International

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has made major gains in Germany’s recent state elections—even as it moves in a more openly fascist direction.

US election—falling behind Kamala Harris no answer to Trump

Fear of another Trump presidency means much of the left in the US is swinging behind Kamala Harris, weakening the movements that are needed to win real change, writes Matilda Fay.

Racist riots in Britain as far right takes to the streets

A surge of far right rallies and violence across Britain and Northern Ireland aimed at refugees and migrants shocked millions last month.

Fight for change must continue after students bring down Bangladeshi regime

In early August, a mass student uprising in Bangladesh overthrew the 15-year rule of dictator Sheikh Hasina.

Mass protests topple Bangladesh’s authoritarian leader

Bangladesh’s authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country following weeks of mass student demonstrations.

Kamala Harris’ record is no different to Joe Biden’s

The Democratic Party establishment is piling in behind Kamala Harris after Joe Biden bowed out of the United States presidential race.

Defend Boris Kagarlitsky and the Russian anti-war movement

The Boris Kagarlitsky International Solidarity Campaign calls on the left around the world to demand an end to the unlawful imprisonment of Russians who oppose the war on Ukraine.

British Labour takes office but little enthusiasm on show

Labour won a big majority in Britain’s election. But the results saw a surge towards the far right Reform UK party while pro-Palestine independents won five seats.

Mass protests in Kenya win concessions after government shoots down protesters

At least 39 people have been shot dead in a wave of mass protests in Kenya, forcing the Western-backed government of President William Ruto to scrap its planned Finance Bill 2024.

How can the rise of France’s fascists be stopped?

Despite the fascists’ failure to take government in France, they will continue rising if the left relies on electoral deals to halt them, argues Cooper Forsyth

British Labour set for office as purge against the left continues

Britain’s Labour Party is a near certainty to win the snap general election on 4 July.

The Kanaky-New Caledonia revolt and imperialism in the Pacific

Riots in Kanaky-New Caledonia are a response to France’s attempts to rule out any hope of independence for the Indigenous people, writes Paddy Gibson.

Kanak resistance rocks colonial government but Albanese stands by France

More than two weeks of resistance on the streets of Kanaky-New Caledonia has rocked the government of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Modi’s Islamophobia on full display as India faces election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on track to win India’s upcoming election, giving him a third term in office and allowing him to cement his reactionary and racist agenda.

Victory for strikers at Egypt’s Mahalla factory

Thousands of workers at Egypt’s Mahalla Spinning and Weaving Company have won pay rises after a week-long strike.

Western alarm as Russia makes gains in Ukraine proxy war

The two-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine was marked by the Russian capture of the strategically important Ukrainian city of Avdiivka.

Mass protests target German AfD as far right on the rise

About 1.4 million people marched across Germany at the end of January against the far right AfD (Alternative for Germany) party.

US and NATO prolonging a bloody stalemate in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has become a bloody stalemate that continues only because both Russia and the US are pouring in weapons to continue the killing.

West digs in behind bloody proxy war in Ukraine

The Western coalition behind Ukraine has started to falter after the failure of its much-anticipated counter-offensive.

How does Trump survive?

Court cases and legal action won’t stop Donald Trump, argues Mark Gillespie, and Joe Biden and the Democrats don’t have the answers either.

Assassination in Canada exposes Albanese’s embrace of violent Modi government

The Indian government has been accused of assassinating a Sikh activist in Canada. This is all too believable in the light of Modi’s Hindu nationalism and authoritarianism.

BRICS summit a sign of growing imperialist rivalry

The BRICS summit took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August. It was another confirmation of the relative decline of US power and the increasingly turbulent state of world imperialism.

Ukraine counter-offensive facing failure as bloodshed continues

Despite the failure of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, both NATO and Russia are intent on continuing a war of attrition no matter the cost.

Mass casualties in Ukraine counter-offensive as West feeds the war

Over two months into the much vaunted Ukrainian counter-offensive there has been no serious movement of the front lines.

Niger coup a blow to Western imperialism in Africa

The coup in Niger in west Africa is a huge blow to Western imperialism.

French riots a rebellion against poverty, racism and police

Riots swept France in early July after cops shot dead a 17-year-old, Nahel M, and then lied about it.

Border policies see hundreds of refugees left to drown off Greece

While the desperate search for a missing submersible covered our news feeds, 750 refugees were left for dead in the Mediterranean after a fishing vessel capsized.

