10 June 2009

Obama moves aggressively against North Korea

By Peter Symonds, 10 June 2009

The US administration has signalled a more aggressive stance toward North Korea that will only compound an already tense situation in North East Asia.

Obama administration allows big banks to repay TARP funds

By Barry Grey, 10 June 2009

Repaying the TARP funds is seen as a major step in shedding the increased government oversight that came with the bank rescue operation and resuming at full throttle the speculative practices that generated huge profits and executive compensation packages.

Lebanon: US-backed coalition retains narrow majority

By Jean Shaoul, 10 June 2009

In the Lebanese elections last Sunday, the March 14 alliance of Saad Hariri and Prime Minister Fuad Seniora held on to power, losing one of the 72 seats won in the 2005 election.

UN chief calls for inquiry into Sri Lankan war crimes

By K. Ratnayake, 10 June 2009

Amid signs of growing pressure from the Western powers and media, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon last Friday revived calls for an internationally-monitored investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka.

California fiscal crisis threatens millions with ruin

By Rafael Azul, 10 June 2009

The California state government is responding to the budget crisis through a massive attack on education, health care, and whatever remains of the state’s social safety net.

Israel to expand its settlements

By Jean Shaoul, 10 June 2009

Israel’s prime minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, has refused to submit to demands for a complete cessation to settlement expansion and building in the West Bank.

While pledging its devotion to the poor
India’s government lurches further right

By Deepal Jayasekera, 10 June 2009

India’s Congress Party-led government has outlined a raft of rightwing objectives, including “disinvestment” of public sector units, the promotion of Public Private Partnerships, “stern measures to handle insurgency and left wing extremism,” and a further enhancing of India’s strategic partnership with the United States.

Indian student protests spread to Sydney:
“We came here to study, not to fight”

By Laura Tiernan, 10 June 2009

Protests by Indian students studying in Australia that erupted in Melbourne on May 30 have spread to Sydney over recent days.

New in German

Der Niedergang der Sozialdemokratie

Von Peter Schwarz, 10. Juni 2009

Wenn Millionen Wähler der Sozialdemokratie mitten in der Wirtschaftskrise den Rücken zuwenden, so zeigt dies vor allem eins: Sie erwarten von diesen Parteien keine Lösung ihrer Probleme mehr.

Sozialdemokraten erleiden bei Europawahlen historische Niederlage

Von Stefan Steinberg, 10. Juni 2009

Die katastrophalen Ergebnisse der sozialdemokratischen Parteien Großbritanniens, Deutschlands und Frankreichs bei der aktuellen Europawahl sind ein endgültiger politischer Wendepunkt für die Parteien selbst und kündigen eine Periode tiefer politischer Instabilität an.

Bundesregierung treibt Arcandor in den Bankrott

Von Markus Salzmann und Ulrich Rippert, 10. Juni 2009

Nur einen Tag nach der Europawahl entschied die Bundesregierung, dem Handelskonzern Arcandor keinerlei staatliche Unterstützung zu gewähren, und besiegelte damit seine Insolvenz. Es geht um 56.000 Arbeitsplätze.

New in French

Que cachent les tensions avec les Etats-Unis ?

Par Peter Schwarz, 10 juin 2009

Les élections européennes de ce weekend ont lieu dans un contexte de violentes tensions nationales et internationales. Les conflits de l’Allemagne, avec la France d’une part, et avec les Etats-Unis de l’autre, s’intensifient à tel point que les conflits nationaux au sein de l’Europe menacent de faire éclater l’Union européenne.

Perspective

The decline of social democracy

10 June 2009

The most notable result of the European elections held last weekend is the dramatic decline of social democracy.

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

PSG meetingEuropean elections 2009
Berlin meeting concludes SEP election campaign

By our correspondent, 10 June 2009

A meeting by the Socialist Equality Party in Berlin was the culmination of a successful campaign in the 2009 European elections.

Detroit election meeting
Stop the shutdown of Detroit! A socialist response to the economic crisis

10 June 2009

Socialist Equality Party candidate for Detroit mayor D’Artagnan Collier will speak at an election meeting June 16.

Workers Struggles

London Underground workers strike against assault on jobs and wages

10 June 2009

The two day strike on the London Underground rail network represents a determined stand by Tube workers against the frontal assault being waged on their jobs, wages and conditions.

Globe workersNewspaper Guild rejects concessions demands
Boston Globe to impose 23 percent wage cut

By Kate Randall, 10 June 2009

The Boston Newspaper Guild voted down a concessions proposal from the Boston Globe’s owners that would have slashed $10 million in wages and benefits. Management announced it would unilaterally impose a 23 percent wage cut on Guild members.

ICFI/Marxist Library

New in the ICFI/Marxist Library:
The Heritage We Defend

9 June 2009

First published in 1988, The Heritage We Defend is a Marxist analysis of the history of the Fourth International since the assassination of Leon Trotsky in 1940. Concentrating on the central political and theoretical issues that confronted the Fourth International during its first five decades, this volume examines the implications of the struggle waged by the Trotskyist movement against Stalinism, bourgeois nationalism and various forms of petty-bourgeois radicalism.

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