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Along the border between Lebanon and Israel, a missile expert from Hezbollah is currently preparing for a war situation with a level of intensity and readiness he has never experienced before. Dressed in black tactical pants, green camouflage attire, and armed with a pistol, the officer from the Iran-backed Shiite militia wears a weary expression that alternates between moments of excitement and anxiety. He expresses unwavering high morale and a strong belief in the imminent battle.

Nawaz Sharif’s celebratory return to Pakistan after several years in exile will turn into a political triumph only if the country’s military establishment, which had banished him from politics six years ago and now facilitated his recent insurrection, fundamentally changed its behaviour. So far, it seems that the establishment sees Sharif as a must—needed alternative to the generous populism of Imran Khan.

Israel’s options are central to discussions about the day after the guns fall silent in Gaza. Absent from the debate is what Palestinians want. Also absent is any discussion of funding for Gaza’s reconstruction, although the assumption is that oil-rich Gulf states will step up to the plate.

ILO has moved one step closer to social justice and decent work by adopting a proposal to establish a Global Coalition for Social Justice in the ongoing 349th Session (30 October – 9 November, 2023) of its Governing Body at Geneva, Switzerland. It is just a beginning, and the Coalition will have the major tasks to accomplish which includes bringing together ILO tripartite constituent – Governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations for concrete actions aiming at social justice and decent work for all.

A failure by Russia to fulfil its commitment of 300,000 barrels per day of voluntary cut in crude exports as per the understanding with OPEC is likely to cause friction between Moscow and Saudi Arabia, the prime driver of the cartel’s supply control strategy to shore up crude prices.

Since the outset of Israel’s war on Gaza, the Israeli government has been severely ramping up its crackdown on domestic dissent. Activists, members of academia, and ordinary citizens are getting hit with doxxing, job terminations, threats and arrests — especially members of Israel’s Palestinian minority.

Significant segments of the non-Communist Western Left see the developing contradiction between the United States and China in terms of an inter-imperialist rivalry. Such a characterisation fulfils three distinct theoretical functions from their point of view: first, it provides an explanation for the growing contradiction between the US and China; second, it does so by using a Leninist concept and within a Leninist paradigm; and third, it critiques China as an emerging imperialist power, and hence by inference, a capitalist economy, which is in conformity with an ultra-Left critique of China.

Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah was on Friday set to roll out a path for the destruction of Israel. The spearhead of Iran’s “axis of resistance”, Hezbollah along with Hamas have been plotting Israel’s obliteration for decades. But with Hassan Nasrallah ready to break his silence after the October 7 Hamas, Iran believes the Israelis would be left quaking in their bomb-shelters for the first time since October 7. The hubris inflicting the “axis of resistance” is unbelievably astounding. The confidence also.

China's position on the Gaza conflict has left Israel disappointed. As Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes and ground operations in response to Hamas' early October attack, Beijing has consistently accused Israel of exceeding the bounds of self-defence in its retaliation. Furthermore, China vetoed a U.S.-led United Nations resolution that reaffirmed the "inherent right of all states."

Israel has reinforced its air defences in the Red Sea region using Navy missile boats due to multiple missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, the army announced on Wednesday. The deployment of these vessels took place on Tuesday, as it was deemed necessary in response to the situation. This move is part of heightened defence measures in the area, following an incident where a missile and two drones were launched from Yemen towards Israel.