24 January 2018

World Economic Forum meets in Davos under shadow of crisis and war

By Bill Van Auken, 24 January 2018

The gathering of the world’s oligarchs is taking place amid the breakdown of the postwar capitalist order and the eruption of great power conflict.

Oxfam: Bottom half of world’s population received none of the wealth created in 2017

“Fractures, Fears and Failures:” World’s ruling elites stare into the abyss

Bodies of five workers recovered at site of Oklahoma gas well blast

By Jerry White, 24 January 2018

The victims ranged from new floor hands to veteran oil and gas workers.

Five missing after Oklahoma drilling rig explosion

IMF upgrades global growth forecast amid warnings of "fracture points"

By Nick Beams, 24 January 2018

While attention is focused on the headline predictions of a rise in growth, there are warnings that the spurt may not last.

Ankara cracks down on opposition to Turkish invasion of Syria

By Halil Celik, 24 January 2018

As Turkey’s military operation against US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria entered its fourth day, at least 50 people had been arrested across Turkey.

Fighting rages as Turkey advances on Syrian Kurdish enclave

Volunteer arrested for giving food and water to immigrants along US-Mexico border

By Will Morrow, 24 January 2018

The arrest is a blatant act of retaliation against No More Deaths, coming a few hours after it released footage of agents sabotaging humanitarian water supplies.

Wave of immigrant arrests, deportations in Michigan

Massive raids threatened against immigrants in California

More on the attacks on immigrants »

Fifty-nine defendants await trial for protesting against Trump’s inauguration

By E.P. Milligan, 24 January 2018

The Trump administration is determined to win some convictions to set a legal precedent for the criminalization of constitutionally protected political speech and protest.

Four months after Hurricane Maria
Continuing crisis used to justify sell-off of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid

By Genevieve Leigh, 24 January 2018

The governor of Puerto Rico announced plans to privatize the island’s largest public utility amidst the longest and largest power outage in modern US history.

Australia: Workers reject union-government attempts to cancel NSW rail strike

By Oscar Grenfell, 24 January 2018

Rail workers responded with hostility to the union’s attempt to call off Monday’s stoppage, on the basis of an “offer” providing no details of the government’s demands for cuts to jobs and conditions.

Australian rail workers, bus drivers and commuters support NSW train strike

Indian factory fire kills 17 workers

By W. A. Sunil, 24 January 2018

Women and children were trapped inside the building because illegal constructions blocked their escape.

Germany: IG Metall seeks to impose new contract

By Gustav Kemper, 24 January 2018

The IG Metall leadership, which supports the formation of a new grand coalition government, is opposed to a broad mobilisation of workers against job cuts.

Germany: IG Metall greets far-right AfD participants at union protest

Hundreds more jobs being cut at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant in UK

By Margot Miller, 24 January 2018

The UK redundancies are part of a European-wide offensive against jobs and wages.

“Fake news” hysteria set to take center stage in Brazil’s October elections

By Miguel Andrade, 24 January 2018

In joining the global crusade against “fake news,” the Brazilian authorities are preparing to rely on a dictatorship-era National Security Law to censor oppositional news and opinion.

New in Spanish

Por una coalición internacional para luchar contra la censura del Internet

24 enero 2018

Una carta abierta del Comité Editorial Internacional del World Socialist Web Site a sitios web, organizaciones y activistas socialistas, izquierdistas, progresistas y contra la guerra.

Oxfam: la mitad inferior de la población mundial no recibió nada de la riqueza creada en 2017

Por Niles Niemuth, 24 enero 2018

La investigación anual, que informó del mayor incremento anual de la cantidad de multimillonarios en el mundo, se publicó coincidiendo con el Foro Económico Mundial en Davos, Suiza.

Fuerte caída en el precio de bitcoin un signo de creciente turbulencia financiera

Por Nik Beams, 24 enero 2018

El aumento especulativo, y ahora las caídas, en bitcoin y otras criptomonedas son indicativos de procesos más amplios en el sistema financiero global.

Kentucky se convierte en el primer estado en imponer requisitos de trabajo a los beneficiarios de Medicaid

Por Shelley Connor, 24 enero 2018

Funcionarios del estado estiman que dentro de cinco años la nueva iniciativa habrá resultado en 100.000 inscripciones menos de Medicaid, lo cual le ahorrará al estado $2,4 mil millones.

New in French

Pour une coalition internationale contre la censure d'Internet
Une lettre ouverte du Comité de rédaction international du World Socialist Web Site aux sites web, organisations et militants socialistes, anti-guerre, progressistes et de gauche

24 janvier 2018

Une lettre ouverte du Comité de rédaction international du World Socialist Web Site aux sites web, organisations et militants socialistes, anti-guerre, progressistes et de gauche

Allemagne : de violents conflits au sein du Parti de gauche

Peter Schwarz, 24 janvier 2018

Après le virage à droite lors des élections fédérales et la décision des sociaux-démocrates de continuer la grande coalition avec les chrétiens-démocrates, des conflits de longue date au sein du Parti de gauche s’accentuent.

