World News
Facebook and Google outline unprecedented mass censorship at US Senate hearing
By Andre Damon, 18 January 2018
Facebook is planning to double its army of censors to nearly 20,000 people by the end of this year, a company official told lawmakers Thursday.
Canada joins US in stepping up threats against North Korea at Vancouver summit
By Roger Jordan, 18 January 2018
The talk of negotiations and a diplomatic solution is a smokescreen behind which preparations for a military attack are well advanced.
As US government shutdown looms, Democrats push punitive immigration deal
By Barry Grey, 18 January 2018
The latest version of the bipartisan plan proposes even more billions to militarize the US-Mexico border, including funds earmarked for Trump’s border wall with Mexico.
Two key players in UAW corruption scandal to enter guilty pleas
By Shannon Jones, 18 January 2018
The wife of a deceased UAW official and a Fiat Chrysler executive are expected to plead guilty to charges they took part in a scheme to siphon off millions from the UAW-Chrysler Joint Training Center.
Twelve arrested outside San Diego for feeding the homeless
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 18 January 2018
On January 14, 12 members of the activist group “Break the Ban” were arrested in the city of El Cajon, a suburb of San Diego, California, for providing food to a homeless community.
Statement to the World Socialist Web Site webinar
Julian Assange calls effort of corporations to control Internet discourse “an existential threat to humanity”
18 January 2018
This statement was sent by WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the January 16 webinar, “Organizing Resistance to Internet Censorship.”
Budget cuts lead to teacher and student injuries at Massachusetts school
By Julian James, 18 January 2018
Last year the school eliminated special classes for students with major behavioral and learning challenges.
Boston Transit: Control Board fiddles while the Red Line burns
By John Marion, 18 January 2018
Three years after a series of snow storms shut down Boston’s public transportation system, no real improvements to the decrepit infrastructure have been made.
Carillion’s collapse in UK and the East Coast bailout: What would ending the “Private Financial Initiative rip-off” entail?
By Jean Shaoul, 18 January 2018
In the wake of the collapse of construction giant Carillion, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn demagogically declared it was time “to end the rip-off privatisation policies.”
Another bonanza year for highest paid UK CEOs
By Dennis Moore, 18 January 2018
The median average pay of the top FTSE 100 CEO's is £3.45 million a year, 120 times the average pay of a worker.
Australia: New South Wales rail workers to strike for 24 hours
By Oscar Grenfell, 18 January 2018
The rail union is seeking to prevent the stoppage, which reflects explosive anger among workers over the gutting of wages and conditions.
World Socialist Web Site calls for coalition of socialist and anti-war websites to counter Internet censorship
By Niles Niemuth, 18 January 2018
The WSWS hosted a livestreamed discussion between David North and Chris Hedges that reviewed the political context of the efforts to censor the Internet and the necessary steps for an effective fight-back.
Japan’s working poor
By Kurt Brown, 18 January 2018
There has been a huge increase in the proportion of the workforce engaged in poorly paid, part-time work.
False alarm of incoming missile in Japan
By Peter Symonds, 17 January 2018
The false alert, coming days after a similar incident in Hawaii, highlights the advanced preparations by the US and its allies for war with North Korea.
Bernie Sanders seeks to derail growing working class opposition to capitalism
By Patrick Martin, 17 January 2018
The Vermont senator issued an appeal to oppose mounting global inequality that makes no mention of capitalism, socialism, war or the class struggle.
“The state trooper choked me because I was telling the truth”
Former coal miner in Eastern Kentucky speaks about police assault at public meeting
By Sheila Brehm, 17 January 2018
Gary Michael Hunt, a former coal miner who was assaulted by a state trooper for criticizing local authorities about the lack of safe water for area residents, spoke with the WSWS.
Cost of hookworm treatment beyond reach of many Alabama residents
By Warren Duzak, 17 January 2018
Working class and poor residents in the southern US state face an outbreak of the hookworm parasite due to unsanitary conditions.
Trump administration escalates attack on data encryption
By Will Morrow, 17 January 2018
In a sign that the White House is moving to criminalize encryption, deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein argued that “warrant-proof” files are unconstitutional.
After Ontario minimum wage hike
Canadian businesses claw back wages from low-paid workers
By Carl Bronski, 17 January 2018
While there is widespread anger in the working class at the outrageous actions of big business, it finds no political expression in the bogus protests launched by the trade unions.
