World News
Snowden defends actions as Obama administration pushes for prosecution of whistleblower
By Thomas Gaist, 14 June 2013
FBI director Robert Mueller pledged to take “all necessary steps” to go after Snowden, as the former intelligence employee said from Hong Kong: “I am not here to hide from justice; I am here to reveal criminality.”
US-backed Turkish government threatens violent crackdown
By Johannes Stern, 14 June 2013
The US-backed Turkish government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is preparing for a massive police crackdown on anti-government protests.
Tens of thousands protest closure of public television in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 14 June 2013
Tens of thousands of workers protested the closure of the Greek public broadcaster on Thursday, defying threats of arrest.
FEMA refuses disaster relief to West, Texas
By Matthew MacEgan, 14 June 2013
The federal government has refused to provide additional money to help rebuild the small Texas town of West, where a fertilizer plant explosion killed 15 people in April.
Japanese stocks plunge amid global financial turmoil
By Andre Damon, 14 June 2013
The Japanese stock market plunged 6.4 percent Thursday, closing down by 21 percent over the last three weeks.
Deadly chemical plant explosion in Louisiana
By Matthew MacEgan, 14 June 2013
On Thursday an explosion and fire at a chemical plant in Geismar, Louisiana, killed at least one person and injured at least 73 others.
Philadelphia inspector involved in building collapse commits suicide
By Nick Barrickman, 14 June 2013
On Wednesday night the body of Philadelphia building inspector Ronald Wagenhoffer was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.
Libya destabilised by factional and military infighting
By Jean Shaoul, 14 June 2013
The massacre of 31 people by the Libya Shield Force, an Islamist militia, was the worst single death toll since the end of the 2011 NATO-led civil war.
Germany: The SPD’s new press spokesman
By Peter Schwarz, 14 June 2013
The more the SPD tries to improve its electoral chances, the clearer it becomes that it supports the current government’s right-wing policies.
Student killed by fascists in central Paris
By Pierre Mabut, 14 June 2013
An 18-year-old student and anti-fascist was beaten to death by a group of fascist thugs June 5 near the St. Lazare rail station in central Paris.
Who are Detroit’s creditors?
By Nancy Hanover, 14 June 2013
As Detroit’s emergency manager prepares to release his plan for reorganizing the poorest large city in America, the media is demanding that the population of Detroit pay.
White House convenes meetings on Syria escalation
By Bill Van Auken, 11 June 2013
The Obama White House is convening meetings this week to discuss measures to escalate the US-backed war for regime-change in Syria.
Obama administration initiates criminal prosecution of NSA whistleblower
By Thomas Gaist, 11 June 2013
Representatives of the US establishment demanded swift action to punish the man responsible for leaks detailing the government’s massive surveillance program.
Egypt: Supreme Constitutional Court invalidates Shura Council, Constituent Assembly
By Johannes Stern, 11 June 2013
Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court has ruled that the upper legislative house and the Constituent Assembly lack any legal foundation.
Swiss referendum on asylum law
By Marianne Arens, 11 June 2013
A referendum was held Sunday on proposals to strengthen the law against asylum seekers.
Media silent on the state killing of Boston bombing witness
By Tom Carter, 11 June 2013
The ubiquitous silence from the political establishment and the media amounts to an acknowledgement that Todashev was terminated by the state.
Alter-Summit in Athens: A pseudo-left response to growing social opposition in Europe
By Christoph Dreier, 11 June 2013
Trade unions and pseudo-left groups organized a so-called Alter-Summit in Athens, backing the European Union institutions that impose austerity throughout Europe.
Philadelphia schools to lay off nearly 4,000 teachers
By Nick Barrickman, 11 June 2013
The “doomsday” budget passed last month will devastate the Philadelphia public school system.
SEP mayoral candidate speaks at two Detroit election forums
By Bryan Dyne, 11 June 2013
D’Artagnan Collier, the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for Detroit Mayor, spoke at candidate forums Friday and Saturday, calling for a mass movement of the working class to oppose the financial manager.
SEC rules that Harrisburg misled investors
By Douglas Lyons, 11 June 2013
The Securities and Exchange Commission has sided with bondholders against the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
California’s San Onofre nuclear plant to shut down permanently
By Richard Vargas, 11 June 2013
The plant has been inoperative for more than a year due to radioactive steam leakage.
