US Senate criticizes troop withdrawal from Syria, approves anti-BDS measure
The Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act allows State and local governments to withhold contracts from companies and individuals that participate in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel
Tunisian government accepts union demands, hikes wages of employees
The wage hike of around $55 comes after months of rallies, protests and a one-day general strike last month which brought air transport, bus services and railways to a halt. The government, following an agreement with the IMF, had frozen the salary of public servants
Teachers’ protests break out in Chicago, Oakland and Denver
While the Chicago Teachers Union launched a strike, protesting fund cuts and low wages, the Oakland Educators Association voted in favor of a strike action, demanding a smaller class size, student support and living wages. Teachers in Denver decided to strike after the State refused to intervene
Mariam Dhawale on women’s resistance against right wing government
Mariam Dhawale, general secretary of All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), talked to PeoplesDispatch about the legislation pending in India’s parliament that will guarantee women’s representation in higher government bodies.
French unions, Yellow Vests join hands, seeking higher wages, social justice
Around 300,000 people took part in rallies and marches in 200 cities across the France. Around the same time, the French parliament passed an anti-hooliganism law that bars protesters from hiding their faces and gives local authorities the power to ban individual protesters
Custodial death of teacher sparks fresh protests in Sudan
Ahmed El Kheir, who was arrested by the notorious National Intelligence and Security Service, was reported to have died on February 2. His body showed signs of torture. The news of the death led to renewed agitations against the government of Omar al-Bashir
Jailed Saudi activists face long-term health risks due to torture: report
A three-member British parliamentary team said that Saudi authorities at the highest levels could, in principle, be responsible for the crime of torture. The women activists were among those critics of the government who were arrested last year
NBC’s ‘expose’ of Russian interference in Gabbard’s candidature falls flat
The NBC report that alleged Russian backing for Tulsi Gabbard was called into question after it was revealed that the channel’s source was a cybersecurity firm that had created fake Russian bots in the past