Coronavirus
Will we need new vaccines against new COVID-19 variants?

Are vaccines less effective against the Delta variant? Does it spread faster and cause more severe illness? Will we need new vaccines soon?

People infected with Delta Variant shed virus before symptoms appear

Symptoms appear 5.8 days after infection and 1.8 days after they first tested positive for viral RNA, shows study. The R0 value for Delta was 6.4, much higher than the original variant’s value of 2-4

Tunisian president sacks prime minister, suspends parliament 

As protests against the mismanagement of the pandemic and deepening economic crisis continue, many warn that the president’s moves violate the constitution and endanger Tunisia’s constitution

Tunisian health minister fired amid surge in COVID-19 cases

The country reported multiple vaccination centers witnessing stampedes after the health ministry opened them up for vaccinations for all above the age of 18 on the occasion of Eid al-Adha

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.