Paris, France | AFP |  Brigitte Macron, as the 64-year-old wife of the man tipped to become France’s youngest-ever president, is getting used to being in the media spotlight. But the elegant blonde is also having to endure unwelcome scrutiny from a foreign press fascinated by the age gap between …

Washington, United States | AFP |  Facebook said Thursday it is stepping up its security to counter efforts by governments and others to spread misinformation or manipulate discussions for political reasons. The new effort expands Facebook’s security efforts beyond “abusive” actions such as hacking and financial scams to “more subtle …

Chicago, United States | AFP |  United Airlines on Thursday announced it will offer bumped passengers up to $10,000 in compensation and reduce overbooking following the dragging incident on board one of its flights that caused worldwide outrage. Those and other changes, which the airline called “substantial,” are the result …

Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Kyambadde has said cabinet has constituted a sub-committee to look into and address the fact that there is no law that prevents foreigners from engaging in petty trade in Uganda. The sub-committee has finalized its main task which was to come up with a national policy …

Kenya opposition names ex-PM Odinga as presidential candidate Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Veteran political leader and former prime minister Raila Odinga was Thursday named Kenya’s opposition presidential candidate for elections in August, at a large rally in the capital Nairobi. The public announcement was made by senior leaders of …

Top stories in the Independent this week:  COVER STORY Buganda land wrangles: Next fight between Kabaka, Museveni? THE LAST WORD Uganda’s declining growth: Why we need to think of how to develop national capacity to manage our economy. NEWS ANALYSIS Kaweesi murder investigation: Kayihura in tight corner as Museveni demands …

CONFEDERATION CUP: Mazembe begin group campaign against Mounana Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Uganda’s KCCA have got a tough group in the CAF Confederation Cup where they will face Tunisian, Nigerian and Morocco opponents. FUS Rabat of Morocco, also former winners of the secondary competition, face Club Africain of Tunisia, Rivers …

Ugandan musician, activist and humanitarian Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine looks set to finally have a go at politics. Speaking on NTV Wednesday evening, Bobi Wine stated he is considering “offering himself to serve the people” in the now vacant seat at Kyadondo East. “I am not in this for …

Accra, Ghana | AFP | Three members of Ghana’s parliament and a former lawmaker are facing travel bans to Britain over apparent visa irregularities, according to a leaked document seen by AFP on Wednesday. Britain’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin, wrote to parliament Speaker Mike Oquaye that the four …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP |  Nigeria’s president has missed the last two meetings of his cabinet, a senior minister said on Wednesday, in comments likely to fuel fresh speculation about the head of state’s health. Muhammadu Buhari, who spent two months on medical leave in London earlier this year, missed …