Andrew Meldrum

A leader of Uganda’s LGBTQ community says many fear for their safety after the East African country’s legislature passed an anti-gay bill. apne.ws/JF12AR1

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BREAKING: A series of explosions have been heard in Kyiv and the air raid sirens were turned on. The deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office said on Telegram that a missile attack on critical infrastructure in the capital was underway. apnews.com/article/russia…

Rights groups in Burkina Faso say ethnically targeted attacks and extrajudicial killings are increasing as the West African country is reeling from years of jihadi violence. apne.ws/XodiC09

BREAKING: At least nine people, some of them children, have been killed in a stampede at a shopping mall in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, as crowds tried to go outside to watch a New Year's fireworks display. apne.ws/qLIAKPk

Years after Islamic extremists abducted 276 girls in 2014 from Nigeria's Chibok school, 94 are still missing. Their plight is highlighted by an installation of sculptures inspired by ancient Nigerian terracotta heads. apne.ws/kVTrn6V

Multiple regions of Ukraine, including its capital, faced a massive Russian missile attack Thursday, the biggest wave of strikes in weeks targeting national infrastructure. apnews.com/article/kyiv-r…

The jihadi violence that’s wracked much of West Africa’s Sahel region for more than seven years is now spreading to the region’s coastal states and Benin is the hardest hit. apne.ws/jGAPx8h

The accounts are haunting. Abductions, torture, rapes. According to a U.N. report by a panel of experts, scores of civilians including women and children have been killed by the M23 rebels in eastern Congo. apne.ws/VCwl6bh

Once a minority sport played mostly in Zimbabwe's wealthier neighborhoods, pool has increased in popularity. Betting on the sport has become a means of survival for many in a country where employment is hard to come by. apne.ws/S1ZqAv1

South Africa’s Christmas 2022 is a start/stop affair because the country’s daily power cuts are hitting just about every aspect of the holiday. Businesses and families are coping with rolling outages of electricity lasting from seven to 10 hours per day. apne.ws/6P9zViG

As Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region begins to connect to the world after a year and a half, some Tigrayans are relieved to reach loved ones. Others grieve. apne.ws/kbZg2FK

Germany has returned 20 historic bronze sculptures to Nigeria as part of efforts to address what German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called her country's “dark colonial past.” apne.ws/Rq6XIhp

Communities in eastern Congo are struggling to survive in the wake of a massacre in which at least 130 people were killed by M23 rebels in what the United Nations called “unspeakable violence” against civilians. apne.ws/PvzmRmN

Burkina Faso has allegedly agreed with Russia’s Wagner Group for the shadowy mercenary outfit to help the West African country deal with surging jihadi violence in exchange for a mine, according to Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo. apne.ws/hv2dsn8

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party is starting its crucial national conference amid scandal and bitter divisions. The conference opening Friday will elect the party’s leadership and adopt key policies for governing the country. apne.ws/n0d6f5v

A health official in Uganda hid from a mob after gambling on a World Cup game - and losing $1,800 meant for a health program. In at least five African countries, World Cup upsets have "caused havoc" as gamblers count on sure bets for income. apne.ws/wRvzPhX

South Africa's president is fighting for his political future. Mired by a surprising scandal, Cyril Ramaphosa is going into a crucial conference of the ruling African National Congress party to see if he will continue to be its leader. apne.ws/kmyomyE

As one conflict in Ethiopia begins to calm, another is growing. Last month saw a peace agreement in the Tigray region, but the larger Oromia region appears increasingly unstable. apne.ws/OQYunJx

A new report says Somalia has not yet fallen into famine but several parts of the country are in danger of it in the coming months after two years of failed rains. apne.ws/gcrUtt9