Month: July 2022

The World Health Organization says more than 6,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 58 countries, with over 80% of the cases in Europe.

The WHO was expected to determine whether to declare the outbreak a global health emergency, the highest level of alert, later this month, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual news conference from Geneva Wednesday.

"I continue to be concerned by the scale and spread of the virus across the world," Tedros said, adding that because of a lack of testing, many cases are being unreported.

The viral infection, which is endemic in Africa, is normally mild and similar to the flu, but can cause skin lesions. The current outbreak began in May. It is unclear what the fatality rate of the current strain is, but previous strains have been about 1%.

Most cases of the virus have been in 21- to 40-year-old males, many of whom have sex with other men, said Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe in a Friday statement.

But he added that "small numbers of cases have also now been reported among household members, heterosexual contacts, and nonsexual contacts, as well as among children."

There have been no reported deaths from monkeypox in the U.S., The Associated Press reported.

Source: Voice of America

BEIJING - AstraZeneca Plc's AZN.L antibody cocktail for COVID-19 prevention has been cleared for use in a medical tourism zone in China's southern province of Hainan ahead of national approval, local media said on Tuesday.

China allows early use of new medical products in the special zone in Qionghai city as a part of several preferential policies granted to the area to promote medical services to visitors from both home and abroad.

Hainan Daily, backed by the provincial Communist Party authority, reported that a shipment worth 21.98 million yuan ($3.28 million) of AstraZeneca's antibody-based therapy Evusheld has completed procedures at local customs as special imports.

The drug has been authorised in many regions including the United States, the United Kingdom and European Union for preventing infections in people whose immune system is too weak to respond to vaccines.

"We hope that Evusheld becomes available in more countries as soon as possible," an AstraZeneca spokesperson said, without providing details on any further plan for the medicine in China.

Other Western products yet to be cleared for national use but currently available in Hainan's Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone include

Novartis' NOVN.S breast cancer drug Piqray and Gilead's GILD.O fungal infection medicine AmBisome.

Merck's MRK.N blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda had also been cleared for import to the zone in 2016 before it was approved nationally two years later.

Source: Voice of America

There is growing alarm among European and other environmentalists over what they say is governments' failure to ensure healthy oceans, which are vital for food, jobs, biodiversity and clean air.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls it an "ocean emergency."

"Global heating is pushing ocean temperature to record levels, creating fiercer and more frequent storms," he said. "Sea levels are rising, low-lying island nations face inundation, and some 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year."

Those are just some of the threats facing the oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth's surface. Overfishing, shipping and ocean wind turbines also pressure marine ecosystems.

At an ocean conference in Lisbon last week, Guterres and others called for faster, stronger protection measures. But green groups claim the meeting failed to deliver real progress.

Environmentalists hope for better results next month, when countries resume discussions on a global agreement to protect critical ocean ecosystems.

For some, that includes a ban on deep sea mining, which could start as early as 2023.

While countries like China are exploring mining opportunities, critics claim the practice could destroy fragile seabeds and ecosystems. Those critics include President Emmanuel Macron of France.

"I think we have to create the legal framework to stop the high sea mining, and to not allow new activities putting in danger these ecosystems," Macron said. "We know almost nothing about the deep sea. We don't know a lot about the ecosystem. It's a very complex and slow ecosystem. It takes decades or even more for animals to grow."

Tobias Troll, marine policy director for Seas at Risk, an umbrella group of more than 30 European environmental associations, said: "Imagine you put these robots down there — it can trigger all kinds of effects on this ecosystem which can trigger up into the food chain."

In Europe and elsewhere, green groups are pushing countries to meet the ocean promises they've already made. That includes the European Union's 2030 healthy oceans goals. A new environmental report card by six EU nonprofits finds the bloc met just one of eight progress markers last year.

"I think the underlying problem of the situation … is that there is a significant lack of policy coherence around EU legislation around the ocean," Troll said. "For example, we have the marine strategy framework or the fisheries policy, but they don't really work together."

Troll said EU countries are also overselling the progress they've made. Marine protection is a case in point, he said, with only a tiny fraction of Europe's marine habitat truly protected, contrary to official claims.

