World Socialist Web Site

27 May 2009

North Korean nuclear test triggers international tensions

By Peter Symonds, 27 May 2009

North Korea’s detonation of a small nuclear bomb on Monday provoked immediate condemnation by the UN Security Council and sharply raised tensions in North East Asia.

Reject GM-government-UAW blackmail!
Organize rank-and-file committees to defeat concessions and defend all jobs!

By Jerry White, 27 May 2009

This statement will be distributed to General Motors auto workers on Wednesday and Thursday, as they vote on a contract agreed by the United Auto Workers (UAW).

Doctor condemns conditions in Sri Lankan detention camps

By our correspondent, 27 May 2009

Hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled the north-eastern war zone in Sri Lanka have been herded into detention camps. A doctor who recently visited one camp spoke to the WSWS about the conditions there.

Britain: Job losses escalate across all sectors

By Robert Stevens, 27 May 2009

Unemployment in Britain has topped 2 million and is expected to rise to 3 million by the end of the year as job losses hit all sections of the economy.

Obama names Sonia Sotomayor to US Supreme Court

By Patrick Martin, 27 May 2009

The Sotomayor nomination is being hailed by liberals and damned by the ultra-right in equal measure, but it confirms Obama’s predilection for the predictable, conservative choice.

French “anti-capitalist” Olivier Besancenot justifies collaboration with reformists and Polish nationalists

By Antoine Lerougetel and Stefan Steinberg, 27 May 2009

The appearance by Olivier Besancenot of the French New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) in Katowice and his defence of collaboration with Polish nationalists at a Belgian press conference represent a warning about the role the NPA will play.

France: Port of Marseille hit by economic crisis

By Anthony Torres, 27 May 2009

Since the beginning of 2009, activity in French ports has undergone a substantial slowdown linked to the world economic crisis.

French university strikes end in union betrayal

By Pierre Mabut, 27 May 2009

The 16-week movement against the government’s “autonomy” law for universities has broken up. It did so under the pressure of government threats over upcoming exams and the sabotage of the unions in refusing to mobilise any solidarity.

Fijian military junta faces economic and social turmoil

By Frank Gaglioti, 27 May 2009

With Fiji on the verge of bankruptcy, Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s regime has stepped up its attacks on the conditions of workers and small farmers.

New in French

Le Sri Lanka devient un champ de bataille diplomatique

Par Peter Symonds, 27 mai 2009

La visite au Sri Lanka la semaine dernière du secrétaire général des Nations unies, Ban Ki-Moon, a clairement mis en relief l'intense rivalité internationale qui s'exerce depuis la fin de la longue guerre civile qui a sévi sur l'île.

New in German

20 Jahre nach der Wende: In Gdansk droht die Schließung der letzten Werften

Von Marius Heuser, 27. Mai 2009

Zwanzig Jahre nach der Wende in Polen steht offen, was nun eigentlich gefeiert werden soll. Statt Demokratie bekamen die Arbeiter Kapitalismus - mit verheerenden sozialen Folgen, die sich immer weniger mit demokratischen Verhältnissen vereinbaren lassen.

Forderungen nach vorgezogenen Neuwahlen in Großbritannien werden lauter

Von Ann Talbot, 27. Mai 2009

Unter dem Deckmantel hehrer Deklarationen, Korruption aus der Politik zu verbannen, wird ein Frontalangriff auf den Sozialstaat und den Lebensstandard von Millionen arbeitender Menschen vorbereitet.