court, Olmert acknowledged at the arraignment hearing in Jerusalem that he understood the charges against him but protested his innocence. Olmert is accused of unlawfully accepting gifts of cash-stuffed envelopes from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky and of multiple-billing foreign trips.

US police fired pepper spray and non-lethal rounds Thursday and deployed loudspeakers blasting piercing sound waves to repel anarchist youths marching on the G20 summit.

Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing has delighted media watchers on both sides of the Channel with a fictionalised romance between characters with an eery resemblance to himself and the late Princess Diana.

Giorgia Boscolo is still a trainee but she's about to become Venice's first female gondolier, breaking with 900 years of male-dominated tradition.

China is gearing up for a lavish celebration, under massive security, to mark the 60th anniversary of Communist rule. People who remember the events of October 1, 1949 recount their experiences.

The UN agency for Palestinian relief aid, UNRWA, delivers health, education and relief services to more than 4.6 million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. As Gazan children head back to school, the cash-strapped agency is forced to dig deep to provide for students and their families. Duration: 01:43.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that this week's G20 summit in Pittsburgh must focus on drawing up better financial sector rules. Merkel said she would resist moves to shift the focus to imbalances in the global economy, including Germany's trade surplus. Duration: 00:43.

The Russian countryside is fast becoming a hot spot for foreign investors. They?ve been drawn in by cheap, fertile land left idle for years following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Duration: 01:58.

Hong Kong is hosting the world's largest jewellery fair -- and this year, diamonds are taking centre stage as Asian economies rebound after a difficult period. Duration: 02:00.

Cairo may be a city that never sleeps, but now one hi-tech clinic says its insomnia may be having consequences. As the first of its kind in Egypt, the Sleep Center hopes to help those with sleeping disorders and raise awareness about a condition which many in the country do not even recognise. Duration: 01:30.

Noisy protests -- and a surprise welcome -- greeted Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi outside the United Nations building Wednesday. More than 500 Iranian exiles gathered, brandishing placards that called Ahmadinejad a "dictator," waving pre-revolutionary flags, and chanting in front of posters depicting blood-drenched victims of political violence.

Former world number one Justine Henin has announced her return to the WTA tennis circuit, saying "the flame has been rekindled" after a 16-month self-imposed retirement. Her decision follows a similar move by her compatriot and former rival Kim Clijsters.

The British Museum in London is holding the first ever exhibition to fully examine the life Aztec emperor Moctezuma II. A man revered as a god -- who ruled the centre of what is now Mexico with an iron grip until the arrival of the Spanish.

She's known as the Little Flower of Jesus. St Therese of Lisieux died of tuberculosis a century ago, but her simple vision of faith led to her being canonised, and her remains draw thousands of Catholic pilgrims. Now her relics are starting a 28-day tour of England and Wales.

Former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing's latest book talks of a French leader's affair with a Welsh princess strangely ressembling himself and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, is to be released in bookshops on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia is opening its first university for both men and women. It's a small revolution for the socially conservative nation. Duration: 00:21.

The French wine industry is turning ecological. After developing organic wines, some in the business have now patented `ecologically responsible? wine barrels. They require less noble oak trees to construct and can be dismantled for travelling. Duration: 01:38.

The 11th Istanbul Biennale of Contemporary Art has opened its doors, and this year the work is asking the question: what keeps mankind alive? Duration: 01:46.

The French painter Pierre-August Renoir is often considered as one of the fathers of modern art. But in his later years he came to challenge the Impressionist style, which he had helped to conceptualize. A highlight of this season's Paris arts calendar is the exhibition, "Renoir in the 20th Century," which opens this week and focuses on the artist's last works. Duration: 01:57.

Gazans had mixed reactions after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas during a US-orchestrated summit in New York on Monday. Duration: 00:43.

Japan's new PM, Yukio Hatoyama, and his team are trying to bring down the nation's highest-ever unemployment rate, currently standing at 5.7 percent. Young people are particularly hard hit.  Duration: 01:59.

The London crowd had mixed reactions on Tuesday to eighty-three-year-old former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing's latest novel, which hints that he might have had a romantic relation with the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

Hundreds of people were queuing for free milk on Place de la République in Paris on Tuesday afternoon after milk producers decided to hand out 22,000 litres to the public. Their move followed weeks of protests across Europe against collapsed milk prices.

One of the world's leading artists is making quite a mess at one of London's most distinguished galleries. Indian born artist Anish Kapoor has taken over all of the main rooms in the Royal Academy in a major showcase of his work.

