Excluded Headlines: Strong protests and police repression in Argentina, India, Uganda, Indonesia. Colombian alternative to military service...
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:
Colombian government offers social service as alternative to military service - The government has passed a decree to make what it calls “social service for peace” a legal alternative to obligatory military service. Young people are obliged to do military service in the constitution - and changing the constitution would have been much harder. Source, source.
Over 5 million stranded by severe flooding in Bangladesh - Heavy monsoon rains caused severe flooding in parts of Bangladesh, leaving over 5 million people stranded without food or relief, and at least 18 dead. Source, source.
Police repress protesting pensioners in Argentina - After president Milei vetoed a parliamentary measure to increase pensions, senior citizens of the Union of Retired Workers in the Struggle protested and police responded by aiming tear gas at their faces and beating them. Source.
Third week of anti-femicide protests in India repressed by police and water cannons - After a doctor was raped and murdered, people have been demanding justice for her, but also for broader societal changes, including safe workplaces and a safer public environment for women. Police used water cannons and tear gas against protesters in Kolkata. Source, source.
500 days of civil war in Sudan - People in Sudan are dealing with mass killings, famine, disease, mass displacement and sexual violence. Ceasefire talks have stalled, as both the SAF and RSF refuse to budge. Further, floods have devastated northern Sudan, with homes and transport destroyed or affected and at least 132 lives lost. As a result of the floods, a dam burst on the weekend and killed 60 people. Source, source, source, source.
US trained military targets oil pipelines protesters in Uganda - Police and soldiers from Uganda's US-trained army attacked demonstrators at two protests on Monday against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). in Kampala. Some 21 people were arrested as they marched to TotalEnergies’ offices, a French multinational that controls 62% of the EACOP. Source, source
Afghan government passes law banning women’s voices in public - Girls are already unable to access education and women are banned from most types of work, and now the Taliban government has passed a law making women cover themselves entirely and not speak in public. Source.
Israel launches largest military assault in decades on the West Bank - The Israeli military killed at least 17 Palestinians, using Iran as the excuse for the attacks. On Wednesday, Israel launched coordinated raids across four northern areas – Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarem, and armoured columns entered refugee camps in three of those areas. In Jenin, Israeli snipers on buildings shot at people who moved. Source, source, source.
Indonesian police repression anti-corruption protests - Protests have erupted in at least 16 cities in Indonesia after President Jokowi’s ruling coalition tried to amend the election law and allow candidates under 30 to run for office. There’s only one candidate in the November local elections under 30; 29-year-old Kaesang Pangareb, the president’s youngest son. Indonesian lawmakers have since decided to cancel the passing of the bill, and police arrested at least 300 protestors. Source, source, source.
Trinidad and Tobago removes Columbus’ ships from coat of arms - Trinidad and Tobago is revising its coat of arms as part of an effort to remove symbols of colonisation. Colombus’ three ships will be replaced with a steelpan; a local musical instrument. Source.
Useful reads:
Menstruation matters: Poor economy puts products out of reach for working class women in Myanmar
Tackling the World’s Planetary Emergency
Western media can be held legally accountable for its role in the Gaza genocide
Will Bangladesh Be Another Egypt?
“Colonial Process”: How U.S.-Led Ceasefire Talks Are Latest Erasure of Roots of Arab-Israeli Conflict
Mpox Vaccine Delays in Africa Expose Global Health Inequities
Life in Gaza is even harder than it appears on screen