Rebellion shakes Putin but Ukraine’s offensive stalled

The aborted rebellion in June by Yevgeny Prigozhin exposed fractures in Putin’s regime. But this could easily make the war in Ukraine even more dangerous as Western escalation continues.

Will Fiji’s new government revive racial politics?

There are worrying signs of a return to some of the racial politics of Fiji’s past after the end of the Bainimarama government, argues Jasmine Ali.

Indonesia escalates war on West Papua

Miro Sandev looks at the Indonesian military’s deadly new operation in West Papua—and how the Australian government helps its crackdown on the independence movement.

Syriza and Podemos collapse as parliamentary focus fails

Spanish and Greek elections have seen the collapse of the once radical parties Podemos and Syriza. The results shows that the parliamentary road to change is a dead end for the radical left.

Biden and the Democrats a dead end for the US left

Joe Biden has declared he will run again for US President. The 2024 election is looking increasingly like it will be a repeat of 2020, with Biden taking on Donald Trump.

War between generals a new threat to Sudan’s revolutionaries

A power struggle has erupted in Sudan between two military generals—Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces and Hemedti of the Rapid Support Forces militia.

Thai electorate reject the military

The results of the recent Thai election are a slap in the face for the military junta, which has been in power since overthrowing the elected Pua Thai government in the coup of 2014.

IST statement on the war in Sudan

Once again war is ripping apart the lives of millions. A capital city is under bombardment, dead bodies litter the streets while hospitals and markets burn. It has been left to ordinary people to organise medical supplies, find water and food and risk their lives under fire to keep basic infrastructure going.

Pentagon leaks confirm Ukraine is a dangerous proxy war

The US and NATO have stepped up weapons deliveries to Ukraine further, aiming to prepare it for a highly anticipated spring counter-offensive.

Mass strikes sweep France as workers fight Macron’s pension plan

French workers are staging a mass, rolling strike wave against President Macron’s attempt to force people to work longer before they can retire.

Protests as Israelis fall out over how to oppress Palestinians

Israel has stepped up its murderous rampages in the West Bank as the Netanyahu government encourages greater settler violence against Palestinians.

Women, life, freedom—Iran’s uprising six months on

After nearly six months the uprising in Iran—known as Zhina’s uprising after the nickname of Mahsa Amini whose death in police custody triggered the revolt—has begun to die down.

Ardern jumps ship as NZ Labour lets down its supporters

Under Ardern's leadership, Labour went into decline, and is still heading for defeat in October.

Bloody proxy war in Ukraine continues to escalate

The longer the war drags on, the more deaths there will be and the greater the nuclear threat, either from a desperate Russia in the face of looming defeats, or indirectly from fighting around nuclear power plants.

Iran protesters still defiant as regime cracks down harder

The protests in Iran that began following the death of Mahsa Amini in September have now continued for more than 100 days.

Protests push back Peru’s right-wing coup

Peru has been rocked by weeks of strikes and protests following the impeachment and arrest of left-wing president Pedro Castillo in December.

Ukraine war set to grind on as US and Russia dismiss negotiations

Russia has suffered a further defeat in Ukraine, withdrawing from Kherson, the only regional capital that Russian forces successfully occupied since their invasion earlier this year.

Protests continue to rock Iran as regime wavers on headscarf law

Protests in Iran are still ramping up pressure on the regime, entering their third month despite a brutal crackdown by the state.

Can change come from inside Israel?

Israeli politics is becoming more racist and right-wing as a result of its foundation as a settler state based on Palestinian dispossession, argues James Supple.

China rebels against COVID repression—workers’ power can bring down the CCP

China has seen the most significant nation-wide protests since the Tiananmen square uprising in 1989, with thousands of people taking to the streets demanding an end to brutal “zero COVID” policies.

Iran protests still growing as regime fears worker revolt

Protest and rebellion have swept Iran for almost two months since the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini by the regime’s notorious morality police.

Strike surge in Britain as cuts and cost of living bite

The soaring cost of living in Britain has triggered a significant wave of strikes, alongside bitter resistance to a Tory government that is in disarray.

Fascists and the far right win elections in Italy and Sweden

Last month Italy elected a fascist prime minister, just weeks after a far right party received a fifth of the total vote in Sweden’s election.

