Evacuees return home beneath Oroville dam in California as new storm approaches

By Zac Corrigan and Ben McGrath, 15 February 2017

Several days of rain are forecast to begin this evening, meaning residents must be prepared to evacuate again at a moment’s notice.

Crumbling California dam forces 188,000 to evacuate as threat of major flood looms

US stocks hit new highs following Senate testimony by Fed chief

By Barry Grey, 15 February 2017

While Yellen defended the Dodd-Frank banking law, she repeatedly stated her support for “mitigating” the regulatory “burden” on financial firms.

Amid trade war rhetoric from White House, Fed holds interest rates steady

More on the Trump presidency »

Syria talks restart in Astana as fighting continues

By Jordan Shilton, 15 February 2017

The talks began just days after an Amnesty International report detailed the mass extrajudicial execution of an estimated 13,000 opponents of the Assad government at a Damascus prison.

Trump administration to expand India-US military-strategic alliance

By Deepal Jayasekera and Keith Jones, 15 February 2017

The Trump administration is intent on using India as a frontline state in a drive to thwart China through economic and military pressure and, if need be, all-out war.

German Chancellor Merkel promotes harsher deportation policies

By Martin Kreickenbaum, 15 February 2017

Last Thursday, the chancellor met with the minister presidents of Germany’s states to implement a new plan for deporting refugees.

Social Democrat Steinmeier is elected president of Germany

UK schools decimated by funding cuts

By Tom Pearce, 15 February 2017

Seventy-one percent of school head teachers polled were able to balance their budgets only by making cuts or dipping into reserves.

Momentive strikers forced to take pay and health cuts as US owner throws a multi-million-dollar party

By Jerry White, 15 February 2017

As the unions told workers to accept a concession-laden contract, the billionaire who owns a substantial share of Momentive was enjoying a birthday party complete with camels, acrobats and fireworks.

Backed by Democrats, union pushes sellout deal to end Momentive strike

Documents reveal that Oakland officials were aware of illegal housing prior to Ghost Ship fire

By Evan Blake, 15 February 2017

Over 600 pages of redacted reports by local police officers, firefighters and building inspectors detail dozens of visits to the Ghost Ship warehouse in recent years.

Brazilian army sent into streets of Rio amid mounting protests

By Bill Van Auken, 15 February 2017

The government ordered 9,000 troops to Rio Tuesday as the state teeters on the brink of insolvency and faces growing opposition to austerity and privatization.

Report reveals widespread torture of minors in Mexican prisons

By Alex Gonzalez, 15 February 2017

In Mexico, 57 percent of adolescents in prison are tortured, according to a report released by the National Center for Human Rights.

In face of US threats, Mexican president calls for “national unity”

Australian government in disarray over vote-swapping deal with One Nation

By Mike Head, 15 February 2017

The political crisis not only raises the prospect of a split in the federal government but points to the widespread popular disaffection wracking the entire parliamentary establishment.

Australian government uses investment collapse to push Trump-style corporate tax cuts

Australian disability workers strike against privatisation

By our reporters, 15 February 2017

Union officials sought to divert the widespread anger into impotent appeals to the state Coalition government, while promoting the opposition Labor Party.

New in Spanish

El redoble de tambores en EE.UU. ante prueba de misil norcoreano

Por Peter Symonds, 15 febrero 2017

La prueba de un misil balístico por parte de Corea del Norte tuvo lugar en medio de las crecientes tensiones entre EE.UU. y China, el único aliado norcoreano.

El Partido Demócrata y la histeria anti-rusa

Por Patrick Martin, 15 febrero 2017

Si bien los millones que han manifestado contra Trump han sido motivados por su oposición al chovinismo nacional y el autoritarismo, las críticas a Trump por los demócratas están centradas en su demandas por agresión contra Rusia.

New in French

La campagne présidentielle de Fillon face à l’effondrement

Par Alex Lantier, 15 février 2017

La femme de François Fillon, le candidat présidentiel des Républicains, a reçu près de 900 000 euros pour des emplois de complaisance à l’Assemblée nationale.