Nashville Symphony threatened by foreclosure
By Fred Mazelis, 11 June 2013
The Nashville Symphony Orchestra is the latest prominent US musical institution to face the threat of dissolution, as its biggest creditor, the Bank of America, has begun foreclosure proceedings.
Turkish police round up young protesters for use of social media
By Bill Van Auken, 6 June 2013
Dozens of people ranging in age from 18 to 24 have been rounded up in the Turkish port city of Izmir on charges of “encouraging rebellion” through the use of Twitter and other social media.
Obama reshuffles national security staff
By Alex Lantier, 6 June 2013
Obama announced Wednesday that his national security advisor, Thomas Donilon, will be replaced by the current US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice.
Bradley Manning’s supervisors testify in third day of court martial
By Naomi Spencer, 6 June 2013
The government is determined to connect Manning to Al Qaeda, arguing that because the WikiLeaks web site is publicly available to anyone, Manning must have intended to “aid the enemy.”
Worker dies from extreme heat at Georgia auto parts plant
By Kristina Betinis and Jerry White, 6 June 2013
Teresa Pickard, a 42-year-old Sewon auto parts worker, died May 29 after working on a weld line in the LaGrange plant.
Wall Street embraces Humala’s “left” government in Peru
By Armando Cruz, 6 June 2013
Measures carried out by Humala, who won the presidency in 2011 promising to battle “neo-liberalism,” have placed him to the right of his predecessors.
Canada: Growing evidence Conservatives illegally suppressed vote in 2011 federal election
By Carl Bronski, 6 June 2013
A Federal Court judge has found that a nationwide voter suppression campaign was initiated from the Conservative Party’s central database during the 2011 federal election.
Hamtramck latest Michigan city declared in “financial emergency”
By Bryan Dyne, 6 June 2013
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder took the first step in installing an emergency manager for Hamtramck, the small enclave surrounded by Detroit.
Protests in Kyrgyzstan continue
By Clara Weiss, 6 June 2013
Last week’s protests against the Canadian-owned coal mine Kumtor in Kyrgyzstan have spread from the northern district Dzhety-Oguz to other parts of the country.
Number of UK million-pound earners almost doubled in past two years
By Robert Stevens, 6 June 2013
A total of 18,000 people in the UK now earn £1 million. Two year ago, 10,000 individuals earned more than £1 million, and in 1999-2000, only 4,000 people did so.
Unemployment, lack of education lead to higher US mortality rate
By Jake Dean, 6 June 2013
A new report finds that unemployment is one of the leading factors behind the growing gap in mortality rates between educated and non-educated white women in America.
US: Kansas legislature passes budget slashing education
By Matt Sloan, 6 June 2013
Among other measures, the budget will gouge the state’s universities, colleges, and community colleges of tens of millions of dollars.
Bradley Manning’s court martial begins
By Naomi Spencer, 4 June 2013
After 1,100 days in prison, Army private Bradley Manning faced a military court martial Monday. Day one of the trial was characterized by government secrecy, vindictiveness, and lies.
Turkish clashes continue as Erdogan brands protesters “extremists”
By Bill Van Auken, 4 June 2013
Confrontations between demonstrators and riot police continued Monday in Istanbul, Ankara and cities across Turkey.
US Supreme Court allows police to take DNA samples of arrestees
By Joseph Kishore, 4 June 2013
The US Supreme Court decision is a major attack on the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Syrian opposition forces launch rocket attacks in Lebanon
By Thomas Gaist, 4 June 2013
US-backed Syrian opposition forces pummeled Shia targets in Lebanon as Hezbollah fighters continued massing near Aleppo.
School district of Philadelphia passes “doomsday” austerity budget
By Nick Barrickman, 4 June 2013
Under a plan approved May 30, Philadelphia schools will be deprived of many needed essentials, including learning programs, supplies and staff.
Britain’s Accident and Emergency services reach breaking point
By Mark Blackwood and Ajanta Silva, 4 June 2013
Scenes of A&E units with patients waiting to be seen lying on trolleys in corridors for hours have become commonplace in UK hospitals.
UN warns against social unrest in Europe
By Christoph Dreier, 4 June 2013
In the face of rising social inequality, growing unemployment and the absence of popular confidence in the region’s governments, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warned Monday about the prospect of social unrest in Europe,
Spanish Popular Party government seeks to turn back the clock on abortion rights
By Alejandro López, 4 June 2013
The right-wing Popular Party government is seeking to reform abortion laws, returning them to a state similar to that which existed under the fascist regime of General Franco.
