Issues Follow Follow

Thousands of bus workers in west and east London are striking today over pay – making a huge impact on services at one of the biggest companies in the city.

The Chagos Archipelago is a collection of over 60 tropical islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The islands are a British overseas territory, known collectively as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). To get there, you can either sail 500 kilometres south from the Maldives, 1,600 kilometres east from the Seychelles, or join the US navy and get posted to their military base, situated on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain.

Supporters of Karen Reissmann, the Manchester nurse who was sacked after speaking out against cuts and privatisation in the NHS, are planning to show their continued backing for her as she takes her former employers to tribunal.

Evidence at the High Court last week has revealed that once again the British government has being lying over the use of torture, and has been illegally kidnapping people as part of the "war on terror".

Some 26 leading cancer consultants have written to the government demanding properly funded cancer treatment. One section of the letter states, "We have seen distraught patients remortgaging their houses, giving up pensions and selling cars to buy drugs."

The debacle of the "nationalisation" of the failed Northern Rock bank earlier this year looks likely to cost more than £1 billion of public money according to consultants at Goldman Sachs, which advised the government on the Northern Rock rescue plan.

Socialist Worker recently reported on the demonstrations in South Korea against US beef imports. The huge protests have continued, showing great militancy and enthusiasm.

"Increases in food and energy bills will intensify the squeeze on real take-home pay which, for many households, is unlikely to grow this year."Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England on current economic prospects

More and more people are being forced to turn to pawn brokers in an attempt to pay their household bills.

Tim Besley, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, claimed last week that inflation will fall next year if workers keep their wages down.

This week marks a turning point in the London bus workers' pay campaign. About 2,500 bus workers at First Centrewest and First Capital are set to launch the first strike action of the campaign on Friday of this week. They are planning more strikes on 12 and 13 September.

The entrance to St Pancras International station in central London was a riot of colourful union flags, chanting and dancing from 6am on Bank Holiday Monday.