War in Ukraine risks spiralling out of control

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has moved to escalate the war in Ukraine after a series of battlefield defeats that have seen Ukraine take back significant territory.

Iran rises up after police kill young woman

The protests in Iran following the police killing of Mahsa Amini have produced the biggest challenge to the regime in years.

One third of Pakistan under water as climate disaster brings extreme flooding

Extreme flooding has devastated Pakistan after ten consecutive weeks of heavy rainfall.

Dangerous new chapter in Ukraine war

The bloody war in Ukraine has taken a new turn as Ukrainian forces equipped with US-supplied weaponry have routed Russian forces south-east of Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city.

Sabra and Shatila 40 years on—Israel’s brutal war crime

The massacre at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon was one of Israel’s most shocking war crimes against the Palestinians, writes Ella Haber

Taiwan visit goads China in US imperialist power play

Nancy Pelosi’s provocative visit to Taiwan in August has signalled a dangerous new phase in the rivalry between the US and China.

Ecuador rises up against austerity amid cost of living crisis

Indigenous protests in Ecuador have won major concessions after a general strike that brought the capital Quito and the port city of Guayaquil to a standstill for 18 days in June.

Brutal border policies spread as UK moves to offshore refugees

The UK government has adopted brutal Australian-style measures against refugees, planning to exile the majority of asylum-seeker boat arrivals in the UK to Rwanda.

Is China really a threat?

Expanding military spending and locking Australia further into cooperation with the US war machine only inflames the prospect of war in the region, argues Adam Adelpour.

Anger at lockdowns in China fuels dissent against the regime

After two months of total lockdown, some semblance of normal life has started to return for most of the 28 million people who live in Shanghai, China’s largest and richest city.

US sees chance of Russian defeat in Ukraine and ramps up the killing

The war between Russia and Ukraine continues to drag on with no end in sight.

Sri Lanka protests show alternative to poverty and racism amid economic collapse

Sri Lanka has been rocked by weeks of mass demonstrations and a general strike, following its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948.

US and NATO push for drawn-out proxy war in Ukraine

The US and NATO are waging an increasingly open, long-term proxy war against Russia in Ukraine.

The West prepared to let Ukraine horror drag on

Instead of leaping at the possibility for negotiations in Ukraine, our leaders made it clear that they want the war to go on.

Fascists gain ground in French election despite Macron victory

Emmanuel Macron has beaten the fascist Marine Le Pen to take the French presidency. But Le Pen’s vote of 41.5 per cent was a significant increase on her total in the last run-off election.

Amazon union win shows how workers can beat the billionaires

Workers at the JFK8 Amazon warehouse have become the first Amazon workplace in the US to unionise, in another example of workers in the US fighting back following the pandemic.

NATO escalation will only lead to ongoing bloodshed

Putin’s war is becoming more bloody and brutal the longer it drags on. But the efforts of the US and NATO are risking a further and even deadlier escalation of the conflict.

Our rulers engage in a grotesque dance of death

While ordinary people respond to the war in Ukraine with horror, the leaders of the major powers are already preparing for the next conflict.

Defiant protests across Russia say no to war

Since the start of the war, protests have been happening every day across Russia, from individual picketing to marches of tens of thousands.

Ukraine government’s Nazi links don’t make Putin an anti-fascist

Ukraine has a significant Nazi and far-right nationalist movement. But before the invasion there was no evidence it enjoyed widespread support.

Sanctions on Russia will punish ordinary people, not Putin

Western powers have imposed crippling economic sanctions against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.

How NATO and the West fuelled the war in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been bloody and brutal. But the path to war began long before Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border.

Russian socialist writes: ‘Putin ramps up repression, but there’s less patriotic frenzy’

A Russian socialist writes on Putin's crackdown at home and the collapse in living standards caused by the war

Ukraine war product of imperialism of both Putin and the West

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a brutal piece of imperialism. But NATO and the US also share the blame for the conflict.

Russian troops out of Ukraine: Don’t look to NATO for peace

This is the text of a leaflet distributed at a rally in Melbourne against war in Ukraine.

No war in Ukraine: Russian troops out, NATO out

Solidarity says that Russia should withdraw its troops and halt the attacks. NATO must pull back, too. The Australian government should stop fanning the flames by providing Ukraine “non-lethal” military equipment.