Connecticut legislature nears passage of austerity budget
By Dorian Griscom, 4 June 2013
Connecticut’s Democratic governor and state legislature are in the final stages of drafting a state budget that will cut nearly $2 billion in social spending over the next two years.
Patriot Coal bankruptcy approved, thousands of retirees to lose health care
By Clement Daly, 4 June 2013
Patriot Coal has been granted permission to tear up its collective bargaining agreements with the United Mine Workers and escape its obligations to provide health care to its retirees.
Detroit emergency manager threatens sale of all cultural treasures
By Bryan Dyne, 4 June 2013
In line with his earlier appraisal of the value of the works at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kevyn Orr is now determining whether the city should sell off every other public asset.
First US drone strike in Pakistan since Obama’s drone speech kills seven
By Niles Williamson, 30 May 2013
On Wednesday the US launched a drone strike in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region that killed at least seven people.
US banks post record profits in first quarter
By Nick Barrickman, 30 May 2013
US banks posted a record $40.3 billion in the first quarter of 2013, according to a report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Guatemalan high court upholds overturning of Rios Montt conviction
By Bill Van Auken, 30 May 2013
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court Tuesday upheld its decision to throw out the conviction of ex-dictator Efrain Rios Montt on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Greek government divided over “anti-racist” law
By Christoph Dreier, 30 May 2013
Tensions have risen in the Greek government over draft legislation against racist incitement and state financing of the fascist party Golden Dawn.
Germany’s Left Party supports austerity in Bulgaria
By Peter Schwarz, 30 May 2013
Hans Modrow, chair of the Left Party’s council of elders, has pledged his unreserved support for the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the government it hopes to lead.
Spanish government imposes more austerity measures
By Alejandro López, 30 May 2013
Spain’s Popular Party government has announced another raft of measures aimed at slashing the budget deficit to the European Union’s 3 percent target by 2016.
Top UK universities call for cuts to funding for poorer students
By Joan Smith and Paul Mitchell, 30 May 2013
According to the Times, vice-chancellors at Britain’s Russell group of 24 top research universities are “privately urging” government ministers to cut funding used to support poorer students.
Kenyan president moves to slash wages, continue war in Somalia
By Thomas Gaist, 30 May 2013
The Kenyan president is advancing an agenda of wage cuts and continuing Kenya’s role in the imperialist proxy war in neighboring Somalia.
Nine of Louisiana’s ten public hospitals to be privatized
By E.P. Bannon, 30 May 2013
In a state with one of the highest poverty rates in the country, the privatizations of public hospitals will have disastrous consequences for the poor and uninsured.
US officials cover up evidence of radioactive leak in Washington
By J. E. Noeli and Hector Cordon, 30 May 2013
The US Department of Energy and a private contractor managing waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation suppressed evidence of radioactive leakage for a year.
Defend the DIA! Culture is a social right!
By D’Artagnan Collier—SEP candidate for mayor of Detroit, 30 May 2013
The following statement was issued by SEP Detroit mayoral candidate D’Artagnan Collier in opposition to plans to sell off the masterpieces at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
European powers lift embargo, move to arm Syrian opposition
By Johannes Stern, 28 May 2013
On Monday the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) met in Brussels and agreed not to renew the arms embargo against Syria.
Settlements authorised as Kerry tries to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks
By Jean Shaoul, 28 May 2013
Benyamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government has begun the legal process to retrospectively authorise four outposts as settlements in the Occupied West Bank.
Victimized Illinois teacher denounces attack on education in YouTube video
By Jake Dean, 28 May 2013
Ellie Rubenstein, a teacher from Highland Park, Illinois, submitted her resignation in a speech on YouTube last week.
California: Police confiscate cellphones of witnesses after beating man to death
By Tom Carter, 28 May 2013
Nine police officers beat an unarmed man to death in Bakersfield, California, and then demanded that eyewitnesses turn over cellphones they had used to record the beating.
Toronto elite seeking to jettison right-wing populist mayor
By Dylan Lubao, 28 May 2013
Toronto’s big business elite has turned on Rob Ford—the city’s right-wing populist mayor and their designated hatchet man in imposing social spending cuts and concessionary contracts on city workers.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown leads Labour’s intervention in Scottish independence referendum
By Steve James, 28 May 2013
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s intervention into the Scottish independence referendum is driven by Labour’s concern over its implications for Britain’s ruling elite.
