CGT labour federation leads first rally in Argentina against Milei’s labour reform billThe Confederación General del Trabajo (General Confederation of Labour, CGT) drew thousands of demonstrators to central Buenos Aires and the iconic Plaza de Mayo, in front of the Casa Rosada, in rejection of the reform push. Milei’s labour reform bill, which the Senate began debating on Wednesday, places restrictions on the right to strike, reduces redundancy payouts and allows a 12-hour working day under select conditions. These measures, along with other changes outlined in the bill, are deemed unacceptable by the CGT’s leadership.
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/cgt-labour-federation-leads-first-rally-in-argentina-against-mileis-labour-reform-bill.phtmlhttps://archive.ph/KmjfRBolivia: Bolivian Workers’ Central Union Declares National Strike Against Rodrigo Paz’s “Gasolinazo”The Bolivian Workers’ Central Union (COB) declared a national strike and widespread mobilization in rejection of Supreme Decree 5503, popularly known as the “gasolinazo,” which eliminates fuel subsidies and facilitates the transfer of strategic resources to private entities without legislative oversight. The measure, promoted by the government of Rodrigo Paz, has sparked massive protests in several cities across the country. The COB instructed its more than 65 unions not to negotiate with the Executive Branch until the neoliberal decree is repealed.otests with marches. Protests could spread nationwide in the coming days, if the government doesn’t restore subsidies for gasoline and diesel, said Edson Valdez, a leader of the transportation union.
https://apnews.com/article/bolivia-fuel-strike-82c47ceb6d7802c268ebeb2d97e7146a“Victims of Communism” Monument Altered Over Reported Nazi Ties“The Government of Canada has emphasized that all aspects of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism must align with Canadian values of democracy and human rights,” Caroline Czajkowski, a spokesperson for the Department of Canadian Heritage, told Hyperallergic in a statement. “The Wall of Remembrance will now solely feature thematic content that conveys the broader commemorative and educational intent of the Memorial.”
https://hyperallergic.com/victims-of-communism-monument-altered-over-reported-nazi-ties/https://archive.ph/zcsiiFar-right Alberta government invokes “Notwithstanding Clause” for fourth time in two months, as onslaught on democratic rights accelerates across CanadaBill 9 shields three laws victimizing trans youth from constitutional and legal challenge, whether under Canada’s constitution, the Alberta Bill of Rights, or Alberta Human Rights Act. Its passage marks the fourth time in two months that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has invoked the “notwithstanding clause,” which enables Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments to impose laws that violate fundamental constitutional rights supposedly guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/12/19/cspf-d19.htmlNurses being left behind on pay progression, costing lives, money and the professions' future, union warnsThe union warned this is damaging staff morale, patient care and the long-term sustainability of the NHS. Across Britain, large numbers of nurses are employed at band five, the grade newly registered nurses start on. In England and Wales, 44 per cent of nurses are at band five, rising to 53 per cent in Scotland.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/nurses-being-left-behind-pay-progression-costing-lives-money-and-professions-future-unionUS, Israel and UAE discussed using Gaza gas to fund reconstruction, sources sayThe discussions have taken various forms, but one includes the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) taking a stake in Gaza’s undeveloped gas fields and those funds contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza, the sources told MEE. The talks are preliminary, and like much of the post-war planning for Gaza that the US has spearheaded, even before a ceasefire was signed in October, no hard commitments have been made, the sources said. But the former western official told MEE that the idea of monetising Gaza’s gas for reconstruction resurfaced in December. Gas was discovered in Gaza’s marine field in 2000.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-israel-and-uae-discussed-using-gaza-gas-fund-reconstruction-sources-saySudan war: 234 medical workers killed, ‘SGBV on the rise’He said the figures continue to rise due to the repeated targeting of health facilities by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “Since the beginning of the war, medical cadres have become legitimate military targets,” Faisal said. “We documented the targeting of hospitals and clinics, and doctors killed while providing medical services.” He added that doctors in North Darfur, particularly in the capital of El Fasher, were subjected to killing, kidnapping and enforced disappearance after the RSF stormed the city.
https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/sudan-war-234-medical-workers-killed-sgbv-on-the-riseANC demands SACP cadres recuse from its election structuresOne of the decisions taken by the African National Congress (ANC)’s National General Council is that South African Communist Party (SACP) members must recuse themselves from ANC discussions on strategy and tactics ahead of the local government polls. This is until both parties reach an agreement on the communist party’s decision to contest the 2026 local government elections alone. The ANC’s NGC ended in Boksburg, Johannesburg, on Thursday.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/anc-demands-sacp-cadres-recuse-from-election-structures/KMT, TPP to attempt to impeach President LaiThe move came after Lai on Monday refused to promulgate a legislative amendment that would have allowed local governments to receive a larger share of government revenue, arguing that the legislation would hurt the nation’s fiscal sustainability. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) had declined to countersign the legislation earlier that day, which Lai cited as the reason for not publicly announcing the law, normally considered to be routine.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2025/12/20/2003849217https://archive.ph/lVvQfFarmers force right wing government to reconsider ethanol plant in India’s RajasthanOn Wednesday, December 17, the government in India’s north-western province of Rajasthan was forced to reconsider the proposed ethanol plant in Hanumangarh district, after large-scale protests by the farmers refused to subside. The announcement was made after thousands of farmers gathered at the grain market in Tibbi, a significant commercial hub in the district, to continue pressing for their demands, days after a large-scale police repression.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2025/12/19/farmers-force-right-wing-government-to-reconsider-ethanol-plant-in-indias-rajasthan/Protesters storm the offices of leading Bangladesh newspapersWitnesses and media reports said hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Dhaka immediately after the news of Mr Hadi’s death, rallying on Shahbagh Square near the Dhaka University campus. Later, a group of protesters gathered outside the office of the country’s leading Bengali-language Prothom Alo daily in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area. They then surged into the building, vandalised it and set fire to it. A few hundred yards away, another group of protesters pushed into the premises of the country’s leading English-language Daily Star and set fire to the building, according to footage from Kaler Kantha, another mainstream newspaper.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/protesters-storm-offices-leading-bangladesh-newspapersPakistan accuses India of ‘weaponizing water’ and threatening stabilityDar alleged New Delhi was manipulating water flows at a critical point in Pakistan’s agricultural cycle, threatening livelihoods as well as the country’s food and economic security. He said the latest irregular release of water from the Chenab river was detected this week.
https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-accuses-india-weaponsing-violation-water-treaty-91cdd8b6da5b77ec54764913018212e9