Austrian socialists: ‘We are against compulsory vaccination’

Austrian socialists Manfred Ecker and David Reisinger from Linkswende Jetzt spoke to Solidarity about vaccination measures and COVID protests there led by the right

Imperialist rivalry raises risk of war in Ukraine

The military escalation is being fuelled by imperialism as the big capitalist powers fight for control over central and eastern Europe.

Spirit of revolt rocks Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s dictatorial leader, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has re-asserted his control over the country with the aid of Russian troops at the cost of 227 lives.

Australian troops no solution in the Solomons

Australia’s efforts in the Solomons are aimed at preventing rival powers from establishing a presence and to advance Australian imperialist interests.

Tutu: a fighter against apartheid, in South Africa and Palestine

One aspect of Tutu’s politics that most official “tributes” have avoided mentioning is his support for the Palestinian struggle.

France tries to smother Kanak resistance in New Caledonia

France has now announced that the third referendum in New Caledonia will take place on 12 December, angering independence parties, which have called for a delay until late 2022.

Australian troops return to Solomon Islands to keep out China

Last week the Australian government rushed troops, AFP riot police and a navy patrol boat to the Solomon Islands within a day of political protests there, which turned into rioting.

Sudanese revolutionaries resist military coup

The military coup in Sudan has been met with a huge wave of protests and strikes that have declared “revolution until victory”.

US workers begin to flex some industrial muscle

American workers were on strike in their tens of thousands in October. More than 185 strikes have taken place in 2021 at about 255 workplaces across the US.

Evergrande crisis shows Chinese growth figures built on sand

The looming potential default of the Chinese property giant Evergrande is sending shivers down the spines of capitalists across the world.

Thousands march against Palestinian Authority in West Bank

Thousands of Palestinians have joined marches against the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, after it launched a wave of arrests against protesters and activists.

9/11 horror triggered new wave of US terrorism and war

The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington caused incredible shock and killed around 3000 people. But what 9/11 represented more than anything was the violence the US had inflicted worldwide for decades coming home.

Iran’s Khuzestan province rocked by protests and strikes

Since Iran’s shambolic presidential election on 18 June, the country has again been rocked by protests and strikes, especially in the province of Khuzestan.

US humiliated in Afghanistan as Taliban seizes Kabul

The 20-year occupation of Afghanistan has ended in a major defeat for the US and its allies.

Australia outbids China on vaccines as contest for Pacific influence grows

Vaccine diplomacy has become the latest front in Australia’s cold war with China, as the two governments battle for influence in the Pacific islands.

Dispatch from Malaysia: doctors on strike

On 26 July, thousands of contract doctors across Malaysia walked off the job to demand permanent jobs and pathways to specialisation.

Cubans are right to protest, but US sanctions must end

Thousands of people have joined protests in Cuba over increasing prices of food, power shortages and rising cases of COVID.

Major oil workers’ strike shakes Iran

Thousands of workers in Iran’s oil industry have joined a strike wave. The action has spread across at least 70 companies across oil and gas refineries, petrochemical plants and power plants in eight provinces across the country.

Australia and US brought 20 years of horror and war to Afghanistan

After a 20 year occupation spanning four US presidencies, Australian and US forces are finally withdrawing from Afghanistan. But there is little to show for 20 years of war.

Colombia paralysed by protests against tax hikes and inequality

Millions of Colombians, at times up to 10 per cent of the population, have been on the streets for over a month against attempts to make ordinary people pay for the costs of the COVID crisis by the right-wing government of President Ivan Duque.

Zionism and the Middle East—why the West arms Israel

Israel was established as a colonial settler state with the backing of the great powers, argues James Supple, and is still key to imposing Western control of the Middle East

Israel’s brutal dispossession continues despite halt to bombing

Israel has paused its pummelling air strikes on the Gaza Strip, but its genocidal war against the Palestinians continues.

Australia beats the drums of war and fuels confrontation with China

Australia’s rulers are feeding a conflict that could see war between two nuclear-armed powers, the US and China. It’s madness.

Palestine strikes ‘from the river to the sea’ to defy Israeli terror

Palestinians are fighting back against Israeli terror. On 18 May, they held a general strike across Israel and the occupied territories.

West Papua: a rising tide of struggle for liberation

David Glanz talked to Veronica Koman, an Indonesian human rights lawyer exiled in Australia, about the fight for freedom in West Papua and the rise of a solidarity movement within Indonesia, inspired by Black Lives Matter.

