From Washington,this is VOA NEWS.

Malians welcome French President Francois Hollande on a tour of Mali. And in Pakistan, a Taliban attack. I'm Marti Johnson reporting from Washington.

French President Francois Hollande is being welcomed by Malians. The French President is on a whirlwind tour the former French (colony). His visit today comes 3 weeks after French-backed Malian forces pushed Islamist militants from the strongholds in the country's north. The President, accompanied by Defense and Finance Ministers, visited the town of Sevare before heading to the ancient Malian town of Timbuktu where French-backed forces recaptured the town just last week. In Timbuktu, dancers and (drummers) greeted the French President while Malians chanted Vive La France.

As violence subsides in that country, the UN (Refugee) Agency warns it is premature for refugees and people displaced from the country to return to their homes. UNHCR says northern Mali remains unstable and much needs to be done to ensure a safe and stable return.Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

The UN Refugee Agency says recent events there are raising hopes among refugee sand internally displaced people that they soon will be able to go back to their homes. But the UNHCR says Malian refugees continue to flee to neighboring countries, and this,it says, is a (barometer) of the unstable situation in northern Mali.UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards says many displaced families there say they are eager to return to their homes in the Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal regions. But he says reports of unrest and revenge attacks against certain groups are dissuading others. Lisa Schlein for VOA, Geneva.

Officials in northwest Pakistan say insurgents attacked an army checkpoint, killing at least 13 security personnel and 10 civilians including women and children. Officials say the army post,located in Serai Naurang town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was attacked before dawn today. (Security) officials say 12 militants died in the attack. In claiming responsibility for the explosions, the Taliban spokesman said that 4 suicide bombers attacked the army checkpoint in retaliation for the recent loss of 2 Taliban commanders killed in US drone strikes.

Vice President Joe Biden is in Munich at a security conference where discussions are focusing on the crisis in Syria. The meeting today in southern Germany is assigned to revive efforts to find a means to end the civil war in Syria. Earlier this week, Syrian opposition chief Moaz al-Khatib said he is willing to negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al Assad's government. Other officials scheduled to participate in the Munich conference include Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and UN Arab League (envoy) to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi, as well as Khatib.

The Vice President says the 4-year-old offer of directing negotiations with Iran is still valid if the country's top leader is ready for serious talks that are not held in secret.The Vice President spoke at a security conference in Germany  VOA' s Al Pessin (monitored) from London.

Vice President Biden told the gathering of senior officials from around the world the US is still ready for direct talks with Iran.

That offer stands. But it must be real and tangible. And there has to been agenda that they are prepared to speak to.

Biden said the US will not hold such talks without informing its allies. The Vice President also called on Iran to take a more constructive approach in its talks with the international contact group, the 5permanent United Nations Security Council members and Germany. Biden (pledged) continuing US support for Syria's opposition and said President Bashar al Assad is no longer fit to lead his country and in the Vice President's words, he must go. Al Pessin, VOA NEWS, London.

President Obama is calling on US lawmakers to work together to reduce the (deficit) and promote economic growth. The President said in his weekly address today it is critical to cut spending.

Already, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to reduce our deficits by 2.5 trillion dollars. That's a good start. But to get the rest away, we need a balanced set of reforms.

In the Republican address, Representative Susan Brooks of (Indiana) called for a different approach.

Despite these challenges, Americans concerned about our nation's spending problem may now have cause for optimism. I recently voted along with my colleagues in the House to present the (Democratic) majority in the US Senate with a simple but powerful challenge: Pass a budget or you don't get paid.

She called on Senate Democrats to pass the budget quickly.

I'm Marti Johnson, VOA NEWS in Washington.There is more news on our website at VOA news.com.