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Uprising’s guest expert Arun Gupta, Independent Journalist and regular contributor to the Guardian, In These Times, The Progressive, and Truthout, and co-founder of the Occupied Wall Street Journal and the Indypendent, analyzes today’s news headlines:

Fast food workers around the country are once more walking off their jobs in a coordinated effort to protest their low wages. The latest in an on-going series of walkouts takes place today with low-paid workers from restaurant chains such as Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy’s and KFC demanding $15 an hour in wages. USA Today reports that at least some outlets were forced to shut down this morning as a result of the walkouts. What’s new about this set of one-day strikes is that workers from the same chains in other countries like Switzerland, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Japan, are also walking out in solidarity. Click here for a USA Today article about the story.

At least 282 Turkish miners have been killed in a mining accident this week – the worst in Turkey’s history. The incident, which took place in the western town of Soma is still unfolding and nearly 150 miners remain missing. Protests have erupted over the accident and may jeopardize Prime Minister Recep Erdogan’s next bid for a new term. Adding to outrage against the government are reports this morning that an aide working for Erdogan was caught in photographs kicking a protester who was on the ground being held by police. Click here for a Washington Post article about the story.

And finally, the New York Times is under scrutiny for firing their first ever female Executive Editor, Jill Abramson after less than 3 years on the job. Under her leadership the Times won 8 Pulitzer prizes. While the reasons for her firing are being kept secret under the terms of a settlement between Abramson and the paper, among the reasons cited at a staff meeting was her “management style.” However Think Progress is reporting this week that Abramson recently discovered she was paid significantly less than her male predecessors. Abramson will be replaced by Dean Baquet, who becomes the paper’s first African American Executive editor. Click here for a New York Times article about the story, and here for a Think Progress report.