LOS ANGELES | Xinhua | NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) since last June, returned to Earth Tuesday afternoon. The duo astronauts returned home with their fellow Crew-9 astronauts, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, …

Equity Bank expands support for women in Micro Business in Masaka; Work-life balance preached at Abakyala Ku Ntiiko Event Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | For the second time in one week, Equity Bank Uganda brought women entrepreneurs, financial experts and industry leaders under one roof as the Abakyala Ku Ntiiko reached Masaka on …

BRUSSELS | Xinhua | European shares dropped this week as a broad sell-off took hold, fueled by mounting concerns over the fallout of “Trumpcession,” a term coined by economists to describe the turbulence triggered by “erratic” trade and economic policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. The escalating strain in transatlantic …

Putin agrees in Trump call to pause Ukraine energy attacks but no full ceasefire Washington, US | BBC & TASS |  President Vladimir Putin has rejected an immediate and full ceasefire in Ukraine, agreeing only to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, following a call with US President Donald Trump. The …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  Crown Beverages Limited (CBL), in strategic partnership with WastePays and support from PepsiCo Sub-Saharan Africa, is significantly expanding its commitment to sustainable waste management on Global Recycling Day. CBL, the authorized bottler of PepsiCo beverages in Uganda, is actively driving impactful recycling efforts across the country. …

Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The construction of a modern market in Mukono District under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP) hangs in balance due to a lack of land. The district local government has struggled to secure land with a valid title, a key requirement from …

MOSCOW | TASS |  Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump are expected to discuss the normalization of Russian-US relations and the situation in Ukraine during their telephone conversation this afternoon, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “Certain discussions [between Moscow and Washington] have already taken place. …

GENEVA | Xinhua | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Tuesday that he was “horrified” by the Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which have reportedly killed hundreds. “This will add tragedy onto tragedy,” Turk said in a statement. Turk emphasized that the past 18 months of …

Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |   The judiciary is considering co-opting retired civil servants and religious leaders to serve as mediators in disputes, to help courts quickly clear the heavy case backlogs. Justice Richard Buteera, the outgoing Deputy Chief Justice indicates as part of their broader transformation agenda; aimed at …

ADDIS ABABA | Xinhua | African youth have been urged to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement to tap into broader continental market and economic opportunities. Experts and policymakers made the call on Saturday during a continental youth-themed meeting organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for …