Vienna, Austria | AFP | Diplomats Thursday walked out of a UN convention on drugs addressed by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, saying his government was illegitimate and did not represent the country. Dozens of officials from Latin America, as well as the US, Canada and some European countries, including France, left the room in …
Read More »NMS struggles to supply drugs amidst inadequate funding
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Medical Stores – NMS is struggling to deliver the required amount of drugs due to inadequate funds. Speaking on Wednesday during the on-site monitoring of the new NMS warehouse, the NMS Chief Executive Officer Moses Kamabare said that the government allocates a third …
Read More »El Chapo’ leaves a void in his Mexican hometown
Badiraguato, Mexico | AFP | The downfall of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has done little to diminish his drug cartel’s power, but locals say it has had a devastating effect in one place: his remote and lawless hometown, Badiraguato. “El Chapo” was born 61 years ago in this small, dusty …
Read More »BBC journalists released on bond, Sserwanja at CPS
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Three journalists working for the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), a driver and a Ministry of Health (MOU) communication officer have this morning been released on Police bond. NBS television journalist Solomon Sserwanja has also handed himself in to police. The journalists who include: Godfrey …
Read More »Government launches 5 year refugee health plan
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Estimated to cost $583.4 million, the Ministry of Health on Jan.25 launched the Health Sector Intergrated Refugee Response Plan 2019 – 2024 in which they will provide drugs, infrastructure and cater for human resources for health in refugee camps and the host community. Speaking at …
Read More »Nigerians’ drugs use more than twice global average: study
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | One in seven Nigerians uses drugs, more than twice the global average, according to the country’s first major national drug-use survey published on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by the Nigerian government, the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC), said an …
Read More »Secrets, threats and controversy: Month One of El Chapo trial
New York, United States | AFP | From documents under seal and accomplices with colorful nicknames to suspicions about his wife and surreal details about his high-flying lifestyle, the first month of the US trial of Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been loaded with twists and turns. …
Read More »Malawi MPs back bid to draft bill on medical marijuana use
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s parliament has approved steps to draft a bill for the legalisation of marijuana for medical use, which could be ready for scrutiny as early as next week. Deputies agreed to let independent deputy Boniface Kadzamira draw up the bill. It would propose licensing farmers …
Read More »US life expectancy drops again as overdoses climb
Tampa, United States | AFP | Life expectancy in the United States dropped yet again as drug overdose deaths continued to climb — taking more than 70,000 lives in 2017 — and suicides rose, a US government report said Thursday. The drug overdose rate rose 9.6 percent compared to 2016, …
Read More »El Chapo bribed Interpol, Mexican officials to keep drugs flowing, informant says
New York, United States | AFP | Drug baron Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman paid huge bribes to Mexican prosecutors, police, military and even Interpol to ensure smooth operations for his Sinaloa cartel, a key informant said at his US trial on Thursday. Jesus “El Rey” Zambada, brother of the cartel’s …
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