AMMAN (AFP) - Omar's heart sinks when he trudges past his closed school gates in the Jordanian capital Amman - now part of his trip to work, to repair and clean kerosene heaters. The 14-year-old, who dreams of becoming a pilot, is one of many minors experts say have been forced prematurely into the labour market. Schools throughout Jordan have been closed for nearly a year now, and the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus pandemic has eaten into breadwinners' ability to feed their families. "As school is shut, I help my family financially," said Omar, sporting a sweater and dirty jeans as he cleaned a heater with his blackened hands. He works exhausting 12-hour days at the workshop, and collapses into bed after a shower and a quick evening meal. Overall, the work "doesn't bother me", he said. "What is unbearable is the smell of kerosene... (it) doesn't go away." He earns three dinars (around S$13) a day, which helps pay the family's monthly rent of 130 dinars. His contribution is vital because his father, a day labourer, has struggled to find work due to the coronavirus downturn. But Omar has not given up
ROME (REUTERS) - The Italian data privacy watchdog ordered video app TikTok on Friday (Jan 22) to block the accounts of any users in Italy whose age it could not verify following death of 10-year-old girl who had been using the Chinese-owned app. In a statement, the regulator said that although TikTok had committed to ban registration for children aged under 13, it was nonetheless easy to circumvent this rule. As a result, it said TikTok had to block unverified user accounts until at least Feb 15 awaiting further information. There was no immediate response from TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance. The ruling came after a girl died of asphyxiation in Palermo, Sicily. Her parents said she had been participating in a so-called blackout challenge posted on TikTok, putting a belt around her neck and holding her breath while recording herself on her phone. "The watchdog decided to intervene as a matter of urgency following the terrible case of the 10-year-old girl from Palermo," the authority said. It said TikTok was banned from "further processing user data for which there is no absolute certainty of age and, consequently,
The year 2021 will be crucial and pivotal for the future of humankind, said World Economic Forum founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab, calling on world leaders to focus on rebuilding trust and creating more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Speaking to journalists on Monday at a briefing session via the Zoom platform on the forum's virtual Davos meeting this year amid a resurgent Covid-19 pandemic around the world, Professor Schwab said: "It will be crucial because we have to continue to fight the virus. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* *Terms and conditions apply.
