West Asia: Cheap Drones and the Shifting Strategic Balance

SAUDI Arabia, which started the Yemen war with its own coalition of the willing, is now facing the blow-back with Houthis launching a series of drone and missile attacks on infrastructure. Earlier Houthi missile attacks on Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports seems to have led to a rethink in the United Arab Emirates leadership on the dangers of military interventions abroad, leading to their partial disengagement from Yemen. The US also has now announced direct talks with the Houthis.

TAMIL NADU: Public will Oppose Tyrannical Modi Govt

MODI government, elected the second time, has become tyrannical and started demolishing the foundation of the Indian Constitution in a pre-designed manner, said Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat at a public meeting held in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu on August 24. The country’s economy is in doldrums and the government has failed to provide a tangible solution to the crisis.

NAJ ,DUJ Caution against Watch Dogs Becoming Lap Dogs of Govt

THE National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ), join the Press Association members and some other bodies against the unilateral decision of the chairman of Press Council of India, Justice CK Prasad filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to intervene in a writ filed by Kashmir Times executive editor Anuradha Bhasin.

Defence Strike Deferred

THE strike of the defence employees has been deferred/postponed by the three major unions and Confederation of Defence Recognised Association (CDRA) that were spearheading it. On August 23, a meeting with secretary, defence production, was held in which this decision was taken to postpone the strike on the assurance given by the government through the secretary.

Central Trade Unions Congratulate Defense Employees

THE Central Trade Unions (CTUs) – INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC, in a statement issued on August 23, have congratulated the defense employees for the successful strike from August 20 in all the industrial, non-industrial (clerical, office staff) defense production units. Junior officers, charge hands have walked out of 41 ordnance factories (OF). The strike was against the Modi government’s plans to corporatise and then to privatise the ordnance factories.

AP: ASHA Workers Demand Release of Pending Wages

THOUSANDS of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) staged a sit-in dharna at Vijayawada on August 26 demanding release of their wages that are pending for the last eight months. They also opposed the grading system introduced recently by the government intending to harass them and is a threat to their job security. Police detained many ASHA workers in their respective districts from 25th itself. Family members of ASHAs also were taken into custody at some places.

AIKS to Protest Change in Labour Laws

THE All India Kisan Council meeting held at Hyderabad had passed a resolution on August 24 against the decision of the BJP government led by Narendra Modi to change the existing labour laws and infringe upon the hard won labour rights. The AIKC opined that this attack on the working class has to be countered with all its might.

AIDWA Condemns Promotion of Porn-Watching Savadi as Deputy CM

THE All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in a statement issued on August 29, has strongly condemned the decision of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of reinstating and promoting Laxman Savadi in the government.

Dismal Economic Scene

THE bad news about the economy continues to pour in. The deteriorating employment situation is becoming alarming. Around 3.5 lakh jobs have been lost in the automobile sector, with the prospect of more loss of jobs. In the consumer goods segment, the biggest biscuit manufacturer, Parle, has announced that 10,000 jobs may have to be axed. The corporates are utilising the recession to cut jobs and protect their profits.

Tamil Nadu: Third State Conference of TNUEF

THIRD state conference of TNUEF was held on August 15-17 at Thanjavur, in the Cauvery Delta, soil of heroic struggle of poor agricultural labourers against both economic and social oppression, led by P Seenivasa Rao and P S Dhanuskodi.The TNUEF conference ended with mammoth rally on August 17, which was attended by nearly 20,000 people. Sitaram Yechury, general secretary, CPI M) delivered a special address in the public meeting conducted at Thilagar Thidal. He urged all democratic sections to join the struggle against caste oppression.

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