18 December 2012

Obama, Republicans move toward deal to slash social programs

By Barry Grey, 18 December 2012

Obama has sought throughout the “fiscal cliff” talks to insist on a token increase in tax rates for the rich to provide a fig leaf of “fairness” to his assault on social programs.

Media, politicians obscure social roots of Connecticut shooting

By Joseph Kishore, 18 December 2012

No serious analysis can be found in the American media or within the political establishment of the social and political environment that gives rise to mass killings in the US.

Ten girls die in Afghanistan explosion as US pushes for permanent presence

By Bill Van Auken, 18 December 2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told a press conference in Kabul last week that “we are not departing Afghanistan.”

Israel considering attack on Syria

By Jean Shaoul, 18 December 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has twice asked Jordan for its support to bomb Syria’s alleged chemical weapons facilities.

UK government pays millions to tortured Libyan to conceal its crimes

By Julie Hyland, 18 December 2012

The British government has agreed to pay £2.23 million to Libyan Sami al-Saadi and his family, who were kidnapped with the aid of MI6 and rendered to Tripoli.

Peña Nieto moves toward privatization of Mexican oil

By Rafael Azul, 18 December 2012

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has announced plans to partially privatize state-owned Pemex Oil Company.

New Chinese leader signals further pro-market restructuring

By John Chan, 18 December 2012

Xi’s recent trip to southern China deliberately replicated the “southern tour” of Deng Xiaoping in 1992 that greatly accelerated capitalist restoration.

Australian hospital patients waiting longer under Labor’s “health reform”

By Mike Head, 18 December 2012

The data underscores the fraud of the government’s claims that its three-year-old “national health reform” program seeks to improve patient care.

Michigan’s Awrey Bakeries faces closure

By David Brown, 18 December 2012

After years of demanding concessions from its workers, Awrey Bakeries is preparing to shut down production and lay off more than 200 workers.

New in Spanish

El escándalo de HSBC demuestra que los bancos están por encima de la ley

Por Barry Grey, 18 Diciembre 2012

La decisión del gobierno de Obama de no entablar juicio contra los directores del Banco HSBC es una muestra más de la influencia de la aristocracia financiera sobre la sociedad capitalista.

New in Romanian

Împuşcăturile într-o şcoală din Conneticut lasă în urmă 26 de morţi, dintre care 20 de copii

De Kate Randall, 18 decembrie 2012

Vineri dimineaţa, un tânăr înarmat a intrat într-o şcoală primară în Newtown, Connecticut şi a deschis focul, ucigând 26 de oameni, inclusiv 20 de copii. Atacatorul a fost găsit mort în interiorul şcolii, decesul său fiind urmarea unei răni auto-provocate.

New in French

L’horreur à Newtown

Par le comité rédaction, 18 décembre 2012

Au-delà des motivations individuelles du tueur, la fusillade de masse de Newtown, dans le Connecticut, met à nu la brutalité qui imprègne la société américaine.

New in Spanish

El escándalo de HSBC demuestra que los bancos están por encima de la ley

Por Barry Grey, 18 Diciembre 2012

En el más reciente escándalo de las actividades criminales de los principales bancos del mundo, el Departamento de Justicia norteamericano.

New in German

Die WSWS benötigt Eure Unterstützung

Von Ulrich Rippert, 13. Dezember 2012

Um ihre Arbeit aufrecht erhalten und weiter ausbauen zu können, benötigt die WSWS dringend umfangreiche Spenden und vor allem regelmäßige Spender.

Der Horror von Newtown

Von der Redaktion, 18. Dezember 2012

Jenseits der individuellen Beweggründe des Mörders legt die Schießerei in Newtown die Brutalität offen, die die amerikanische Gesellschaft durchdrungen hat.

Bundestag beschließt Patriot-Einsatz an Syrischer Grenze

Von Ulrich Rippert, 18. Dezember 2012

Der Raketen-Beschluss des Bundestags leitet eine neues Stadium imperialistischer Gewalt in der deutschen Außenpolitik ein.

Opel und die Linkspartei

Von Dietmar Henning, 18. Dezember 2012

Der Bochumer Betriebsrat unter Rainer Einenkel hat in den vergangenen Jahren jedem Angriff auf Arbeitsplätze und Löhne zugestimmt. Die Linkspartei stärkt ihm den Rücken.

EU-Gipfel
Jahre der Krise und des Sparens stehen bevor

Von Stefan Steinberg, 18. Dezember 2012

Die Staatschefs und Finanzminister Europas waren sich bei ihrem zweitägigen Gipfel von Donnerstag bis Freitag einig, dass die Sparmaßnahmen ausgeweitet und verschärft werden müssen.

PSG-Versammlung zur Verteidigung der griechischen Arbeiter

Von Marianne Arens, 18. Dezember 2012

Unter dem Motto „Verteidigt die griechischen Arbeiter!“ führt die Partei für Soziale Gleichheit zurzeit eine Kampagne mit Veranstaltungen in Bochum, Frankfurt und Berlin durch.

