Liberia tests mystery illness after 11 unexplained deaths Monrovia, Liberia | AFP |  Liberia said Friday that samples from people struck down by a mystery illness are being tested abroad after 11 unexplained deaths, though Ebola has been ruled out. The unidentified illness has affected 19 people in Greenville, southeastern …

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP |  Tanzanian President John Magufuli sacked close to 10,000 civil servants on Friday after a government report found they had faked their qualifications. Some of the government workers are accused of falsifying exam certificates while others are said to have passed relatives’ qualifications off …

Former Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) President Lawrence Mulindwa could be eyeing a return to the position he left in 2013. While at a graduation ceremony for his daughters held at the newly built St Mary’s Stadium Kitende, Mulindwa reacted to comments made by FUFA Vice President Dennis Mbidde …

United Nations, United States | AFP |  Russia on Friday warned at the United Nations that military options to address the threat from North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic programs were “completely unacceptable” and would have “catastrophic consequences.” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told the Security Council that China’s proposals …

The High Court has set free motor rally  driver Desh Kananaura, his brother Raymond Kananura and 3 other people who had been arrested in connection to the death of Panamera bar employee Badru Kateregga The Kananuras together with Cyrus Maganda, Samuel Muzolewa and Jacob Onyango had been accused of beating …

US seeks talks with North Korea to solve nuke issue Washington, United States | AFP | The United States is not ruling out direct dialogue with North Korea on its nuclear program, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview with National Public Radio. “Obviously, that would be the …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Pope Francis flies to Egypt Friday for a visit aimed at fostering reconciliation with the Muslim world against the backdrop of recent jihadist attacks on the Middle East’s biggest Christian community. The 80-year-old pontiff is due in Cairo around 1400 (1200 GMT) and his 27 …

Beijing, China | AFP | China is closely following France’s presidential election, but web users appear less interested in the politics than the unusual marriage between moderate candidate Emmanuel Macron and his former teacher. Comparisons with the characters of a popular Chinese television drama called “In the Name of the People” …

Berlin, Germany | AFP |  German lawmakers on Thursday approved a partial ban on the full-face burqa Islamic veil and a package of security measures aimed at preventing extremist attacks. The new laws follow several jihadist attacks, including a truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that claimed 12 lives, …

Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has cautioned Uganda to be careful when negotiating oil and gas deals. He said that whereas oil is a good blessing to nations that discover it, there are times it becomes a curse to the countries. “Oil can be linked to honey. Honey …