For Islamic extremists, African gold mines are a treasure trove both of explosives and funds to recruit new members and buy arms, writes David Lewis and Ryan McNeill

Next week, to celebrate her 70th birthday, Maura Ward and her son, Johnny, will climb Mount Fuji, in Japan. It’s not their first big trip, says Ailin Quinlan

Six people including a pastor have been killed in an attack on a Christian church in northern Burkina Faso.

Ireland is the eighth most expensive country in Europe for the average cost of broadband — despite being among the slowest in Europe for average broadband speeds.

Suspected Islamic extremists have attacked a Turkish restaurant popular with foreigners in Burkina Faso's capital, killing at least 18 people.

Ajax 4, Lyon 1: Bertrand Traore scored twice as Ajax ran out comprehensive 4-1 winners in a pulsating Europa League semi-final first-leg clash against Lyon at Amsterdam Arena.

The president of Ivory Coast has said 14 civilians and six armed men were killed after attackers targeted beach-goers and three hotels in the historic resort town of Grand-Bassam.

Give your mum the gift of me-time with an indulgent pampering present this Mother’s Day. 

Security is to be stepped up in Burkina Faso after al-Qaeda militants in a vehicle from neighbouring Niger killed at least 28 people from 18 different countries in an attack on a hotel and cafe popular with foreigners.

Every season produces new stars and here are 10 who we might know a lot more about come next May.

Europe’s attempts to clean up tax evasion and money laundering took a step forward yesterday when an international task group said that Austria — a eurozone nation that was until recently falling short —was almost fully compliant with new international standards.

Ireland international James McClean is back in the Premier League after completing a move to West Brom last night.

The HSE is facing a claims crisis, GAA President Aogan Ó Fearghail is confident that the association is not at risk from drugs cheats, Stephen Fry's memoirs reviewed and we get to grips with the Apple Watch. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Caroline O’Doherty discovers how women in the west African country of Burkina Faso are working together to improve educational and economic opportunities for themselves and their communities

Irish Examiner reporter, Caroline O'Doherty, travelled to Burkino Faso with Christian Aid staff and in her report reveals the work they are doing and the challenges they, and other aid agencies, face in the growing global fight against famine and drought. 

The head of Burkina Faso’s armed forces has taken power after President Blaise Compaore resigned amid mass demonstrations against an attempt to extend his 27-year rule in the West African country.

Burkina Faso’s leader of 27 years has stepped down following a wave of violent protests against his bid to seek a fifth term in power.

Burkina Faso’s veteran leader refused to resign in the face of violent protests that posed the greatest threat to his nearly three-decade rule.

The president of Burkina Faso has declared a state of emergency following violent protests in the capital, a spokesman said.

Protesters have surged past police lines and broken into Burkina Faso’s parliament ahead of a vote to allow the president to seek another term next year.

At the age of 11, Sarian Karim Kamara became a victim of FGM.

Black boxes from the Air Algerie plane that crashed last week in northern Mali will be transferred to France for analysis, according to French officials.

Poor weather was the most likely cause of the crash of an Air Algerie flight in the West African state of Mali that killed 118 people on board, French officials said.

French officials have dispatched a military unit to secure the site in restive northern Mali where an Air Algerie plane crashed with the loss of 116 people.

There are fears today that scattered separatist violence may hamper an eventual investigation into what is the third major international aviation disaster in a week.

The wreckage of the Air Algerie plane that went missing has been found about 31 miles from the border of Burkina Faso near the village of Boulikessi in Mali, a presidential aide said.

An army general in Burkina Faso who is involved in the search for the missing Air Algerie flight carrying 116 people, claims that a witness saw a plane coming down in Mali.

The Air Algerie flight that went missing over Mali has “probably crashed”, France’s foreign minister said.

An Algerian aviation official says the passenger plane missing over Northern Mali has crashed.

An Air Algerie flight from Burkina Faso to Algiers in northern Africa has disappeared from radar, the official Algerian news agency confirmed.

Pope Francis has urged cardinals, who make up the top echelon of the Roman Catholic Church, to shun the intrigue, gossip, and cliques typical of a royal court.

Highly-rated Bertrand Traore has completed his move to Chelsea, signing a four-and-a-half year deal.

South Africans called it the “Madiba magic” after his clan name — Nelson Mandela’s quirky mix of grandeur and simplicity, his ready quips, his ability to relate to the poor, his colourful custom-made shirts and his dancing prowess.

The Republic of Ireland have hit an all-time low of 59th place in the latest Fifa World Ranking, published yesterday.

Troops from 13 African countries that took part in the French-led war against al Qaida-linked extremists in Mali marched with the French military during the Bastille Day parade in Paris to honour their role in the conflict.

WHEN Irish soldiers arrived in troubled Mali last week as part of an EU training force, they will have encountered a country where the security situation remains tense and a year-long conflict has had a catastrophic humanitarian impact on the population.

The EU has given over €100m to Mali during the recent conflict there. This support must continue, writes Joe Costello

The US airlift of French forces to Mali to fight Islamic extremists is expected to go on for another two weeks, Pentagon officials said, as hundreds of African troops join the French-led intervention.

West African leaders met in the Ivory Coast today for a special summit to discuss how to step up their role in Mali as the French-led military intervention to oust Islamic extremists from power entered its second week.

Troops from Nigeria are expected in Mali today nearly a week after French forces began a military operation to oust radical Islamists from power, according to an official with the West African regional bloc.

French air strikes in Mali have driven back Islamist rebels from a key city and destroyed a militant command centre, the French defence minister said today.

Following a club league game on Friday night, I watched the opening ceremony of the London Olympics with my team-mates in the local.