Latest news

The coronavirus infection in China
Covid researchers in China banned from labs - protest

The first Chinese scientist to publish a DNA sequence of the coronavirus has called for protests after authorities in Shanghai decided to evict his team from the lab where they work, AP reports.

When Zhang Yongzhen tried to enter the lab this weekend, he was stopped by guards. Since then, he has been sitting outside the facility in protest.

"I will not leave, I will not quit, I am pursuing science and truth," he wrote in a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that was later deleted.

In an online statement, local health authorities said Zhang's lab is undergoing renovations and has been closed for "security reasons".

Zhang's case is the latest in a series of Covid researchers that the Chinese government is trying to control and influence. An earlier survey by the AP found that authorities have tried to stall efforts to trace the origin of the virus.

*****************

The violence in Haiti
Transitional president appointed in Haiti - could rule until 2026

Haiti's Transitional Council, which has been ruling the country since last week, has appointed former Senate leader Edgard Leblanc as interim president. This is reported by Reuters.

The decision comes after several months of violence and a political deadlock. Former Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned, and several people have claimed power.

The Transitional Council consists of seven members and two non-voting observers. Leblanc won the vote by a one-vote margin. He is expected to lead the country until February 2026 at the latest.

Parallel to the formation of the council, gang violence has continued on the country's streets. Several gang leaders have joined forces with the ambition to take over power in the country.

******************

The cannabis debate
Data: The US may classify cannabis as less dangerous

Joe Biden's administration plans to reclassify cannabis as a less dangerous drug. This is stated by sources for AP and NBC News.

Cannabis is today equated with drugs such as heroin and LSD. The new classification would equate the drug with paracetamol and steroids.

It is the federal agency Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that proposes the change. According to NBC News, that could mean pharmaceutical companies could start selling medical cannabis in states where it is legal. The change does not mean that the drug becomes legal for recreational use.

38 US states already allow the drug for medical use. 24 allows recreational use.

****************

The flight to Europe
50 migrants are believed to have died en route to the Canary Islands

At least 50 migrants are feared dead since the boat they were traveling in capsized en route from Senegal to the Canary Islands, The Guardian reports. Nine people could be rescued after a passing freighter discovered the situation and sounded the alarm on Monday morning.

The boat with around 60 people on board had left the Senegalese town of Mbour nine days earlier.

Every year, tens of thousands of people attempt the very risky journey from the African west coast to the Canary Islands in order to get on from there into mainland Europe. According to a report by the organization Caminando Fronteras, over 6,600 people, including nearly 400 children, died during such journeys last year.