Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization announced Wednesday that clinical trials of the drug hydroxychloroquine will resume as it searches for potential coronavirus treatments. On May 25, the WHO announced it had temporarily suspended the trials to conduct a safety review, which has now concluded there is “no reason” to change the …
Read More »Sudan protesters rally one year after bloody crackdown
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudanese protesters took to the streets of Khartoum Wednesday, angrily demanding justice for scores of pro-democracy demonstrators killed a year ago in a bloody crackdown. The popular mass movement had already brought down long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir but was still on the streets demanding further reforms …
Read More »No ‘vaccine nationalism’, and jabs for all: Red Cross
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The Red Cross and the UN urged countries Wednesday to avoid trying to secure future immunisation jabs against the coronavirus for their populations only, calling for a true “people’s vaccine”. The groups spoke out as scientists race to identify and test possible vaccines for COVID-19, which …
Read More »How Rwanda genocide suspect spent 25 years on the run
Paris, France | AFP | When Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga was arrested at his home on the outskirts of Paris in mid-May, it marked an abrupt end to a quarter of a century on the run. Without the coronavirus pandemic, which forced his children out of the shadows to help …
Read More »As US protests rage, a tale of two leaders: Biden and Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | The nationwide US protests for racial justice are giving Joe Biden, sidelined for over two months by the coronavirus pandemic, the opportunity to reclaim the spotlight and display a contrasting leadership style to that of his November election opponent President Donald Trump. “This is very …
Read More »President Museveni’s 2020 Martyrs day speech to Christians
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fellow Christians, on this day of 3rd June 2020, I wish to join all Christians in Uganda to commemorate the spiritual significance of the martyrdom of the faithful who chose to face death rather than recant their faith. The Uganda Martyrs have been celebrated over …
Read More »Zoom earnings soar as video meets become pandemic norm
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Zoom on Tuesday reported that its earnings soared as its video-meeting service became a popular way to work or socialize while hunkered down due to the coronavirus pandemic. Zoom said it made a profit of $27 million on revenue that leapt 169 percent to …
Read More »‘Endemic racial discrimination’ exposed in US: UN rights chief
Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities, and protests triggered by George Floyd’s death, have laid bare “endemic inequalities” in the United States, the UN rights chief said Tuesday, urging action. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that the COVID-19 crisis has had a worse …
Read More »Putin rushes to move on from virus with vote on reforms
Moscow, Russia | AFP | It took less than a week after he said Russia’s coronavirus crisis had peaked for President Vladimir Putin to fast-track a vote on constitutional reforms allowing him to serve more Kremlin terms. By pushing ahead with the public vote on July 1 — despite Russia still …
Read More »Funding shortfall hinders pandemic response: World Bank chief
Washington, United States | AFP | The global economy is facing “staggeringly large” losses and the recovery effort is hampered by a shortage of resources to make up for the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, World Bank President David Malpass said Tuesday. While the Washington-based development lender has rushed out …
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