Africa

Miners still trapped - At least nine miners have been trapped underground in Zimbabwe for nearly two weeks. Rescue operations have been suspended due to safety concerns. The country’s government pointed to blasting as the cause for the incident. More cave-ins have ensued since the initial incident, and the remains of one of the miners was found last week.

Medical workers strike in Kenya - Nearly 30,000 nurses and other healthcare workers in Kenya are going on strike. The medical workers are demanding more protective gear, training and compensation for the families of healthcare workers who have died from the virus. Since March, at least 30 healthcare workers have died from the virus.

Asia

Unidentified illness hits India - In the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, 227 people have been hospitalized due to an unidentified virus. Symptoms include falling unconscious and experiencing nausea. One person died from the illness, and none of the people who experienced the illness tested positive for COVID-19. Water contamination and air pollution have been ruled out.

Oxygen low in Pakistan - At least six patients have died in a hospital in Pakistan due to a lack of oxygen supplies. The hospital, located in the city of Peshawar, is government operated and blamed the oxygen shortage on a supply company. However, numerous hospital staff members have been recently suspended. Pakistan has seen more than 400,000 cases of the virus.

Europe

Romanian Prime Minister resigns - After a poor performance in parliamentary elections, Romanian Prime Minister Ludovic Orban has resigned from his position. Orban’s National Liberal Party lost to the opposing Social Democrats by a 5 percent margin. Romania struggles with poverty and has seen millions of its citizens leave the country to western Europe countries.

UK launches COVID-19 vaccine - The United Kingdom administered a vaccine to fight against COVID-19 on Tuesday. Among those who get to receive it first in the country include healthcare workers, those who are over 80 and care home workers. Those who live in care homes will be vaccinated within a few weeks. The UK is expected to have enough doses for 400,000 people.

Latin America

Argentina passes new tax to pay for COVID-19 relief - The new “millionaire’s tax” in Argentina was passed by the country’s Senate last week. Those who have assets worth more than $2.5 million will pay with the funds going toward medical supplies and relief measures to combat the pandemic. Argentina became the fifth country in the world to report one million confirmed cases in October.

Former Uruguay President passes - Former Uruguay President Tabare Vazquez passed away on Sunday from lung cancer. He became the country’s first left-wing leader in 2005 and was re-elected in 2015 before handing over his position at the beginning of the year. Current President Luis Lacalle Pou announced three days of national mourning.

North America

Dr. Anthony Fauci gives warning ahead of Christmas - Dr. Fauci, the country’s top diseases expert, warned of another surge in COVID-19 cases after Christmas. He said we’re at a critical time in the pandemic as millions traveled for Thanksgiving. The United States is averaging close to 200,000 COVID-19 cases a day. It has registered more than 14.7 million cases and 282,500 deaths.

Trump’s lawyer hospitalized with COVID-19 - Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, tested positive for COVID-19 and has been hospitalized. Giuliani has led Trump’s legal challenges to the election and has played down measures to slow the spread of the virus, like wearing facemasks. He is 76 and is hospitalized at the Medstar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C.