Washington, United States | AFP | A new cholesterol-slashing drug that has shown promise for high-risk patients does not impair brain function, according to a study out Saturday. Previous research had raised the possibility that evolocumab, sold under the brand name Repatha by Amgen, may have a damaging effect on memory …

Washington, United States | AFP | People who received regular lifestyle counseling online were able to lower their blood pressure as much as a medication would, researchers said Saturday. Their study involved 264 people with high blood pressure and an average age of 58. The subjects’ average blood pressure began at …

Bangui, Central African Republic | AFP |  With a spike in militia killings, a deepening humanitarian crisis and the army still in shambles, the Central African Republic’s bid for peace and stability remains elusive. A three-year civil war that erupted in 2013 between Muslim and Christian militias left thousands of …

Baden-Baden, Germany | AFP | Ministers from the world’s top economies heralded plans to boost development in Africa on Saturday, at an otherwise fractious G20 gathering in Germany. Berlin, which holds the presidency of the powerful nations’ club this year, has made a hoped-for “Compact with Africa” a top priority for …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP |  Pope Francis will visit Cairo on April 28-29 at the invitation of the Egyptian president and the grand imam of the capital’s famed Al-Azhar mosque, the Vatican said Saturday. The pontiff had hosted the grand imam, Ahmed al-Tayeb, at the Vatican last May, …

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzania on Saturday agreed to send 500 doctors to Kenya after a 100-day doctors’ strike that paralyzed health services in the neighbouring country. President John Magufuli announced the decision after meeting a Kenyan delegation in Dar es Salaam headed by health minister Cleopa Mailu. …

JOB OPENING National consultant for the Review of Pending Legislation in Parliament of Uganda Location : Kampala, UGANDA Application Deadline : 20-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA) Time left : Additional Category : Gender Equality Type of Contract : Individual Contract Post Level : National Consultant Languages Required : English Starting …

South Sudan buys weapons during famine: UN report United Nations, United States | AFP | South Sudan’s government is spending oil revenue on weapons as the country descends into a famine largely caused by President Salva Kiir’s military campaign, a confidential UN report says. The report obtained by AFP on …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s second largest airline Aero Contractors has laid off two-thirds of its workforce to save costs and prevent it from going under, a government agency official confirmed on Friday. The company said in a letter to employees on Thursday that it was “constrained to place (them) …

San Francisco, United States | Travel service Expedia added to its board the daughter of former US president Bill Clinton and former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to a public filing posted Friday. Expedia expanded its board from 13 to 14 members and elected Chelsea Clinton to fill the …