Newsletter Archive

President Trump was photographed wearing a mask as he toured a North Carolina laboratory Monday.  He later renewed his advocacy of hydroxychloroquine, including promoting a podcast accusing top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci of misleading Americans about the anti-malarial drug. Fauci said he is undeterred by the criticism, and reiterated that numerous studies have shown hydroxychloroquine “is not effective in coronavirus disease.”

Widescale testing began Monday in the United States on two potential COVID-19 vaccines to determine their safety and effectiveness.   Researchers on both projects are relying on a new process called messenger RNA to improve the efficacy of their respective vaccines. 

Uganda’s free speech advocates are calling for the release of a comedy group arrested last week on accusations of promoting sectarianism. Members of the group known as Bizonto were arrested after performing a skit that criticized government leaders.

VOA correspondent Jamie Dettmer was happy to have extra room – thanks to few fellow travelers – on a recent flight from Washington to London. But he was shocked to see few Brits wearing masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  A mask order for shop goers may not help much, Dettmer reports, as at least two major supermarkets chains say they won’t enforce the directive.

Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party lashed out at the U.S. government, claiming the U.S., through its ambassador, was backing Zimbabwe’s main opposition party via anti-government protests scheduled for Friday. Zimbabwe authorities also released a police wanted list of 14 political activists, without listing any alleged crime.

As Thailand’s economy struggles to recover from the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewed anti-government demonstrations have sprung up across the country. Activists are demanding amendments to the constitution, the dissolution of parliament and a stop to the harassment of rights activists.