31 March 2009

Obama demands deeper cuts in auto workers’ jobs, wages, benefits

By Jerry White, 31 March 2009

President Obama outlined his administration’s plans to downsize the auto industry and impose more brutal wage and benefit concessions on auto workers.

Britain: Brown’s fiscal stimulus no longer an option for G20 summit

By Chris Talbot and Chris Marsden, 31 March 2009

The governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, took the unprecedented step of overruling official government policy last week.

Spanish court weighs torture charges against former US officials

By Bill Van Auken, 31 March 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, and other crimes associated with the “war on terror.”

World economic crisis provokes fall of Hungary’s government

By Markus Salzmann, 31 March 2009

The resignation of the Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is a result of the rapidly deteriorating economic situation that has led to political turbulence throughout Eastern Europe.

American mayhem: Three horrible crimes over the weekend

By David Walsh, 31 March 2009

At least 17 people are dead after three violent episodes in the US over the weekend in North Carolina, California and Massachusetts.

British police to investigate MI5 over Binyam Mohamed’s torture

By Robert Stevens, 31 March 2009

Britain’s attorney general has authorised a police investigation into whether MI5 was complicit in the torture of ex-Guantánamo detainee Binyam Mohamed.

Australian airport death used to justify new police powers

By Mike Head, 31 March 2009

Led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the federal and state Labor governments in Australia have seized upon a fatal brawl at Sydney airport last week to bring forward plans for extraordinary legislation to outlaw organisations.

New in Russian

Чешское правительство уходит в отставку на фоне экономических трудностей

Штефан Штайнберг, 31 марта 2009 г.

Чешскому правительству во главе с премьер-министром Миреком Тополанеком во вторник, 24 марта, был выражен в парламенте вотум недоверия.

New in German

Obama weitet Krieg in Zentralasien aus

Von der Redaktion der World Socialist Web Site, 31. März 2009

Die neue Militärstrategie von Präsident Barack Obama für Afghanistan markiert eine bedeutende Ausweitung des Kriegs in Afghanistan. Auch Pakistan wird jetzt offiziell in die amerikanischen Militäraktionen einbezogen.

Die kapitalistische Krise und die Rückkehr der Geschichte

Von David North, 31. März 2009

Am 19. und 22. März sprach David North, der nationale Vorsitzende der Socialist Equality Party, in San Diego und Berkeley zum Thema “Die kapitalistische Krise und die Rückkehr der Geschichte”. Wir veröffentlichen an dieser Stelle sein Vortragsmanuskript.

Demonstrationen in Berlin und Frankfurt
“Milliarden für die Banken – Armut für uns”

Von unseren Korrespondenten, 31. März 2009

In Berlin und Frankfurt demonstrierten über 40.000 Menschen unter dem Motto “Wir bezahlen nicht für eure Krise” gegen die Regierungspolitik.

Video: Demonstration in Berlin gegen die Regierungspolitik zur Wirtschaftskrise

31. März 2009

Reporter der World Socialist Web Site sprachen mit Teilnehmern der Demonstration gegen die Regierungspolitik zur Wirtschaftskrise, die am Samstag unter dem Motto "Milliarden für die Banken – Armut für uns" in Berlin stattfand.

Am Vorabend des G-20-Gipfels
Europäische Mächte verwerfen amerikanisch-britische Vorschläge für Konjunkturprogramme

Von Patrick Martin, 31. März 2009

Trotz aller Versuche, den Eindruck verantwortungsvoller Weltpolitiker zu machen, die miteinander über die Wiederbelebung der Weltwirtschaft beraten, werden die Teilnehmer des G-20-Gipfels de facto gelähmt und zerstritten in London eintreffen.

Massiver Arbeitsplatzabbau bei ThyssenKrupp
Arbeitnehmervertreter stimmen Konzernumbau zu

Von Elisabeth Zimmermann, 31. März 2009

Der ThyssenKrupp-Aufsichtsrat hat den radikalsten Konzernumbau seit der Fusion von Thyssen und Krupp vor zehn Jahren beschlossen. Die Umstrukturierung soll Hunderte Millionen Euro sparen und wird zum Abbau von Tausenden Stellen in Produktion und Verwaltung führen.

New in French

Allemagne : les patrons de l’équipementier automobile font payer leurs pertes aux travailleurs

Par Michael Regens, 31 mars 2009

Les derniers développements concernant les équipementiers Schaeffler et Continental montrent comment les milieux politiques et financiers allemands ont réagi à la crise économique internationale : on met le fardeau de la crise sur le dos du personnel tandis que les pertes de l’investisseur sont financées par des aides de l’Etat.

Perspective

Obama declares war on auto workers

31 March 2009

In a statement dripping with class arrogance and cynicism, President Obama rejected the cost-cutting proposals of the auto companies as insufficient and demanded further concessions from auto workers.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

Billy the KidBilly the Kid: “Can you see inside me?”

By Joanne Laurier, 31 March 2009

Billy the Kid is an unusual independent film, about a teenager in a small town in Maine.

An interview with Jennifer Venditti, director of Billy the Kid

By Joanne Laurier, 31 March 2009

The WSWS spoke recently with Jennifer Venditti, director of Billy the Kid.

Political Analysis

Balkans pamphletAfter the slaughter: political lessons of the Balkan War

By David North, 30 March 2009

March 24 marked the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the 11-week US-NATO bombardment of Serbia and Kosovo. This statement by David North, chairman of the international editorial board of the World Socialist Web Site and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party, was originally published on June 14, 1999.

Workers Struggles

Ireland strikesIreland: Taxi strike, student protests after unions call off national strike

By Robert Stevens, 31 March 2009

Only a 24-hour work stoppage by Dublin taxi drivers and a lecture boycott by students at University College Dublin went ahead after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions called off the national strike scheduled for March 30.

Sri Lanka: School principals protest in Colombo over pay claim

By Panini Wijesiriwardane, 31 March 2009

More than 1,500 public school principals protested in Colombo on March 25 to demand an end to longstanding salary anomalies.

Workers Struggles: The Americas

31 March 2009

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

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

31 March 2009

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

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