New French PM faces massive strikes amid perilous budget talks The scale of the protests will help the new prime minister gauge the depth of widespread discontent across the country. Authorities are planning to deploy more than 80,000 members of the security forces and 24 armored vehicles across the country, an impressive show of force rarely seen since the 2018-2019 Yellow Jackets protests. Workers from France’s railway, aviation and education sectors are all set to walk out, which appears likely to bring the country to a near halt.
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-new-pm-sebastien-lecornu-massive-strikes-amid-budget-talks/https://archive.ph/K4TeaPlaid Cymru and Reform UK almost neck and neck in Senedd voter intention poll COMPETITION to become the largest party in Wales is turning into a neck-and-neck battle between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, new polling has indicated. An ITV survey of voting intentions showed Plaid on 30 per cent and Reform close behind on 29 per cent, while Labour slumped to just 14 per cent. Translating into seats after the Senedd election next May, Reform could have 37 members versus Labour’s 11.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/plaid-cymru-and-reform-uk-almost-neck-and-neck-senedd-voter-intention-pollBus drivers at three Greater Manchester companies to take four days of strike actionThe members of the Unite union work for bus companies who rank among the largest and most profitable in the UK—Stagecoach, Metroline and First Bus. The planned walkout will shut down two-thirds of the Greater Manchester network. This itself shows the operational grip of the private operators functioning collectively under the “Bee Network”, the franchised public transport system including the Metrolink tram/light rail service overseen by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). This is controlled by the 10 councils in the combined authority and led by Labour Mayor Andy Burnham.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/09/17/nfnz-s17.htmlStudents, teachers, and workers to march in a mass protest against MileiTens of thousands of students, teachers, and workers will march in the streets in cities across Argentina on September 17, for the Federal University March. The national mobilization was called for by the Argentine University Federation (FUA), the Trade Union Front, and the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), and numerous progressive groups and trade union fronts have pledged support and that they will join them on the streets.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/09/17/students-teachers-and-workers-to-march-in-a-mass-protest-against-milei/Argentina's Milei to partially privatize nuclear power plants operatorThe Milei administration intends to sell 44% of the shares of Nucleoelectrica Argentina (NA-SA), which operates the Atucha I, Atucha II and Embalse power plants, through an international public tender, spokesperson Manuel Adorni told a press conference.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/argentinas-milei-partially-privatize-nuclear-power-plants-operator-2025-09-16/Transport Workers’ Protests Continue in Ecuador After Diesel Subsidy EliminationSeveral transit points in northern Ecuador remained blocked this Wednesday, September 17, by protests led by transport workers in response to the executive branch’s elimination of diesel subsidies. The demonstrations were concentrated on strategic routes connecting urban and rural regions, affecting mobility and local supplies.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/transport-workers-protests-continue-in-ecuador-after-diesel-subsidy-elimination/Thai security forces use rubber bullets and tear gas in border melee with Cambodian protestersThai Army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree described the situation as a Cambodian mob encroaching on Thai territory, obstructing operations and destroying official property. He said Thai authorities regarded the incident as a provocation and an intentional violation of the ceasefire agreement.
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-indian-sikhs-travel-ban-guru-nanak-623c14f1c4c879c596066dff8d18104eRomualdez resigns as House speaker amid alleged corruption, budget woesRomualdez cited the issues hounding the government's infrastructure projects in his final speech as speaker. He said he hopes his resignation would allow the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to "pursue its mandate freely and fully." "I step down not in surrender, but in service — for sometimes, the greatest act of leadership is the grace to let go, so that this institution may endure stronger than before," Romualdez said.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/09/17/2473471/romualdez-resigns-house-speaker-amid-alleged-corruption-budget-woesSikh leaders urge India to lift ban on pilgrims traveling to Pakistan shrineThe appeal came from Mahesh Singh, vice president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the official body that manages Sikh shrines in Pakistan, where many holy places of Sikhs are located. His remarks followed the Indian government’s Sept. 12 decision to deny permission for Sikhs to cross into Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, citing security concerns. There was no immediate comment from New Delhi.
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-indian-sikhs-travel-ban-guru-nanak-623c14f1c4c879c596066dff8d18104eTaliban announces internet ban in northern AfghanistanThe hardline Islamist movement has previously voiced concerns over pornography and flirtation between men and women online. It is the first such internet ban since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, though it has announced other measures, including stopping girls from attending high school and women from working in many fields.
https://www.straitstimes.com/world/taliban-announces-ban-on-internet-in-northern-afghanistanhttps://archive.ph/ioKyK