Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma has made his first appearance since Chinese regulators cracked down on his business empire. His absence had fuelled speculation over his whereabouts amid increasing official scrutiny of his businesses. The billionaire met 100 rural teachers in China via a video meeting on Wednesday, according to local government media. Alibaba shares…
As was the case 12 years ago, Joe Biden enters the White House on an economic rescue mission after an historic US and global recession. Then he was vice president and the world was reeling from the shock of the financial crisis. And while Mr Biden has defended the economic record of his then-boss President…
Cape Town – Epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist Professor Salim Abdool Karim says scientists have new evidence that the new Covid variant, 501.V2 found in South Africa is stronger and spreads faster. Karim was speaking during a scientific panel discussion, led by Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on the new variant of the coronavirus. “This…
US President-elect Joe Biden has moved to dismiss a new White House decree on Covid travel rules, as Donald Trump enters his final full day in office. In one of his last orders, Mr Trump had tried to end travel bans for visitors from much of Europe and Brazil. Mr Biden’s spokeswoman said now was…
Details are emerging of a raft of executive orders planned by US president-elect Joe Biden as soon as he takes office this week. Mr Biden will issue decrees to reverse President Trump’s travel bans and re-join the Paris climate accord on his first day, US media reports. The president-elect is also expected to focus…
Uganda’s main opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine says his life is being threatened following Thursday’s election which saw Yoweri Museveni win a sixth elected term. The singer-turned-politician told the BBC that he rejected the results “with the contempt they deserve”. He alleged there had been a lot of irregularities but Mr Museveni called it Uganda’s…
UGANDANS voted yesterday in a presidential election pitting long-time leader Yoweri Museveni against an opposition galvanised by a popular singer despite a campaign marked by brutal crackdowns. Voting began between 60 to 90 minutes late at six polling stations visited by Reuters after ballot papers did not arrive on time. Lines of voters were growing…
SOUTH Africa aims to get COVID-19 vaccines by next month but is still in talks with pharmaceutical companies and no deals have been signed yet, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Sunday, amid growing criticism of the government’s response. The country is battling a resurgence in coronavirus infections driven partly by a new variant…
US President Donald Trump has been recorded telling Georgia’s top election official to “find” enough votes to overturn the election result. “I just want to find 11,780 votes,” Mr Trump told Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in a recording released by the Washington Post. Mr Raffensperger is heard replying that Georgia’s results are…
CHINA’S health authorities have approved a Covid vaccine from state-owned Sinopharm for general use on the population, the government has announced. At a press conference in Beijing a state taskforce announced the vaccine had exceeded World Health Organization standards and would help establish effective immunity in China. Health officials said vulnerable groups would be prioritised ahead of…
