Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The European Commission on Friday launched new measures offering guarantees for borrowing by micro borrowers, micro- and social enterprises to counter the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the instrument worth 400 million euros (464.5 million U.S. dollars), the European Investment Fund will offer guarantees …

Washington, US | XINHUA | U.S. Senate Republicans and the Trump administration have reached an agreement in principle on the next COVID-19 relief package, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday. McConnell said Senate Republicans will release their proposal, which will focus on kids, jobs and healthcare, next week as …

Cape Town, South Africa | XINHUA | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday pledged to combat corruption in the health sector and better manage resources dedicated to the fight against COVID-19. Since the COVID-19 outbreak in early March, social and economic relief packages have been implemented and much-needed support has …

London, UK | XINHUA | The 2020-21 season Premier League will start on September 12, announced the English football top flight on Friday. “Premier League Shareholders today agreed to start the 2020-21 Premier League season on 12 September 2020,” the Premier League said in a statement. “The final match round of …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Taxpayers disputing assessments by Uganda Revenue Authority will no longer be required to deposit 30 percent of the amount in dispute before launching a challenge at the Tax Appeals Tribunal (TAT). Section 15 of the Tax Appeals Tribunal Act requires a company or any taxpayer …

Kabarole, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | At least 13 media personalities in Tooro have expressed interest to contest for various elective positions in the 2021 general elections. They include Ronald Asaba, a presenter at Jubilee Radio who seeks to contest as LCV councilor for Busoro sub county, Davis Besiga, the Voice …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Textile Manufactures and Traders Association have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga seeking a review of import duty tax imposed on textile materials. The traders many of whom import the materials and design the outfits for sale locally say that the import duty …

Kazo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A 23-year-old soap vendor is nursing burns at Kazo health centre IV in after setting himself ablaze. He has been identified as Mugisha Akora, a resident of Umoja village-Nyakasanga ward in Kasese district. Mugisha was intercepted by the traffic police along Kazo-Ibanda highway for riding …

Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | DP leaders in Masaka district have chosen to transfer their party structures into mobilization units for the National Unity Platform-NUP, a new political party that formed a coalition with MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s People Power pressure group. Leaders of the revival DP faction in Masaka district …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The World Bank has approved a fund of $150 million (approximately 554 billion shillings) to enable greater access to higher-quality secondary education among Ugandan children in safer and better-equipped learning environments. The project dubbed Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project- USEEP is financed by an International …