London, United Kingdom | AFP | A year after landing in jail without charge, her mercy plea unanswered by Saudi rulers and in fear of a coronavirus outbreak behind bars, a prominent princess did the unthinkable — and went public. Princess Basmah bint Saud, a 56-year-old royal family member long seen …
Read More »In ‘weird’ times, Freiburg’s Schmid prepares for football’s restart
Paris, France | AFP | Freiburg midfielder Jonathan Schmid said he is “not at all” afraid to return to the pitch but acknowledges that a second wave of coronavirus infections would put paid to German football’s plans to complete its interrupted season. “Germany wants to finish their championship,” the 29-year-old Frenchman …
Read More »WHO says has no proof from US on ‘speculative’ Wuhan lab claims
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization said Monday that Washington had provided no evidence to support “speculative” claims by the US president that the new coronavirus originated in a Chinese lab. “We have not received any data or specific evidence from the United States government relating to the …
Read More »Uncertainty looms over Poland presidential election
Warsaw, Poland | AFP | Voters are still in the dark as to whether Poland’s presidential election will go ahead as scheduled on Sunday, amid mounting pressure for a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. The right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) government is still seeking parliamentary approval to conduct the election …
Read More »COVID19 relief food scandal: OPM officials granted bail
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Four officials from the Office of Prime Minister-OPM accused of fraudulent practices in the purchase of Covid19 food relief are out on bail. They are the OPM permanent Secretary, Christine Guwatudde Kintu, Undersecretary Joel Wanjala, Assistant Commissioner for Procurement, Fred Lutimba and Commissioner for Disaster …
Read More »Virus deaths top 250,000 as billions raised for vaccine push
Washington, United States | AFP | Global deaths from the coronavirus pandemic topped a quarter-million on Monday, mostly in the US and Europe even as both regions slowly moved away from lockdown and world leaders raised billions towards a vaccine. An AFP tally of official figures showed that Europe is the …
Read More »Uganda’s 2020/21 budget shoots to Shs 45.4trillion
Analysts say the proposed budget should focus on key sectors that support revamping the economy Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA AND JULIUS BUSINGE | Over the past six weeks, Uganda has been in a total lockdown. Shops, except pharmacies and agro vets, had been shut. Transport paralysed. Hotels switched …
Read More »I assaulted Fr. Ejoyi out of anger Vicar general
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Monsignor Kasto Adeti, the Vicar General of Arua Diocese and Ediofe Cathedral Parish priest has admitted assaulting Fr. Lazarus Ejoyi, saying he acted out of emotion. Speaking to URN in an interview at his residential office in Ediofe Monday afternoon, Monsignor Kasto, said he was …
Read More »Gov’t orders mandatory wearing of facemasks as more businesses are allowed to reopen
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | President Yoweri Museveni this evening has allowed a very limited number of businesses to reopen, as he extended the COVID-19 lockdown for another 14-days. The businesses so far allowed to open are hardware shops, mechanic workshops and garages, metal and wood workshops, insurance companies, 30 …
Read More »Decline in number of patients picking ARVs worries Kisoro health officials
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A decline in the number of patients turning up to pick their Antiretroviral Drugs – ARVs in Kisoro district during the COVID-19 lockdown is worrying health officials. The health officials say that after the lockdown was imposed in March, most patients have failed to make …
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