17 October 2009

Obama in New Orleans: The callous face of the US ruling elite

By Patrick Martin, 17 October 2009

In a brief, three-hour stopover in New Orleans en route to a fund-raising dinner with millionaire Democrats in California, President Barack Obama made perfunctory promises to the people of the devastated city.

Morale crumbling among US and British troops in Afghanistan

By James Cogan, 17 October 2009

Several reports from the frontlines of Afghanistan this month provide an insight into the growing demoralisation among US and British soldiers.

Bailed out insurance giant AIG plans $198 million in new bonuses

By Andre Damon, 17 October 2009

American International Group, which has received nearly $200 billion in bailout funds from the federal government, is slated to pay out $198 million in bonuses.

Class justice in Germany: banker wins €1.5 million redundancy judgement

By Stefan Steinberg, 17 October 2009

A German banker who bears much of the responsibility for the record losses made by the Dresdner Bank in 2008 has won his case for a €1.5 million redundancy payment.

Indian government to launch major military offensive against Maoist insurgents

By Arun Kumar, 17 October 2009

India’s government has let it be known that it is about to launch an unprecedented, multi-state offensive against Maoist guerrillas, including using for the first time Indian Air Force helicopters and personnel.

British media gagged in toxic dumping case

By Ann Talbot, 17 October 2009

Some days ago Labour MP Paul Farrelly tabled a series of parliamentary questions for written answer.

Australia: Rudd intervenes to block Tamil asylum-seekers

By Richard Phillips, 17 October 2009

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s response to the Tamil refugees is completely predictable and reflects the views of the entire political establishment, from the crisis ridden Liberal-National coalition to the corporate media and the unions.

Australian Federal Police disclose 1,500 pages of documents in Julian Moti case

By Patrick O’Connor, 17 October 2009

On Thursday morning, Moti’s counsel Jim Kennan SC explained that in the previous 48 hours, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) had handed over more than 1,500 pages of documents.

New in French

Détroit : 50 000 personnes font la queue pour une aide au logement

Par Jerry White, 17 octobre 2009

Environ 50 000 résidents de Détroit ont fait la queue mercredi à l’extérieur du centre des congrès de Cobo Hall afin d’obtenir de l’aide pour payer leurs factures de services publics et empêcher d’être expulsés de leurs maisons.

New in German

           

Die Grünen im Saarland setzen auf Schwarz-Gelb-Grün

Von Ludwig Weller, 17. Oktober 2009

Mit ihrer Entscheidung im Saarland eine so genannte Jamaika-Koalition bilden zu wollen, erreicht die Rechtsentwicklung der Grünen einen neuen Höhepunkt.

 

Italien: Machtkampf um Berlusconi

Von Marianne Arens, 17. Oktober 2009

Teile der italienischen Bourgeoisie wollen Berlusconi loswerden, weil sie ihm nicht zutrauen, die harten Angriffe gegen die Arbeiterklasse durchzusetzen, die sie aufgrund der maroden Staatsfinanzen für nötig erachten.

New in Spanish

           

El Premio Nobel de la Guerra

Por Bill Van Auken, 17 Octubre 2009

El viernes pasado, el Comité Nobel de la Paz en Noruega anunció que había galardonado a Barack Obama con el premio para 2009.

Perspective

Obama and the fiscal crisis of the states

17 October 2009

State governments in the US, facing the indifference of the Obama administration in spite of record budget deficits, are slashing social spending and laying off workers.

Earlier Perspectives »

Workers Struggles

Puerto Rico: General strike against mass layoffs

By Bill Van Auken, 17 October 2009

Hundreds of thousands of workers joined a day-long general strike Thursday in opposition to the layoffs of tens of thousands of public employees ordered by the island territory’s Governor Luis Fortuño.

BBC reveals plan by Royal Mail and Labour government to break postal strike

By Julie Hyland, 17 October 2009

BBC Newsnight has revealed a secret document by Royal Mail setting out plans to break the upcoming strike by Britain’s postal workers, with the support of the Labour government.

Reject UAW-Ford concession demands
Elect rank-and-file committees to defend jobs and living standards

Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 16 October 2009

This week the United Auto Workers agreed to contract modifications with Ford that will further slash the jobs and living standards of the company’s 41,000 hourly workers. The SEP urges workers to reject the contract and download and distribute the following statement.

Workers Struggles:
Asia, Australia and the Pacific

17 October 2009

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

Arts Review

AntichristToronto International Film Festival 2009—Part 6
Thoroughly lost, or playing at it

By David Walsh, 17 October 2009

Lars von Trier from Denmark, once associated with the Dogme 95 group, has been making films for some two decades. His latest effort is Antichrist. It is a murky, hopelessly contrived, and, frankly, ridiculous film.

Commentary

A record year for Wall Street pay

15 October 2009

According to the Wall Street Journal, the major US banks and financial firms are on track to hand out a record $140 billion in compensation this year.

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

17 October 2009

A selection of recent letters sent to the World Socialist Web Site.

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Videos and Images

50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit
50,000 line up for housing assistance in Detroit ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally
ISSE members speak on education cuts at rally Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis
Detroit residents speak on utility bills, social crisis OU video
Michigan’s Oakland University faculty strike has student support Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts
Detroit teachers denounce pay cuts D'Art
Detroit city workers oppose concessions, layoffs Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic
Interviews at Los Angeles health care clinic Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight
Workers continue Vestas occupation on Isle of Wight A conversation with Windsor municipal workers
A conversation with Windsor municipal workers New York City workers speak against cuts in healthcare and social services
NYC workers speak against cuts in social services Flint vid
Flint, Michigan and the bankruptcy of General Motors MI auto vid
GM workers on bankruptcy and plant closings MI auto vid
Michigan auto workers and families speak on plant closures GM vid
GM workers speak out on concessions contract Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS
Protesting students and parents speak to the WSWS Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote
Chrysler workers speak on concessions vote UK Visteon workers speak on occupation
UK Visteon workers speak on occupation GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions
GM and Chrysler workers oppose more concessions Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
Chrysler workers oppose Obama auto plan
WSWS interviews G20 protesters in London Donovan
Pontiac residents speak on schools crisis Detroit jobs fair
Workers interviewed at Detroit jobs fair
Ford workers: “Now the fight is with our own union.” GM workers videoGM workers denounce concession demands Chrysler workers oppose cuts
Chrysler workers oppose pay cuts, concession demands London demonstration against Sri Lankan war
Over 100,000 demonstrate in London against Sri Lankan war Joanne
Funeral for Michigan man frozen following utility shut-off Montserrat
Exposing Franco's mass graves Bay City, Mich.: “Shutting somebody's electricity off in the dead of winter is criminal”
Bay City, Michigan residents speak on death from utility shut-off London protesters speak to the WSWS
WSWS interviews London protesters London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza
London demonstrators protest Israeli assault on Gaza Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts
Chrysler workers denounce pay cuts Griffiths and Walsh
The Writer and Revolution: A conversation with Trevor Griffiths

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