CAIRO (IPS) - The iron fist that has kept a tight grip on Egypt’s labor movements for nearly six decades relaxed this week, unleashing a wave of wildcat strikes that is testing the resolve of the country’s new military rulers. Read more about Workers challenge Egypt's military rule 

Demonstrations are continuing uninterrupted across the Middle East and North Africa, where protesters remain steadfast in their demands for democracy. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority’s leadership in Ramallah has announced that it will hold municipal, presidential and legislative elections within the year. Read more about PA elections announced, but democracy a long way off 

CAIRO (IPS) - Before his ouster on Friday, toppled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak had made one of the biggest mistakes of his reign: not learning from the lessons of hundreds of small labor and professional strikes that littered the country since 2005. Read more about Egypt labor not resting after Mubarak's ouster 

“The Arab world is in revolt against dictatorships,” and from Tunisia to Egypt to Yemen, women have been leading the charge for political freedoms and reforms as Emad Mekay reports. Read more about Arab women lead the charge for political change 

“Masr, Masr, Masr, Masr” — the Arabic word for Egypt was the call from huge crowds on the streets of Gaza City on Friday night as Palestinians reflected on what the overthrow of Egypt’s president Hosni Mubarak would mean for Palestine and the people of Egypt. Rami Almeghari reports. Read more about Gaza celebrates fall of Mubarak  

CAIRO (IPS) - Hosni Mubarak’s speech Thursday night in which he refused to quit only provoked anger and sparked further unrest. Massive demonstrations, and pitched battles between pro-democracy protesters and the regime’s security forces, have already been intensifying in every corner of the country. Read more about Egyptian labor joins the uprising 

Criticism has mounted in recent months around the Israeli civic service program, a volunteering program aimed at individuals otherwise exempt from military service, which individuals say conditions their inalienable rights, such as equal access to education and the job market. Read more about Israel's discriminatory civil service program challenged 

“I still cannot believe my eyes as I see the machines of our new factory, scattered to all corners,” said Rabah al-Hatto as he surveyed the rubble of his recently-established plastic water tank factory in northeast Gaza, which was bombed by Israeli warplanes early yesterday. Read more about New Gaza factory, jobs destroyed in Israeli attack 

GAZA CITY, occupied Gaza Strip (IRIN) - Despite ongoing protests calling for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s immediate resignation, petrol is once again flowing through the tunnels from Egypt into Gaza after supplies were cut for a week due to the unrest, according to the Palestinian General Petroleum Corporation. Read more about Groups warn of humanitarian consequences of Gaza closure