French riot police on Tuesday rounded up scores of mainly Afghan migrants during a dawn raid on a makeshift camp at the Channel port of Calais known as "The Jungle" which is used as a base to make risky attempts to reach Britain.

London Fashion Week is celebrating its 25th birthday. And to mark the occasion, several British designers, including Matthew Williamson and Antonio Berardi have returned home to present their 2010 Spring Summer collections. Duration: 01:46

"The Age of Stupid", a highly anticipated docudrama about environmental apocalypse, has its worldwide premiere on the eve of a UN climate summit. Duration: 01:06.

The top US military commander in Afghanistan has warned that more forces are needed within the next year or the war against the Taliban will be lost, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

As the Pittsburgh G20 economic summit approaches, the worst of the economic crisis appears to be over for America. Are Obama's stimulus solutions working?

France's most politically-charged trial in years began on Monday in Paris with former prime minister Dominique de Villepin accused of plotting to smear Nicolas Sarkozy before he became president.

France Thursday defended its decision to close a makeshift migrant camp known as "The Jungle" as the UN refugee body warned it had a duty towards people fleeing the world's war zones. Images and soundbites.

France's ex-prime minister Dominique de Villepin lashed out at Nicolas Sarkozy as he went on trial on Monday on charges of conspiring to defame the president in 2004 in a showdown between the old foes.

The head of the World Health Organization said Monday the swine flu virus had apparently not yet mutated into a more serious disease and that the development of vaccines was proceeding on track. Duration: 01:16.

A hot summer has helped French grape growers turn out an exceptional champagne harvest. But this dream crop could just add to the luxury product's problems. Duration: 01:50.

The ancient city of Pecs is one of Hungary's cultural gems and is crowned one of Europe's 2010 cultural capitals. To prepare for the honour, the city has undertaken a beautification campaign, though its urban renovation may still be under way when the new year sets in. Duration: 01:46.

It's a French icon. The cabaret show, the Moulin Rouge has inspired painters. On Sunday for the first time the famous theatre opened its doors to the public for a backstage tour. AFPTV went on a tour.

Threatened by fishermen and pollution, sea turtles are under threat in Benin. But a new scheme is hoping to turn the tide and allow these creatures to flourish once more. Duration: 02:16. 

A pioneering eco-friendly village in northern France is being seen as a blueprint for low energy living of the future. While the very latest technology means the houses are more expensive to the buyer, the idea is that smaller energy bills will more than make up. Duration: 01:29.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai extended an olive branch Sunday to Taliban militants trying to overthrow his Western-backed government as he marked the start of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival. Duration: 00:52.

Georges Perpes is a throwback to the past. The town crier has revived a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, and given it a contemporary following in southern France. Duration: 01:33.

The humble honey bee is facing rapid decline in Britain, due to a combined assault from pesticides, deadly viruses and changing weather conditions. But leading the fight back are a growing number of amateur urban bee-keepers. Duration: 01:50.

France's most politically-charged trial of the decade begins on Monday. The so-called Clearstream affair has divided the political elite. Former prime minister Dominique de Villepin, two former executives of defence giant EADS and several others are in the dock over the revelation of a list of dirty bank accounts -- a list which turned out to be bogus. AFPTV looks at the complex -- and explosive -- affair. Duration: 01:55.

The former steel capital of America hosts the G20 summit next Thursday and Friday. After a sharp decline in the 1980s, the city has radically transformed itself by developing its biotech industry, and will serve as a backdrop for President Barack Obama's message about economic revival. Duration: 01:50.

Dairy farmer protests continued on Friday with producers dumping hundreds of thousands of litres of milk into fields to draw attention to their desperation over falling prices.

Myanmar's junta on Friday freed two journalists who helped victims of Cyclone Nargis and released several opposition activists -- including the well-known Nine Nine -- as part of an amnesty for more than 7,000 prisoners, witnesses said.

Egypt has ordered foreign schools and universities to close until October 3 over worries about swine flu. Egyptian universities and schools had been set to begin their academic year the last week of September, but foreign ones started earlier this month. Duration: 00:57.

In honour of the 250th anniversary of the publication of "Candide", Voltaire's philosophical satire, Oxford University is holding a conference on the legacy of the Enlightenment writer. Scholars have been granted a look at a rare collection of 17 first editions of the work. Duration: 01:02.

London Fashion Week opens on Friday. The British capital has earmarked part of the event for ethical fashion, in which more than two dozen designers will present their "responsible and ethical" collections. AFPTV went to meet one of the designers. Duration: 01:41.

