Beijing, China | XINHUA | China’s recent acceleration in business reforms has helped the country become the top reformer among large economies, according to a report issued by the World Bank. Figures presented in the Doing Business 2020 report, the latest in a series of annual reports by the World …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for efforts to build sustainable cities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video message for the launch of his policy brief on COVID-19 and cities, Guterres said urban areas are ground zero of the pandemic, with 90 percent …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could boost the continent’s income by 450 billion U.S. dollars if fully implemented, says a World Bank report released on Monday evening. According to the report, the pan African trade pact would significantly boost continental trade, particularly intraregional …

Washington, US | XINHUA | Chinese virologist Shi Zhengli hit back at speculations that SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic was leaked from her lab, calling for more science-based cooperation, rather than slander, to find treatments and vaccines. “We have done bat virus surveillance in Hubei Province for many years, …

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | XINHUA | Thousands of Tanzanians gathered on Tuesday to say a final goodbye to the country’s third president Benjamin Mkapa at a state funeral in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. In a national address for the funeral, Tanzanian President John Magufuli said Mkapa’s death …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Four officials from the Office of the Prime Minister- OPM have denied fresh 24 charges slapped against them. The officials who include the Permanent Secretary Christine Guwatudde Kintu, Accountant Joel Wanjala, Assistant Commissioner for Procurement Fred Lutimba and Commissioner for Disaster Management Martin Owor face …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Robert Kakooza Kwesiga alias Sanya Tim, a resident of Kasokoso Kireka in Kira municipality in Wakiso district is in custody at Kira road police station for attempting to set himself ablaze in the People Power offices. The Kampala Metropolitan Spokesperson, Patrick Onyango says Kakooza was …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament on the Public Accounts Committee have resolved to hold the University Secretary of Lira University liable for failure to remit over shillings 30 million in taxes. Augustine Oyang-Atubo–accounting officer on Tuesday appeared before the committee with a team of officials from the …

Namisindwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Namisindwa district quarantine center at Magale secondary school is overwhelmed by the high number of Covid-19 suspects. The quarantine center which was planned for only 100 people is currently home to 179 suspects. Ninety seven (97) of the suspects are contacts of Eunice Chimatala, …

Buvuma, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Leaders in Buvuma have asked the Uganda National Roads Authority- UNRA to tarmac roads in the district. The roads which connect to the islands are dusty and filled with many potholes. The leaders cite the 40-kilometre road from the docking site at Kirongo to …