- The Guardian
- Issue #2129
VENEZUELA: The International Anti-fascist World Festival took place in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. The 2,000 delegates from 125 countries called for consolidation of international anti-fascist action. The festival agreed to a resolution that included creating branches of the International in other countries, the launch of a popular, anti-fascist feminist international, launching a think-tank to support the work of the organisation, to convene a world anti-fascist congress of the Indigenous peoples from all the continents. Joao Pedro Stedile of the Landless Workers’ Movement of Brazil said that “at this crucial moment of the world class struggle it is vital to establish trenches in each of the countries. … It is not enough to be in solidarity with Venezuela, Cuba, and Palestine. It is necessary to fight in our lands.” He concluded with the slogan from the historic fight against fascism in Spain: “They shall not pass!”
BRITAIN: A London hospital has advertised for “corridor care” nurses because so many patients are being cared for while waiting for beds or treatment. The 12-hour shifts were advertised by Whittington hospital in north London. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said the advertisement indicated the “normalising” of patients being treated in the corridors of hospital A&E departments. Retired paediatrician Dr John Puntis, co-chair of campaign group Keep Our NHS [National Health Service] Public, said: “There can be no bleaker illustration of the current state of the NHS than ‘care’ provided in corridors”. Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said corridor care is “degrading, dehumanising and dangerous.” “Let me be clear, it is not possible to provide truly safe patient care in environments such as corridors and cupboards,” he said.
INDONESIA: Indonesia officially became a full member of BRICS bloc of developing countries, its first Southeast Asian member. Indonesia’s membership reflects a growing Southeast Asian interest in BRICS which is seen as an alternative to global institutions dominated by the US and other Western nations. Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam were among the nations that became partner countries of BRICS, which also included Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Uganda.
SUDAN: Sudan’s military has recaptured a strategic city of Wad Medani from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The bloody conflict in Sudan started in April 2023 when tensions between the leaders of the military and the RSF escalated and turned into open savage hostilities. The conflict has killed more than 28,000 people and forced the world’s largest displacement crisis. About 30 per cent of the population was driven from their homes – either to different parts of Sudan or to neighbouring countries. “A humanitarian crisis of astonishing proportions,” according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid.
GHANA: John Mahama was sworn as president for the third time. Mahama won a presidential election late last year after pledging to tackle Ghana’s economic crisis, corruption, and unemployment.