New in Russian

Эта неделя в русской революции
25–31 декабря 1917: Советское правительство национализирует банки

20 января 2018 г.

Завершается 1917 год, а положение русской революции крайне нестабильно. Новому Советскому правительству со всех сторон угрожают враждебные армии, голод, анархия и контрреволюционные интриги. Между тем бушует империалистическая война, а Октябрьское восстание мобилизует революционную борьбу во всем мире.

New in German

„Shutdown“ in den USA: Die Klassenfragen in der Zwangspause für die US-Regierung

Patrick Martin, 23. Januar 2018

Der Konflikt zwischen den Republikanern und Demokraten, der die Haushaltsperre ausgelöst hatte, wird die gesamte bürgerliche Politik noch weiter nach rechts verschieben.

Syrien: Türkei greift von USA unterstützte kurdische Truppen an

Halil Celik und Alex Lantier, 23. Januar 2018

Der türkische Einmarsch markiert einen historischen Zusammenbruch des Nato-Bündnisses, dem sowohl die USA also auch Türkei angehören.

IG Metall sucht schnelles Ende der Tarifverhandlungen

Gustav Kemper, 23. Januar 2018

Mit einem „Verhandlungsmarathon“ am Mittwoch wollen IG Metall und der Arbeitgeberverband Südwestmetall den Tarifstreit in der Elektro- und Metallindustrie beenden.

Investoren fordern Zerschlagung von Thyssenkrupp

Dietmar Henning, 23. Januar 2018

Konzernchef Hiesinger treibt die Aufspaltung des Konzerns voran, nur nicht in dem Tempo, das die aggressiven Fonds verlangen.

New in Farsi

ناآرامی طبقه کارگر در ایران: پاسخ تارنمای سوسیالیسم جهانی (WSWS) به یک مدافع رژیم ایران

کیت جونز,۶ ژانویه ۲۰۱۸

رامین مظاهری خبرنگار برون مرزی ایرانی که برای شبکه بین المللی تحت حمایت دولت - پرس تی وی کار میکند در یک قطعه انتقادی طولانی تارنمای سوسیالیسم جهانی را متهم به تخطی از "اصول سوسیالیستی“ خودش و کمک به امپریالیسم میکند.

New in Norwegian

Bernie Sanders søker å avspore voksende opposisjon mot kapitalisme

Patrick Martin, 17 January 2018

Senatoren fra Vermont leverte en appell om å opponere mot voksende global ulikhet helt uten referanser til kapitalisme, sosialisme, krig eller klassekamp.

Falsk alarm om missilangrep i Japan

Peter Symonds, 17 January 2018

Den falske alarmen, dager etter en lignende hendelse på Hawaii, fremhever USA og landets alliertes avanserte forberedelser for krig med Nord-Korea.

Other Languages

Perspective

Political lessons from the sham US government shutdown

24 January 2018

The spineless character of the Democrats’ supposed defense of immigrant youth stands in stark contrast to the party’s furious efforts to prosecute the anti-Russia campaign.

Earlier Perspectives »

Organizing Resistance to Internet Censorship

For an international coalition to fight Internet censorship
An open letter from the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site to socialist, anti-war, left-wing and progressive websites, organizations and activists

23 January 2018

Facebook details plans to censor news feeds and manipulate public opinion

By Andre Damon, 24 January 2018

In the guise of combating “social polarization,” Facebook is creating a framework for censorship, the dissemination of government propaganda, and the mass manipulation of public opinion.

Twitter warns users: We’re watching you

Facebook and Google outline unprecedented mass censorship at US Senate hearing

Facebook blocks sharing of WSWS anti-censorship video

Statement to the World Socialist Web Site webinar
Julian Assange calls effort of corporations to control Internet discourse “an existential threat to humanity”

Featured Commentary

The bicentenary of Marx’s birth, socialism and the resurgence of the international class struggle

3 January 2018

The year 2018—the bicentenary of Marx’s birth—will be characterized, above all, by an immense intensification of social tensions and an escalation of class conflict around the world.

Final reflections on the centennial year of the October Revolution

By David North, 30 December 2017

Arts Review

The 2018 Academy Award Nominations: A few worthy films, and others to fill quotas

By Hiram Lee, 24 January 2018

Guillermo del Toro’s film The Shape of Water led with thirteen nominations. Christopher Nolan’s World War II drama Dunkirk received eight nominations, while Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri received seven.

Delores O’Riordan, lead singer of Irish rock band The Cranberries, dead at age 46

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri: A vengeful mother stands up to the local “patriarchy”

Steven Spielberg’s The Post: To reveal government secrets and lies or not?

