London, United Kingdom | AFP | Stock markets shot higher Tuesday as investor hopes for a quick economic recovery were fuelled by a massive Federal Reserve stimulus programme and evidence of US consumers flocking back to shops. The rally was rooted also in reports that US President Donald Trump is considering a $1.0-trillion infrastructure investment …

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Tuesday dissolved parliament to allow for elections in October, pledging a “free and fair” vote in a country where the opposition has decried a climate of fear and violence. Magufuli, who took office in 2015 promising a crackdown on corruption but whose strongman …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States plans to give priority to the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and essential workers once there is a vaccine against COVID-19, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday. Under Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US government is aiming to deliver 300 million …

Paris, France | AFP | Britain is to start giving seriously ill coronavirus patients a basic steroid treatment hailed as a “major breakthrough” Tuesday capable of reducing the global pandemic’s death toll as worrying new outbreaks surfaced. A new and “extremely severe” cluster of cases in Beijing cast doubt over efforts …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | African countries are pushing for the UN’s top rights body to launch a high-level investigation into “systemic racism” and police violence in the United States and beyond, according to a draft resolution seen Tuesday by AFP. The text was being circulated to diplomats for consultations ahead of a so-called urgent …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s government on Tuesday bowed to demands by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford to change its policy on free school meals for the poorest children, amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on low-income families. The England international drew on his own experience of growing up …

Manafwa, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Health officials in Manafwa district have reported an escalation of food insecurity, poverty and cases of malnutrition among the marginalized groups during the time of the COVID-19 lockdown. Dr Emma Gahima, the in-charge of Bugobero health center IV and Manafwa district nutrition focal person …

Kamuli, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Kamuli district has arrested Moses Bigirwa, the Busoga region coordinator of the People Power Pressure Group, a political outfit championed by Kyaddondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi. He is charged with noise pollution. Bigirwa teamed up with other people power sympathizers to sound …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has summoned the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija to explain the variance in figures presented during his budget speech which was presented last week. This follows an observation of inconsistencies in the figures that were approved by Parliament …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Health has launched the distribution exercise of free mosquito nets across the country. The exercise will start next week until the end of the year. So far, only 4.5 million mosquito nets out of the 27 million have been procured. The …