Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni has in his new year address saluted the Members of Parliament (MPs) that supported the ‘Age Limit’ Bill. “I want to salute the 317 MPs who defied intimidation, malignment and blackmail and opted for a flexible constitution to deal with the destiny …

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Hong Kong saw in 2018 in spectacular style as the southern Chinese city staged a stunning fireworks display over its famous Victoria Harbour. Thousands thronged the harbourside to see the show illuminate the famous skyline as revellers danced to Auld Lang Syne. “Shooting stars” were …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Thirty-six people were killed and 11 injured early Sunday morning in a head-on collision between a bus and a lorry on a road in central Kenya, police said. “The death toll is now 36,” said Rift Valley traffic police chief Zero Arome, explaining the initial …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  President Yoweri Museveni will at 7pm on Sunday deliver his much awaited 2018 new year address. Museveni will focus on the gains of 2017 and lay out plans for 2018 – live on all national radio and TV stations. Exactly a year ago, Museveni assured …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool celebrated Virgil van Dijk’s arrival at Anfield by coming from behind to beat Leicester City 2-1 thanks to Mohamed Salah’s brace as Chelsea crushed Stoke City 5-0 in the Premier League on Saturday. Van Dijk, signed from Southampton for a world record fee …

Khartoum, Sudan | AFP |  Sudan’s president on Saturday announced a state of emergency in two states in the centre and east of the country, the official news agency said. President Omar al-Bashir issued a decree to install the state of emergency in North Kordofan and Kasala for six months, …

  Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Catholics in crisis-torn Democratic Republic of Congo vowed Saturday to defy a protest ban and hold a “peaceful march” Sunday to urge implementation of a deal for President Joseph Kabila to leave office and for delayed elections. Kabila has been in power since …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP |  An Egyptian court sentenced ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to three years in prison along with 19 other defendants on Saturday for “insulting the judiciary,” his lawyer said. The other defendants include former members of parliament, activists and three journalists. Morsi had already been sentenced …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP |  Tiger Woods said Friday he’s taken his game to another level, but his 2018 schedule remains unclear as he plots his comeback from injury. The 14-time major champion posted a lengthy blog on his website, reflecting on 2017 and looking ahead to a …

Paris, France | AFP |  From the inauguration of US President Donald Trump to the exodus of Rohingyas from Myanmar, here are 12 events that marked 2017. – A year of Trump – On January 20 Republican billionaire Donald Trump, 70, is inaugurated as US president, vowing: “America first.” Suspicions …