U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
The British RMT trade union announced that it has suspended its upcoming nationwide rail strikes that were scheduled for the end of the month. The union’s move follows a proposal by train companies that the union said may lead to a resolution to the dispute over pay and working conditions.
On Wednesday, the RMT said that it was suspending the upcoming nationwide strikes that were planned for March 30 and April 1 after talks with the Rail Delivery Group. The RMT said that following the talks, a proposal was made that may potentially resolve the long-running dispute with train operators over pay and working conditions. This follows waves of industrial action by tens of thousands of rail workers that resulted in the disruption of operations for passengers and businesses.
“RMT will have further talks with the RDG with a view to securing a new offer on pay, job security, and working conditions,” said the union. A spokesperson for RDG said both sides were “focused on working constructively towards a settlement to this dispute.”
Thousands of RMT members that work for the rail infrastructure firm Network Rail voted to accept an improved pay proposal in a separate dispute.
A spokesperson for the British transport department said the union’s decision to suspend the upcoming strikes over the new pay proposal was “a positive step and takes us closer to resolving this dispute” while urging the RMT to put the offer on the ballot for its members to vote.
This comes at a time when the United Kingdom has seen surges of strikes by workers across key sectors in the country. Workers staged strikes to demand better wages to keep up with high inflation and the rising cost of living.
Friday last week, the British government and teaching unions in the country agreed to start “intensive” discussions to end strikes by teachers in public schools over workload and pay. The government and the unions said the National Education Union, which is the largest striking union, would have a “period of calm” for two weeks where no new strikes would be announced.
“The Education Secretary and all unions will meet, beginning intensive talks, which will continue over the weekend,” said the joint statement by the government and the unions.
