Islamabad, Pakistan | THE INDEPENDENT | Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan launched COVID-19 vaccination drive with China-donated vaccines on Tuesday as part of the country’s efforts to bring the pandemic under control. The first batch of the Sinopharm vaccines reached Pakistan early Monday from Beijing on a special Pakistan Air …
Read More »Uganda’s proposed Shs45.6bn budget concerns
Budget analysts suggests that government focuses on domestic revenue mobilisation and external borrowing to boost economy in FY2021/2022 Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Coronavirus pandemic, economy, donor support, government spending are the main factors that will determine the design, implementation and success of the new budget for FY2021/22, according …
Read More »Parliament demands free COVID-19 tests, subsidized treatment
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Members of Parliament have appealed to government to review the COVID-19 test costs and ensure that those who test positive get affordable treatment. The call was made during a special sitting this afternoon in which Parliament paid tribute to legislators who have succumbed to COVID-19 …
Read More »Teachers, parents welcome school reopening nod
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Educationists, teachers and parents have welcomed a move by the government to end the closure of schools after almost a year of limited activity. The schools were closed in March 2020, following the outbreak of coronavirus disease, an ailment which, according to experts, spreads faster …
Read More »Malaysia extends movement restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread, 3,455 new cases reported
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | THE INDEPENDENT | The Malaysian government said on Tuesday that it will extend the Movement Control Order (MCO) in force over most of the country till Feb. 18 in order to control the spread of COVID-19. Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who coordinates the implementation of …
Read More »EDUCATION: Primary 6, S3 and 5 back to school first
Cabinet approves reopening of all schools except nurseries Entebbe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Primary 6, Senior 3 and Senior 5 students will be the first allowed back when schools re-open. Cabinet has approved a recommendation for the reopening of schools to non-candidate learners. The schools were closed in …
Read More »Will the Covid-19 vaccine work on the new variants?
Scientists are working to understand what mutations of the virus mean for inoculation strategies COVID-19 SPECIAL FEATURE | KATHERINE ELLEN FOLEY | As researchers become more aware of strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, public health officials have one question: Will vaccines offer protection against them? At the moment, …
Read More »Kyambogo also cancels reopening
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kyambogo University has cancelled a plan to open to all students. They will instead maintain online learning following a directive from the Ministry of Education for decision on full re-opening to be considered three months from now. The university had asked students to report on …
Read More »Germany sees positive trend in COVID-19 infections after second lockdown
Berlin, Germany | XINHUA | The number of new COVID-19 infections in Germany remained below the previous week’s levels, with another 14,022 cases reported within one day, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said on Friday. So far, more than 2.19 million infections have been registered in Germany since the …
Read More »COVID-19: Chief justice issues new directives on election petitions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo has issued new directives to court users involved in election petitions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a January 29th, 2021 circular, Justice Owiny-Dollo says that due to COVID-19; where possible courts shall designate a separate temporary space in the registry …
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