Israeli military admits it slaughtered medical workers

New York Times, 4/5–The Israeli military on Saturday acknowledged that the initial accounts from troops involved in the killing last month of 15 people in southern Gaza — who the United Nations said were paramedics and rescue workers — had been partially “mistaken.” The assessment…came the day after a video obtained by The New York Times appeared to contradict the military’s earlier version of events…The video…shows that the approaching ambulances and fire truck were clearly marked and had their emergency signal lights on when Israeli troops hit them with a barrage of gunfire… On March 30, rescue teams found 15 bodies, most in a shallow mass grave along with their crushed ambulances…

Bosses’ advisors recommend they quit dreaming about Russia-China split

Foreign Affairs, 4/4–Many American foreign-policy makers dream of being the next Henry Kissinger…today’s U.S. policymakers may be tempted to try to replicate that success by orchestrating a “reverse Kissinger”—pulling Russia closer to balance a rising China…drawing Russia away from China …sounds appealing. In reality, the idea is a bad one. Most important, the analogy to the Cold War of the 1970s is flawed...Beijing and Moscow are now true strategic partners. Both Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping see the United States as the greatest threat to their respective countries…

Mahmoud Khalil slams Columbia University for attacking student protesters

The Guardian, 4/5–Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student activist who led campus pro-Palestinian rallies and is now resisting the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, has accused the university of laying “the groundwork for my abduction” and called on the student body to continue demonstrations and protests…Khalil also accused the university of suppressing student dissent under the auspices of combating antisemitism and bowing to pressure from Congress to turn over student disciplinary records and creating a task force on antisemitism “that broadly categorized anti-Israel sentiment as hate speech to condemn protests”...

Students in Puerto Rico force out University boss over cuts

Truthout, 3/27–This February, President Luis A. Ferrao Delgado of the University of Puerto Rico resigned after attempting to suspend 64 educational programs. The measure targeted core disciplines such as history, philosophy and comparative literature, stunning the university community and provoking bitter opposition. Eleven days of protests followed, compelling Ferrao to reverse the decision before stepping down. The university showdown is the latest chapter in a two-decade struggle against austerity…

Argentinian workers clash with police over austerity measures

DW, 3/13–Argentine pensioners and soccer fans clashed with police on Wednesday as a protest unfolded in front of Congress, with citizens rallying against the economic policies brought in by the government of President Javier Milei. It was an unlikely mix with retirees gathered in Buenos Aires flanked by soccer fans from teams normally at odds with one another. What started as a peaceful event escalated into violent clashes as police fired water cannons, tear gas and pellets while protesters threw stones. The crowd yelled “Milei, garbage, you are the dictatorship!” — a comparison of his rule with the military junta that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. 

Workers strike in Belgium against austerity measures

Reuters, 3/31–A national strike in Belgium kept all flights on the ground on Monday and caused some public transport disruptions as people demonstrated against the new government’s austerity plans. Local media reported some protesters also blocked access to some stores in Brussels’ shopping area, including Foot Locker, Kiko Milano, Zara, Primark and Pull & Bear. The strike was the second big one to protest the government’s proposals to reform pensions and the labour market.