Myanmar: ongoing resistance defies military crackdown

Three months on, inter-ethnic solidarity is propelling Myanmar towards a federal democracy in a way unimaginable before the coup.

Biden’s spending plans aim to bail out US capitalism

US President Joe Biden’s spending plans have been hailed by some as a dramatic turn to the left. But they are designed above all to restore business profits and the US’s economic power.

Workers can block coup in Myanmar

The struggle against the 1 February military coup in Myanmar is entering a crucial stage.

Workers have power to block Myanmar coup

The people of Myanmar have been on the streets for six weeks, defying the military. Mark Goudkamp looks at the history of struggle in Myanmar and how workers can lead the fight against the coup.

Don’t expect serious change from Joe Biden

Joe Biden’s first moves on the economy and climate change have been bolder than some expected. But they are full of indications that he has no plans to challenge big business or the rich.

Indian farmers revolt against Modi’s neo-liberal laws

Under the cover of the pandemic, India’s hard right Prime Minister Narendra Modi has passed new laws which farmers describe as “Kaale Kanoon”—laws which bring darkness. A huge farmers’...

Navalny’s arrest sparks mass protests against Putin’s authoritarian regime

Protests erupted across almost 200 Russian cities in late January. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets demanding the release of Alexei Navalny, a key opposition leader.

Mass revolt needed to stop Myanmar coup

Myanmar’s military junta has staged a coup, detaining National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi and key party officials before a new session of parliament could open.

Trump’s Capitol riot shows dangerous rise of the far right

The invasion of the US Capitol building showed the dangers of the movement that Donald Trump has created. But rallying around the Democrats or Congress as the defenders of democracy will do nothing to stop the rise of the far right.

Corbyn suspended as Labour leadership declares war on the left

Former leader Jeremy Corbyn has been kicked out of the British Labour Party’s parliamentary caucus, despite backing down on comments that saw him suspended from the party.

Greek Nazis jailed in victory for the anti-fascist movement

The leadership of Greece’s Nazi Golden Dawn party is behind bars, with leader Nikos Michaloliakos and six other former MPs sentenced to 13 years’ jail and another 11 former MPs to between five and seven years.

Protests as Indonesia uses pandemic to rip away workers’ rights

Indonesians took to the streets in every province from 6-8 October to protest the Omnibus Law on Job Creation. The bill is a blow to labour, indigenous and environmental rights.

Win for the left in Bolivian vote

After almost a year of an unelected right-wing government backed by the US, the people of Bolivia have voted to remove the coup regime.Exit polls showed the Movement For...

Biden no antidote to Trump’s racism and the far right

Millions across the world are horrified at the chance that Donald Trump could win again in the US presidential election on 3 November.

Explosion triggers new uprising in Lebanon

“We have been fighting the system for a long time, now our anger has overflowed, it has gone beyond everything normal because the explosion at the harbour means we have to change everything.

Fighting the second wave—can COVID be kept under control?

Many countries worldwide are facing either a second wave, or a resurgence in infections. Even countries that managed to control the virus initially, such as South Korea, New Zealand and Vietnam, have seen new outbreaks.

Draconian new security law imposed on Hong Kong

With the passage of a new national security law, the Chinese government is attempting to quash Hong Kong’s protest movement.

Trump desperate and dangerous as his COVID death toll grows

Donald Trump is growing desperate as his hopes for re-election fade, following his chaotic blundering over the COVID-19 crisis. He has fallen 15 per cent behind his Democratic rival...

Eyewitness from LA: Burning rage engulfs the US in rebellion against racism

The combination of the public health crisis, with the pandemic killing people of colour at the highest rates, the economic misery many face due to lockdowns, and Trump’s catastrophic leadership have created a tinderbox which Floyd’s execution set aflame.

Protests rage at poverty and sackings during lockdown

The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are being sharply felt in many parts of the global south, across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, creating extreme hunger and poverty that have led to significant protests, despite the lockdowns.

Trump demands US reopen for business but health system in disarray

Several states have lifted lockdown restrictions through May as Trump continues his push for “Opening Up America Again”.

Virus exposes class inequality of US capitalism

The United States, the world’s richest nation, is struggling to deal with the coronavirus due to decades of government cutbacks and a dysfunctional political system headed by Donald Trump.

Amid pandemic, Trump steps up aggression against Venezuela

Trump has threatened Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, raising a bounty of $15 million for his capture, claiming he's involved in drug trafficking.

