International

Benoit Hamon: the bulwark against Valls

28th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

Notes from the front of 28-01-2017

On Sunday (tomorrow) we will know who will be the candidate for President of the Socialist Party (SP) after one month of debate. Following the first round of this selection two contenders remain: the leader of the SP’s left opposition Benoit Hamon who came first with 36 per cent ahead of the last prime minister Manuel Valls (30 per cent). This result was taken as a slap in the face by Valls, but what would you expect after five years of austerity, whipping up racism and imposing the state of emergency – three things he was a strong promoter of.

Will Trump end US support for the Saudi-led war upon Yemen?

26th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

The following article by Stephen Bell, about US backed war on Yemen, was first published on the Stop the War Coalition Website.

Following President Trump’s inauguration, many questions are posed about the future direction of US foreign policy. During the election campaign, when questioned on the Middle East, Trump reiterated his opposition to: the Iraq war; US intervention against Assad rather than ISIS; and to the use of US ground troops where local states ought to intervene. Perhaps such shifts will lead him to withdraw support for the Saudi-led war upon Yemen?

Gerry Adams TD thanks his friend and comrade Martin McGuinness

25th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

The following article by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams, commenting on the decision by Martin McGuinness not to stand in the Assembly election, originally appeared here on Sinn Féin’s website.

Socialist Action also wishes to send Martin our best wishes and looks forward to his continued involvement in the struggle for Irish unity and freedom.

Political crisis in Ireland

19th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

By Stephen Bell

On Monday 16 January, following the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister, the British government announced that there will be new elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 2 March. Events leading up to this have created the most serious political crisis in Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The world will be listening to Xi Jinping at Davos

17th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

The following article by John Ross, examining the significance of Xi Jinping’s participation in the Davos World Economic Forum, was previously published by Socialist Economic Bulletin.

Xi Jinping is the first Chinese president to speak at the Davos World Economic Forum. This visit has attracted even greater international media attention than the normally high levels of interest in a trip by China’s leader. As the Financial Times chief foreign affairs columnist Gideon Rachman put it, “The big star of this year’s forum is certain to be Xi Jinping.”

Tribute to Sabah Jawad

17th January 2017 Socialist Action 0

On Monday 9 January, Sabah Jawad died in hospital, following a battle with cancer. To the end, he remained steadfast in his support for principled socialism and anti-imperialism.