Issues Follow Follow

Karen Reissmann, a nurse for 25 years and an elected member of Unison’s national health executive, was suspended from work last Friday, 15 June. That afternoon, an important outpatient appointment with a very vulnerable patient was interrupted and – on the direct orders of the chief executive – she was instructed to leave the out-patient consultation and the hospital.

Nine days after his arrest Farooq Tariq, General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan (LPP), was shifted from Central jail, Bahawalpur, to Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore, on Friday 14 June.

Over 300 local people demonstrated in Corsham, Wiltshire, against a BNP member claiming a seat on the town council. BNP councillor Michael Simpkins took the ward of Rudloe uncontested in the May council elections. The protest, on last Monday, 11 June, received favourable media coverage. Local television covered it with the phrase, "when voting apathy became anger".

Maré is a favela (shanty town) perched on the hills above the city of Rio de Janeiro, and it is one of the poorest. Motorbikes race up and down the steep, pitted streets, and rap music thumps out from every corner bar; wires and cables snake over rooftops and hang above the street. Today, the square is full of the yellow flags of PSOL, the Socialism and Freedom party. They are there because Heloisa Helena, the party’s charismatic presidential candidate in last year’s elections, has come to speak. When she finishes, a crowd gathers to have their picture taken with her.

Bild, Germany's equivalent of the Sun, proclaimed the country’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, "Miss World" at the end of last week’s Group of Eight summit. It’s hard to see why she is so popular.

In a small block of flats a group of old people are becoming increasingly anxious. For years, they had been unable to get the council to do essential repairs and services. Then, seemingly out of the blue, came a solution – a housing association stacked with cash could take over the block, and all the jobs that needed doing would be done.

Who has voted for a strike?

The media focused on the cat and mouse conflict between German riot police and a small section of protesters in Rostock. Meanwhile thousands travelled across Europe to make their voices heard and to underline the hypocrisy of the G8 summit.

Die Linke (The Left) party has entered a west German state parliament for the first time.

The German left is facing a historic chance. On 16 June, we will found a strong all-German party.

Socialist Worker congratulates Michael Rosen on becoming Children's Laureate. He received the award at a ceremony in London on Monday.