Soldier attacked while on security patrol in Paris
By Antoine Lerougetel, 28 May 2013
On Saturday a lone assailant stabbed a uniformed French soldier in the throat, three days after the gruesome murder by machete of an off-duty British soldier in London.
German city gives municipal clinic away to private operator
By Marianne Arens, 28 May 2013
The Offenbach town council has sold the municipally owned clinic to the Sana corporation for the symbolic price of one euro.
PSG campaigns in Berlin to stand in federal elections
By our correspondents, 28 May 2013
The Partei für Soziale Gleichheit is currently collecting signatures at job centres, in factories and in working class communities to be able to participate in the federal elections in September.
Obama offers tortured defense of targeted killings
By Joseph Kishore, 24 May 2013
Obama defended drone killings, while essentially acknowledging their illegality and the illegality of much of what the US government has done over the past decade.
More revelations of Justice Department crackdown on the press
By Ed Hightower, 24 May 2013
The Obama administration’s investigation into a leak to James Rosen, the chief Washington correspondent of Fox News, extends well beyond what was originally thought.
UK soldier killed in London in reprisal for Afghanistan and Iraq wars
By Robert Stevens, 24 May 2013
The killing of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, London on Wednesday was the horrific result of the crimes committed by British imperialism in North Africa and the Middle East.
Libya’s General National Council passes Political Isolation Law
By Jean Shaoul, 24 May 2013
Armed Islamist militias forced parliament to pass the Political Isolation Law, outlawing officials who had worked for Gaddafi from holding office.
Security forces fire rubber bullets at striking South African miners
By Thomas Gaist, 24 May 2013
Police fired volleys of rubber bullets at striking South African miners at a mine owned by Lanxess Chrome Mining Ltd on Tuesday, near the city of Rustenburg.
Global stock markets fall after 7 percent collapse in Japan’s Nikkei index
By Alex Lantier, 24 May 2013
The one-day 7.3 percent drop in Japan’s Nikkei stock index came amid signs of a growing global slump and demands for attacks on the working class in Japan.
“I tell my people…we can never make enough profit”
Caterpillar CEO defends wage-cutting
By Niles Williamson, 24 May 2013
Explaining why he is seeking to impose wage cuts of up to 50 percent, Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman explained that his corporation could never make enough profits.
Los Angeles: Newly-elected mayor promises more cuts and privatization
By Dan Conway, 24 May 2013
The election was most notable for its extremely low turnout, with only 19 percent of registered voters taking part.
SEP campaigners oppose Detroit home evictions
By a campaign team, 24 May 2013
Supporters of Socialist Equality Party Detroit mayoral candidate D’Artagnan Collier spoke this week to residents facing eviction at the Henry Street apartments.
US housing distress deepens for renters
By Debra Watson, 23 May 2013
Today more than half of all renter households pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing, double the rate in 1960 when one in four renters were considered cost-burdened.
Bangladeshi police attack garment workers’ protest
By K. Ratnayake, 21 May 2013
Police fired rubber bullets at tens of thousands of workers demanding higher wages and protesting the April 24 garment factory collapse that killed 1,127 workers.
Devastating tornado kills dozens in Oklahoma City
By Niles Williamson, 21 May 2013
On Monday afternoon, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, leaving a mile-wide swath of devastation.
Washington’s hacking charges escalate pressure on China
By Alex Lantier, 21 May 2013
The New York Times on Monday published a front-page article reiterating unsubstantiated allegations that the Chinese military is carrying out cyberwarfare against US corporations.
New revelations of US government spying on the press
By Ed Hightower, 21 May 2013
The FBI followed and obtained emails from Fox News chief Washington correspondent James Rosen as part of an investigation of a 2009 leak of information from the State Department.
Employers to offer bare-bones coverage under health care law
By Kate Randall, 21 May 2013
US employers will be able to avoid penalties under the Obama-backed health care legislation, while offering token plans to their workforces.
Obama to college graduates: “No room for excuses”
By Andre Damon, 21 May 2013
US President Barack Obama used his commencement speech at Morehouse College on Sunday to insist that if young people are poor or unemployed, it’s their own fault.