Le professeur allemand de droite Jörg Baberowski menace les étudiants qui le critiquent

Par nos correspondants, 15 février 2017

Ce professeur d’histoire à l’université Humboldt réagit à l’opposition grandissante contre ses points de vue politiques d’extrême-droite en proférant des insultes grossières à l’encontre de ses critiques et en incitant ses étudiants à agir contre eux.

Il y a 25 ans
Les États-Unis renvoyaient des réfugiés aux escadrons de la mort en Haïti

15 février 2017

Le 10 février 1992, la Cour suprême des États-Unis a refusé de mettre fin au renvoi de force des réfugiés haïtiens vers leur pays d’origine, donnant ainsi le feu vert à la campagne brutale de l’administration Bush. La Cour avait donné au gouvernement jusqu’au vendredi pour répondre à un référé déposé par des avocats des réfugiés pour obtenir une suspension de tous les retours forcés.

New in German

USA rühren Kriegstrommel gegen Nordkorea

Von Peter Symonds, 15. Februar 2017

Hintergrund des jüngsten nordkoreanischen Raketentests sind die Spannungen zwischen den USA und China, die sich an Handelsfragen, der Währungspolitik, Taiwan und den Gebietsstreitigkeiten im Süd- und Ostchinesischen Meer entzünden.

Trumps nationaler Sicherheitsberater Michael Flynn zurückgetreten

Von Bill Van Auken, 15. Februar 2017

Die Kontroverse um Flynns Gespräche in Moskau verdeutlicht die Schärfe des Konflikts im Washingtoner Militär- und Geheimdienstapparat über die Kriegspolitik der USA.

Frankreich: Wahlkampagne des konservativen Fillon vor dem Aus

Von Alex Lantier, 15. Februar 2017

Die Ehefrau von François Fillon, dem rechten Präsidentschaftskandidaten der Republikaner, erhielt zirka 900.000 Euro für eine fiktive Beschäftigung bei der Nationalversammlung.

Other Languages

Perspective

Behind the Flynn resignation and Trump crisis: A bitter conflict over imperialist policy

15 February 2017

Congressional Democrats are speaking for a large section of the military-intelligence apparatus that is opposed to any lessening of US pressure on Russia.

Earlier Perspectives »

Centenary of the Russian Revolution

The ICFI is initiating its commemoration of the centenary of the Russian Revolution of 1917 with a series of online lectures. David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, will give the first lecture, “Why Study the Russian Revolution?” The lecture will be streamed on YouTube on Saturday, March 11 at 5:00 pm Eastern (US). Four biweekly lectures will follow.

Register for the lectures today at wsws.org/1917

Socialism and the centenary of the Russian Revolution: 1917-2017

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 3 January 2017

History

Eighty years since the victory of the Flint sit-down strike—Part one

By Jerry White, 15 February 2017

The 44-day battle by autoworkers lasted from December 29, 1936 to February 11, 1937. It forced General Motors, then the largest industrial enterprise on the planet, to recognize the recently founded United Auto Workers.

Georgi Valentinovich Plekhanov (1856–1918): His Place in the History of Marxism

Commentary

What did billionaire Mike Ilitch leave Detroit?

By Shannon Jones, 15 February 2017

Behind the official paeans to the late billionaire Mike Ilitch lies the reality of a city devastated by the ruthless workings of capitalist “free enterprise.”

ISO seeks to channel anti-Trump protests behind the Democratic Party

By Tom Hall, 14 February 2017

US drumbeat for action against North Korea

By Peter Symonds, 14 February 2017

Conservative Fillon campaign faces collapse in French presidential elections

By Alex Lantier, 14 February 2017

Stop the attacks on immigrants! For a socialist policy of open borders and full rights for all workers!

By Barry Grey, 11 February 2017

Cook County, Illinois refuses to charge officer involved in fatal shooting of two

Pablo Iglesias re-elected as Podemos general secretary at Vistalegre II congress

Arts

Recording artists voice opposition to the White House at 2017 Grammy Awards

By Nick Barrickman, 15 February 2017

Numerous Grammy Award-winning music artists took to the stage on Sunday’s awards ceremony to criticize the new US administration.

Composer David Axelrod dies at age 85

By Nick Barrickman, 15 February 2017

Axelrod crafted and inspired some of the more haunting, cinematic and versatile popular American music during the second half of the 20th century.