Source: Voice of America

The Territorial Police in Iganga is actively investigating a case of conspiracy to defraud and theft of case amounting to Ugx 150m allegedly donated to New Beginnings International Ministries, for the construction of a Maternity Ward, in Iganga district. The facts fathered indicate that New Beginnings International Ministries, through their CEO, Henry Isoba, entered into an agreement, with a one Olele Dan, a 56-year-old Civil Engineer, of Wailaka Central, Kakira Parish, in Jinja district, to construct the maternity ward at a cost of 176m

Surprisingly, on the 18.06.2022, at around 6pm, the CEO proceeded to inspect the project site, with cash Ugx 150m in his car a premio registration number UAX291X, he found when the Project Engineer was absent but went on to inspect the site. After inspection, he re-entered his car which had remained unlocked and drove off. He however, reached home and realised the money had been stolen from his car. We are now investigating circumstances under which, the money was stolen from the CEO’s car, while at the Project Site. In addition, we are in receipt of two contract agreements of Ugx 176m and 75m, respectively signed between the two parties, that is also a subject of our investigations.

As a result, the CEO registered a complaint of theft against the Project Engineer, Olele Dan, and caused for his arrest at Magamaga. It is during the arrest, that they claimed, Olele Dan, called himself, a brother to the IGP and further using that privilege to extort money from the public and also get special treatment from the police. We wish to refute the claim as totally fallacious. The IGP and his family, categorically reject the claim as false and an insult to the family. We therefore, demand several media outlets that carried the misleading news story referring to the suspect as the IGP’s brother, arrested on charges of theft and conspiracy, immediately withdraw it and use the correct version. We urge all Editors of media houses to always verify any information with the police authorities and further confirmation with the PRO.

The office of the IGP continues to adhere to the highest levels of professional standards, where everyone is treated equally before the law. In addition, all Territorial Commanders, have been asked to remain steadfast, while carrying out their duties and avoid getting duped by fraudsters and criminals, who use the office of the IGP and other high-ranking security and government officials, for their selfish gains.

We also continue to receive complaints about individuals who pose as security personnel, while making contact at police stations and in the public. We strongly condemn this behaviour of criminal minded individuals, personating police officers. Therefore, any person who present himself as a police officer, is required to present his or her warrant card, when making contact with any member of the public. We urge the public to write down any information that may be helpful in identifying any individual who impersonates a police officer and report to our National Operations Command Centre on 0800199699 or 0707600773 and 0776999135.

Source: Uganda Police Force

Ireland expects to run an extensive vaccine drive against COVID-19 and flu ahead of a potentially worrying winter surge that could lead to the reimposition of mask wearing in certain settings, Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Tuesday.

Ireland dropped all COVID-19 curbs earlier this year after having one of Europe's toughest lockdown regimes. While infections are on the rise again, Varadkar said the current wave seemed to be peaking and the number of hospitalized patients was expected to start falling in the next two to three weeks.

"I'm more concerned about the next wave which will come in the winter because that will happen when we're indoors more and it might come at the same time as the flu. We haven't really had a serious flu season since 2019," he told national broadcaster RTE.

"I see a very extensive COVID and flu vaccine program happening in the early autumn...and a possibility in the winter that we may ask people to wear masks again in certain settings. I don't envisage us having to bring back restrictions that cause businesses to close, but nobody can rule that out for sure."

Varadkar added that he expects the expert committee which advises the Irish government on COVID-19 vaccinations to approve a further widespread booster program.

Source: Voice of America

White-robed worshippers from around the world have packed the streets of Islam's holiest city ahead of the biggest hajj pilgrimage since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Banners welcoming the faithful, including the first international visitors since 2019, adorned squares and alleys, while armed security forces patrolled the ancient city, birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed.

"This is pure joy," Sudanese pilgrim Abdel Qader Kheder told AFP in Mecca, before the event that officially starts Wednesday. "I almost can't believe I am here. I am enjoying every moment."

One million people, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's hajj after two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic. The pilgrimage is one of five pillars of Islam, which all able-bodied Muslims with the means are required to perform at least once.

On Monday afternoon, pilgrims carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun flocked to souvenir and barber shops in Mecca, while others shared meals under palm trees on streets close to the Grand Mosque.

Many new arrivals had already begun performing the first ritual, which requires walking seven times around the Kaaba, the large black cubic structure at the center of the Grand Mosque.

A picture taken on July 4, 2022 shows a general view of the Kaaba (C) at the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca.

A picture taken on July 4, 2022 shows a general view of the Kaaba (C) at the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca.

