World Socialist Web Site

3 April 2009

G20 summit: US and Europe paper over divisions

By Chris Marsden and Bill Van Auken, 3 April 2009

The G20 London summit failed to adopt the demands of either the US and Britain, which advocated coordinated global fiscal stimulus, or a European bloc led by Germany and France, which called for international regulation of major financial institutions.

Wall Street celebrates accounting rule changes designed to hide losses

By Andre Damon, 3 April 2009

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) voted Thursday to let banks set their own prices for assets in earnings reports, regardless of current prices.

Impending North Korean missile test raises regional tensions

By John Chan and Peter Symonds, 3 April 2009

North Korean plans to fire a long-range Taepodong-2 rocket are heightening tensions in North East Asia. While Pyongyang claims to be launching a satellite, the US and Japan insist it is carrying out a missile test.

Obama’s “Path to Viability for GM & Chrysler”: The ruthless language of
Wall Street

By Barry Grey, 3 April 2009

It is extraordinary that a government should, in its name, publish documents that unabashedly articulate the interests and aims of a financial elite that constitutes a miniscule portion of the population.

Germany: Union collaborates in job cuts at steelmaker ThyssenKrupp

By Elizabeth Zimmerman, 3 April 2009

Union leaders have played a key role in the implementation of job cuts at Thyssen-Krupp.

Detroit schools plan new round of closings, layoffs

By Joe Kishore, 3 April 2009

The Detroit Public School District’s “emergency financial manager” has announced that up to a third of the city’s schools will be shut down over the next two years, with thousands of layoffs of teachers and staff.

Australia: Relations with China behind defence minister scandal

By James Cogan, 3 April 2009

The furore that has enveloped Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon over his friendship with a Chinese-Australian woman has brought into the open a conflict within ruling circles over the consequences of Australia’s rapidly expanding financial and commercial relations with China.

Australian military intelligence agency emerges in “Fitzgibbon affair”

By Mike Head, 3 April 2009

One feature of the current accusations against the Australian defence minister is the murky role of the military intelligence agencies.

New in German

Vor dem G-20-Gipfel:
Spannungen zwischen USA und Europa verschärfen sich

Von Chris Marsden, 3. April 2009

Angela Merkel und Nicolas Sarkozy weigern sich schon vor Beginn des G-20-Gipfels, der amerikanischen Forderung nach gewaltigen neuen Konjunkturprogrammen Folge zu leisten.

Frankfurter Musikmesse:
Südkoreanische Arbeiter protestieren an Frankfurter Musikmesse

Von unserem Korrespondenten, 3. April 2009

Eine Delegation von südkoreanischen Gitarrenbauern protestiert zurzeit vor der Frankfurter Musikmesse gegen den Unternehmer von CORT-Guitars, der sie alle entlassen hat.

New in Spanish

Obama declara la guerra a los trabajadores automotrices

Por Joe Kishore, 3 Abril 2009

El discurso del Lunes del presidente Barack Obama fue nada menos que una declaración de guerra hacia la clase trabajadora.

New in Portuguese

A favelização dos EUA

Por Tom Eley, 3 de abril de 2009

Durante a Grande Depressão, favelas cresceram nos arredores das cidades americanas. Povoadas por aqueles que perderam seus empregos e foram despejados, essas "Hoovervilles" se tornaram um símbolo indelével do sofrimento humano causado pela Depressão.

New in French

Obama déclare la guerre aux travailleurs de l’auto

Par Joe Kishore, 3 avril 2009

Le discours qu’a donné le président américain Barack Obama sur l’industrie de l’auto lundi dernier n’était rien de moins qu’une déclaration de guerre à la classe ouvrière.