HIV Drug Profiteering and Global Inequality

THE National Health Service in the UK has recently approved Hemgenix. The gene therapy drug that cures hemophilia B costs around Rs 30 crores (£2.6 million) for a single injection dose. This is now the world's priciest medicine. It is an indicator of our disabled pharma system. Life saving innovations become designer commodities. Much of the development for gene therapy has come from publicly funded research. Though gene therapy drugs involve advanced manufacturing techniques, the price does not arise from that alone.

A Life for the People: Remembering Comrade V S Achuthanandan

THE life of Comrade V S Achuthanandan, who passed away at the age of 101 on July 21, 2025 is a remarkable chapter in the history of Kerala in general and in the context of the state’s revolutionary movement in particular.Comrade VS, as he was called, was a symbol of an enduring tradition of struggle, extraordinary resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. His century-long life, marked by tireless working for the people and unwavering support in their hour of need, is closely interwoven with the modern history of Kerala.

A Life of Struggles

COMRADE V S Achuthanandan was the oldest living communist in India. The unprecedented sea of humanity that flowed in to pay their last respects to the veteran revolutionary is beyond description.

Report

Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connectionor reload the browserDisable Ginger?How to use GingerRephraseRephrase with Ginger (Ctrl+Alt+E)Edit in GingerGinger is checking your text for mistakes...Disable Ginger in this text fieldDisable Ginger on this website×

July 9 Strike: Spontaneous Response

WEST Bengal emerged as a powerful epicentre of the July 9 nationwide general strike, with unprecedented working-class participation across all sectors protesting anti-people policies of the central government. Despite adverse weather conditions, the strike paralysed normal life in many districts. However, the ruling party and police reportedly responded with aggressive repression, including assaults on peaceful protesters, including an 80-year-old woman – drawing sharp public outrage.

As World Embraces Renewables, Trump-Era US Clings to Fossil Fuels

WHILE releasing a new report on the tipping point between renewables and fossil fuels being reached, the UN Secretary General António Guterres talked about how we are now reaching a renewable era, and the end of the road for fossil fuels.

Israel and the Drug War in Syria

TENSIONS increased in southern Syria as Israeli warplanes bombed the Ministry of Defence in Damascus and areas around the presidential palace as well as villages in As-Suwayda. At least 250 Syrians died in these air strikes on July 16, 2025. The transitional authorities in Syria led by the former al-Qaeda chief Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned the attacks, which Israel justified as necessary to stop the fighting between the Syrian forces, the hastily organised Quwwat al-Badu (or Bedouin Forces), and the Druze Harakat Rijal al-Karama (Men of Dignity).

Polit Bureau Communique

CPI(M) Polit Bureau met on July 18, 2025 and issued the following communiqueSpecial Intensive Revision of the Electoral Rolls – Protests on August 8:The Election Commission ordered a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. Now, the EC wants to extend this exercise to the entire country. In the name of revising the electoral rolls, the EC is appropriating the authority to verify the citizenship of voters, which is outside its constitutional remit.

Homage to Comrade V S Achuthanandan

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on July 21, 2025, on the death of Comrade V S Achuthanandan in Thiruvananthapuram today at 3:20 pm, after prolonged illness.THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its profound grief at the death of V S Achuthanandan, an outstanding leader and veteran of the communist movement. V S Achuthanandan was a former member of the Polit Bureau. He was 101 years old.Fondly called VS, Achuthanandan was an able organiser who spearheaded various struggles in Kerala.

Once More on Minerals and Imperialism

THE Industrial Revolution which inaugurated industrial capitalism in the world had occurred in Britain in cotton textiles; but neither Britain nor other North European countries could grow any raw cotton at all. The very coming into being of industrial capitalism in short was dependent upon the metropolis obtaining a steady supply of raw materials from wherever they happened to be produced. This situation has not changed one iota in all these years.

Search form

Peoples Democracy newsletter