Made from granite and draped in a cloth featuring verses from the Koran, the Kaaba stands nearly 15 meters (50 feet) tall. It is the structure all Muslims turn toward to pray, no matter where they are in the world.

"When I first saw the Kaaba I felt something weird and started crying," Egyptian pilgrim Mohammed Lotfi told AFP.

At least 650,000 overseas pilgrims have arrived so far in Saudi Arabia, authorities said on Sunday.

In 2019, about 2.5 million people took part in the rituals, which also include gathering at Mount Arafat and "stoning the devil" in Mina.

The following year, when the pandemic took hold, foreigners were barred and worshippers were restricted to just 10,000 to stop the hajj from turning into a global super-spreader.

That figure rose to 60,000 fully vaccinated Saudi citizens and residents in 2021.

FILE - Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they wear masks and keep social distancing, a day before the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 17, 2021.

FILE - Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, as they wear masks and keep social distancing, a day before the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 17, 2021.

Pilgrims this year — only those younger than 65 are allowed — will participate in the hajj under strict sanitary conditions.

The hajj has seen numerous disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 people and a 1979 attack by hundreds of gunmen that, according to the official toll, left 153 dead.

Unaccompanied women

The pilgrimage is a powerful source of prestige for the conservative desert kingdom and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is returning from the diplomatic wilderness.

Days after the hajj, Prince Mohammed will welcome U.S. President Joe Biden who, with oil prices soaring following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has reneged on a vow to turn Saudi Arabia into a "pariah" over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

The hajj, which costs at least $5,000 per person, is a money-spinner for the world's biggest oil exporter trying to diversify its economy. In normal years the pilgrimage brings in billions of dollars.

It is also a chance to showcase the kingdom's rapid social transformation, despite persistent complaints about human rights abuses and limits on personal freedoms.

Saudi Arabia — which has under recent reforms permitted raves in Riyadh and mixed-gender beaches in Jeddah — now allows women to attend the hajj unaccompanied by male relatives, a requirement that was dropped last year.

'Serenity'

Masks are no longer compulsory in most enclosed spaces in Saudi Arabia but they will be mandatory at the Grand Mosque, the holiest site in Islam. Pilgrims from abroad will have to submit a negative PCR test result.

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.

The Grand Mosque will be "washed 10 times a day ... by more than 4,000 male and female workers," with more than 130,000 liters (34,000 gallons) of disinfectant used each time, authorities said.

Since the start of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia has registered more than 795,000 coronavirus cases, 9,000 of them fatal, in a population of about 34 million.

Aside from COVID, another challenge is the scorching sun in one of the world's hottest and driest regions, which is becoming even more extreme through the effects of climate change. Although summer has only just begun, temperatures have already topped 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in parts of Saudi Arabia.

But Iraqi pilgrim Ahmed Abdul-Hassan al-Fatlawi said the heat is the last thing he thinks of when in Mecca.

"I am 60 years old, so it's normal if I get physically tired because of the hot weather, but I am in a state of serenity, and that's all that matters to me," he told AFP.

Source: Voice of America

The Canadian government said Monday it had signed a $15.5 billion agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by chronic underfunding of child welfare.

The Assembly of First Nations and plaintiffs in two class action lawsuits agreed to the deal.

Indigenous Services Canada, a government agency, said the settlement is the largest in Canadian history.

“The parties have agreed on a plan for settling compensation claims to recognize the families and people who have suffered tremendously through discriminatory and systemically racist child-welfare practices," said Patty Hajdu, the Indigenous services minister.

The settlement accounts for half of an overall $31.1 billion deal that aims to reform Canada's child welfare system, including five-year funding for the First Nations Child and Family Services program.

The settlement must still be approved by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and the Federal Court.

Cindy Woodhouse, the Manitoba regional chief at the Assembly of First Nations, praised the deal.

“And after three decades of advocacy and months of negotiations, I'm proud to say on behalf the AFN that we have reached another historic milestone for our children and their families," she said in a statement.

The First Nations Children and Family Caring Society and the Assembly of First Nations filed a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act in 2007, arguing that Indigenous child welfare services were chronically underfunded compared with services provided to children in other communities.

Data from the 2016 census shows that less than 8% of Canadian children under age 15 are Indigenous, but Indigenous youths make up more than half the children under 15 in foster care.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in 2016 that the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children. The government appealed the ruling, but the court upheld the decision.

Source: Voice of America