4 February 2012

Protests against Egyptian junta spread after football massacre

By Johannes Stern, 4 February 2012

On Friday, protests triggered by Wednesday's pro-regime football riot spread throughout the country.

Israel threatens war against Iran within months

By Peter Symonds, 4 February 2012

While the Obama administration has cautioned against Israeli military action, there is no indication that Washington has vetoed such an attack.

Caterpillar to close Ontario locomotive plant where workers resisted wage cut

By Keith Jones, 4 February 2012

Caterpillar subsidiary Electro-Motive Diesel has announced that it is transforming the lockout at its London, Ontario diesel-locomotive manufacturing facility into a plant closure.

More on the Caterpillar lockout »

January employment report masks depth of US jobs crisis

By Barry Grey, 4 February 2012

President Barack Obama on Friday hailed the Labor Department's January employment report, calling it "good news."

Former Gaddafi official tortured to death in Libya

By Patrick Martin, 4 February 2012

The murder of Omar Brebesh follows a series of reports by human rights groups on torture in the prisons of the new "democratic" Libya.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange awaits court decision on extradition

By Robert Stevens, 4 February 2012

The UK Supreme Court concluded a two-day hearing Thursday of an appeal by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, challenging his extradition to Sweden on unsubstantiated and contested allegations of sexual assault made in August 2010.

Australian defence review prepares for war with China

By James Cogan, 4 February 2012

The Gillard government is thrusting Australia into the frontline of a potential war for dominance in the Asian region.

India’s Supreme Court orders limited inquiry into Gujarat police murders

By Kranti Kumara, 4 February 2012

India's Supreme Court has ordered an inquiry into a wave of summary executions, carried out by Gujarat police between 2003 and 2006. Most of the victims were Muslims entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.

Study reports that New Yorkers struggle to put food on the table

By Ali Ismail, 4 February 2012

Four years after the onset of the economic crisis, long-term unemployment is fueling hunger in the financial capital of the US.

Britain: Royal Mail casual workers protest non-payment of wages

By Zach Reed, 4 February 2012

An unknown number of the 18,000 casual workers employed by Royal Mail over the Christmas period did not receive their pay, or were short-changed.

Over 100 feared dead in Papua New Guinea ferry disaster

By Oliver Campbell, 4 February 2012

Lax safety standards and overcrowding appear to have contributed to the loss of life.

New in Romanian

Europa a fost plasată sub dictatura băncilor

De Chris Marsden, 4 februarie 2012

Evenimentul definitoriu al summitului Uniunii Europene, care a avut loc săptămâna aceasta, nu a fost ceea ce s-a discutat, ci propunerea care nu a fost acceptată.

New in French

Torture en Libye: la réalité répugnante de la « libération » impérialiste

Par Bill Van Auken, 4 février 2012

De multiples articles sur la torture dans les camps de détention dirigés par le nouveau régime libyen, soutenu par l'impérialisme, et les « rebelles » de l'OTAN démentent tous ceux qui, au nom des droits de l'homme et de la « libération », avaient justifié la guerre de l'année dernière.

Bras de fer entre les Etats-Unis et la Russie au sujet de la politique belliqueuse de Washington contre la Syrie

Par Chris Marsden, 4 février 2012

Les Etats-Unis, la France, la Grande-Bretagne et la Ligue arabe font pression sur le Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies pour l'adoption d'une résolution sur la Syrie tout en niant que la résolution soit destinée à ouvrir la voie à un changement de régime et à une intervention de l'armée occidentale en Syrie.

New in German

Europa unter dem Diktat der Banken

Von Chris Marsden, 4. Februar 2012

Kennzeichnend für den EU-Gipfel am Anfang der Woche waren nicht die Beschlüsse, die am Ende gefasst wurden, sondern der Vorschlag, der letztlich fallengelassen wurde: die Einsetzung eines EU-Haushaltskommissars für Griechenland.

Neue Zahlen zur Kinderarmut
Perspektive: Hoffnungslosigkeit

Von Ernst Wolff, 4. Februar 2012

Neue Statistiken der Bundesanstalt für Arbeit und eine Studie der Bertelsmann-Stiftung belegen angeblich eine positive Entwicklung bei der Kinderarmut. In Wahrheit unterstreichen sie einen ganz anderen Trend.

Nach Massaker wachsende Proteste gegen ägyptische Militärjunta

Von Johannes Stern, 4. Februar 2012

Am Freitag breiteten sich Proteste gegen die ägyptische Militärjunta über das ganze Land aus und nahmen teilweise den Charakter von Aufständen an.

Neue Indizien im Mordfall Benno Ohnesorg

Von Franci Vier, 4. Februar 2012

Neue Indizien deuten darauf hin, dass der Student Benno Ohnesorg vom Polizisten Karl-Heinz Kurras gezielt getötet wurde.

