Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | Renowned US epidemiologist Larry Brilliant has urged China to be “radically transparent” if it wants to fend off suspicion over the origin of the novel coronavirus. Theories abound about the provenance of the virus that has sparked the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 300,000 people worldwide in a …
Read More »EAC: Truckers to get COVID-19 test before departure
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Truck drivers will be required to have tested and carry certificates before they depart to different countries in the region, East African Community heads of state have said. In a video conference summit on Tuesday morning, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, …
Read More »Lockdown: Parliament tasks gov’t to rescue stranded students in hostels
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed government to quickly intervene and rescue starving students in different hostels and halls of residence who are currently stranded without food due to the COVID-19 lockdown. In March, President Yoweri Yoweri Museveni closed education institutions and announced …
Read More »Nakasongola district develops new parking yard for truck drivers
Nakasongola, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nakasongola district taskforce on COVID-19 and the Engineering Brigade of Uganda People’s Defense Forces have embarked on developing a new parking yard for truck drivers. Migyera town in Nakasongola district is one of the known stopovers for cargo truck drivers along the Kampala-Gulu highway. More …
Read More »Fishermen protest closure of illegal landing sites on Lake Albert
Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fishermen in Bunyoro sub-region are protesting the government decision to close over 200 ungazetted landing sites on Lake Albert. The protests came days after government announced plans to close the landing sites which were allegedly facilitating the illegal movement of Congolese nationals to and outside …
Read More »World leaders pledge €7.4bn to research Covid-19 vaccine
EU-hosted talks tout cooperation but is not addressed by India, Russia or US PATRICK WINTOUR | World leaders, with the notable exception of Donald Trump, stumped up nearly €7.4bn (£6.5bn) to research Covid-19 vaccines and therapies at a virtual event convened by the EU, pledging the money will also be …
Read More »US oil producers struggle to stay afloat in sea of excess
Van Horn, United States | AFP | For the companies that drill the highest-producing deposit of oil and natural gas in the world, straddling the border between Texas and New Mexico, the crash in oil prices has led to spectacular losses. Craig Blair, the co-owner of the Capitan Energy oil and …
Read More »Battle ‘not yet over’ against locust invasions in East Africa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Significant gains have been made against Desert Locust encroachment in East Africa, with an estimated 720,000 tons of cereal saved from the swarms of migratory pests across 10 countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the food saved is enough to feed five …
Read More »Now that we appreciate health workers, it’s time to improve staffing norms Mr. President
COMMENT | Rebecca Nalwoga Mukwaya | During one of his recent national addresses on the status of COVID-19, President Yoweri Museveni thanked health workers who have worked tirelessly to treat patients. He described their work as ‘world class’ as no death from the pandemic had occurred yet. Admittedly, the health workers …
Read More »Border nurses forced to choose between Canada, US
Toronto, Canada | AFP | At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian nurse Nikki Hillis-Walters was asked to choose between her two healthcare jobs — one in Canada, and one in the United States. She picked the latter, telling AFP: “It just felt like I was needed there.” She and …
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