Hungary’s government seizes autocratic control

Hungary's government has effectively declared itself a dictatorship under the guise of combating the coronavirus.

Democratic Party unites to crush Bernie Sanders

The Democratic Party is now all but certain to run establishment figure Joe Biden in the election against Donald Trump in November.

New refugee exodus from Syria as Turkey opens borders

A new refugee crisis in Syria has seen up to a million people trapped along the Turkish border in desperate conditions. Overcrowded camps there and in Greece face major risks from the spread of coronavirus.

Trump’s plan for total Israeli domination of Palestine

After years of build-up Donald Trump has finally released his “deal of the century”, touted as a “peace settlement” between Israel and the Palestinians.

Democrats’ impeachment effort fails to damage Trump

The Republican-majority Senate acquitted Trump of all charges in early February. But instead of furthering resistance, Trump’s approval ratings have actually increased to a record high of 49 per cent.

Shift to the left in Ireland as Sinn Féin humbles major parties

In a major shake-up of Ireland’s two-party system, Sinn Féin has swept the polls in the general election.

Weeks-long strike wave in France draws a line against neo-liberalism

France is in the grip of an extraordinary strike wave against President Emmanuel Macron’s assault on pensions.

Trump takes US to the brink of war with Iran

The US and Iran have stepped back from the brink of war, after Donald Trump’s assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani threatened to bring on a dangerous conflict in the Middle East.

Protests and massive general strike challenge India’s far right government

India is being rocked by protests and strikes against hard right Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Back to the weekend—New Zealand casino workers fight to get back penalty rates

Hundreds of SkyCity Casino workers in Auckland, New Zealand are striking every weekend to win back weekend penalty rates. Solidarity’s Erima Dall spoke to Tina Barnett, who works on the game floor at the casino.

Dramatic British election to decide on Brexit and Jeremy Corbyn

Britain is headed to the polls on 12 December in an election that will determine not just the fate of Brexit but the future of Labour’s radical shift to the left under Jeremy Corbyn.

How Greek anti-racists beat back fascists of Golden Dawn

Golden Dawn, a violent neo-Nazi party in Greece, grew rapidly following the economic collapse after 2009. But now, according to Petros Constantinou, a key figure in the anti-racist and anti-fascist movement KEERFA, “the rise of Golden Dawn is over.”

Kurds abandoned by US imperialism—again

Turkey has begun a military offensive against Kurdish areas of northern Syria, after US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of US troops giving the green light for the operation.

Hong Kong fights on amid moves towards emergency rule

The uprising in Hong Kong has successfully forced the withdrawal of the hated extradition bill. But protesters are not prepared to trust Chief Executive Carrie Lam and have continued hitting the streets in their hundreds of thousands.

Students shot dead as West Papua protests continue

Lethal violence from the Indonesian military and security forces has generated an “unprecedented crisis” in West Papua, according to human rights lawyer Veronica Koman.

Largest protests since 1998 shake Indonesia

Tens of thousands joined mass protests across Indonesia in September—the largest the country has seen since the movement in 1998 that brought down the dictator Suharto.

Tory crisis as Boris threatens Brexit crash out

Boris Johnson’s determination to exit the EU on 31 October, deal or no deal, has created an enormous political crisis in the UK.

Concession will not stop movement in Hong Kong

A mass pro-democracy movement has forced Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam to grant a major concession. But many protesters are vowing to continue their struggle until all of their demands are met.

West Papua rises up against Indonesian occupation

West Papua has erupted as demands for self-determination have fuelled the largest protests in years.

Australia backs Trump’s aggression over Iran

Scott Morrison has added Australia to what US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls a “global coalition” against Iran.

Hong Kong rises up against repression

Hong Kong’s extraordinary protest movement has now lasted over ten weeks. Every weekend brings new demonstrations, and battles with police.

Support for Ihumatoa forces Ardern to halt development on Maori land

An extraordinary 500-strong occupation by local Maori at Ihumatoa has galvanised massive opposition to plans to build 500 high-cost dwellings on culturally significant land for tangata whenua (Indigenous people of the land).

Iran crisis: Why US aggression is to blame

The Trump administration and a coterie of allies—including Australia—are ratcheting up aggression against Iran and another disastrous war in the region shouldn’t be ruled out.

