World’s richest have recovered from COVID crisis, poorest will take a decade more
Oxfam’s latest report says it took just nine months for the top 1,000 billionaires’ fortunes to return to their prepandemic highs, but for the world’s poorest people recovery could take 14 times longer
Oman bars recruitment of expatriates for a number of professions
The country is pursuing a gradual “Omanization” of jobs, replacing foreign workers with citizens, citing rising domestic unemployment and slowing of economic growth
Occupied Palestinian territories struggle to deal with COVID-19 cases
Latest statistics from Tuesday, December 15, stated that a total of 126,205 COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the occupied Palestinian territories, with the death toll currently at 1,107.
Major COVID-19 outbreak in Belmarsh prison, Assange’s family raise alarm
According to Julian Assange’s partner, Stella Moris, at least 56 inmates were found to be infected in the block where he is held. Assange, along with nearly 200 other inmates of his house block, had been under lockdown since November 18
Tunisian parliament votes to approve third government in less than a year
Hichem Mechichi’s government won the majority in the parliament although many members expressed reservations with it and voted for it only to avoid early elections
Hamas announces ceasefire with Israel
Since August 6, Israel had been continuously attacking Gaza. It had bombed the region from the air, shelled it with tanks, and attacked Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast
Jordanian Teachers’ Syndicate leaders and members released after one month in jail
The union leaders, along with other protesting teachers, were arrested last month while protesting the government’s decision to go back on its promise to fulfill their demands on salary hikes and better working conditions
South Africa didn’t use COVID-19 lockdown for mass awareness, testing
Lydia Cairncross of the People’s Health Movement talks about the failure of the South African government to effectively tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palestinian Authority imposes fresh restrictions to curb COVID-19 spread
The measures include a complete ban on movement of people between all the 9 governorates of the West Bank for two weeks, as well as restrictions on businesses and social activity
New study shows how SARS-CoV-2 made its journey from bats to humans
In a new report, scientists have found that the SARS-CoV-2 could jump to humans from animals by doing crucial rearrangement in its genome.
Lack of PPE, equipment may affect Ghana’s response to COVID-19
With over 2,700 cases of COVID-19, Ghana is the worst affected country in west Africa and the second-most affected in the sub-Saharan region after South Africa
Nurses in South Africa protest demanding PPE, income tax breaks and Danger Allowance
The protests were organized by the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union. Other demands included the immediate and periodic testing of all healthcare workers and compulsory, conducive, decent and habitable accommodation for essential staff
- China blames US for UN failure to issue statement on Palestine
- Israeli air strikes on Gaza enter second week, death toll nears 200
- We will not let the clock of history go back, says Greek union as protests mount against labor law
- Uruguay’s trade union center calls for a national strike in June
- Defying ban on ‘unauthorized protests,’ Algerians take to the streets in large numbers
