Excluded Headlines: Argentine police attack pensioners, India Samsung workers' victory, Panama river protest, Gaza, Lebanon, Libya ...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
Argentine security repress pensioner march, over 80 injured - Older people are among the sectors that have been most negatively affected by Milei’s austerity and right-wing policies. They have been protesting every Wednesday, but yesterday’s protest was particularly repressed. Police detained two journalists, and other journalists were injured. Security forces had used tear gas and shields to try to stop the march advancing, and various retirees reported being beaten and attacked. Pensioners don’t receive enough to cover the basic food basket. Meanwhile, yesterday the Milei government passed a decree limiting the right to strike. Source, source, source, source.
Samsung workers in Chennai, India, win wage increase - The Samsung plant has 1,700 workers and mostly produces home appliances. Workers went on strike in September and October last year and were repressed and attacked and leaders arrested. But they forced the government to negotiate with the company and registered their union. Samsung management tried to derail the union, which then threatened to call more strikes this month. Finally, management caved and agreed to increase workers’ direct monthly salaries to Rs 18,000 (US$210) over a period of three years. Source.
Panama river march protests construction plans - Small farmers in canoes demonstrated on the Indio River against plans to build a reservoir on the Panama Canal, which would cover 2,500 homes and deprive farmers of water. The plans are in response to increasing water scarcity, and would direct more water to the city, but the scarcity has also meant a reduced amount of cargo passing through the canal due to low water levels. Further, in Panama, teachers and other sectors like students and Indigenous peoples have been striking for 26 days in protest against the opening of a mine, an agreement with the US, and reforms to social security. Source, source, source.
Protesters in Libya call for the government to step down, ministers resign in support - Ministers have resigned in support of protesters who want the PM to step down and also new elections. This follows violence that lead to eight civilian deaths and clashes after a militia leader was killed in an ambush at a military base. Source.
Israel launches wave of strikes on Lebanon - Israel has bombed southern Lebanon, in violation of the ceasefire reached in November last year. So far, its not clear why, but southern Lebanon will hold municipal elections this weekend, with Hezbollah and allies likely to do well. Some 1.7 million people in Lebanon are experiencing acute food insecurity - those people include Lebanese citizens, and Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Source, source, source, source.
Gaza - According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israel has killed at least 107 people and wounded 247 just in the past 24 hours. After months without food, and with some pressure from a few European countries, Israel has now allowed in 90 trucks Wednesday and almost 200 today, but aid groups report that new rules set by Israel have led to logistical issues with bringing aid in and distributing it. Source, source.
Deadly attacks across Sudan raise fears of collapse while Sudanese Army declares capital free of RSF - 18 civilians were killed by the Sudanese Army in El Hamadi this morning, drones killed nine people in El Gezira on Sunday, and drone strikes have also negatively affected port activity and health systems. Meanwhile, the army also declared the state of Khartoum free of the opposing RSF, in a war that has been ongoing since April 2023. Source, source.
Useful reads
Thermal Injustice: 20,000 Indians Died in Heatwaves In 20 Years – Caste a Key Factor
Haiti Policy House: Putting a Haitian Face on U.S. Policy and Propaganda
DR Congo’s coltan miners struggle as they dig to feed world’s tech
The PKK is gone, having ‘fulfilled its historic mission’
Genocide in Gaza: The BBC’s Self-Inflicted ‘Trust Crisis’
Climate Frontlines: How is Kenya exploited and greenwashed? (Video)
V. Y. Mudimbe, Congolese philosopher, author of the renowned essay ‘The Invention of Africa’ dies at 83
Solar Revolution: Brazil’s first favela solar energy cooperative
Unified Call to Confront Famine in Gaza: Launch the Diplomatic Humanitarian Convoy, Now!
“Nothing Left in Jabaliya”: Endless Catastrophes in a Besieged Refugee Camp
Why Meta is in trouble in Nigeria and what this means for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users