Thousands of Iranians chanted slogans in favour of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi in Tehran on Friday, defying regime warnings and a heavy police presence at an annual solidarity rally with the Palestinians. Duration: 00:40.

Golf doesn't seem like the easiest sport to play when you live in the middle of the city -- but that may be changing, as a wave of young enthusiasts champion "street golf" in Paris. AFPTV took to the streets with a camera and a golf tee to find out more. Duration: 01:36.

The environment will be at the heart of next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver. All the buildings for the Games, which run from February 12 to 28, have been designed to be as eco-friendly as possible. Duration: 01:53.

Pakistani truck drivers take special pride in decorating their vehicles. But police are clamping down on excessive decoration- especially when it blocks the driver's view. Duration: 02:01.

AFPTV takes a tour down the runways of New York Fashion Week, where the ready-to-wear collections offered adventurous style for the post-crisis cosmopolitan crowd. 

Thousands of people turned out Thursday, some waiting for hours from before sunrise, to hear President Barack Obama speak about his proposed health care reforms. Interview of the prostesters with extreme views on the health care plan.

US President Barack Obama abandoned Thursday plans for a missile defense shield in the Czech Republic and Poland, replacing them with a revamped project after reassessing the threat from Iran.

Pesticides in cotton growing, chemical-laden dyes and huge energy consumption make the textile industry a big burden on the environment. But fabric makers, gathered at an industry fair in Paris, are beginning to clean up their act. Voiced report. Duration: 01:51

The Mau Forest, in Kenya¿s Rift Valley, is the country¿s biggest freshwater catchment area, feeding 12 rivers, and providing water for 30 percent of its people. Thousands live there, too ¿ many of them on land provided by the government. But deforestation due to the growing settlement has strained the water supply -- a dangerous imbalance for a country wracked by drought. Duration: 01:57

Are you 'avin a giraffe? Cash machines talking cockney rhyming slang have been introduced in east London, the part of the city once renowned for the dialect. But language experts now believe a new slang is emerging, banishing cockney to the history books -- and comedy cash machines. Duration: 01:53

A massive suicide car bomb ripped into a NATO convoy killing six Italian soldiers and 10 Afghan civilians on Thursday in one of the deadliest attacks on Western troops in Kabul, officials said. The explosion struck just after midday about 1.5 kilometres (one mile) from the US embassy gates, destroying at least one vehicle in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Duration: 01:57.

China's most controversial contemporary artist Ai Weiwei often uses art to battle against government propaganda. He is currently staging his first solo art exhibition in Beijing, exploring what the country produces and consumes. A web version of an AFPTV report.

A profile of top American designers Alexander Wang and Narciso Rodriguez, who presented their spring-summer collections at New York Fashion Week.

President Barack Obama met Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the White House Wednesday, amid Canadian fears of US protectionism and Ottawa's fresh vow to pull troops out of Afghanistan by 2011. 

After weeks of delays and controversy, incumbent President Hamid Karzai has emerged as the unofficial winner of Afghanistan¿s presidential elections. But with more than a million ballots dogged by fraud allegations, the final results may not be known for weeks.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai won 54.6 percent of the preliminary result released Wednesday from controversial elections, but his victory is not secure until massive claims of vote fraud are resolved. EU observers said up to a quarter of votes were "suspicious".

Scientists on Norway's Arctic archipelagao of Svalbard are recording ever higher temperatures, spelling disaster for glaciers which are retreating at an alarming rate. Duration: 02:13

He once dabbled in hard-left politics and now sits firmly in the conservative camp, but what has kept Jose Manuel Barroso in the EU's highest-profile post is his ability to move with shifting political sands. The former Portuguese prime minister is a master of adapting to circumstances -- a skill that helped him sail to re-election Wednesday as president of the European Commission. Duration: 01:12.

The European parliament on Wednesday voted to give Jose Manuel Barroso a second five year term as president of the powerful European Commission. The conservative former Portuguese premier won 382 votes to 219 against, from among the 718 lawmakers taking part in the vote. There were 117 abstentions. Duration: 01:13

The UN special envoy to Afghanistan Kai Eide on Wednesday called for peace in Afghanistan, saying the situation had deteriorated in the past year, and the future of the country was at risk. Duration: 00:47

Egyptian cotton has long been prized around the world for its purity and quality. But years of mounting competition from other countries and the latest global economic downturn have left the industry in crisis, with shipments sinking to an all time low. Duration: 01:48

