“Sea of Police” in Ukraine, Looting in Argentina, Hunger Strike…

Thousands of police move on large protest camps in central Kiev, Ukraine

Thousands of riot police and Interior Ministry personnel have moved on  large protest camps in Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) in the center of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev amid snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Clashes broke out after police began tearing down barricades close to the main protest site in the square, but soon turned into a tense standoff.

According to unconfirmed reports police began storming the Kiev city hall, which was occupied by protesters a week ago.

Mass street rallies began about three weeks ago shortly after the government’s decision to withdraw from a free-trade deal with the EU last.

Police surround a section of the protest stage in central Kiev, Ukraine. Image credit: Paulina Leonovich

Looters hit Argentina’s Stores amid ongoing police strike

Looting has spread across 19 out of 23 provinces in Argentina, as police continue their strike due to low pay.

The looting first broke out in Cordoba province earlier this month, leaving several people dead and more than 100 others injured before the local police struck a deal to double their monthly salaries to about $1,900.

Police are demanding above-inflation pay rises and refuse to answer call-outs. Inflation in Argentina is running at 25 – 30 percent a year.

Supermarkets, retail businesses, banks and public transport have all shut down in dozens of Argentina’s cities, just as a summer heatwave engulfs the country.

About a dozen people have been killed and hundreds more injured since the looting began.

One of hundreds of  stores ransacked by looters in the northern Argentine province of Tucuman December 10, 2013. Credit: Paloma Cortes/Reuters Aysua)

Taxi drivers on hunger strike in New Zealand

Auckland taxi drivers are on hunger strike outside the airport’s headquarters protesting conditions at Auckland Airport, according to local reports.

About 100 drivers from the Auckland Taxi Association (ATA), representing drivers from five small taxi companies and dozens of supporters have been holding the hunger strike since Monday because they say changes in rules favors larger companies.

ATA, which represents 180 drivers from smaller companies, wants the minimum fare in line with what the larger companies charge.

Spokesperson for ATA told reporters that with waiting times included, drivers are earning little more than $1 per hour.

Image Credit: One News

Indian Nurses Hunger Strike 2012

Indian nurses working in New Zealand went on a hunger strike vigil at the Ghandi statue near Wellington’s railway station on July 24, 2012.

“The hunger strike began two months after several hundred Indian nurses marched on parliament over the frustrations they have had in attempting to gain registration in New Zealand, including nursing students and graduates of two bridging nursing degree programs,” said a report.