Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Wakiso COVID-19 task force has protested the disbursement of 165 million shillings to districts for the fight against COVID. The district taskforce which held an emergency meeting at the district headquarters on Monday argues that the funds are inadequate. Matia Lwanga Bwanika, the LCV Chairperson, …
Read More »Coronavirus pandemic ‘amplifies press freedom threats’
Paris, France | AFP | The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating threats to press freedom around the world, with authoritarian states including China and Iran suppressing details of the outbreak, activists said on Tuesday. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in its annual press freedom rankings the pandemic was “highlighting and amplifying the …
Read More »Trump says to ban immigration as US protestors demand lockdown end
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump said he would temporarily ban immigration to the United States because of the “Invisible Enemy” of the coronavirus, as angry Americans took to the streets to demand an end to crippling lockdowns. In just four months, the virus has turned the world upside …
Read More »Court dismisses suit against Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The High Court has dismissed an application filed by eight Makerere University Staff accusing the institution of contempt of court. The staff are Sarah Nabawanuka, George Mbabazi, Epaphrah Barenga, James Grace Sseruga, Paul Kiggundu, Herbert Tumukunde, Teddy Tusabe and Godfrey Kato. They have been serving …
Read More »17,000 sign petition against COVID-19 allocation to Parliament
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Up to 17,000 People have signed an online petition challenging the allocation of 10 billion Shillings to members of parliament, to allegedly fight the spread of Coronavirus Disease-COVID-19. The petition, initiated by former minister Sarah Kiyingi, says that whereas she does not doubt the important …
Read More »Humans to blame for spread of coronavirus and other ‘zoonoses’
Paris, France | AFP | Whether it came from a bat or a pangolin is not certain, but one thing is: the coronavirus outbreak that has killed tens of thousands and turned the world upside down comes from the animal world. It is human activity enabled the virus to jump to …
Read More »Homeless taste ‘luxury’ at Geneva hotel during pandemic
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Sofiane Rahmani can hardly believe his luck. After several years of living on the street and bouncing between shelters, he now has his own hotel room, personal bathroom and all meals provided. “It’s true luxury,” the 16-year-old Algerian illegal migrant told AFP at the three-star Bel …
Read More »‘We could die in our homes’: Malawians resist virus lockdown
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | While much of the world labours under strict coronavirus lockdowns, Malawi has bucked the trend after a court blocked attempts to restrict its population’s movements — much to the relief of some residents. “Had the lockdown been implemented, we would certainly have died of hunger and …
Read More »Virus turns health workers in Egypt into ‘outcasts’
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | After showing symptoms similar to those of the coronavirus, Egyptian doctor Ahmed Negm went into self-isolation in an old apartment, but before long he was hounded out by fearful neighbours. While health workers in many countries are getting cheers and applause for risking their lives in …
Read More »Families mourn as police seek motive for Canada gun rampage
Montreal, Canada | AFP | Investigators on Monday scoured crime scenes from the worst mass shooting in Canadian history to try to understand why a dental worker with no criminal past killed at least 18 people. The gunman, identified by police as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, began his rampage late Saturday in …
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