Health activists reveal Big Pharma’s COVID-19 vaccine heist in South Africa
In a bid for transparency, health activists and civil society in South Africa have published the details of COVID-19 vaccine contracts between pharmaceutical giants and government. This follows a Pretoria High Court order instructing the Department of Health to disclose the contracts and proceedings of meetings pertaining to the procurement of vaccine doses
Patents, profits and squabbles for share in the pie – Moderna’s pandemic story
Moderna’s filing for patents in South Africa puts a question mark on its intentions of honoring the pledge that it will not enforce patents during the pandemic. Activists fear that this may jeopardize the WHO’s technology sharing hub
European Union prefers corporate profits over the health of people across the world
By showing reluctance on the patent waiver on COVID-19-related products even after the majority of its population is vaccinated, the EU leadership has once again taken the side of Big Pharma and perpetuated vaccine apartheid
In year 3 of the pandemic, the challenges facing WHO are in plain sight
Gargeya Telakapalli of People’s Health Movement analyzes what the recent Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization tells us about its future and our handling of the pandemic
Millions head to the polls amid socio-economic crisis in South Africa and other stories
Today we look at the local elections in South Africa, renewed protests against the lese majeste laws in Thailand, and more
241 million vaccine doses to go to waste if not redistributed immediately
G7 countries will have 1.2 billion vaccines available for donation by the end of 2021 even after maintaining booster shot campaigns for all adults
Can poor countries succeed in vaccinating their population?
Public outcry in South Africa helped force Johnson & Johnson to retain the vaccines produced in the country for domestic use instead of being shipped to Europe. The Indian civil society has initiated a similar effort as the Global South looks for alternatives
Taliban declares general ‘amnesty’ as evacuations resume in Kabul and other stories
Today we look at the evacuations in Afghanistan and remarks by EU countries regarding possible refugees, ongoing rescue efforts after the earthquake in Haiti, and more
Bosnia’s weak health system is the cause of the highest mortality rate in West Balkans
Bosnia and Herzegovina has registered the highest Covid-19 mortality rate in the West Balkans, as a health system weakened by budget cuts could not respond to the pressure. This difficult situation has only been made worse by limited access to vaccines.
Ex-DESA head convicted in the assassination of activist Berta Caceres and other stories
Today we look at the conviction of Roberto Castillo in the murder of Honduran activist Berta Caceres, the violent crackdown on protestors in Swaziland, and more
Israeli forces attack Palestinians during far-right Flag March and other stories
Today we look at the far-right Flag March held in Jerusalem, the release of NSA whistleblower Reality Winner from prison, and more
COVID-19 cases cross 5 million in Africa but less than 1% of the population is vaccinated
11 countries, including Nigeria, do not have enough supply to cater even to one percent of its respective populations. Tanzania, Burundi, Eritrea and the Sahrawi Republic are yet to receive any vaccine doses
- Brazil approves end to 6×1 work schedule and reduction of the work week to 40 hours
- Israel kills 31 people in Lebanon on the eve of Eid al-Adha
- Israel carries out sixth consecutive Eid massacre in Gaza
- Far-right Janez Janša to return for fourth government term in Slovenia
- With peace deal nearly final, US launches fresh attacks on Iran
