SOLOMON HUGHES recommends Sunjeev Sahota’s recent novel set in a trade union election campaign for its fresh approach to what unites and divides workers, but wishes the union backdrop was truer to life
SINCE the Bangladesh Awami League Party led by Sheikh Hasina won a landslide victory in the 2008 elections, citizens of Bangladesh have been increasingly crushed under the heel of a despotic, brutal regime that offers democracy in name only — beatings, torture and the persecution of political opponents are all common occurrences.
Amnesty International highlighted the issue in a 2020 report, calling for urgent action — yet Western leaders, including those in the EU and Britain, continue to remain silent.
Bangladesh has known democracy before — previous leaders established a free press, an unbiased judiciary and fair elections.
As Saudi Arabia is hailed abroad for its ‘reforms,’ the reality for women inside the kingdom grows ever more repressive. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, MARYAM ALDOSSARI argues it is time to stop applauding the illusion – and start listening to the women the state works hardest to silence
Spain has joined South Africa’s ICJ genocide case against Israel while imposing weapons bans and port restrictions, moves partly driven by trade unions — proving just how effectively civil society can reshape government policy, writes RAMZY BAROUD
David Lammy is now calling Israel’s escalation of the Gaza genocide morally unjustifiable — but what is truly unjustifiable is for Lammy to say this while directly arming and providing surveillance information for the genocide, writes NUVPREET KALRA