Romanian prime minister resigns amid rising social tensions
By Andrei Tudora and Tina Zamfir, 17 January 2018
There is an increasing mood of militancy among Romanian workers, with autoworkers at Ford locked in a struggle against management, the union and the government.
Stricken Iranian tanker sinks, causing major oil spill in East China Sea
By Robert Campion, 17 January 2018
After the ship exploded, all its crew members were presumed dead and concerns were raised about the worst petroleum condensate discharge in history.
Australian government continues deportations of New Zealanders
By Tom Peters, 17 January 2018
New Zealanders who have spent most of their lives in Australia are being detained and expelled for minor offences or on “character” grounds.
Hawaii’s “false alarm” and the advanced preparations for war against North Korea
By Bill Van Auken, 16 January 2018
The terror unleashed upon the population of Hawaii cannot be understood outside of the myriad exercises being conducted by the Pentagon in preparation for an invasion of North Korea.
US to set up 30,000-strong “border force” in Syria
By Peter Symonds, 16 January 2018
Having proclaimed the defeat of ISIS, Washington is determined to prosecute its goal of ousting the Iranian- and Russian-backed Syrian regime.
Death toll in Southern California mudslides rises to 20
By Dan Conway, 16 January 2018
Rescuers have all but given up hope of finding anyone else alive in the coastal community of Montecito, transitioning from a “search and rescue phase” to a “search and recovery phase.”
Threat of trade war looming larger
By Nick Beams, 16 January 2018
A series of “anti-dumping” measures initiated by the United States could set in motion retaliatory action and lead to widening trade conflicts.
UK: Election of pro-Corbyn slate to Labour’s National Executive Committee underscores left shift in working class
By Chris Marsden, 16 January 2018
Corbyn is now in control of his cabinet and, following various reshuffles, has a majority of the party membership and now the NEC.
UK: Carillion collapse threatens jobs and pensions, exposing plunder of social assets
By Julie Hyland, 16 January 2018
There are reports of banks shifting Carillion off their balance sheets over the last months in anticipation of its inevitable folding.
Mass protests in Peru over pardoning of Fujimori
By Cesar Uco, 16 January 2018
The deal reached to spare President Kuczynski impeachment in return for the pardoning of Fujimori has only deepened the crisis of bourgeois rule in Peru.
Australian media promotes fascists amid growing racist hysteria over “African gangs”
By Patrick Kelly, 16 January 2018
Channel 7 news aired an “exclusive” report on a meeting of fascistic organisations, promoting their vigilantism as “a kind of neighbourhood watch.”
Australia: Continuing chaos on Sydney’s trains
By Oscar Grenfell, 16 January 2018
Amid ongoing delays and service cancellations, it emerged that Sydney Trains cut the number of station staff by more than a quarter between 2013-14 and last financial year.
Statement by Julian Assange opposing Internet censorship will be read at WSWS “Organizing Resistance” Webinar
16 January 2018
The webinar featuring David North and Chris Hedges will be broadcast live on January 16 at 7:00 pm EST.
Martin Luther King Day marked with an open racist in the White House
By Fred Mazelis, 16 January 2018
The advent of Trump exposes the reality beneath the hypocritical official tributes to the slain civil rights leader.
#MeToo allegations against 95-year-old Marvel comics legend Stan Lee backfire
By Laura Tiernan, 16 January 2018
Allegations of sexual harassment against the creator of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four have met with widespread public derision.
Thousands march to mark anniversary of Ben Ali’s overthrow in Tunisia
By Alex Lantier and Kumaran Ira, 15 January 2018
The new wave of protests was prompted by anger over mass unemployment, corruption and the 2018 finance law.
The missile alert in Hawaii
Thirty-eight minutes of chaos
By Patrick Martin, 15 January 2018
A false warning of impending nuclear attack terrorized millions on Saturday.
After Trump’s racist outburst, Democrats plead for anti-immigrant “compromise” with White House
By Niles Niemuth and Barry Grey, 15 January 2018
Trump has responded to the Democrats’ mixture of servility and phony outrage by doubling down on his demands for curbs on immigration.
Kentucky water crisis outrage: Another US worker arrested for criticizing government officials
By Sheila Brehm, 15 January 2018
A former coal miner was stopped from complaining about the persistent shutoff of drinking water to families in Martin County.
“Keep fighting, we have to come together”
Educators denounce attack on Louisiana school teacher Deyshia Hargrave
By Nancy Hanover, 15 January 2018
WSWS Teacher Newsletter readers explain their support for the Louisiana teacher who was arrested for speaking out at a school board meeting last week.
