SHENZHEN, Xinhua | THE INDEPENDENT | When a Chinese robotics innovator faced an urgent space crunch for his laser sensor startup a few years ago, he did what many entrepreneurs in the country’s southern tech hub of Shenzhen do: he called the local government. By the next day, multiple authorities …

BEIJING | Xinhua | China and Russia should increase high-level exchanges and strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Xi extended New Year greetings to Putin and the Russian people, stating that Wednesday coincided with …

  Xi says ready to work with Trump to steer giant ship of China-U.S. ties steadily forward BEIJING | Xinhua | Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that he hopes to work with U.S. President Donald Trump in the new year to steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations …

The U.S., Allies, and Africa in the Spotlight   Washington, USA | THE INDEPENDENT | The United States has taken a decisive step to secure its place in the global critical minerals market with the launch of Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic reserve aimed at stockpiling essential minerals for …

BEIJING | Xinhua |  China and Uruguay should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, and deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure construction, and information and communications technology, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday. Both sides should explore the potential for …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Commercial Division of the High Court has ordered the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to halt the collection of at least sh24.7 billion in disputed taxes from betting and gaming company Massalia SMC Limited, pending the determination of an appeal before the court. The …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The election of LC111 and municipality division chairpersons and councillors is witnessing a slow start, as voters stay away across the country. Voting is taking place in much of Uganda, except for Kampala and other cities that concluded their polls last week. Our reporters …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has recorded sustained growth in domestic revenue collections, driven in part by improvements in tax administration and the adoption of digital enforcement tools, according to the 2024/25 Auditor General’s Report. The report shows that total government revenue rose from …

  Inside the EU’s climate rules and the hidden costs they impose on African economies Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE  | In mid-December 2025, under the chandeliers of a conference hall in Speke Resort Hotel-Munyonyo, in Kampala, a familiar tension surfaced in unfamiliar language. Delegates from across Eastern and Southern Africa …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Some teachers in parts of the country are raising alarm after the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results. The results revealed that Social Studies with Religious Education (SST) registered the poorest results nationwide. The teachers interviewed by Uganda Radio Network’s journalist have responded differently, offering …