WHO chief says confident US funding will continue in COVID fight
Geneva/Zurich, SwitzerlandReuters The head of the World Health Organization voiced confidence on Monday that the United States would continue funding his UN agency, despite President Donald Trump’s criticism of WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that the Trump administration was re-evaluating US funding to the body, […]
Protect women from domestic violence during coronavirus lockdowns – Pope
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis said on Monday society had to stand behind women victims of domestic violence, as abuse increased around the world during coronavirus lockdowns. Francis praised women in frontline roles in helping society weather the crisis, mentioning doctors, nurses, police officers, prison guards and sales staff in stores selling essential goods. Pope Francis […]
“How are we meant to eat?”: A South African waste picker on life under lockdown
Johannesburg, South AfricaThomson Reuters Foundation Across Africa, governments keen to modernise booming cities often view poor people making a living sifting through rubbish or hawking on the streets as a hindrance. This has been an ongoing battle for South Africa’s 90,000 informal waste reclaimers, who haul trolleys across the city to collect tins, plastic and paper from […]
Young doctors brave overwhelming coronavirus crisis
Reuters For young doctors like 26-year-old Christian Vigil, battling on the frontline against the new coronavirus is a journey back in time to an era they can scarcely imagine. “We feel like doctors a century ago when we didn’t have antibiotics,” said Vigil, who works in intensive care at Madrid’s overloaded October 12 Hospital. Christian […]
Sri Lankan Easter bombings: One year later, survivors rely on their faith to recover
AVINASH GIRI, writing for Religion Unplugged, reports on how survivors are coping a year after the devastating Easter bombings in Sri Lanka…
Postcards: How one Australian church celebrated Easter in a time of social-distancing
Reuters photographer LOREN ELLIOTT captures part of how One1Seven evangelical Anglican church in Sydney celebrated Easter Sunday…
US domestic workers “hardest hit” by coronavirus without food or rent
New YorkThomson Reuters Foundation Almost three-quarters of US domestic workers have lost their jobs due to the new coronavirus, with most unable to pay rent and worried about buying food, researchers found, calling for broader government benefits for unprotected workers. Nine out of 10 domestic workers are women, and three out of four are their […]
WHO is investigating reports of recovered COVID patients testing positive again
Geneva, SwitzerlandReuters The World Health Organization said on Saturday that it was looking into reports of some COVID-19 patients testing positive again after initially testing negative for the disease while being considered for discharge. South Korean officials on Friday reported 91 patients thought cleared of the new coronavirus had tested positive again. Jeong Eun-kyeong, director […]