Syriza’s downfall in Greece is a crucial lesson for the left

Greece’s once-radical left-wing party Syriza was booted out of government in elections in early July—after four years of enforcing austerity and racism.

Sudan’s revolution hangs in the balance

Over 100 people have been murdered in a soaring wave of brutal attacks on Sudan’s revolution.

Trump’s war on women and abortion rights

The United States is a dangerous place to be a woman. An onslaught of laws has chipped away at abortion rights since Donald Trump’s inauguration as president two and a half years ago.

Teachers stage historic mega-strike in New Zealand to rebuild public education

Aotearoa/New Zealand’s largest ever nationwide education “mega-strike” took place on Wednesday 29 May.

Jokowi wins Indonesian election after cave in to religious conservatism

Incumbent Joko Widodo has claimed victory in the 2019 Indonesian presidential election against Prabowo Subianto.

Venezuelan coup collapses, but dangers remain for Maduro

Juan Guaido’s farcical coup attempt in Venezuela collapsed within hours. But the threat remains—as the crisis in the country continues and the US continues its sabre rattling against the left-wing government of...

Caster Semenya, sport and sex tests

“Hell no.” This was the response from two time Olympic champion Caster Semenya after the athletics governing body ruled that she would need to take testosterone lowering medication to continue to compete in the women’s division of her two best events.

People power protests in Algeria topple dictator

Mass protests in Algeria have forced 82-year-old dictator Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign after 20 years in power. Since 22 February, protesters have taken to the streets every Friday to...

British parliament inept and paralysed in Brexit farce

Michael Roth, Germany’s Europe minister, recently called Brexit a “big shitshow”.The show continues with no end in sight after British Tory Prime Minister Theresa May failed at her third attempt...

Interview: Islamophobia, the far right and anti-racism in France

Jad Bouharoun will visit Australia in April to speak at the Keep Left conference. He spoke to Solidarity about the fight against racism and the far right in France

Does Venezuela’s crisis show socialism can’t work?

Venezuela's crisis shows what happens when there is a partial challenge to the rich. It is not an example of too much socialism, but rather not enough.

Resisting the imperialist coup in Venezuela

The effort to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro came to a head on 23 January, with National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó appointing himself interim president.

Los Angeles teachers’ strike shows how to fight and win

Teachers in Los Angeles became the latest to join the strike wave in education across the US in January, winning historic gains after their first strike in 30 years.A year ago,...

French socialist: Yellow vest revolt is a cry of rage against austerity

Jad Bouharoun is a socialist based in Paris who has been part of the wave of yellow vests protests in France. He will visit Australia in April to speak...

Tory divisions produce Brexit chaos

The Brexit process has thrown British politics into crisis. The failure of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal means there is still no resolution in sight.

Yellow Vests movement against inequality humbles Macron

The Yellow Vest movement in France shows no sign of fading away after ten weeks of protests, blockades and battles with police. Charlie Kimber from Socialist Worker UK looks at what the movement shows about struggle—and asks how it can win

Trump shuts down government to demand border wall

Donald Trump has imposed the longest government shutdown in US history in an attempt to demand Congress agree to $7 billion in funding for his border wall.

Australia ‘steps up’ efforts to counter China in the south Pacific

November’s APEC summit in PNG saw the Australian government increase its efforts to buy influence in the Pacific, with a raft of announcements designed to counter China.

Morrison’s Jerusalem move sparks international blowback

During the Wentworth by-election campaign, amongst growing fears that the government would lose the seat, Scott Morrison raised the possibility of moving Australia’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Crisis for Tories as vote on Brexit looms

A crisis has struck at the heart of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and the Tories.

George Bush Senior–mass murderer and father of a mass murderer

George HW Bush was a brutal conservative whose invasion of Iraq in 1991 laid the basis for the further horrors visited on that country, and Afghanistan, by Presidents to come, including his son, George W.

Backlash against Trump in US elections, but Democrats a dead end

The Democratic Party made big gains in US mid-term elections on 6 November, in what was widely seen as a referendum on Donald Trump.

Brutal murder exposes dictatorship the West backs

The brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has thrown into sharp relief the relationship between the West and the Saudi police state in the Middle East.

Resistance needed as far right president wins power in Brazil

Brazil has a far right president after Jair Bolsonaro won 55 per cent in the final run-off election. His surge in support is a product of Brazil’s economic collapse and disillusionment with the Workers’ Party.

