Fed pauses rate increases but indicates more to come
By Nick Beams The US Federal Reserve decided not to lift interest rates at its meeting yesterday, in line with market expectations. However, it signalled it could raise them again in at least one of its two scheduled meetings remaining for this year. After instituting a steep climb in rates, from near
Impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Paxton ends in acquittal
By Andy Hartmann On Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on 16 impeachment counts by the Texas State Senate. The remaining four counts were dismissed by a vote of the Senate. Each article was voted on separately. All but two of the Republicans in the Senate, who control 19 of the 31
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife paid by Billionaire in advance of Citizens United decision
By Jacob Crosse On Sunday, September 10, Politico reported extensive and damning revelations on the longstanding connections between Virginia Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, billionaire Nazi artifact collector Harlan Crow, and Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society. Their relationship, which included Crow’s funneling of hundreds of thousands of dollars
Democratic rights targeted by South Korean government
By Ben McGrath In recent weeks, the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stepped up its anti-democratic attacks on government critics. In language reminiscent of the country’s past dictatorships, Yoon has denounced opposition to the government as the result of “communist totalitarianism” influence and “anti-state forces.” The Yoon administration and
Federal judge orders Texas to remove floating barrier in Rio Grande, appellate court stays order
By Trévon Austin Nearly three months after Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a fascistic acolyte of former president Donald Trump, deployed a 1,000-foot-long barrier of buoys accompanied by traps of razor wire in the Rio Grande, a federal judge in Austin ordered the state t6xo remove the obstruction and stop building
Report to G20 summit glosses over problems in global financial system
By Nick Beams Sometimes it is hard to know whether statements issued by financial authorities are aimed at fooling themselves, the organisations to which they are being delivered or whether, they consider it best not to say too much in public documents lest this “frightens the horses.” This is the case regarding
Australian Labor government’s workplace reform laws will enshrine insecure jobs and low pay
By Martin Scott On Monday, Federal Minister for Workplace Relations Tony Burke introduced the Labor government’s latest tranche of proposed industrial relations reform. Entitled “Closing Loopholes,” the bill is ostensibly aimed at improving the wages and conditions of Australia’s most vulnerable workers, engaged as casuals, labour hire workers, or in the
Impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton begins
By Andy Hartmann The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton began on Tuesday in the Texas State Senate. Paxton pleaded not guilty to each of the 16 articles of impeachment. He was impeached by the Texas State House in May by a vote of 121-23, at which time he was suspended
Greek government unveils savage employment bill attacking workers’ right to strike
By John Vassilopoulos Greece’s right-wing New Democracy government (ND) has unveiled a new labour bill attacking workers’ rights and conditions. It was submitted on August 25 for public consultation by the Greek Ministry of Labour. The consultation is set to run until September 8, with the bill expected to be put
Guantanamo military judge rules against evidence “derived from torture”
By Tom Carter An exceptional legal ruling issued from the depths of America’s secretive apparatus of military tribunals has thrown a wrench into the latest government efforts to whitewash the notorious Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) torture program. This ruling—and the depraved and sadistic war crimes that it once again brings to light—underscores