Guardian: France hit by general strike led by public sector workers

Some of the biggest demonstrations to hit France in recent years took to the streets Thursday as labor unions across the country, led by teachers and transit workers, dug in for the second day of mass strikes, the Guardian reports.

The nationwide strike is in response to the coming roll out of significant changes to the country's pension system put forward by President Emmanuel Macron. Many marchers are also pointing out that the proposed pension cuts are only the latest in the current governments attempts to roll back France's public services.

The strikes are seen by many, in conjunction with the anti-government yellow vest protests of earlier this year, as a sign that France is in the midst of a social crisis as many people are struggling to make ends meet while the centrist government led by Macron is looking to scale back the historically robust social safety net.

Reuters: Colombian Students, Unions launch third national strike

Workers and Students marched together Wednesday as a general strike has shut down Colombia for the third time since November 21st, Reuters reports.

The strike is in response to a government which, protesters say, is not taking the concerns of the people of Colombia serious. This is evidenced, they contend, by the fact that the government is pushing through a tax overhaul opposed by strikers while simultaneously meeting with representatives from the committee organizing the demonstrations.

Along with opposition to the tax overhaul, workers are calling for greater protections for human rights activists, support for demobilized rebels following the country's historic peace deal, dissolving the riot police, and rejections of a raise in pension age and a cut in the minimum wage.