Paris, France | AFP | Despite signing up to the Paris climate accord Syria has not been invited to a summit on the pact in the French capital in December, the French foreign ministry said Wednesday. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad joins US President Donald Trump in being omitted from the list …

Sao Paulo, Brazil | AFP | Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday dismissed a row over his avoidance of taxes on a luxury jet, saying he’s only thinking about this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix. “I’m just solely focused on trying to win this race this weekend. I still have …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday said foreign “greed” for its cobalt lay behind the “malicious” pressures weighing on the country’s electoral process. The DRC is in the grip of a crisis over plans to hold presidential elections, which were delayed by President Joseph …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | At least five children were killed Wednesday while playing with a grenade at a school in northern Tanzania, a local official told AFP. “We regret the death of five children, there are 23 others injured,” said Adroniz Rurindoli, a local government official in the Ngara region, …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | A diplomatic spat over cows and chickens has worsened already frosty ties between Kenya and Tanzania, with Nairobi lodging a formal protest against its neighbour, the foreign minister said Wednesday. The latest impasse between the two east African nations began last month when Tanzania seized and …

Washington, United States | AFP | World Bank lending to countries like China that are rich enough to finance their own development hurts poor countries that need help, a senior US Treasury official said Wednesday. David Malpass, Treasury’s under secretary for International Affairs, cited China as a prime example of the …

Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo’s opposition on Wednesday accused the security forces of “savage repression” after nearly 20 of its supporters were injured as they tried to protest against the ruling party. The opposition held the first of three planned demonstrations this week on Tuesday, calling for constitutional reform and …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s sacked vice president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, said Wednesday he had fled the country, as he issued a direct challenge to long-ruling President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace. The ruling ZANU-PF party “is not personal property for you and your wife to do as you please,” …

New York, United States | AFP | A US judge on Wednesday authorized a psychologist to examine Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, one of the world’s most notorious criminals, after his lawyer complained that his mental state is deteriorating in a New York jail. The 60-year-old kingpin, accused of …

Is drinking wine really good for your heart? Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | As the weekend approaches, people open wine bottles in bars and restaurants and homes around the world, ready to kick back and relax. This relationship with wine has a long history. The oldest known winery, dating back …