Geneva, Switzerland | AFP & WHO | The World Health Organization said Wednesday it was reviewing what impact the US decision to halt funding would have, and said it was looking to others to help fill financial “gaps”. “WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of US …
Read More »Trump suspends WHO funding over COVID-19
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a suspension of US funding to the World Health Organization because he said it had covered up the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak in China before it spread around the world. Trump told a press conference he was …
Read More »What the US can learn from Uganda’s COVID-19 experience on crafting a pandemic response
Uganda, as a result of previous experiences in combating epidemics like Ebola and HIV, has gained a global reputation as a leader in public health COMMENT | Dr Bruce Tumwine Rwabasonga | By now, everyone across the world has been impacted in one way or another by COVID-19. As expected, a …
Read More »Bolt goes viral with ‘social distancing’ Olympic photo
Washington, United States | AFP | Retired track star Usain Bolt showed he’s still a few steps ahead when he posted an AFP picture of him outstripping his rivals at the Beijing Olympics with the cheeky caption: “social distancing”. Bolt’s post, featuring a picture by AFP photographer Nicolas Asfouri of …
Read More »Apple and Google team up on virus ‘contact tracing’ by smartphone
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Google and Apple unveiled a joint initiative Friday to develop a coronavirus smartphone “contact tracing” tool that could potentially alert people when they have crossed paths with an infected person. The move brings together the largest mobile operating systems in an effort to …
Read More »Despite virus, Pentagon warns enemies: don’t test us
Washington, United States | AFP | With an aircraft carrier forced into port and staff at bases handling nuclear missiles hit by COVID-19, the US military wants rivals to understand: don’t test us, we have not been weakened. Statement after statement from the Pentagon has sought to deliver that …
Read More »COVID-19 deaths top 100,000 ahead of locked-down Easter
Rome, Italy | AFP | The global coronavirus death toll topped 100,000 Friday as Easter celebrations around the world kicked off in near-empty churches with billions of people stuck indoors to halt the pandemic’s deadly march. The grim milestone came as the World Health Organization issued a dire warning that …
Read More »Uber to provide ‘tens of millions’ of masks in virus safety move
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Uber said Thursday it planned to give out “tens of millions” of masks to drivers worldwide as part of its efforts to boost safety amid the coronavirus pandemic. The global ridesharing giant said it shipped its first order of masks to drivers in …
Read More »COVID-19: British PM Johnson in intensive care
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in intensive care on Monday after his coronavirus symptoms worsened, prompting concern for his health and well-wishes from political friends and foes in Britain and abroad, as the country battles to control the outbreak. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab …
Read More »Malawi president takes wage cut to fund virus fight
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika said Saturday he was taking a wage cut to help fund the fight against the coronavirus, and ordered his government to the same. Mutharika said in a statement he had ordered the treasury to cut his own salary and the wages …
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