Geneva, Switzerland | Xinhua | The global number of new COVID-19 cases is on the increase, with 3.8 million new infections confirmed in the week between July 19 and July 25, and a “sharp” jump has been reported in the number of deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday. …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Environment Management Authority-NEMA says the recent cabinet decision which imposed a total ban on all polythene bags cannot be enforced under the current legal regime. As part of the efforts to restore the environment in what has been dubbed as the restoration decade, …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | HIV advocates have condemned the continued harassment of sex workers especially by police officers under the guise of enforcing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) against Covid-19 to defraud them of their money. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Macklean Kyomya, the Executive Director at Alliance of …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | Washington’s confrontational approach to China has proved to be “counter-productive” as it has alienated China when the world is in need of cooperation on a slew of issues, The Guardian newspaper said in a recent opinion piece. U.S. President Joe Biden’s “combative stance has alienated Beijing,” …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s East African Community Affairs Minister Rebecca Kadaga has advised EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki to use ‘shuttle diplomacy’ to see member states remit their annual financial contributions. This, Kadaga said will be more effective than waiting at the Secretariat for members to bring the …

Washington, U.S. | Xinhua | American biopharmaceutical company Pfizer said on Wednesday that a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine can “strongly” boost protection against the Delta variant. Antibody levels against the Delta variant in people aged 18 to 55 who receive a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine are greater …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court has issued a temporary injunction blocking the Uganda Police Force and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit from continuing with the inquiries into alleged fraud of more than three billion shillings by the Masaka Deputy Court Registrar Cissy Kawuma Mudhasi. Justice Musa Ssekaana, …

Kazo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kazo district Foot and Mouth disease taskforce and cattle farmers want the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to ease the quarantine regulations on sub-counties that are disease free. Government imposed total livestock quarantine in Kazo district in January following the outbreak of the …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament on the Agriculture Committee have tasked the Ministry of Agriculture to explain the status of distribution of hand hoes to farmers. The Minister of Agriculture Frank Tumwebaze together with the Minister of State for Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama on Wednesday had appeared …

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Districts in the West Nile region are struggling to manage the Covid-19 pandemic due to lack of ambulances. Following the resurgence of the second wave of the coronavirus, some of the districts require referral of patients to Arua and Mulago national referral hospital. In the …