The UK government is pursuing legal action against Roman Abramovich over frozen funds from Chelsea sale intended for Ukraine victims, amid ongoing political and economic developments including the UK's re-entry into the Erasmus program, a bidding war for Warner Bros Discovery, and military preparations for potential peacekeeping in Ukraine. The front pages also highlight protests, diplomatic tensions, and cultural heritage issues.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the ongoing five-day strike by NHS resident doctors in England, calling it 'dangerous' and urging doctors to prioritize patient care. The strike, driven by demands for better pay and training opportunities, has led to significant disruptions in NHS services amid a surge in winter illnesses. The government and union remain at an impasse, with concerns about the impact on patient safety and NHS operations during the holiday season.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol vows not to yield to doctors' protests against his plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students, citing the need to address a shortage of physicians in rural areas and essential but low-paying professions. The striking doctors argue that the abrupt increase would overwhelm medical schools and harm the country's medical services, while critics suggest their concerns are driven by fears of lower future incomes. The standoff has led to cancelled surgeries and treatments, with public support for the government plan but growing frustration over the prolonged confrontation. Yoon urges the striking doctors to return to work and remains open to talks, while the Korean Medical Association criticizes his address and demands an apology and dismissals of top health officials involved in the recruitment plan.
Senior doctors at dozens of hospitals in South Korea plan to resign in support of medical interns and residents who have been on strike for five weeks over the government's plan to increase medical school admissions. The strike has caused hundreds of cancelled surgeries and treatments, and the government is threatening to suspend the licenses of the striking doctors. The government argues that more doctors are urgently needed due to the country's rapidly aging population, while the striking doctors believe the plan would overwhelm the medical system and lead to unnecessary treatments. President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for talks with the doctors, but a resolution remains uncertain.
South Korea's government is set to take final steps to suspend the licenses of striking junior doctors next week after they refused to end their weeks-long walkouts protesting the government's plan to increase medical school admissions. The strikes have caused hundreds of cancelled surgeries and treatments, prompting the government to take administrative steps required to suspend their licenses. The government aims to increase medical school enrollment, citing a need for more doctors to address a shortage in rural areas and low-paying specialties, but doctors argue that the plan could undermine medical services and lead to unnecessary treatments.
South Korea is deploying military physicians and public health doctors to assist hospitals affected by a walkout of nearly 12,000 trainee doctors over government plans to increase medical school admissions. The government has warned the striking doctors that their licenses could be suspended and has the power to order them back to work if there is a serious risk to public health. The striking doctors argue that increasing medical students will not address pay and work conditions and could worsen the issues. Critics accuse President Yoon Suk Yeol of pushing medical reforms for political gain ahead of parliamentary elections.
South Korea's government has threatened to arrest thousands of striking junior doctors and revoke their medical licences if they do not return to work, as around three quarters of the country's junior doctors have walked out of their jobs over the past week to protest government plans to admit drastically more medical students to university each year. The doctors argue that training more physicians would dilute the quality of care, while the government warns of an acute shortage of doctors within a decade due to the country's low doctor-to-patient ratio and rapidly aging population. The standoff has caused disruption and delays to surgeries at major teaching hospitals, with the government refusing to accept the doctors' resignations and instead threatening to have them arrested for breaking medical law if they do not return to work.
Thousands of junior doctors in South Korea are on strike in response to the government's plan to increase medical school admissions by 2,000 students per year to address the country's physician shortage. The striking doctors-in-training argue that the sudden influx of new doctors would lead to over-treatment and a continued shortage of physicians in essential areas. The strikes have led to canceled surgeries and medical treatments, prompting the government to take measures to mitigate the impact on patients. The government has given the striking doctors until Thursday to return to work or face license suspensions and legal action, but the strikers are unlikely to back down soon.
South Korea has raised its public health alert to "severe" for the first time as 8,400 doctors continue their strike against government plans to increase the number of trainee doctors. The strike has led to major hospitals canceling operations and turning away patients, prompting concerns about the impact on public health. The government argues that more doctors are needed to address future healthcare challenges posed by the country's rapidly aging population, but the striking doctors insist they are also advocating for higher pay and reduced workloads. The dispute has left patients worried about access to medical care, while the government and doctors remain at an impasse.
Over 70% of trainee doctors in South Korea have submitted resignations in protest against a government plan to increase the intake of medical students, leading to disruptions in major hospitals and affecting patient care. The strike has left nurses to take on additional responsibilities, prompting concerns about patient safety. The government has issued back-to-work orders and threatened legal action against the striking doctors, while critics argue that the increased number of doctors may impact the field's social prestige and competitive pay. The strike reflects broader concerns about the healthcare system and the distribution of doctors across different specialties.
The UK government has announced pay increases for public sector workers, including doctors and teachers, in an attempt to resolve strikes caused by a cost-of-living crisis. Junior doctors have begun a five-day strike demanding a 35% pay rise to address falling real wages. The government has accepted recommendations for pay hikes, offering doctors a 6% increase and a lump-sum payment, while teachers will receive a 6.5% raise. The pay increases are below the current inflation rate of 8.7%. The strike by junior doctors is the longest in the history of the National Health Service (NHS), with patient waiting lists at record highs. The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for pay to be restored to 2008 levels. The government's offer is likely to anger trade unions, who argue that school and hospital budgets cannot sustain wage increases without cutting spending in other areas.
Over 150 unionized resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital in New York City have gone on a planned five-day strike, demanding pay equal to their non-union colleagues at Mount Sinai Hospital. The doctors, who are part of the committee of interns and residents union, say their non-union counterparts at Mount Sinai's Upper East Side campus make $7,000 more than them annually. Mount Sinai has responded by offering a 19.1% compounded increase in pay across three years and is committed to finding a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible.
More than 150 resident doctors at Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, New York City, went on strike on Monday, the first physician strike at a hospital in the city in over 30 years. The doctors are protesting against low pay and lack of hazard pay during the pandemic. The striking doctors, many of whom were still in medical school in 2020, say the pandemic has encouraged activism and organizing. The strike is not expected to result in major disruptions to care, but it is heavy on symbolism.
Tens of thousands of doctors at the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) in the UK are set to go on a four-day strike, which could postpone up to 350,000 appointments. The strike comes amid walkouts by public workers across many sectors demanding pay hikes during a cost-of-living crisis. The British Medical Association has asked for a 35% pay rise to bring junior doctor pay back to 2008 levels. The strikes would risk patient safety, and the government and the union should call in outside negotiators to help break the impasse, said Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation.