Syrien im Fadenkreuz

Von Joseph Kishore, 18. Dezember 2012

Die USA und ihre imperialistischen Verbündeten bereiten mit der Stationierung von Patriot-Raketenbatterien in der Türkei und der offiziellen Anerkennung der Opposition eine direkte Intervention vor.

Verfassungsreferendum in Ägypten:
Geringe Beteiligung und Betrugsvorwürfe

Von Johannes Stern, 18. Dezember 2012

Am Samstag fand in zehn der 27 ägyptischen Gouvernements die erste Abstimmungsrunde über die neue Verfassung statt, die von Islamisten und dem Militär unterstützt wird.

Russland: Rede von Präsident Putin

Von Clara Weiss, 18. Dezember 2012

Putin hielt seine Rede vor der Föderationsversammlung vor dem Hintergrund einer deutlichen Verschärfung der Wirtschaftskrise und wachsender Spannungen in der Regierung.

New in Persian

اهميت تاريخي ركود اقتصاد جهاني

4 دسامبر 2012 نيك بيمز

كاهش قابل توجه دورنماي رشد اقتصادي 34 كشور عضو سازمان همياري اقتصادي و توسعه ) OECD ( آخرين هشدار از سري هشدارهايي است كه سازمانهاي مهم اقتصادي جهان در باره سقوط اقتصاد جهاني ابراز كردهاند.

يونان در چنگال اتحاديه اروپا

22 نوامبر 2012 كريستوف دراير

وزراي دارايي اروپا در روز سه شنبه پرداخت وام اضطراري به يونان را بار ديگر به بعد موكول كردند، وامي كه در حقيقت موعد پرداخت آن تابستان گذشته بود. طبق گمانه زنيهاي موجود در روز دوشنبه آينده در اين باره تصميم گرفته خواهدشد.

نقطه عطفي در اقتصاد جهاني

10 نوامبر 2012 نيك بينز

پيش از انتخابات رياست جمهوري در سال 2008 در آمريكا، بخش هاي قابل توجهي از "از ما بهتران" در پي بحران مالي كه با ورشكستگي بانك برادران ليمن شعله ور شده بود، مصمم شدند كه از اوباما حمايت كنند.

Other Languages

Perspective

The enduring significance of the life and work of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya

18 December 2012

The International Committee of the Fourth International and the World Socialist Web Site today mark 25 years since the death of Comrade Keerthi Balasuriya, the general secretary of the Revolutionary Communist League, forerunner of the Socialist Equality Party of Sri Lanka

Earlier Perspectives »

Socialist Equality Party

Twenty years since the death of Keerthi Balasuriya

By David North, 18 December 2012

This article was originally posted on the WSWS in two parts on December 18-19, 2007.


Australia: Keen interest in socialist perspective at Tsar to Lenin screenings

By our correspondents, 17 December 2012

Workers and youth speak about the relevance of the Russian Revolution today

By our correspondents, 17 December 2012

Commentary

Horror in Newtown

By the editorial board, 17 December 2012

Ireland’s United Left Alliance presents its “alternative” budget

By Jordan Shilton, 17 December 2012

Egyptian constitutional referendum marked by low turnout, allegations of fraud

By Johannes Stern, 17 December 2012

Right-wing LDP government to take office in Japan

By Peter Symonds, 17 December 2012

Mehring Books

One-day sale – get 50 percent off Tsar to Lenin DVD

18 December 2012

Take advantage of special one-day savings of 50 percent on Tsar to Lenin.


Science

Stone tools and the evolution of modern human cognition

By Philip Guelpa, 18 December 2012

A newly reported microlithic technology from a site in South Africa helps close the apparent temporal gap between the biological evolution of modern humans and the archaeological evidence of fully modern cognitive abilities.

Arts Review

PiThe Life of Pi: In a lifeboat alone with a tiger

By David Walsh, 15 December 2012

Workers Struggles

Workers Struggles: The Americas

18 December 2012

The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Auto Workers Struggles

India: Thousands join convention and protest to defend victimised Maruti Suzuki workers

By Arun Kumar, 15 December 2012

WarrenDetroit area auto workers speak on passage of Michigan right-to-work law

By a WSWS reporting team, 15 December 2012

GM-Opel plant in Germany to be shut down

By Dietmar Henning, 12 December 2012

More on auto workers struggles »

Bankstown Fire

Australia: Fire safety problems in new student accommodation

By Mark Church, 14 December 2012

More on the Bankstown fire »

25 years ago: Wall Street insider trader sentenced to prison

Ivan Boesky, 50 years old and one of Wall Street's most successful speculators, was sentenced to three years in prison on December 18, 1987.

More »

50 years ago: Juan Bosch elected president of the Dominican Republic

The first free elections in the history of the Dominican Republic, held December 20, 1962, resulted in the election of the left bourgeois nationalist Juan Bosch.

More »

75 years ago: “Rape of Nanking” by Japanese army horrifies world opinion

The first reports of the mass slaughter of Chinese residents of the city of Nanking by invading Japanese forces reached the world December 18, 1937.

More »

 

100 years ago: Fake Piltdown man unveiled

On December 18, 1912, one of the most notorious of scientific hoaxes began.

More »

Correspondence

Letters from our readers

18 December 2012

A selection of recent letters to the World Socialist Web Site.