Mobilizations were held across France by student and youth groups seeking concrete solutions to the problems affecting them as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the demands was a 1.5 billion euro emergency plan

In today’s episode we take a look at the protests against the Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill in the UK, strike against privatization by bank employees in India, a UN Report documenting a 65% increase in the demolitions of Palestinian homes by Israeli forces, and the continued protests in France as the Senate debates the Global Security Bill

As the French Senate prepares to vote on the controversial Global Security Bill, protests took place across the country against the law which will strengthen the power of the police

Critics have said that the proposed law will stigmatize Muslims and that the existing laws are enough to cover the issues sought to be addressed by the new legislation.

On Thursday, major trade unions in France mobilized in over 100 locations against the government’s failure to address the issues of workers and youth. They also condemned the meager raise in minimum wage proposed for the year

Protests were also held in major French cities including Paris Marseilles, Lille and Lyon.

University students across France, confined to online classes and deprived of their scholarships and income from part time jobs, are facing serious financial, academic and psychological difficulties

The call for the mobilisation was given by students’ unions including the Union of Communist Students (UEC), National Union of Students of France (UNEF), Students Solidarity etc.

Tens of thousands of people hit the streets across France on Saturday in another major protest against the draconian Global Security bill proposed by Emmanuel Macron’s government in November last year

Sofian Nejjari of Mouvement Jeunes communistes de France, a communist youth organization, talks about the protests against the Global Security Bill, the repression unleashed against the protesters and the impact of the policies of the Macron government

In the context of the 10-year anniversary of the “Arab Spring,” Vijay Prashad discusses Donald Trump’s efforts to crush the aspirations of the people in the Middle East

Pablo Aiquel of the French journalists’ union SNJ-CGT talks about the massive upsurge against the government’s Global Security Bill which gives greater powers to the police