London, United Kingdom | AFP | The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) should only overturn on-field decisions when there has been a “clear and obvious” error, according to one of football’s leading international rules officials. VAR has proved highly controversial since it was introduced into the Premier League this season. A particular …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | In the past decade, Somali Islamist group Al-Shabaab has lost territory, suffered defections and faced mounting US air strikes, but analysts say the group is as strong a threat as ever, flourishing under the country’s weak government. Despite years of costly efforts to combat the group, …

Brazzaville, Congo | AFP | Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso has been chosen by his party to run again for the top job in 2021, having already led the central African country for a total of 35 years. During its congress in Brazzaville overnight Monday, his Congolese Party of Labour (PCT) …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | A series of shootings by armed personnel from different security units have been attributed to provocation and frustration. The comments come at the backdrop of incidents of suicide and wanton shootings by police, local Defence unit personnel and private security guards in recent months. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | Pharmacists under the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda want the National Drug Authority-NDA to make changes in its drug-testing protocols. Samuel Opio, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda says that while drug recalls are common, NDA is mandated to make sure that all …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | Traffic officers in Entebbe have been instructed to station at all recreation grounds and test all drivers at their time of departure as a measure to control drunk driving as the public welcomes the new year. This was announced as one of the new …

Kiev, Ukraine | AFP |  Moscow and Kiev on Monday signed a five-year agreement on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, after months of difficult talks but just ahead of a looming New Year deadline. The current gas transit deal between the two ex-Soviet countries expires Tuesday and …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  Preliminary results from both the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the World Health Organization have ruled out the measles/Rubella Vaccine as the cause of death for a young boy who died after the Mass Vaccination held in October. The five-year-old boy was among millions of …

Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP |  Former Ivory Coast political leader Charles Ble Goude said Monday he had been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison by an Ivorian court over murder, rape and torture charges. Ble Goude was cleared of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in the …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  The Uganda People’s Defense Forces –UPDF has introduced new procedures to guarantee transparency in the recruitment of soldiers into the army across the country. The fourth infantry division spokesperson Maj Caesar Olweny says that unlike the past when officers were accused of handpicking relatives …