Asia
Sri Lanka: Petroleum unions call off work-to-rule bans
By W.A Sunil, October 27, 2009
Unions called off a work-to-rule campaign by petroleum workers in the expectation of talks yesterday over wages. However, the Sri Lankan president rejected outright any pay rise before next year.
The reality behind the US “success” in Iraq
By James Cogan, October 27, 2009
The massive explosions in central Baghdad on Sunday are a particularly bloody reminder of the sectarian, ethnic and political conflicts that have been generated in Iraq by six-and-a-half years of US o...
US casualties rise as Obama prepares Afghan escalation
By Bill Van Auken, October 27, 2009
Eleven US soldiers and three drug agents were killed in the space of 24 hours in Afghanistan as the Obama administration’s war cabinet prepared to meet Monday on escalating the war.
South Korean government cracks down on workers’ rights
By Terry Cook, October 26, 2009
Following the suppression of the 77-day occupation of the Ssangyong Motor plant at Pyeongtaek in August, the government has broadened its offensive against the rights and conditions of the working cla...
The runoff farce in Afghanistan
By Bill Van Auken, October 26, 2009
The crisis over the fraudulent election in Afghanistan, culminating in President Karzai’s acceptance of a runoff, has laid bare the colonial character of the US occupation and the puppet status of t...
The Sri Lankan government’s “resettlement” of Tamil detainees
By Sarath Kumara, October 26, 2009
The government last Thursday carried out a much-publicised resettlement of around 6,000 Tamil detainees held in internment camps. Every aspect of the exercise was a fraud designed to deflect criticism...
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
October 24, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Tensions between India and China flare again
By John Chan, October 23, 2009
The immediate spark was a visit by the Indian prime minister to the northern state of Arunachal Pradesh. The trip provoked a protest from Beijing, which disputes Indian control of the area, resulting ...
Washington pushes Pakistan to the brink
By Keith Jones, October 23, 2009
Under heavy pressure from the Obama administration, Pakistan is now waging all-out war in South Waziristan.
Sri Lankan regime keeps student union convener detained
By Kapila Fernando, October 23, 2009
The remand custody of Inter University Students Federation convener Udul Premaratne has been extended until October 30. Premaratne has been in remand prison since he and 14 Ayurvada University student...
India: Official corruption and negligence tied to 34 deaths in firecracker explosion
By K. Sundaram and Sasi Kumar and Arun Kumar, October 22, 2009
Thirty-four people perished last Friday in a massive explosion and fire at an unlicensed firecracker store and warehouse in Pallipattu, Tamil Nadu. The WSWS interviewed family members of some of the v...
Iran makes significant concession to defuse nuclear standoff
By Peter Symonds, October 22, 2009
A draft agreement was finalised yesterday to ship Iran’s low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for processing into fuel for its Tehran research reactor.