Germany: Parliamentary inquiry into neo-Nazi murders concludes
By Peter Schwarz, 21 May 2013
The federal prosecutor and judges in the neo-Nazi NSU trial want to limit further revelations about state involvement in the group’s series of murders.
Guatemala’s high court overturns dictator Rios Montt’s genocide conviction
By Rafael Azul, 21 May 2013
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court has overturned former dictator José Efraín Rios Montt’s 80-year sentence for genocide and crimes against humanity.
The crisis of Venezuela’s “Bolivarian” revolution and the political independence of the working class
By Bill Van Auken, 21 May 2013
Venezuelan workers can rely only on their own independent strength to defend social gains won over the past period and defeat the threat of a right-wing coup.
Spain’s Popular Party faces wave of strikes and demonstrations
By Alejandro López, 21 May 2013
A social explosion is brewing in Spain, where there have been at least 27 demonstrations since the beginning of the year.
Slovenian government adopts another austerity programme
By Markus Salzmann, 21 May 2013
Seven weeks after taking power, Slovenia’s centre-left governing coalition adopted a new austerity programme and presented it to the EU commission.
Hedge funds eye Detroit for “hostile takeover”
By Zac Corrigan, 20 May 2013
Detroit’s $8.6 billion in junk bond debt is being eyed by hedge funds eager to play their part in the looting of the city.
Greek teachers defy military mobilisation orders
By Christoph Dreier, 16 May 2013
Greek teachers have voted to oppose the mobilisation order of the government and begin strike action on Friday.
Video shows US-backed opposition fighter cannibalizing Syrian soldier
By Alex Lantier, 16 May 2013
The video makes clear the barbaric character of the Islamic fundamentalist forces the US has mobilized in its proxy war against Syria.
House hearing whitewashes US government seizure of AP phone records
By Barry Grey, 16 May 2013
A House committee that heard testimony from Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday initiated a bipartisan whitewash of the virtually unprecedented assault on press freedom carried out by the Obama administration.
US Defense Department to furlough 650,000 civilian workers
By Naomi Spencer, 16 May 2013
US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday announced plans to impose 11 days of unpaid leave for most of the Pentagon’s 800,000 civilian employees beginning in July.
Nationwide protests against austerity in Israel
By Jean Shaoul, 16 May 2013
The budget aims to cut the deficit that reached US$11 billion in 2012.
Incoming Pakistani prime minister pledges loyalty to Washington
By Sampath Perera, 16 May 2013
Pakistan’s incoming prime minister has moved quickly to signal his readiness to work with Washington in prosecuting the AfPak War and with the International Monetary Fund in imposing punishing austerity measures.
Russia: Deputy Prime Minister Surkov resigns
By Clara Weiss, 16 May 2013
On May 8, President Vladimir Putin approved the “voluntary resignation” of Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov, universally regarded as “number two in the Kremlin”.
Schools in Buena Vista, Michigan may reopen after board approves cuts
By Shannon Jones, 16 May 2013
The state of Michigan restored funding to the district after the school board agreed to a drastic deficit reduction plan.
France: Three die in fire at Roma squat
By Antoine Lerougetel, 16 May 2013
Three Roma, two women and a 12-year-old child, died in a fire in an abandoned factory in Lyon.
Obama, Cameron hold Syria war summit in Washington
By Alex Lantier and Chris Marsden, 14 May 2013
The US and British heads of government discussed stepping up their campaign for war in Syria as well as plans for intervening throughout the Middle East.
Reports suggest Syrian opposition involvement in Turkish bombings
By Thomas Gaist, 14 May 2013
Despite evidence that groups involved in the campaign against the Syrian regime were behind the bombings, Turkish leaders are pushing to use them as a pretext for war.
Greek protests against ban on strikes
By Christoph Dreier, 14 May 2013
Greek police served 88,000 high school teachers with civil mobilization orders on Monday.
Detroit’s emergency manager outlines slash and burn “restructuring” plan
By Jerry White, 14 May 2013
Kevyn Orr released a report on Monday, outlining a “comprehensive restructuring plan” for the city involving savage cuts to city workers’ jobs, wages and pensions and the elimination of services to a large section of the population.
Mother’s Day shooting in New Orleans injures 19 people
By Fred Mazelis, 14 May 2013
Eight years after Hurricane Katrina, poor and working class sections of the city remain devastated by unemployment and poverty.
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