Washington, United States | AFP | Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday that the military is talking with Kurdish partners and others in Syria to resolve questions over US support once the United States eventually withdraws from the war-torn country. President Donald Trump last week said he wants the US presence …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | LeBron James and Stephen Curry were on Friday named in a star-studded 35-man squad which will form the basis of the United States basketball team for the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympics. A total of 17 Olympic gold medallists and 30 former members …

Washington, United States | AFP | Facebook announced Friday it will require political ads on its platform to state who is paying for the message and would verify the identity of the payer, in a bid to curb outside election interference. The social network, which is under fire for enabling manipulation …

Freetown, Sierra Leone | AFP | Sierra Leone’s new president, Julius Maada Bio, on Friday promised civil servants they need not fear a purge despite a historic shift in the country’s politics. Bio, whose election has ended decade-long rule by the All People’s Congress (APC), praised state workers and “gave them …

N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | Chad’s legislative elections, originally due to take place in 2015, “should take place in November”, President Idriss Deby told opposition parties Friday, state radio reported. Deby, named in a US corruption probe, had already promised earlier that the elections would finally take place this year. The …

Jakarta, Malaysia | THE INDEPENDENT |  Ambassador Dorothy Samali Hyuha on Wednesday presented her credentials to President of  Indonesia Joko Widodo at a brief ceremony at the Presidential Palace (Istana Merdeka), Jakarta. Hyuha, takes charge of Indonesia but with residence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she is Uganda’s High Commissioner. According to …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Moscow on Friday promised a “tough response” to new US sanctions imposed on seven of Russia’s most influential oligarchs following the diplomatic crisis sparked by the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal. “We will not let the current attack, or any new anti-Russian attack, go without …

Sakhir, Bahrain | AFP | Lewis Hamilton will take a five-place grid penalty in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix following a gearbox change on his Mercedes late Friday in another early season setback for the world champion. The British star had wound up fourth fastest earlier in Friday’s second free practice session …

Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Jose Mourinho told fans it will not be the “end of the world” if Manchester United lose to Manchester City and hand them the Premier League crown but says he wants to delay the title celebrations. Saturday’s eagerly awaited meeting at City’s Etihad Stadium offers …

Goma, DR Congo | AFP | Kidnappers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have freed a priest in exchange for a ransom but three other people abducted in the troubled region have been killed, sources said Friday. Father Celestin Ngango was taken away by armed men on Sunday shortly after …