Cold-related deaths in Wisconsin expose abysmal social conditions
By Christopher Davion and Matthew Verhoven, 15 January 2018
Nine people died in Wisconsin due to exposure to freezing temperatures that began in the final week of 2017.
Trump emphasises hostile stance on North Korea
By Peter Symonds, 15 January 2018
The latest fracas underscores the erratic character of the Trump administration’s stance toward North Korea.
UK National Archives: Key government files “missing,” and documents on Europe withheld
By Richard Tyler, 15 January 2018
The missing files are thought to include thousands of government papers dealing with critical chapters of recent history that can prove to be a major political embarrassment.
Homeless deaths skyrocket in major Canadian cities
By Janet Browning, 15 January 2018
The rising death rate among Canada’s homeless underscores the cynicism and insincerity of the federal Liberals’ housing strategy.
US AFRICOM blacklists reporter Nick Turse as “not a legitimate journalist”
By Eddie Haywood, 15 January 2018
The move is of a piece with the global effort to censor oppositional and alternative viewpoints on the Internet.
Malaysian opposition chooses autocratic Mahathir as top candidate
By John Roberts, 15 January 2018
The “reformasi” opposition’s endorsement of Mahathir as its prime ministerial candidate underscores its utterly opportunist politics.
New Zealand spy agency illegally accessed immigration data
By Tom Peters, 15 January 2018
For decades the Security Intelligence Service accessed Customs data illegally to monitor people entering the country.
Facebook blocks sharing of WSWS anti-censorship video
By Eric London, 15 January 2018
The social media giant has blocked users from sharing a video promoting the January 16 online meeting “Organizing resistance to Internet censorship.”
For new elections and a socialist offensive against the grand coalition in Germany
By Johannes Stern, 15 January 2018
Opposition within the population to the grand coalition’s anti-working class and militarist policies is enormous.
Virgin Care and other private companies seize another £3.1 billion of NHS contracts
By Ajanta Silva, 15 January 2018
By running down National Health Service-run provision across the country, the Tories have opened up new avenues for private companies to cherry pick lucrative areas.
Trump’s racist comments trigger international condemnation
By James Cogan, 13 January 2018
Officials of the Trump administration have been left to make desperate attempts to contain the diplomatic fallout.
Facebook announces major plan to censor news content
By Andre Damon, 13 January 2018
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the world’s largest social network will deprioritize news content, part of a coordinated effort to block access to information online.
German conservatives and Social Democrats agree to coalition talks
By Peter Schwarz, 13 January 2018
The 28-page document on the results of the exploratory talks conceals a deeply reactionary right-wing programme behind unctuous rhetoric about an “awakening,” “democracy,” “peace” and “justice.”
German industrial workers continue strikes
By Ulrich Rippert, 13 January 2018
The IG Metall trade union is increasingly concerned by the unrest and radical atmosphere in the plants, but has indicated its readiness to compromise and reach a sell-out deal.
Greek workers stop work in opposition to Syriza anti-strike and austerity measures
By Robert Stevens, 13 January 2018
Strikes shut down the Athens rail system, ships were unable to sail, and state-run hospitals were forced to rely on reserve staff.
Trump vows to renew all-out economic war on Iran
By Keith Jones, 13 January 2018
Trump insisted he will issue no further waivers of economic sanctions unless the Iran nuclear agreement is rewritten in accordance with his demands.
Aluminum giants lock out one thousand ABI workers in Quebec
By Laurent Lafrance, 13 January 2018
A joint venture of Alcoa and Rio Tinto Alcan, ABI has locked out 1,030 workers at its Bécancour smelter after they massively rejected the company’s final offer.
Indian unions betray Tamil Nadu bus strike
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 13 January 2018
The unions ordered workers back to work without any of their demands being met and despite the fact that they had defied a court order to end the strike for a week.
India: Workers defend WSWS supporters against attack by union leaders
By our correspondents, 13 January 2018
The willingness of workers to defend the WSWS team is a reflection of growing sympathy for a socialist and internationalist perspective and hostility towards the unions.
The deadly impact of Hurricane María extends to US hospitals
Power outages set off IV bag shortages
By Genevieve Leigh, 13 January 2018
Ongoing power outages in Puerto Rico have set off a severe crisis of IV bag shortages on the US mainland, exacerbated by a sharp increase in flu cases nationwide.
House Democrats supply votes to block limits on NSA spying
By Niles Niemuth, 13 January 2018
The Democratic Party’s support ensures the illegal surveillance program that began under George W. Bush and was expanded by Obama will pass unscathed into the hands of Donald Trump.
