Featured stories about COVID-19
Stories about COVID-19
How accurate is Nepal’s COVID-19 death toll?
Questions regarding what exactly constitutes a COVID-19 death remain elusive. With the lack of comparable data, it's hard to know the true number of COVID-19 deaths in Nepal.
Beyond Botswana and Rwanda’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out success stories
African countries will bypass Western nationalism and Chinese soft power by boasting locally produced COVID-19 vaccines. This will wean the continent from donor dependence and boost the vaccination rate.
Unverified claims that a popular herbal medication prevents COVID-19 triggers online backlash in China
While Shanghai residents are struggling with food shortages, they have an abundant supply of “Lianhua Qingwen”.
Jokowi shuts down chatter about a potential third term as President of Indonesia
Some politicians have cited the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as reasons Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) should run for a third term, which goes against the nation's constitution.
Shanghai continues citywide lockdown despite public outcry, food shortages and chaos
The city is in chaos as many residents under lockdown are running out of food, being denied standard health care, and struggling to access basic everyday goods.
Malaysians worry over reported plan to sell contact tracing app to a private firm
"Everyone was so worried about contact tracing when we should have been worried about CONTRACT tracing."
‘Untimely’ death of soca singer Dexter ‘Blaxx’ Stewart leaves Trinidad & Tobago in mourning
Having struggled with health issues and paid his dues in the soca music arena — he was told he was “too black,” “too fat” and “not marketable” — Blaxx's authenticity shone through.
Podcast: A crisis, a royal tour, and the pandemic's impact on disabled Latinas
Today we visit Jamaica and Sri Lanka, and then heard about Latinas in different parts of the world.
In their own words: Latinas with disabilities explain leaving the house during the pandemic
Moving through the world as a blind woman is not the same as it was before the pandemic, from touching objects, to finding your way, to obtaining essential coronavirus information.
Taiwan: The happiest nation in East Asia, according to the 2022 World Happiness Report
"...the lesson of the World Happiness Report over the years is that social support, generosity to one another, and honesty in government are crucial for well-being."
Politicians flout COVID-19 protocols before restrictions are lifted: One Jamaica for the rich and another for the poor?
Three days before restrictions were officially lifted, photographs of six senior government ministers were released: only two of the six were wearing masks as they partied, hugged and took selfies.
Youth advocates say a proper nutrition policy is critical for Jamaica's future
The government's planned divestment of the state-owned company that prepares and distributes meals to school children nationwide has youth activists pressing for a proper nutrition and wellness policy.
Pandemic rules used to disperse strike of women workers in Cambodia
"Women strikers have been repeatedly and disproportionately targeted by government efforts to disperse the peaceful strike."
‘Mas’ in a time of mourning: How the spirit of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival shines through
Carnival designer Robert Young's radical concept for his band Vulgar Fraction's 2022 presentation literally embraces the roots of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival by fashioning costumes made from dried leaves and flowers.
In Hong Kong, foreign domestic workers face an ’emerging crisis’ as COVID-19 limits housing, travel options
A 35-year-old Filipina foreign domestic worker who had her visa application denied was forced to live on the streets of Hong Kong for two nights after testing positive for COVID-19.
‘This too shall pass,’ sings Turkish pop star
Fans are divided over the lyrics, with some claiming the song is about the pandemic and others arguing it addresses political issues. Regardless, the new song is a hit.
The police officer who allegedly cut a young Jamaican's dreadlocks faces no criminal charges, and nobody bats an eye
"It is a worrying trend, as victims are blamed for their own trauma."
Ex-Yugoslav music fans mourn the death of Macedonian-Croatian rock star Aki Rahimovski
The career of the lead singer of the Zagreb-based rock band Parni Valjak spanned almost five decades, starting in 1975.
Travel bans, Japan, and me
Thanks to Japan's strict, and, in some ways, incomprehensible COVID-19 travel restrictions for foreigners, it's hard to say when I'll be able to return.
Musahars on the margins in Nepal
The Musahar community has long been marginalized and discriminated against, but the COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse.
COVID-19: You can’t have a recovery using the same bad medicine
A new collaborative report attempts to piece together the “missing receipts” from the IFI-supported COVID-19 response, documents several shortcomings, and raises critical questions for the ongoing pandemic response.