THIS WEEK: MUASA gets new head Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dr. Muhammad Kiggundu Musoke has been replaced by Dr. Deus Kamunyu Muhwezi as the chairman of Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA). Kamunyu the former association’s publicist who beat Dr. Hellen Nambalirwa Nkabala from the college of humanities and …

Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | Former football star George Weah has waited 12 years to become president of Liberia, and with his dream now within touching distance fans danced and sang in support in a Monrovia stadium on Saturday. Weah goes head-to-head with Vice-President Joseph Boakai on December 26 in …

Is it any different from `normal’ cars; aren’t costs higher? Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | The number of hybrid car models continues to grow as automakers meet consumer demand for fuel efficiency, low emissions, and high-tech features. But let’s face it: In most cases the sticker price of a hybrid vehicle …

Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | With one year until long-delayed elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the countdown officially begins Saturday for a vote which is supposed to bring about the belated departure of President Joseph Kabila. But it remains unclear if the 45 million Congolese voters who registered …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Record crowds flocked to Japan’s Imperial Palace on Saturday to celebrate the 84th birthday of Emperor Akihito as he prepares to abdicate in April 2019. Around 45,900 people — the biggest birthday crowd of the emperor’s three-decade reign — thronged the palace for his address, according …

Niamey, Niger | AFP | President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Niger late Friday for a morale-boosting visit to France’s Barkhane anti-jihadist force and told troops the fight against extremists in the region would continue in 2018. Former colonial power France has been leading regional counterterrorism efforts in West Africa’s Sahel region, …

Luanda, Angola | AFP | Angola has suffered a week of fuel shortages, a bitter irony for one of Africa’s leading oil producers, and a hardship that some people blame on opponents of President Joao Lourenco. The majority of petrol stations in the capital Luanda have had long lines of motorists …

Washington, United States | AFP | US Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday ordered an investigation into allegations that the Obama administration undermined efforts to target Hezbollah drug trafficking. The announcement comes after Politico reported that Project Cassandra, a program targeting trafficking by Iran-backed Hezbollah that could have undermined the push …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid realistically need to end Barcelona’s 24-match unbeaten run to maintain hopes of retaining their La Liga title when Spanish football’s two behemoths meet in El Clasico on Saturday (1200GMT). Barca lead fourth-placed Madrid by 11 points at the top of the table, albeit Real …

Madrid, Spain | AFP | Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone on Thursday ahead of Real Madrid’s clash against Barcelona this weekend, after sustaining a knock to his calf during the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. The Portugal star received rough treatment as he scored the winner in last Saturday’s 1-0 victory …