Walmart closes 63 Sam’s Club locations, lays off thousands of employees
By Trévon Austin, 13 January 2018
The closures and mass layoffs expose the media hype surrounding Walmart’s announced raising of wages.
Deadly mudslides in Southern California expose inadequate infrastructure
By Dan Conway, 13 January 2018
Four days after 3-foot-high mudslides raged through the California coastal community of Montecito, rescuers continue to search for survivors.
Fraud of official inquiry into Grenfell fire exposed by forced withdrawal of project management adviser
By Robert Stevens, 13 January 2018
The scandal over KPMG serves once again to dispel any illusions that the official Grenfell inquiry has anything to do with establishing the truth or holding the guilty to account.
Members and supporters of 20 groups banned from entering Israel
By Jean Shaoul, 13 January 2018
The move is a violation of free speech and the right of free movement and travel.
Court suspends Christmas pardon as Brazil’s jail population reaches world’s third highest
By Miguel Andrade, 13 January 2018
The last three years alone have seen 100,000 people thrown into the dungeons created by Brazil’s system of social apartheid.
Australian workers, youth speak out against witch-hunt over “African gangs”
By our reporters, 13 January 2018
World Socialist Web Site reporters conducted interviews about the xenophobic “anti-gang” campaign being fuelled by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his government, in tandem with the Murdoch media.
A significant tremor in the bond markets
By Nick Beams, 13 January 2018
While the bond market has calmed since Wednesday’s sell-off, reports in the financial press indicate considerable nervousness over what the dip could signify.
Trump’s racist diatribe against “shithole countries” exposes bipartisan conspiracy against immigrants
By Barry Grey, 12 January 2018
Trump’s outburst came as an embarrassment to the Democrats, who over the past week have rushed to reach a deal with the White House that would further militarize the border and expand the crackdown on immigrants.
“This is an outrage! The marshal should be arrested for assault”
Massive outpouring of support for victimized Louisiana teacher
By Nancy Hanover, 12 January 2018
The arrest and jailing of Louisiana teacher Deyshia Hargrave has prompted outrage throughout the US and internationally.
Australian government spent $4 billion last year repelling or detaining refugees
By Max Newman, 12 January 2018
Budget estimates reveal the massive cost of Australia’s anti-asylum measures.
Australia: Sydney’s train system in a shambles
By Oscar Grenfell, 12 January 2018
Thousands of commuters were left stranded this week, with delays and cancellations revealing an infrastructure and public transport crisis.
160,000 industrial workers strike in Germany
By Peter Schwarz, 11 January 2018
Amid widespread anger over social inequality and corporate job-cutting, there is a growing determination to fight for improvements in wages and working conditions.
Upturn in global economy will not last, says World Bank
By Nick Beams, 11 January 2018
The bank warned of “particularly worrying” longer-term risks associated with “subdued productivity and potential growth.”
Rental costs rising beyond reach in Nashville
By Warren Duzak, 11 January 2018
Hedge funds and other big investors are transforming private homes into rental properties, driving housing costs beyond the reach of working class and lower-middle class families.
Australian minister lashes out at China over Pacific aid
By Peter Symonds, 11 January 2018
Fierravanti-Wells declared that China was “duchessing” politicians in the Pacific, lending funds on unfavourable terms and financing worthless construction projects.
Prolonged fall in average Australian living standards
By Mike Head, 11 January 2018
The ever-greater gap between the fortunes of the wealthy and the deteriorating circumstances of working class families is escalating class tensions.
Freedom for Julian Assange!
By Bill Van Auken, 11 January 2018
The “untenable” conditions under which the WikiLeaks founder remains confined are the product of an unrelenting drive by the US and British governments to punish him for exposing the crimes of imperialism.
France’s Socialist Party attacks Catherine Deneuve for opposing #MeToo witch-hunt
By Alex Lantier, 11 January 2018
The courageous column published by 100 women in Le Monde criticizing the #MeToo campaign has provoked a venomous response from the French state machine.
“Sexual misconduct” witch-hunt targets conductor Charles Dutoit, director Max Stafford-Clarke and actor Ed Westwick
By Paul Bond, 11 January 2018
Just before Christmas, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra announced that it had cancelled appearances by its artistic director, 81-year-old conductor Charles Dutoit.
Louisiana teacher jailed for speaking out at school board meeting
By Nancy Hanover, 10 January 2018
Deyshia Hargrave was removed from a meeting, handcuffed and taken to jail for opposing a large pay hike for the school superintendent while employees have had no raise in a decade.
