Washington, United States | AFP | The Pentagon will trim the number of US troops deployed across Africa as it concentrates more on countering threats from “Great Power” competitors Russia and China, officials said Thursday. Currently, about 7,200 US military personnel are based in dozens of African nations, with notable …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | The Saudi government exonerated the country’s powerful crown prince of involvement in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Thursday as death-penalty charges were announced against five men and the US placed sanctions on 17 suspected of involvement. Riyadh prosecutors announced indictments against 11 people …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Wayne Rooney believes the future is bright for England as a youthful Three Lions eased past the United States 3-0 at Wembley on his international swansong on Thursday. Jesse Lingard, Trent Alexander-Arnold and debutant Callum Wilson grabbed the goals in a dominant England display …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Brazil captain Neymar has revealed he is acting as a mentor to rising Everton star Richarlison. Richarlison has won a place in the Brazil squad this season after impressing for Everton following his transfer from Watford. The 21-year-old has scored twice in his first …

Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | AFP | The leader of Papua New Guinea, host of this year’s APEC summit, Friday urged respect for international trade rules by “countries large and small” as spats between the US and China threatened to overshadow the gathering. As leaders from Asian Pacific nations …

New York, United States | AFP | Drug baron Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman paid huge bribes to Mexican prosecutors, police, military and even Interpol to ensure smooth operations for his Sinaloa cartel, a key informant said at his US trial on Thursday. Jesus “El Rey” Zambada, brother of the cartel’s …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Despite facing a fierce backlash to her draft Brexit deal, British Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to fight on. Amid cabinet resignations and moves by her own MPs to oust her, the battle to save the EU withdrawal agreement and her own political …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | The United Nations on Thursday launched what it called a “global first” to harness private-sector funding and expertise to help tackle humanitarian crises around the world. The Nigeria Humanitarian Fund Private Sector Initiative (NHF PSI) has been set up to strengthen the response to the …

Beni, DR Congo | AFP | Eight United Nations peacekeepers were killed in an operation against a rebel militia in eastern DR Congo, the UN Security Council said on Thursday. One Tanzanian and seven Malawian peacekeepers were killed, the council said, raising the toll from an earlier count. The deaths …

New partnership announced at AfricaCom 2018 brings together Liquid Telecom’s award-winning VSAT service with Kymeta’s high throughput satellite communication system Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom is extending its award-winning VSAT service through a new partnership with Kymeta, enabling it to deliver enhanced satellite mobile …