I Am Not Your Negro: Raoul Peck’s documentary on James Baldwin

By Clare Hurley, 14 February 2017

Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi’s The Salesman

IYSSE

Right-wing German professor Jörg Baberowski threatens students who criticize him

By our correspondents, 13 February 2017

Berlin students defend University of Bremen student parliament against right-wing Professor Jörg Baberowski

Jörg Baberowski sues the student body of the University of Bremen

Open Letter to the International Socialist Organization
Reverse ISO position supporting political censorship at NYU

By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, 10 February 2017

IYSSE resubmits application at NYU, draws large turnout for rally and meeting

The Trump Presidency

Nazis in the Trump White House

By Patrick Martin, 13 February 2017

US Senate confirms former Goldman Sachs executive as Treasury secretary

By Patrick Martin, 14 February 2017

Thousands demonstrate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin against deportations

By Chris Davion and Jeff Lusanne, 14 February 2017

Trump and Trudeau reaffirm “indispensable” Canada-US alliance

By Roger Jordan, 14 February 2017

“Health care has been under attack for quite a long time”
Protests in support of Planned Parenthood draw tens of thousands nationwide

By a WSWS reporting team, 13 February 2017

Japanese and US leaders condemn North Korean missile test

By Peter Symonds, 13 February 2017

Trump’s lavish welcome for Japan’s prime minister

The election of Trump and the crisis of the European Union

Week three of the Trump presidency: A crisis of bourgeois rule and turn toward dictatorship

More on the Trump presidency »

Socialist Equality Party

SEP/IYSSE public meetings
Mobilize the working class to defend immigrant rights!

12 February 2017

Socialist Equality Party (UK) public meetings
Trump and Brexit: For a socialist opposition to economic nationalism

11 February 2017

Public meetings in Australia and New Zealand
The political significance of Trump and the accelerated drive to war

10 February 2017

Workers Struggles

New York transit workers’ opposition builds against contract sellout

By Alan Whyte, 13 February 2017

Book Review

Eliot Cohen’s blueprint for World War Three

By Eric London, 8 February 2017

New in Arabic

Arabic translation of “Build the Socialist Equality Party (France)!”

We are publishing here the Arabic translation of the November 16, 2016 statement: Build the Socialist Equality Party (France)!. This was adopted as the historical and political basis for the founding of the Parti de l’égalité socialiste, the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International.

Arabic translation of the preface to A Quarter Century of War: The US Drive for Global Hegemony 1990–2016

Mehring Books

The Election of Donald Trump: The Insurrection of the Oligarchy
New pamphlet from Mehring Books

25 January 2017

The demonstrations against Trump foreshadow the eruption of class struggle in the US on a massive scale.

100 Years since the Russian Revolution
Mehring Books announces centenary edition of landmark documentary, Tsar to Lenin

This week in history: February 13-19

25 years ago: Pentagon prepares for new wars

Classified documents leaked by the Pentagon, reported in the New York Times and the Washington Post the week of February 17, 1992, revealed that the US was engaged in intensive planning for wars in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

More »

50 years ago: CIA funding of US student and labor groups exposed

The February 13, 1967 admission by leaders of the liberal National Student Association (NSA) that their organization had been receiving funds from the Central Intelligence Agency since the 1950s sparked a series of exposures.

More »

75 years ago: Roosevelt orders internment of Japanese-Americans

On February 19, 1942 US President Franklin Roosevelt, under authority of the War Powers Act, signed Executive Order 9066, which put the Army in charge of uprooting Japanese-Americans and placing them in internment camps for the duration of World War II.

More »

 

100 years ago: Food riots in Brooklyn, New York

On February 19, 1917, food riots broke out in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York, amid mounting anger among workers and the poor over the rising cost of living, including food prices.

More »

Security and the Fourth Internaional

Security and the Fourth International
The Smith Act trial and government infiltration of the Trotskyist movement—Part one

By Eric London, 8 December 2016

Security and the Fourth International
The Smith Act trial and government infiltration of the Trotskyist movement—Part two
Why wasn’t Joseph Hansen a defendant in the Smith Act trial?