Two Koreas hold talks amid continuing acute tensions
By Peter Symonds, 10 January 2018
The meeting produced an agreement for North Korea to participate in the Winter Olympics, but did nothing to end the dangerous standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons.
French artists rebuff #MeToo witch-hunt
By Linda Tenenbaum, 10 January 2018
An open letter signed by actress Catherine Deneuve and other prominent women emphasizes the anti-democratic nature of the #MeToo movement and its repudiation of due process.
Right-wing wins Chile election as “left” Broad Front joins the establishment
By Andrea Lobo, 10 January 2018
With only one-fourth of the electorate voting for Piñera, the results reflect overwhelming hostility to the entire establishment and herald a new stage in the political crisis.
Twitter censors German satirical magazine
By Johannes Stern, 10 January 2018
The German censorship law is part of a comprehensive global campaign to control the Internet.
Spanish PM Rajoy seeks to prevent Catalan nationalists from forming government
By Alejandro López and Paul Mitchell, 10 January 2018
The Supreme Court is planning to issue writs against a further 11 people linked to the deposed Catalan government for their part in organising last October’s independence referendum.
Fuel tanker collision in East China Sea
By Robert Campion, 10 January 2018
The vessel could leak large quantities of oil into the East China Sea and threaten widespread pollution of coastal waters.
Australia: Port Kembla Coal Terminal locks out workers
By Oscar Grenfell, 10 January 2018
The move is part of a stepped-up offensive against mining, haulage and ports workers.
India: Bus strike cripples Tamil Nadu transport services
By Wasantha Rupasinghe, 10 January 2018
While the trade unions offer to compromise, the strikers have defied court orders, media propaganda and government threats to hire outside drivers and conductors.
Striking Tamil Nadu bus workers speak out
By Sasi Kumar and Moses Rajkumar, 10 January 2018
WSWS reporters spoke with several striking bus workers in Chennai who are engaged in the bitter struggle with the Tamil Nadu state government for higher wages.
Deadly influenza outbreak spreads throughout US, most severe in California
By Dan Conway, 9 January 2018
Over the past few weeks, cases of influenza and influenza-related illnesses have skyrocketed, reaching near epidemic level proportions.
Ten-year-old child among the victims
American Civil Liberties Union sues DC police for attacking inauguration protests
By Harvey Simpkins and Nick Barrickman, 9 January 2018
A civil lawsuit filed by the ACLU alleges protesters were assaulted and deprived of their constitutional rights.
Notes on police violence
US police kill 29 during first week of 2018
By George Gallanis, 9 January 2018
Almost all of the killings follow a general logic: police kill anyone they suspect to be a threat, regardless of how severe or even real the threat.
Britain's Guardian newspaper registers concern at collapse of high-profile rape cases
By Chris Marsden and Robert Stevens, 9 January 2018
Events that confirm the fundamental importance of the presumption of innocence have been met with undisguised antipathy from those sections of the media most closely involved with the #MeToo campaign.
New Zealand police refuse to prosecute over Christchurch building collapse
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 9 January 2018
No one has been held accountable for the unsafe design of the CTV building, which collapsed in the 2011 earthquake killing 115 people.
Australian aged care workers confront worsening conditions
By Michelle Stevens, 9 January 2018
Decades of government funding cuts, combined with the rise of corporate profit-making operators, have led to severe under-staffing.
French chemical industry unions back contract violating minimum wage laws
By Alex Lantier, 8 January 2018
Backed by the European Union, President Emmanuel Macron is using his labor decrees to try to scrap basic social rights won by the working class.
The campaign over the “unfitness” of Donald Trump
By Patrick Martin, 8 January 2018
The Democrats, once again, avoid any appeal to popular opposition to the right-wing policies of Trump and the Republicans.
Iran: Anti-government protests abate in face of mass repression
By Jordan Shilton and Keith Jones, 8 January 2018
None of the grievances fueling the working class protests that swept across Iran in recent days have been addressed, let alone resolved.
Puerto Rico, more than 100 days after Hurricane Maria: The class issues
By Genevieve Leigh, 8 January 2018
The absence of planning for the hurricane and the lack of any significant response to the devastation by the local and federal governments has had deadly consequences.
US President Trump backs meeting between two Koreas
By Peter Symonds, 8 January 2018
Trump suggested the possibility of talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, even though he had threatened North Korea with nuclear annihilation just days earlier.
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