US Senators dismiss sexual assault claims to back Kavanaugh

Donald Trump’s nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, has been confirmed to the Supreme Court despite multiple allegations of sexual assault against him.

Idlib’s fate caught up in imperialist power struggle over Syria

A last minute deal struck between Russia and Turkey in September halted plans for a massive military assault on Idlib—Syria’s last rebel-held province.

Corbyn under attack, but opposing Israel is not anti-semitic

Opponents of Britain’s left-wing Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn have mounted a major campaign accusing supporters of the Palestinians, and Corbyn himself, of anti-semitism.

Nazi rampage in Chemnitz a warning from Germany

On Sunday 26 August news agencies around the world broadcast shocking footage of thousands of Nazis rampaging through the streets of Chemnitz in Eastern Germany hunting for “foreigners”.

China cracks down on student labour activism at Jasic factory

In late August Chinese police raided an apartment, arresting 50 student activists supporting workers attempting to unionise their factory.

Strikes on the rise in New Zealand as workers get sick of waiting for pay rises

Recent months have seen a succession of strikes in New Zealand, following the election of a new Labour government under Jacinda Ardern late last year.

Trump’s European chaos tour will unleash the far right

Focusing on the admittedly bizarre Trump day-to-day can easily lead to underestimating how dangerous he is

Iraq rocked by mass protests over jobs and services

Iraq has been rocked by a wave of angry mass protests. In the last month thousands have protested and stormed government buildings demanding better electricity and water services, jobs, an end to corruption and to the influence of Iran over their politicians.

Anti-fascist activist David Albrich on resisting racism and fascism in Austria

David Albrich of the Austrian socialist group Linkswende jetzt is visiting Australia to speak at Solidarity’s Keep Left conference in August. He spoke to Solidarity.

Tories fall out over Brexit plans

Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans continue to unravel amid renewed division in the Tory party.

Trump retreats amid outrage at detention of migrant children

The Trump administration has been forced to partially back down on its “zero tolerance” immigration policy which resulted in the separation of children from their parents at the border. This reversal comes following mass outrage and protests.

Trump’s tariffs an effort to revive US dominance

Ever since his election, Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and blamed “unfair trade deals” for hurting US industries. Now he is starting to act—threatening trade wars and destabilising global capitalism.

Warning for the left as racist right brought to power in Italy

“The good times for illegals are over. Get ready to pack your bags”, said Italy’s new Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, head of the far right League. One of his first moves was to refuse to allow a rescue boat carrying 600 asylum seekers from Africa to land in Italy.

Imperialist power games still in the way of peace in North Korea

Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un congratulated themselves after signing their agreement in Singapore. But little was finalised in the talks.

Protests topple Jordan’s Prime Minister

The biggest protests since the Arab Spring in Jordan have toppled a Prime Minister and forced King Abdullah to suspend IMF-mandated tax increases and price hikes.

Historic vote sees overwhelming victory for abortion rights in Ireland

Ireland has once again made history, voting resoundingly to repeal its 35-year-long constitutional ban on abortion.

Change sweeps Malaysia as Najib swept from power

Against all odds and despite blatant vote-rigging, the Barisan Nasional coalition which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957 was thrashed in the election on 9 May.

Occupations and strikes hit France as students and workers resist Macron

Around 200,000 people took part in demonstrations across France on 1 May as the battle continues against President Emmanuel Macron’s neo-liberal assault.

Palestinian marchers massacred in brutal Israeli assault

Palestinians in Gaza have defied a murderous Israeli assault as they stage protests marking 70 years of dispossession.

Teacher strike spreads to more US states

The teacher rebellion that started in West Virginia has now swept across three more US states. After a decade of effective wage cuts and public school starvation, they are showing that even in the heart of Republican-controlled Trump country, resistance can win.

Strikes hit France as Macron attacks rail workers

Mass strikes and escalating student unrest are creating a crisis for French president Emmanuel Macron’s neo-liberal assault.

Zuma’s fall a sign of ANC’s failure in South Africa

The demise of President Jacob Zuma has exposed has far the ANC government of South Africa has fallen. His mammoth corruption had been public knowledge for years.

US school shootings a product of a sick system

Nearly a million US students walked out of class to protest gun violence on 14 March. They marched in response to February’s brutal mass shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, where former student Nikolas Cruz gunned down 17 students and staff.