Melbourne, Australia | AFP | Roger Federer admitted Sunday he was shocked that tennis was to lose “legend” Andy Murray this year while long-time friend Novak Djokovic said the bombshell news had “hurt” him. Both paid tribute to the former world number one on the eve of the year’s first …

Washington, United States | AFP | The US government shutdown on Saturday became the longest in history and is taking a growing bite out of the world’s largest economy with each passing day, economists say. While most of the 21 “lapses” in government spending since 1976 left barely a scratch …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda and its members are ready to implement the new international accounting standards that took effect at the beginning of this year, according to Frederick Kibeddi (CPA), the president and Ruth Nseko, the vice president of the Institute. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Musician and politician Robert Kyagu¬lanyi Bobi Wine released a new song dubbed ‘Tuliyambala Engule’ and sang it at the Buganda Kingdom organized Enkuuka show during which the Kabaka usually closes the previous and usher his subjects into the New Year. It has since caught on …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egypt’s Al-Azhar university on Sunday said it had expelled a female student after she appeared in a video hugging a male colleague, accusing her of undermining the school’s reputation. The video, which went viral earlier this month, showed a young man carrying a bouquet of …

Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s prime minister announced a new government in a video message recorded thousands of miles away in Morocco, where ailing Gabonese President Ali Bongo is recovering from a stroke. Recently appointed PM Julien Nkoghe Bekale gave details of the reshuffle in footage broadcast late Saturday …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | On Jan.04, the Ministry of Health signed scholarship agreements with over 500 students from 28 training institutions from across the country. The scholarships are intended to improve skills in the provision of Reproduc-tive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Adolescent Health Services. The courses include but are …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Going vegan has many benefits. First, there’s the obvious ‘you’re not eating animals’, environmental factors and improvements to your health. On the latter, research has linked veganism with benefits such as lowered blood pressure and cho¬lesterol, as well as reducing rates of heart disease, type …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health confirmed on Jan.07 that two cases had tested positive for cholera and seven other sus-pected samples were being tested at the Central Public Health Laboratories for fur ¬ther analysis. The patients who are being treated at the China – Uganda Friendship hospital …

Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s most senior judge was on Saturday charged with failing to declare his assets, in a move the main opposition party said triggered alarm bells as elections approach next month. Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen will appear before a panel of three …