Paris, France | AFP | The rebalancing of the oil market is underway and will accelerate, the OPEC cartel said Wednesday, days after some of its members voluntarily increased their production cuts. The world oil market was thrown into disarray earlier this year as lockdown measures imposed by governments to slow the spread of the …
Read More »Two weeks, no update: Tanzania opposition demands truth on virus
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | AFP | Tanzania’s opposition on Wednesday demanded the truth about the country’s coronavirus infections two weeks after the last update, as the US embassy raised the alarm over “overwhelmed hospitals”. The government stopped giving daily updates after President John Magufuli complained last month they were causing panic, and went on …
Read More »Hearn questions integrity of allowing Tyson comeback
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has questioned whether a return to the ring for Mike Tyson at 53 would be ethical. A video posted on Tyson’s Instagram this week showed the former world heavyweight champion in training and he has said he could make a comeback for charity exhibition bouts. …
Read More »WHO ‘surprised’ by states’ lack of pandemic preparation
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Sylvie Briand, the World Health Organization’s infectious hazards management chief, said the UN body was surprised by certain countries’ lack of preparation for a pandemic before the coronavirus crisis. Here is a question-and-answer with the French scientist: – Are you surprised by how quickly the pandemic …
Read More »Serie A clubs want to resume coronavirus-hit season on June 13
Rome, Italy | AFP | Italy’s Serie A clubs said on Wednesday they want to return to competition on June 13 if they get the all-clear from the government. “Regarding the resumption of sports activities and in compliance with government decisions and in accordance with medical protocols for the protection of …
Read More »US says China trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research
Washington, United States | AFP | US authorities warned healthcare and scientific researchers Wednesday that Chinese-backed hackers were attempting to steal research and intellectual property related to treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. Organizations researching the disease were warned of “likely targeting and network compromise by the People’s Republic of China,” a statement from the FBI …
Read More »Ferrari helps design new low-cost ventilator in coronavirus battle
Rome, Italy | AFP | Formula One team Ferrari announced Wednesday they have helped develop a new low-cost ventilator which can be used in the fight against coronavirus. The F15 project has been developed in five weeks by the Maranello team in conjunction with the Genoa-based Italian Institute of Technology. “We started working on March …
Read More »Malawi could bring forward vote re-run by a week
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s presidential election re-run could be brought forward by a week to comply with a court order that a new leader be declared within 150 days of a ruling that quashed last year’s polls, the electoral commission has said. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) had set July 2 for a …
Read More »WHO stresses need to find source of coronavirus
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Pinning down the source of the coronavirus pandemic should help in working out how COVID-19 has “invaded the human species” so quickly, a senior WHO official told AFP. The outbreak has triggered a fierce diplomatic spat between China and the United States — with the World …
Read More »Gulu leaders bow to food demands by commercial sex workers
Gulu, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Gulu district leaders have bowed to demands for food relief by commercial sex workers as the extended national lockdown by government continues to bite. The affected group came up earlier to cry for help saying many of them were starving and pleaded to be classified …
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