Robert Service findet Unterstützung bei der extremen Rechten in Deutschland

Von Wolfgang Weber, 4. Februar 2012

Die Wochenzeitung Junge Freiheit hat sich in der Auseinandersetzung um die deutsche Ausgabe der Trotzki-Biographie von Robert Service mit einem Artikel zu Wort gemeldet.

Zwanzig Jahre nach der Auflösung der Sowjetunion
Die kapitalistische Krise und die Radikalisierung der Arbeiterklasse

Von David North, 4. Februar 2012

Diesen Vortrag hielt David North, Leiter der internationalen Redaktion der World Socialist Website und nationaler Sekretär der Socialist Equality Party (USA), im Januar 2012 auf einer Reihe von Versammlungen der SEP.

Other Languages

Perspective

The Susan G. Komen Foundation debacle and the US establishment

4 February 2012

The announcement this week by the Susan G. Komen Foundation that it would cut off funding to Planned Parenthood unleashed a popular backlash.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

David North speaks in Berlin: “In Defence of Leon Trotsky and Historical Truth”

By our reporter, 3 February 2012

David North placed his exposure of Robert Service's slanderous biography of Trotsky in a broader historical and political context.

SEP (UK) public meetings: For a general strike to bring down the Cameron government!

The Socialist Equality Party (UK) is holding public meetings to discuss the attack on public-sector pensions and the way forward in the fight against the government's austerity programme.

Hands off the SEP! Defend SEP members in Jaffna!

By the Socialist Equality Party (Sri Lanka), 31 January 2012

Twenty years since the dissolution of the USSR
The capitalist crisis and the radicalization of the working class in 2012

By David North, 30 January, 2012

Commentary

Europe placed under the dictatorship of the banks

By Chris Marsden, 3 February 2012

Obama publicly embraces drone killings

By Bill Van Auken, 2 February 2012

Workers Struggles

CooperLocked-out Ohio workers defy Cooper Tire as negotiations resume

By Jerry White and James Brewer, 3 February 2012

More on the lockout of Cooper Tire workers »

Australia: Coal terminal workers strike over enterprise agreement

By Richard Phillips, 3 February 2012

Ontario premier feigns support for locked-out Electro-Motive workers

By Keith Jones, 2 February 2012

More on the Caterpillar lockout »

Indian town under police occupation after killing of union leader

By Arun Kumar, 2 February 2012

Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific

4 February 2012

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

ISSE

International Students for Social Equality (UK) meeting: Oppose extradition of Richard O’Dwyer to the US!

Sheffield Hallam University computer science student Richard O'Dwyer faces extradition to the US on copyright infringement charges, where he faces five to ten years imprisonment.

Arts Review

SurvivingSurviving Progress: A dim view of humanity

By Lee Parsons, 3 February 2012

The Pruitt-Igoe Myth: A serious look at public housing and the fate of US cities

By Fred Mazelis, 1 February 2012

Composer Gustav Mahler: A centennial appreciation

By Dorian Griscom, 31 January 2012

Gustav Mahler is among the most widely listened to of classical composers. Last year, which marked the 100th anniversary of his death, witnessed concerts, new recordings, lectures and exhibitions celebrating his life and music.

Crisis in Detroit

New boss of Highland Park, Michigan schools
Who is Jack Martin?

By Nancy Hanover, 3 February 2012

Detroit city unions agree to massive concessions

By Patrick Martin, 2 February 2012

Emergency manager announces school closure in Highland Park, Michigan

By Shannon Jones, 1 February 2012

Visit the CAUS web site »

Science

tortoiseGalapagos tortoise species, thought to be extinct, has survived

By Patrick Martin, 3 February 2012

A team of biologists from Yale University has found evidence that a species of Galapagos tortoise, believed extinct for more than a century, has survived in one of the remote parts of the Galapagos island chain.

A friendly response to William Whitlow’s comments on Thomas Kuhn

By Philip Guelpa, 30 January 2012

Mehring Books

Mehring Books offers more titles in digital format

Pamphlets and books are now available in pdf format on a number of topics, with prices starting at less than $2.

This Week in History: January 30 - February 5

25 years ago: ANC leader Tambo meets with Reagan administration

On January 28, 1987, Secretary of State George Shultz held a 50-minute meeting with African National Congress (ANC) President Oliver Tambo.


More »

50 years ago: Kennedy imposes embargo on Cuba

On February 3, 1962, President John F. Kennedy ordered a total ban on all exports to Cuba, a measure aimed at destabilizing the three-year-old nationalist government led by Fidel Castro.

More »

75 years ago: Besieged Flint sit-down strikers remain resolute

In Flint, Michigan, Circuit Court Judge Gadola granted General Motors (GM) an injunction against the sit-down strikers occupying the Fisher Body works on January 30 1937.

More »

100 years ago: Futurist exhibition in Paris

On February, 5, 1912, the first Futurist exhibition outside Italy opened at Galerie Bernheim-Jeune in Paris.

More »

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

4 February 2012

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