Sochi, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Sochi on Monday, with efforts to bring peace to Syria set to dominate their talks at the Black Sea resort. Despite being on opposing sides of the Syrian conflict, Russia and Turkey have …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Oil prices are forecast to rise to $56 a barrel in 2018 from $53 this year as a result of steadily growing demand, agreed production cuts among oil exporters and stabilizing United States shale oil production, according to the World Bank’s Senior Economist John Baffes. …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Amazon said Monday it had acquired the global television rights to “The Lord of the Rings,” based on the celebrated fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, with a multi-season commitment. Set in Middle Earth, the adaptation will explore new storylines preceding Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of …

Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Officials began counting votes in the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland after residents on Monday took part in its third presidential poll, hoping to bolster its democratic credentials and strengthen the case for independence from troubled Somalia. The northern territory, which is more tribally homogenous and stable …

New York, United States | AFP | Three South American former soccer officials were blinded by greed and accepted millions of dollars in bribes, US prosecutors told the FIFA corruption trial Monday as defense lawyers insisted their wealthy clients were innocent. Forty-two officials and marketing executives, and three companies were indicted …

Washington, United States | AFP | Hate crimes across the United States accelerated in 2016 as the divisive election battle that saw Donald Trump elected president progressed, FBI statistics showed Monday. Hate crimes — acts motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender — rose overall for the …

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | The High Court in Kampala has resorted to adjourning capital offences indefinately, due to the on-going Prosecutor’s strike which has so far taken one month. According to the Deputy Registrar in-charge of criminal matters Emmanuel Baguma, Prison Authorities have been directed not to bring back …

Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Principle Judge Yorakamu Bamwine has taken over as mediator in a high-profile case between businessman Sudhir Ruparelia and Bank of Uganda (BOU). Justice Bamwine’s appointment comes after the parties in the case rejected the earlier appointed mediator Harriet Magala. The two parties have said they …

Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Residents of the self-proclaimed state of Somaliland voted Monday in its third presidential poll, hoping to prove its democratic credentials and strengthen the case for independence from troubled Somalia. The northern territory, which is more tribally homogenous and stable than the rest of Somalia, broke away …

Bonn, Germany | AFP | Climate change imperils one in four natural World Heritage sites, including coral reefs, glaciers, and wetlands — nearly double the number from just three years ago, a report said Monday. The number of sites at risk has grown to 62 from 35 in 2014, when one …