Beijing, China | AFP | China has put its first stealth fighter into military service, state-run media reported on Friday, in the latest milestone highlighting the modernisation of the country’s armed forces. Swift, stealthy, and armed with long-range missiles, the J-20 represents a leap forward in China’s ability to project power …

Beijing, China | AFP | State support for private firms is crucial in China’s market, the head of the mainland’s online search giant Baidu said Thursday, following complaints from European businesses that Beijing-backed firms are pushing out foreign competitors. “I think state support of private companies is absolutely necessary. In the …

Paris, France | AFP |  Scientists said Thursday they have developed a vaccine to shield endangered chimpanzees and gorillas against Ebola, which has wiped out tens of thousands of the wild apes in three decades. The vaccine is given orally, the developers said, which means it could be disguised in …

Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa failed to build on a great start to their CAF Champions League title defence and won only 2-1 at home to KCCA of Uganda Friday. The defending African champions were two goals ahead within six minutes of the last-32 first …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP |  African bishops have asked Radio Vatican, the official radio of the pope, to restore shortwave transmissions to the continent, the Catholic agency Fides reported on Friday. Catholics are estimated to number more than 150 million in Africa, the poorest of all continents, and …

Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian coalition parties which united last year to deliver the first new president in 22 years are unlikely to run together for legislative elections next month, a senior government source told AFP. President Adama Barrow said in January his coalition government would “continue as a …

Washington, United States | AFP | Congress is currently debating long-awaited legislation endorsed by US President Donald Trump that replaces his predecessor’s health care reforms with what supporters hail as a more free-market, patient-centered system. How would it work? Trump insisted Friday it was time to “act now to save …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan summoned on Thursday US charge d’affaires Steven Koutsis to protest President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban which bars its citizens from entering the United States. “The US charge d’affaires was informed of Sudan’s discontent over the decisions issued by the American adminstration on March 6,” …

Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The EU has ditched the traditional “family photo” of leaders at Brussels summits as it seeks a more modern image for the bloc, European sources said. Until the end of last year, the 28 European Union leaders gathering for their regular meetings would pose together …

Ramallah, Palestinian Territories | AFP | US President Donald Trump has invited Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to visit the White House “soon”, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said on Friday. During their first phone call since Trump’s inauguration in January, the US president invited Abbas “to visit the White …