5 January 2013

Obama signs Pentagon bill maintaining Guantanamo and military detention

By Bill Van Auken, 5 January 2013

The military funding bill allows for the indefinite military detention of American citizens without charges, while barring the shutdown of the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

US jobs report points to continuing stagnation

By Barry Grey, 5 January 2013

Fewer than one in five unemployed workers found a job last month, and the total number of jobs remained 4 million below the peak at the start of 2008.

US bipartisan fiscal deal
Tax cuts for business, pay cuts for workers

By Patrick Martin, 5 January 2013

The New Year’s agreement between Obama and congressional Republicans comes at the expense of the working class.

European Court orders damages for CIA torture victim

By Martin Kreickenbaum, 5 January 2013

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has condemned the Republic of Macedonia for its role in the CIA rendition of Khaled El-Masri.

UK government attacks teachers’ pay

By Margot Miller, 5 January 2013

UK teachers face the imposition of performance-based pay.

London Underground to press ahead with driverless trains

By James Hatton, 5 January 2013

Traveller safety is low on the list of Transport for London’s priorities.

Ontario Liberals impose sweeping concessions on teachers

By Carl Bronski, 5 January 2013

Invoking its anti-worker Bill 115, Ontario’s Liberal government has imposed concessions contracts on thousands of teachers.

US Congress approves measly relief package for Hurricane Sandy victims

By Fred Mazelis, 5 January 2013

A new recovery package to meet needs after Hurricane Sandy barely scratches the surface in dealing with the devastation.

Philadelphia to shut one out of every six public schools

By Trent Novak and Nick Barrickman, 5 January 2013

The Philadelphia School District announced plans to shutter 37 public schools by the end of June.

Australian government cuts welfare payments to single parents

By Mark Church, 5 January 2013

As well as suffering a drastic drop in income, sole parents will be forced to actively search for work.

Australian dole recipients struggle to survive

By our correspondents, 5 January 2013

The WSWS interviewed unemployed workers in Sydney and Melbourne about the Labor government’s latest welfare cut.

New in German

Obama und Folter

Von Bill Van Auken, 5. Januar 2013

Die Obama-Regierung hat die illegale Praxis der „Überstellung“, die untrennbar mit Folter verbunden ist, beibehalten und ausgeweitet.

Griechenland: Regierung und Opposition demonstrieren gemeinsam

Von Christoph Dreier, 5. Januar 2013

Die antifaschistische Demonstration am 19. Januar in Athen soll die rechte Politik der Organisatoren bemänteln und neue Angriffe auf die Bevölkerung vorbereiten.

Chinas „rote“ Aristokratie

Von John Chan, 5. Januar 2013

In China liegt die wirtschaftliche und politische Macht in den Händen einer winzigen Elite von Superreichen, die mit der KPCh verbunden ist.

Zum Tod des SPD-Politikers Peter Struck (1943-2012)

Von Sven Heymanns, 5. Januar 2013

Mit dem Ausspruch, die Freiheit der Bundesrepublik Deutschland werde auch am Hindukusch verteidigt, brachte Verteidigungsminister Struck die neue aggressive deutsche Außenpolitik prägnant zum Ausdruck.

USA und Frankreich entsenden Truppen in die Zentralafrikanische Republik

Von Patrick O’Connor, 5. Januar 2013

Washington und seine europäischen Verbündeten verstärken ihre imperialistischen Militäroperationen in ganz Afrika.

New in French

Le Conseil constitutionnel français annule la taxation à 75 pour cent des riches proposée par Hollande

Par Kumaran Ira, 5 janvier 2013

La décision a exploité le fait que l’augmentation de l’imposition par le PS était en soi une escroquerie politique.

GM-Opel: le dirigeant du parti allemand Die Linke en contact avec l’ambassadeur américain

Par Dietmar Henning, 5 janvier 2013

Le parti Die Linke (La Gauche) a proposé ses services dans le but d’étouffer toute opposition des travailleurs à la fermeture de l’usine Opel à Bochum.

Entrevue avec l’historien James McPherson : 150 ans depuis la Proclamation d’émancipation

Par Tom Mackaman, 5 janvier 2013

McPherson est professeur émérite d’histoire à l’Université Princeton et l’auteur de plusieurs livres sur la guerre civile américaine, incluant Battle Cry of Freedom, qui lui a valu le prix Pulitzer.

Other Languages

Perspective

Afghanistan: A model for 21st Century neo-colonialism

5 January 2013

Claims that the US occupation will end in 2014 are belied by plans for an indefinite American military presence in Afghanistan.

Earlier Perspectives »

Workers Struggles

Unions undermine struggle of Palermo’s Pizza workers

By Nicholas Russo and Niles Williamson, 5 January 2013

Seventy-five workers have lost their jobs in a struggle to improve conditions at the Milwaukee pizza manufacturer.

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

5 January 2013

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Contact the WSWS »

Arts Review

Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained

By David Walsh, 5 January 2013

A German-born bounty hunter teams up with an ex-slave in the antebellum South in Quentin Tarantino’s newest film.

Best films of 2012

By David Walsh and Joanne Laurier, 29 December 2012

Favorite music of 2012

By Matthew Brennan and Hiram Lee, 29 December 2012

Commentary

Obama and torture

4 January 2013

The fiscal cliff deal

By Barry Grey, 3 January 2013

150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation

By Tom Mackaman, 3 January 2013

As 2013 begins: A mood of anxiety in ruling circles

By Nick Beams, 3 January 2013

Auto Workers Struggles

GM-Opel: German Left Party leader contacts US ambassador

By Dietmar Henning, 4 January 2013

NHS Fightback

UK: Hospitals across Greater Manchester under threat of closure

By Tony Robson, 4 January 2013

Socialist Equality Party

25 years since Keerthi Balasuriya’s death
South Asia’s foremost Marxist of the second half of the 20th century
Part two

By Wije Dias, 28 December 2012

The second part of a two-part series about the political struggle waged for proletarian internationalism by the Sri Lankan RCL’s founding general secretary.

The enduring significance of the life and work of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya

18 December 2012

In Memory of Keerthi Balasuriya

By David North, 18 December 2012

Sri Lankan SEP marks 25th anniversary of Keerthi Balasuriya’s death

By our correspondent, 19 December 2012

Science

Astronomers confirm fundamental relationship in atomic physics

By Will Morrow, 4 January 2013

The Bankstown Fire

Australia: Owners Corporation Network spokesman discusses building safety

By Richard Phillips, 3 January 2013

More on the Bankstown Fire »

This Week in History: December 31-January 6

25 years ago: Soviet regime proposes Afghan pullout

Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze arrived in Kabul on January 4, 1988 to meet with Afghan President Mohammad Najibullah.

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50 years ago: Battle of Ap Bac in Vietnam War

On January 2 and 3, 1963, the National Liberation Front, or Viet Cong, as the American media termed it, won its first significant battle over US and South Vietnamese forces.

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75 years ago: President Franklin Roosevelt delivers his fifth State of the Union

In the days leading up to President Franklin Roosevelt’s fifth State of the Union address, which he delivered on January 3, 1938, the press spoke of his plans to criticize big business.

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100 years ago: Major powers sign loan agreement with China

On January 1, 1913, the “six powers”—Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Russia and Japan—reached a preliminary agreement with China, to establish a loan of 25 million pounds.

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