World Socialist Web Site

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Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)

20 May 2016

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French parliament extends state of emergency amid rising protests

By Alex Lantier, 20 May 2016

Contrary to official claims, the state of emergency is not aimed at Islamist terrorism, but at growing opposition in the working class to social austerity and military and police violence.

Strikes and protests mount against French labour law

By Kumaran Ira, 20 May 2016

French government backs neo-fascist protest against opposition to labor law

The working class in France mobilizes against austerity

US media steps up witch-hunt over claims of Sanders “violence” in Nevada

By Patrick Martin, 20 May 2016

The bogus claims of violence and harassment have now reached the front page of the New York Times and the editorial page of the Washington Post.

Sanders’ strong showing in Oregon, Kentucky extends Democratic presidential contest

Growing anger among Verizon strikers as CWA and IBEW prepare sellout

By Nick Barrickman, 20 May 2016

After telling workers they would not accede to Verizon’s demands for a federal mediator, the CWA and the IBEW agreed to mediation as talks restarted Tuesday.

As CWA prepares sellout, Verizon strikers discuss way forward on WSWS online call

By our reporter, 20 May 2016

Verizon strikers from throughout the East Coast of the United States discussed and debated the way forward during a two-hour call hosted by the WSWS Verizon Strike Newsletter.

CWA, Verizon impose blackout on contract talks

CWA agrees to federal mediator, prepares sellout of Verizon strike

The political struggle facing Verizon workers

Spy plane “intercept” highlights US push for South China Sea confrontation

By Mike Head, 20 May 2016

Allegations that Chinese aircraft “unsafely” intercepted a US surveillance plane underscore Pentagon calls for a “trigger” for conflict with China.

War danger grows following new US provocation in South China Sea

US and NATO leaders say EgyptAir Flight 804 was bombed, vow military response

By Thomas Gaist, 20 May 2016

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton demanded an escalation of the war in Iraq and Syria in response to the destruction of the Cairo-bound jetliner.

Hundreds feared dead in Sri Lankan landslides and floods

By our correspondents, 20 May 2016

Disaster victims have blamed the government and other authorities for not providing adequate relief or moving residents to safe places.

Australian Federal Police raid Labor Party frontbencher

By Nick Beams, 20 May 2016

Raids conducted by the police have been denounced as “extraordinary and unprecedented” in an election campaign.

Syriza government uses tear gas and stun grenades against refugees

By Christoph Vandreier, 20 May 2016

The violence deployed against helpless and desperate refugees fleeing wars most clearly exposes the class character of the current government in Greece.

Austrian presidential run-off offers no alternative

By Markus Salzmann, 20 May 2016

Many conservatives are backing Green candidate Van der Bellen because they see him as best able to carry out austerity measures.

UK: BMA agrees sell-out contract to end junior doctors dispute

By Robert Stevens, 20 May 2016

Junior doctors have reacted angrily to a proposed contract that is even worse than the one they previously rejected by an overwhelming margin.

Obama overtime rule to go in effect this December

By Gabriel Black, 20 May 2016

The expansion of eligibility for overtime pay has many loopholes and will only affect a small portion of the workforce.

AFL-CIO report points to continued social polarization

By Shannon Jones, 20 May 2016

The typical Fortune 500 CEO took in $12.4 million last year, 355 times the pay of an average non-supervisory worker.

Video: SEP candidate Niles Niemuth: Top 25 hedge fund managers made $13 billion last year

New York police gun down mentally unstable man in midtown Manhattan

By Daniel de Vries, 20 May 2016

Police fired nine shots at a busy intersection Wednesday morning, killing one and injuring another.

New in French

Les grèves et les manifestations montent en France contre la loi travail

Par Alex Lantier, 20 mai 2016

De sections de plus en plus larges de la classe ouvrière se mobilisent aux côtés de dizaines de milliers de jeunes qui manifestent contre la loi travail.

L’établissement du Parti démocrate mène une chasse aux sorcières contre les partisans de Sanders

Par Patrick Martin, 20 mai 2016

Le tumulte politique et médiatique sur le congrès du Parti démocratique dans l’état du Nevada est une provocation fabriquée de toute pièce.

Les jeunes se mobilisent contre la loi travail à Marseille

Par Anthony Torres, 20 mai 2016

Plusieurs milliers de travailleurs et de jeunes ont défilé à Marseille hier contre la loi travail et les mesures antidémocratiques et répressives du Parti socialiste.

Les jeunes d'Amiens manifestent pour défier la répression de l'Etat français

Par Antoine Lerougetel, 20 mai 2016

750 jeunes et travailleurs sont descendus dans la rue mardi à Amiens pour s'opposer à la loi travail et défendre des droits démocratiques fondamentaux contre la répression.

