Southern Europe
Italy: Train explosion leads to angry outbursts against Berlusconi
By Marianne Arens, July 7, 2009
Negligence and inadequate safety precautions are alleged to be factors in the recent train tragedy in Italy.
Greece: Police, far-right thugs attack Muslim immigrants
By John Vassilopoulos, June 6, 2009
In the midst of growing right-wing agitation against Muslims, St. Panteleimon Church in Athens, a shelter for homeless immigrants, was torched last month.
Italy: Fiat workers protest against management and their union leadership
By Marianne Arens, May 21, 2009
Fiat workers from all over Italy demonstrated last Saturday at the Fiat company headquarters in Lingotto. At the head of the march were the workforces of two Fiat factories facing closure.
Spain: Garzón investigation reveals abuse suffered by Guantánamo detainees
By Paul Mitchell, May 5, 2009
Garzón’s investigation targets the “possible material authors, enablers and accomplices” of illegal abuses, possibly including the high-level Bush administration officials, responsible for what...
Spain: Zapatero government sends more troops to Afghanistan
By Paul Stuart and Paul Mitchell, May 2, 2009
Last month, Spain became the first European country to increase its military mission in Afghanistan.
Spanish judge launches new torture probe of Bush officials
By Paul Mitchell and Chris Marsden, May 1, 2009
Spain’s top investigative judge, Baltasar Garzón, has launched a criminal investigation into allegations of torture at Guantánamo Bay that will target high-level Bush administration officials.
Earthquake in Abruzzo exposes corruption in Italian building industry
By Marianne Arens, April 14, 2009
Following last week’s earthquake in Abruzzo, grief and shock have given way to growing anger as it has become clear that much of the destruction could have been avoided.
Spain: Big business demands savage attacks on working class following bank crash
By Paul Stuart, April 4, 2009
Big business leaders in Spain are stepping up their demands for labour reforms in the wake of a regional banks collapse.
Spanish court weighs torture charges against former US officials
By Bill Van Auken, March 31, 2009
A Spanish court is considering criminal charges against former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other top officials in the Bush administration for providing legal justification for torture, an...
Spain: New Anti-Capitalist Left party to contest European elections
By Paul Stuart and Paul Mitchell, March 13, 2009
The United Left faction Alternative Space has set up a new Anti-Capitalist Left party to contest the European elections in June.
Italy: The case of Eluana Englaro
The exploitation of a personal tragedy and its political implications
By Marc Wells, February 19, 2009
In 1992, 20-year-old Eluana Englaro was involved in a serious car accident that left her in a permanent vegetative state. A lengthy legal struggle led by the woman’s father resulted in a decision by...
Union bureaucracy victimizes militants at Turkish factories
By Sinan Ikinci, January 30, 2009
The Turkish trade unions have collaborated with management to isolate and victimize militants at factories as the economic and financial crisis has deepened.
