North America
Obama caves in to Catholic Church, religious right on contraceptives
By Kate Randall, February 11, 2012
President Obama on Friday caved in to pressure from the Catholic Church and the religious right, announcing that religiously affiliated employers would not be required to provide access to birth control as part of medical coverage for their women employees.
Australia lines up with US for war with China
By Peter Symonds, February 11, 2012
The Australian defence posture report is the latest sign of the Obama administration’s aggressive push against China on all fronts.
Kentucky bill targets teachers for student achievement
By Ryan Rahilly, February 11, 2012
A Kentucky teacher explains the implications of legislation that will evaluate teachers based on student achievement.
Democrats propose cut in extended unemployment benefits
By Patrick Martin, February 11, 2012
The plan is the beginning of a bargaining process in Congress that will cut benefits for the long-term unemployed.
Obama administration brokers pro-bank mortgage fraud settlement
By Joseph Kishore, February 10, 2012
The terms of the agreement announced Thursday are entirely favorable to the banks, while doing little or nothing to aid the millions of people who have been devastated by the collapse of the US housing market.
Global layoffs hit workers at GM, Nokia and Pepsico
By Jerry White, February 10, 2012
A week after American Airlines announced 13,000 job cuts in the US, a new round of mass layoffs is hitting workers in the auto, food and mobile phone industries around the world.
Detroit schools manager names schools to close this fall
By James Brewer, February 10, 2012
Sixteen Detroit school buildings were listed for closure this fall by the Detroit Public Schools emergency manager.
Pentagon plans US-backed war against Syria
By Chris Marsden, February 10, 2012
The Pentagon has drawn up plans for military intervention in Syria.
Young adults hardest hit by recession, US study shows
By Kate Randall, February 10, 2012
A Pew study finds that young adults in the US are less likely to be employed than at any time since World War II.
Bird flu scientists respond to media hysteria, suspend critical research
By Nicholas Russo, February 10, 2012
The investigators discovered how a mutation of the deadly virus could lead to its airborne transmission between human beings.
Toronto municipal union accepts Mayor Ford’s layoff and privatization-promoting contract
By Carl Bronski, February 10, 2012
The Canadian Union of Public Employees has accepted a “framework” contract for outside municipal workers that includes virtually every item on the Toronto mayor’s concessionary agenda—beginning with the gutting of job security.
ISO covers for New York nurses union
By Peter Daniels, February 10, 2012
The “pseudo-left” finds a silver lining in concessions for New York nurses.
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