Palm Beach, United States | AFP | Donald Trump began to broaden the base of his future cabinet Wednesday, nominating two conservative women including a critic, after his earlier picks rewarded campaign loyalists. Trump’s nomination of South Carolina’s 44-year-old governor, Nikki Haley, as US ambassador to the United Nations will …

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | An Australian surgeon kidnapped by jihadists nearly two years ago whose whereabouts remain unknown has been declared a citizen of the west African nation, an official decree announced Wednesday. “Arthur Kenneth Elliott, born 11 November 1934 in Perth, in Australia…. a surgeon” has been …

Luanda, Angola | AFP |  Thirty-seven former fighters from Angola’s main UNITA opposition party go on trial Friday accused of attempting to stage a coup earlier this year, the state news agency Angop reported on Thursday. Members of the group face charges of planning an armed assault against the presidential …

South Africa union federation backs Ramaphosa for power Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday won the support of Cosatu, the biggest union federation, to be the ANC party’s next leader, boosting his chances of taking national power. The African National Congress (ANC), …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenya Airways on Thursday announced the resignation of its chief executive officer, a move demanded by pilots complaining of mismanagement at the troubled airline. CEO Mbuvi Ngunze will step down in the first quarter of 2017. His resignation follows that of chairman Dennis Awori only …

VIDEO: Starting Monday next week, the works and transport ministry will embark on a campaign to inspect all vehicles in Uganda. They have called upon drivers to take their cars for inspection or else suffer penalties. According to the minister Azuba, the whole exercise is to regulate cars that are in …

VIDEO: The Ministry of Health has actually brought down the number of pediatric deaths at Mulago hospital-Kawempe to one child a day, down from the reported 15 deaths announced by Dr Micheal Bukenya, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary committee. According to state minister for health in charge of general duties …

IN THE INDEPENDENT THIS WEEK COVER STORY Kanyamunyu murder case: Why the police can’t win THE LAST WORD Andrew Mwenda on healthcare in poor countries: Why nations that are different exhibit similar health service dysfunctions ANALYSIS Tension as ISO fails to pay salaries for 6 months, Lacks operation funds: The Intelligence …

Zurich, Switzerland | AFP |  Despite a big win and draw against highly ranked Congo Brazzaville and Ghana recently, Uganda Cranes dropped a place in the latest FIFA rankings released Thursday. Ghana and Congo however tumbled in the rankings. It turns out the 0-1 defeat in a friendly against lower …

Strasbourg, France | AFP | The European Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a freeze of membership talks with Turkey over its post-coup crackdown, further escalating tensions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has already dismissed the vote as having “no value” as it is non-binding, and as most …