Les cheminots français en grève contre la loi travail et la réforme ferroviaire

Par Anthony Torres, 20 mai 2016

Comme le démontre la répression du mouvement contre la loi travail, toute grève contre la privatisation de la SNCF implique une confrontation avec le PS.

Le réarmement de l’OTAN en Europe de l’Est augmente le risque d’une guerre mondiale

Par Johannes Stern, 20 mai 2016

Dans la perspective de son sommet en juillet à Varsovie, l’OTAN renforce ses capacités en Europe de l’Est, ce qui accroît le risque d’un conflit nucléaire avec la Russie.

Entente de trahison entérinée dans le secteur public québécois

Par Laurent Lafrance, 20 mai 2016

Ce que le conflit dans le secteur public a démontré avant tout, c’est que les travailleurs ont besoin de nouvelles organisations de lutte et d’une nouvelle stratégie politique.

Obama à la jeunesse américaine: Cessez de vous plaindre, les choses n’ont jamais été aussi bien!

Par Niles Niemuth, 20 mai 2016

Les médias mettent bien l’accent sur les attaques d’Obama contre Donald Trump, mais ses attaques contre les jeunes qui appuient la campagne du «socialiste» autoproclamé Bernie Sanders sont encore plus significatives.

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Perspective

A pittance for Zika, $600 billion for the Pentagon

20 May 2016

The priority of the ruling class and its political representatives is not the protection and wellbeing of the vast majority of Americans, but funding the gigantic US military apparatus.

Earlier Perspectives »

SEP 2016 US Election Campaign

Break the CWA’s isolation of the Verizon strike!

By Jerry White—SEP candidate for US president, 20 May 2016

The five-week strike by 40,000 Verizon workers can only be taken forward by mobilizing the strength of the entire working class.

Obama to American youth: Stop complaining, things have never been better!

By Niles Niemuth, 17 May 2016

Oppose Obama’s assault on immigrants!

After sickouts, what is the way forward for Detroit teachers?

More on the SEP 2016 US election campaign »

Commentary

Why the South China Sea tensions were removed from Australian Greens’ speech

By Oscar Grenfell, 20 May 2016

Richard Di Natale’s foreign policy speech was edited to remove anything that could have been interpreted as a challenge to the Australian ruling elite’s preparations for war against China.

NATO rearmament in Eastern Europe increases danger of world war

Queen’s Speech 2016: UK Conservatives continue agenda of austerity and repression

German government steps up military intervention in Africa

Arts Review

San Francisco International Film Festival—Part 4
Maggie’s Plan, Frank & Lola, along with Dreyer’s Vampyr (1932)

By Joanne Laurier, 20 May 2016

Some not very good new films—and better old ones.

A further comment on the death of David King, socialist and artist

By David Walsh, 19 May 2016

King was a brilliant graphic designer, photographer, illustrator, archivist, researcher, editor, historian and art collector.

David King 1943-2016: Revolutionary socialist, artist and defender of historical truth

By David North, 14 May 2016

David King, who devoted his extraordinary gifts as an artist to salvaging the historical truth of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and its aftermath from beneath the vast edifice of Stalinist crimes and lies, died suddenly in London on May 11.

The Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan

Outrage erupts at Flint meeting of pipeline board

By James Brewer, 20 May 2016

Residents of Flint spoke out in anger during a board meeting of the KWA pipeline authority.

New evidence reveals state of Michigan helped to push Flint into pipeline deal

Video: Flint, Michigan resident speaks on lack of services for poisoned residents

By Tim Rivers, 17 May 2016

Corporate-backed charities come up with teaspoon of help for Flint

Obama in Flint: Let them drink lead

More on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan »

Featured Video

Video: Workers speak about families divided by borders

By our reporters, 14 May 2016

Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi assassinated

On the evening of May 21, 1991, Rajiv Gandhi and at least 14 other people were killed by a suicide bomber as he was about to address an election meeting in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

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50 years ago: Major wage strikes in UK, France

At midnight on May 16, 1966, 62,500 British seaman, members of the National Union of Seamen (NUS), went out on strike for a 40-hour workweek and increased wages.

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75 years ago: World war intensifies in Middle East, Africa

This week in 1941 saw the intensification of the major imperialist powers’ struggle for domination of the Middle East and east Africa.

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100 years ago: Britain and France sign Sykes-Picot agreement to carve-up the Middle East

On May 16, 1916, the Sykes-Picot agreement was ratified by Britain and France, after protracted negotiations that extended from November 1915 to March 1916.

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