Palestinian students strike as Israel bans access to West Bank teachersThe strike was called by the General Secretariat of Christian Educational Institutions in Jerusalem and later joined by all private schools in East Jerusalem. It follows Israel’s decision to limit the number of days on which work permits are granted to teachers from the West Bank. Under Israeli rules, Palestinians must obtain a permit from the Israeli military to cross checkpoints separating the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/14/palestinian-students-strike-as-israel-bans-access-to-west-bank-teachershttps://archive.ph/2QQUmIran’s judiciary suggests fast-tracked trials for protestersIran’s judiciary has said it will move swiftly against those arrested in massive nationwide protests now into their third week, signalling fast-track trials and executions. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of Iran’s judicial system, delivered the warning in a video released by state television on Wednesday, calling on courts and prosecutors to act without delay. “If we want to do a job, we should do it now,” Mohseni-Ejei said, adding that any pause would undermine the state’s ability to deter further violence.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-calls-un-confront-us-over-trumps-incitement-overthrow-governmentUgandan voters go to the polls amid soldiers on the streetUGANDANS go to the polls today in an election that is likely to extend the rule of the long-term president while raising concerns about transparency, hereditary rule, military interference and an opposition strategy to prevent vote tampering at polling stations. President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power since 1986, seeks a seventh term that would bring him closer to five decades in power.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/ugandan-voters-go-polls-amid-soldiers-street‘Home Secretary tells MPs that the government will reinstate powers to fire chief constables over ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fansProtests are being arranged in Birmingham as Palestine and anti-racism campaigners slammed Westminster interference in local politics over the ban from a match against Aston Villa in November. West Midlands Police and crime commissioner Simon Foster declined to sack chief constable Craig Guildford without “full and proper consideration” after Ms Mahmood told MPs that the government will reinstate the Home Secretary’s powers to fire chief constables.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/cynical-and-authoritarianThe UK is watering down plans for mandatory digital ID cards after a backlashOfficials confirmed Wednesday that it won’t be compulsory for citizens and residents to show a digital ID card in order to get a job, ditching a key plank of the policy announced in September. “The digital ID could be one way you prove your eligibility to work,” Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC, alongside other documents such as biometric passports. The government said detailed plans for digital ID cards will be “set out following a full public consultation which will launch shortly.”
https://apnews.com/article/britain-digital-id-cards-retreat-starmer-immigration-6fad47dc1e4e0de79606e6ac4c73046eFrance's government survives two no-confidence votes over Mercosur dealThe Socialist Party had ruled out backing the no-confidence motions and the conservative Les Républicains also said they would not vote to censure the government over Mercosur. As a result, both motions failed. The one tabled by LFI received only 256 votes in favour, 32 votes short of what was needed for the motion to pass. The second motion, put forward by the far right, received 142 votes in favour and also failed.
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20260114-france-government-survives-two-no-confidence-votes-over-mercosur-dealhttps://archive.ph/2twwqQuebec premier François Legault resigns from post in surprise moveThe surprise resignation of the businessman turned politician follows months of chaos that has rocked the governing CAQ. Key ministers and allies have stepped down and polling suggests his government faced long odds of re-election in the fall. Some polls suggested the party, which won majority governments in 2018 and 2022, could lose all seats in the upcoming election.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/14/quebec-premier-francois-legault-resignsHaiti drone operation strikes home of gang leader 'Barbecue'Haitian security forces on Wednesday bombed three houses belonging to top gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier, local outlet Gazette Haiti reported on Wednesday, after unverified footage showed a large explosion in the capital Port-au-Prince.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/haiti-operation-destroys-homes-gang-leader-barbecue-local-media-reports-2026-01-15/ Urban poor residents demand compensation from DSWD for disaster victims Urban poor community residents affected by the recent typhoons trooped to the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) national office on January 12 to demand compensation that should’ve been distributed. Led by Kadamay, they sought to hold a dialogue with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian but was refused. “More than six months have passed since typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong struck, along with the successive floods caused by the southwest monsoon,” said Kadamay. “But until now, millions of Filipinos remain neglected and have not received fair compensation.”
https://philippinerevolution.nu/angbayan/urban-poor-residents-demand-compensation-from-dswd-for-disaster-victims/Government panel proposes mandatory integration program for foreign residentsThe panel proposes an integration program that takes into account the needs of not only individuals, but also their family members as a unit. In the program, which foreign nationals intending to live in Japan would be required to take part in before and after entering the country, participants would gain basic knowledge about Japanese society and administrative procedures. The panel suggests that participation in the program be made a condition of residence.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/14/japan/politics/foreigner-measures-final-report/https://archive.ph/6fRHkNew Zealand government exploits Auckland fire to slander striking firefightersThe pile-on by government ministers and state agency Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) represents an attempt to criminalise industrial action and intimidate workers throughout the public sector who are fighting against austerity.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2026/01/14/zvuz-j14.html‘Bizarre’ bonuses and sausage sizzles: how Australia’s outsource call centres try to lure in poorly paid workersTens of thousands of Australians speak to government agencies every day about sensitive matters, including tax debts, pensions, aged care, and disability and support payments. But few know they are probably speaking to a private contractor, without the training, pay, conditions or public service support of a civil servant. Guardian Australia has interviewed more than a dozen call centre workers at four private contractors with government agency contracts; the US private equity-owned Probe Operations, the Nasdaq-listed Concentrix Services, the British multinational Serco, and TSA Group.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/14/australia-outsourced-call-centres-staff-incentives