Commentary

Celebrated author Margaret Atwood challenges #MeToo’s lynch mob justice

By Linda Tenenbaum, 23 January 2018

#MeToo censors French filmmaker Brigitte Sy for signing Le Monde appeal

Craig McLachlan accused as Australian media steps up #MeToo witch-hunt

German newspaper Die Zeit and SPD back #MeToo witch-hunt

More on the sexual misconduct witchhunt »

Federal shutdown ends as Democrats cave in to Trump

By Patrick Martin, 23 January 2018

The class issues in the US federal shutdown

One year of Democratic sabotage of opposition to Trump

UK: Private landlords refusing to remedy Grenfell-style flammable cladding

By Barry Mason, 23 January 2018

Families and survivors hold seven-month commemoration of Grenfell Tower fire

More on the Grenfell Tower fire »

Workers Struggles

Seattle school bus drivers reject second contract proposal by First Student

By Jean LaChance and Hector Cordon, 23 January 2018

Union in India organises hunger strike to block industrial action by Volkswagen workers

Jeep workers demonstrate at Detroit auto show against job cuts

Two key players in UAW corruption scandal to enter guilty pleas

The merger of Germany’s Thyssen with Tata Steel
Vote “No” on union-backed steel contract! Defend all jobs!

German industrial workers continue strikes

More on autoworkers issues »

This week in history: January 22-28

25 years ago: US corporations slash 110,000 jobs

Major US corporations eliminated 110,000 jobs this week in 1993—the first year of Bill Clinton’s presidency.

More »

50 years ago: US spy ship seized in North Korean waters

On January 23, 1968, an American spy ship, the USS Pueblo, was seized in or near North Korean waters.

More »

75 years ago: Imperialist horse-trading at Casablanca

On January 24, 1943, British, French and American leaders concluded a major summit in North Africa, at Casablanca, Morocco.

More »

 

100 years ago: Wartime strikes in Germany, Austria; insurrection in Finland

On January 24, 1918, in the midst of World War I, strikes in Berlin by thousands of workers shut down the Daimler, Boersig Ludwig and General Electric works.

More »

Science

Explore the complexities and beauty of Earth’s oceans in Blue Planet II

By Bryan Dyne, 22 January 2018

International Youth and Students for Social Equality

“There’s a pattern here that NYU doesn’t want to acknowledge”
Interview with Mohamad Bazzi, NYU professor barred from the UAE

By Josh Varlin, 23 January 2018

IYSSE secures re-election to student parliament at Berlin’s Humboldt University

By the IYSSE at Humboldt University, 20 January 2018

One hundred and fifty attend IYSSE event at Humboldt University on Karl Marx bicentenary

Mehring Books

The Heritage We Defend and other important books by David North and the ICFI published in Turkish

By Halil Celik, 20 January 2018

In a country where the working class and socialist movement in general has been dominated by Stalinism, Maoism and petty-bourgeois nationalist tendencies for decades, these books are of prime importance in developing socialist consciousness among workers and youth.

New publication by Mehring Books (UK)
The falsification of David King’s work

12 January 2018

Mehring Books has produced a new pamphlet to memorialise David King, who devoted his extraordinary artistic gifts to salvaging the historical truth of the Russian Revolution of 1917 and its aftermath.

Socialist Equality Party

Sri Lanka: SEP holds first local election meeting in plantation area

By our correspondents, 19 January 2018

Indian Trotskyists hold Russian Revolution centenary meeting in Kolkata

By Ritwik Mitter, 18 January 2018

Local government election in Sri Lanka: Support SEP campaign against austerity and war! Fight for a workers’ and peasants’ government!

On the 30th anniversary of the death of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya

NHS Fightback

Virgin Care and other private companies seize another £3.1 billion of NHS contracts

By Ajanta Silva, 15 January 2018

Puerto Rico

“Capitalism puts a price tag on everything, including lives”

Death and destruction in Puerto Rico

On-the-spot interviews from Caguas, Puerto Rico, where more than 100 days after Hurricane Maria residents lack access to electricity and water, leading to the death of a dialysis patient.

More on Puerto Rico »

Puerto Rico, more than 100 days after Hurricane Maria: The class issues

The deadly impact of Hurricane María extends to US hospitals
Power outages set off IV bag shortages

Book Review

The crisis of dental care under American capitalism

By Esther Galen, 11 January 2018

Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America, exposes the reality of poor dental health and lack of dental care endured by the working class and poor in the US.

The tragic and needless death of Deamonte Driver, a victim of dental disease

By Esther Galen, 11 January 2018

New in Arabic

WSWS publishes Arabic translation of “100 years since the Balfour Declaration.”

We are publishing here, in one part, the Arabic translation of the two-part article series, “100 years since the Balfour Declaration.” This was first published on the World Socialist Web Site on November 7/8, 2017.

International Amazon Workers Voice

Amazon begins operations in Australia

By Patrick Kelly, 28 December 2017

Amazon worker dies after vomiting blood at Sacramento, California fulfillment center

By Kristina Betinis, 23 December 2017

Watch: How can Amazon workers fight back?

Share this video widely! Like and Follow the International Amazon Workers Voice on Facebook

Google Censorship

Net neutrality and the drive to censor the internet

By Andre Damon, 25 November 2017

The conspiracy to censor the Internet

By Andre Damon and Joseph Kishore, 18 October 2017

The elites “have no credibility left:” An interview with journalist Chris Hedges

An open letter to Google: Stop the censorship of the Internet! Stop the political blacklisting of the World Socialist Web Site!

25 August 2017

More on Google Censorship »