Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | AFP |  Two million Muslims from across the globe are converging on Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage, a religious duty and for some pilgrims the journey of a lifetime. This year sees the return of pilgrims from Shiite Iran, regional rival to Sunni …

   Juba, South Sudan | AFP |  An American journalist has been killed while covering clashes between government and rebel forces in restive South Sudan, local officials and the US mission in Juba said on Sunday. A spokesman confirmed the clashes had resulted in 19 deaths. Christopher Allen, a freelance reporter …

  Denys Reva | ISS TODAY | The recent liberation of Mosul in Iraq is just one of many setbacks for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Military upsets, territorial losses and financial pressures have reportedly decreased the number of active fighters in the group from an estimated …

  Washington, United States | AFP |  President Donald Trump insisted Sunday that the US Congress must find a way to pay for his promised border wall, branding Mexico a hotbed of violent crime. And he warned both Mexico and Canada that if they continue to be “difficult” in trade …

  3 Madrid, Spain | AFP |  Real Madrid needed a late strike from Marco Asensio to prevent a shock defeat but still saw their relentless winning streak ended by Valencia in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. Asensio had got the hosts off to the …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Liverpool forwards Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah tore Arsenal to shreds as Arsene Wenger’s team crashed to a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday. The trio all found the net to condemn Arsenal to a second successive defeat after their 1-0 …

Paris, France | AFP | Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a deal to sign teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe from Monaco, French media reported on Sunday. Radio stations France Info and RMC reported that PSG had agreed to pay 180 million euros ($215 million) including bonuses for the French international striker. That …

Luke Patey | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS |  It was not long ago that East Africa was the shining frontier of the continent’s oil scene. Uganda sparked the rush in 2006 after wildcatters ventured deep inland and made Africa’s largest onshore discoveries in decades. And Kenya’s north­western Turkana region continued the run with new oilfields found …

THIS WEEK: Uganda declared bird flu free Kampala, Uganda | THIS WEEK | Following a January outbreak of bird flu in parts of Wakiso and Masaka districts, neighboring countries including Kenya and Tanzania issued a trade ban on poultry products from the country until they are declared disease free. On …

THIS WEEK: Kayihura speaks out on women murders Kampala, Uganda | THIS WEEK | Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura on Aug.21 addressed the public about recent murders in Entebbe and Nansana. At a community policing meeting in Nansana, he said their investigations reveal that the murdered women had problems …