By Harsh Thakor*  The Zionist leadership and Netanyahu’s government were compelled to concede the defeat of their first attempt after almost 50 days of daily fighting in the Gaza Strip.  Netanyahu was forced to concede that he was unsuccessful in suppressing the Palestinian Resistance; and that the release of the prisoners was only plausible because they accepted Hamas’ terms.

By Sanaton Laishram*  The Affected Citizens of Teesta, Sikkim, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and the Borok Peoples Human Rights Organization, Tripura organized the North East India meet on Free Flowing Rivers, held at Gangtok, Sikkim from the 29th till the 30th November 2023.

Statement by the Global Secretariat of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation: *** Representatives from various indigenous groups and environmental organizations convened in Gangtok, Sikkim, for the North East India Meet on Free Flowing Rivers. The gathering, hosted by the Affected Citizens of Teesta, Centre for Research and Advocacy (Manipur), and the Borok Peoples Human Rights Organization, concluded with a significant resolution aimed at safeguarding the region’s rivers and biodiversity. The Teesta Declaration outlined pressing concerns regarding the construction of large dams in the region, highlighting the environmental, social, and climatic impacts. Participants vehemently opposed the continuation of projects such as the 1200 MW Teesta III dam in Sikkim and urged for its decommissioning, citing the catastrophic burst of the dam on October 4, 2023, which resulted in the loss of lives and extensive property damage. The resolution of the

By Sudhansu R Das  Over decades, Odisha has lost much of its crop diversity, fertile agriculture land, water bodies, employment potential, handicraft and handloom skills etc. The state has failed to strike a balance between the urban and rural sector growth; this leads to the migration of villagers to the urban areas leading to collapse of the urban infrastructures and an acute labor shortage in rural areas.  A large number of educated, skilled and unskilled Odia people have migrated to other states for higher education, quality jobs and for earning livelihood which plummet the efficiency level of government departments. Utmost transparency in the recruitment and promotion in the state government departments will improve governance mechanisms in the state.  "No near and dear one approach" in governance mechanisms can only achieve inclusive growth for the state on payment basis. This is a moral hazard. When so many educated young people seek employment outside the

Statement on the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund by Chennaiah Poguri, spokesperson of the Global People’s Caravan for Food, Land and Climate Justice and National Secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Vyvasaya Vruthidarula Union (APVVU), a federation of farmers, agricultural workers, landless peasants, and other working rural peoples in India: *** The decision to finally operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund is an important initial step in bringing justice to rural peoples in the Global South who are most affected by extreme droughts, tropical cyclones, floods, and sea level rise. However, it is ‘historic’ only because it is long overdue. 

By Harsh Thakor*  From November 26-28th the cities of India, including Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Patna were flooded with the workers and farmers led by Samyukta Kisan Morcha, posing a challenge to the wave of repressive neo-fascist policies of the Modi govt. Intensity of the protestors was impressive. Very significant in sharpening bond of worker-peasant unity, and sharpening the broad base of the movement. Around 3000 assembled in Bangalore and Haryana, 2000 in Delhi and around 1500 each in Lucknow and Patna. Revolutionary democratic spirit was ignited at its boiling point, hitting the ruling class parties in their very backyard. A major jolt was delivered to the rulers at the Centre, exposing their nefarious polices at the very core.

By Prantik Deka  The 106th birth anniversary of legendary Assamese musician Purushottam Das was recently observed in a glittering function organised by the Amguri Puberun Cultural Organisation of Sivasagar district and Sangeet Khanikor Purushottam Das Smriti Raksha Samiti, Guwahati, in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, at the premises of Amguri Auniatia Hemchandra Dev Higher Secondary School.

By Jag Jivan   New research underlines urgent need for strategies and transition plans to combat climate change, remain successful and meet stakeholder expectations.

By Cynthia Rocamora, Helen Burley*  Financial institutions are still financing the production of highly polluting metallurgical coal, used in steel manufacturing, rather than prioritising lower-emission alternatives. With coal phase-outs a key topic at COP28 in Dubai, Reclaim Finance’s new report highlights financial institutions’ failure to commit to the necessary action on met coal, even though they have made commitments on thermal coal, used for heat and electricity (1). Since 2016, the world’s biggest banks have provided US$ 557 billion in finance to the 50 biggest developers in the metallurgical sector. For their part, investors have invested over US$ 163 billion in these companies. Reclaim Finance calls on financial institutions to urgently adopt policies on metallurgical coal.