Israel mounted a diplomatic offensive on Wednesday, trying to contain damage from a damning UN report that accused the Jewish state and Palestinian militants of war crimes during the Gaza war. The report slammed Israel's use of disproportionate force in the conflict. Duration: 01:07

Private developers are building a brand new hill station outside of Mumbai -- a first since colonial times. Lavasa will be an eco-friendly city and is being billed as "free India's first and largest hill city". Duration: 02:13

The French food festival Omnivore crossed the Atlantic for the first time at the weekend, with French chef Michel Bras taking over New York. The master cuisinier was introducing his brand of haute cuisine to young looks from around the world. Duration: 01:28

¿A Prophet,¿ a French film from director Jacques Audiard, won over the Toronto International Film Festival. Audiences and critics are heaping praise on the gangster film and it now finds itself at the center of serious Oscar buzz.

The Iraqi television reporter jailed for throwing his shoes at former US president George W. Bush was freed on Tuesday and said he was tortured by electric shocks and simulated drowning in custody. 

Hungarian cuisine is not confined to goulash. At least that's the message a group of chefs in Budapest is delivering to fellow countrymen, seeking to expand their culinary horizons beyond the famed meat stew. Duration: 02:03

In Uganda's capital, a handful of skaters with a passion have built their own haven from poverty and hardship outside. Their skate park is a first for East Africa and, they hope, the key to wider recognition and support for their sport. Duration: 01:38

The Crazy Horse erotic cabaret -- which claims the title of Paris temple of nude chic -- is launching a new show "Desires", which will dominate its programme for several seasons. Duration: 01:22

Hugging babies is not enough -- Yukio Hatoyama, who officially takes office as Japan's prime minister on Wednesday, wants to reverse the country's demographic crisis. But will the promised pro-family policy of the Democratic Party prompt women to have more babies? Duration: 02:11

The Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris, famed for its shows starring nude dancers, presents its new show, "Desires", which is to run for several years at the cabaret. Duration: 01:26

There is a superhero inside each one of us, ready to save the world. That's the positive message promoted by Superheroes Anonymous, an American group of costumed do-gooders.

President Barack Obama bluntly warned Monday that some Wall Street bosses were ignoring lessons of the financial crisis, as he demanded a new age of prudence after bloated years of unchecked excess.

The king of French porn, Marc Dorcel, talks about the X-rated business which he's known for 40 years, changing tastes and the role of women in adult flicks. Duration: 01:37

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a panel of the world's top economists said on Monday that countries need to find ways to measure happiness and well-being alongside raw economic growth. Duration: 01:21

President Hamid Karzai's main rival for the Afghan presidency called Monday for a run-off to ensure a legitimate leader rules the country after elections tainted by allegations of mass fraud. Abdullah Abdullah, trailing significantly behind Karzai with nearly all the votes counted from the August 20 presidential election, said a two-man run-off would ensure the winner had credibility and the poll itself was fair. Duration: 00:56

Hollywood megastar and UN goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie has visited the world's largest refugee camp, which houses nearly 300,000 people -- most Somalis fleeing the civil war -- in Kenya. Jolie, as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency, visited the Dadaab refugee camp on Saturday. Duration: 01:24

Osama bin Laden has told Americans to rethink their policies, in a new video in which he links their support for Israel to the September 11 attacks in 2001. Titled "Message to the American People," the video features a still image of bin Laden and an audio statement. Duration: 00:32

Across central Europe, the demand for organic products is rising. The industry is still a long way off from the boom in Germany, France and Britian, but as AFPTV found in Warsaw, "organic" signs are cropping up in specialty shops and even general supermarkets. Duration: 01:36

Thousands of people have been lining up in Havana to pay their last respects to Cuban Vice President Juan Almeida Bosque, a revolutionary commander who fought alongside Fidel Castro to bring down a pro-American dictatorship. Almeida died late Friday from cardiac arrest. Duration: 00:43

Israeli director Samuel Maoz and Iran's Shirin Neshat describe their hopes of how their films, which took the top prizes at the Venice film festival this weekend, may change other lives.

The royal palace of Versailles secures its place as a major new exhibition space for modern art on Sunday with the official opening of a show by French artist Xavier Veilhan.

For Iraqis trying to pick up the pieces after a devastasting suicide bombing, there can be no observation of the holy month of Ramadan.

"Lebanon" by Israeli Samuel Maoz, the story of the first Lebanon war told from inside an Israeli tank, won the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival Saturday.

Tens of thousands of people marched from the shadow of the White House to the footsteps of the US Capitol Saturday to protest against President Barack Obama and his "big government" policies.