29 January 2009

Obama’s program of war

By James Cogan, 29 January 2009

Within days of taking power, the Obama administration has made clear that it will escalate the war to subjugate the Afghan people, intensify US military strikes on targets inside Pakistan and continue the occupation of Iraq indefinitely.

House of Representatives passes Obama “stimulus” bill

By Patrick Martin, 29 January 2009

While invariably described in the media as a “stimulus” bill, the legislation actually does relatively little to create new jobs and launches no new social programs. It provides only $40 billion for new spending on infrastructure, and much of this will not actually be expended until 2010 or even later.

IMF expects global economy to come to “virtual halt” in 2009

By Patrick O’Connor, 29 January 2009

The IMF yesterday forecast world GDP growth of just 0.5 percent this year, the lowest since World War II.

Israel bombs Gaza-Egypt border

By Julie Hyland, 29 January 2009

Israeli warplanes bombed Gaza’s border with Egypt early Wednesday morning.

Funeral held for Marvin Schur
Unanswered questions remain in freezing death of 93-year-old Michigan man

By Tom Eley, 29 January 2009

A memorial service was held in Bay City, Michigan on Tuesday for the 93-year-old man who froze to death earlier this month after the municipal electricity company installed a device on his house to limit his electricity because of unpaid energy bills.

Bay City funeralVideo: Funeral for Michigan man frozen following utility shut-off

29 January 2009

On Wednesday, January 28, a funeral was held for Marvin Schur, the 93-year-old man who froze to death in his home in Bay City Michigan, after the municipal power company cut off electricity without telling him.

Murder-suicide in Southern California leaves seven family members dead

By Kate Randall, 29 January 2009

A family was found dead Tuesday in a Los Angeles suburb, the apparent victims of a murder-suicide. Minutes before the bodies were found, the father faxed a local TV station detailing the parents’ “horrendous ordeal” over the loss of their jobs.

Canada: Liberals to support Conservative budget

By Keith Jones, 29 January 2009

Michael Ignatieff, the newly minted leader of Canada’s official opposition Liberals, announced yesterday that his party will vote for the federal budget presented by Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government to parliament Tuesday.

Over 170,000 on short-time working in German auto industry

By Sybille Fuchs, 29 January 2009

Major auto concerns in Germany, including BMW, Volkswagen, Daimler, Opel and Bosch, have introduced or plan to introduce short-time working for tens of thousands of workers. This comes in response to plunging auto sales in Europe and worldwide.

Hundreds of refugees perish at hands of Thai army

By Mike Head, 29 January 2009

Pictures published in the international media this week confirm recent reports that hundreds of refugees have been towed out to sea by the Thai Army and abandoned with little food or water.

Growing opposition to Italian government’s xenophobic campaign

By Marianne Arens, 29 January 2009

Residents of the island of Lampedusa are opposing the chauvinist campaign of the Italian Berlusconi government to scapegoat refugees.

New in German

Untersucht die amerikanische Folterpolitik und stellt die Verantwortlichen vor Gericht

Von David Walsh, 29. Januar 2009

Wenn Obamas Anhänger und die liberalen Medien jetzt so tun, als ob diese Verbrechen abgestellt werden könnten, ohne dass eine erschöpfende Untersuchung aufklärt, wer sie befohlen hat und wie und von wem sie umgesetzt wurden, dann ist das ein grotesker Betrug.

Italien: Flüchtlinge rebellieren gegen Internierungslager

Von Marianne Arens, 29. Januar 2009

Auf der italienischen Mittelmeerinsel Lampedusa sind am Samstag rund 650 afrikanischen Flüchtlinge aus dem militärisch bewachten Flüchtlingslager ausgebrochen und haben gegen die unhaltbaren Zustände protestiert.

New in French

La crise en Europe de l’Est et les leçons à tirer de 1989

Par Peter Scharwz, 29 janvier 2009

Il y a vingt ans l’Europe de l’Est fut secouée par une vaste vague de protestations qui emporta les régimes staliniens qui semblaient encore tenir fermement le pouvoir au début de l’année 1989.Aujourd’hui, des signes indiquent la montée d’une nouvelle vague de protestations.

Le PES s'oppose à l'interdiction du LTTE par le gouvernement sri lankais

Par le Parti de l'égalité socialiste (Sri Lanka), 29 janvier 2009

Contrairement à ce que l'on pourrait croire, les récentes avances de l'armée face au LTTE ne vont pas ouvrir la voie à la paix et à la prospérité. Le président Mahina Rajapakse se prépare à utiliser la méthode militaire pour s'occuper de l'opposition engendrée par la crise économique et sociale de plus en plus grave de l'île.

Perspective

Troops out of north and eastern Sri Lanka!

29 January 2009

The World Socialist Web Site calls on workers and young people to denounce the criminal assault being unleashed by the Sri Lankan military against more than a quarter of a million Tamil men, women and children trapped in the country’s north.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

John UpdikeNovelist John Updike dead at 76: Was he a “great novelist”?

By David Walsh, 29 January 2009

A major figure in American literature for the past half-century (his first full-length novel appeared in 1959), John Updike published more than 60 works—novels, collections of short stories, volumes of essays, art criticism and more.

Workers Struggles

The firing of Screen Actors Guild chief negotiator Doug Allen

By Ramón Valle and David Walsh, 29 January 2009

The dismissal of Screen Actors Guild executive director and chief negotiator, Doug Allen, is an olive branch to the studios and networks. The SAG board intends to capitulate shortly to the demands of the employers and sign a rotten agreement.

Correspondence

Letters on a tragic death

29 January 2009

A selection of letters sent to the World Socialist Web Site in response to the death of a Michigan man who froze after his electricity was cut off.

Other Languages