DEM VOLKE DIENEN

Protests have erupted this year in Brazil when on January 4 in Rio de Janeiros neighborhood City of God (Cidade de Deus – CDD) a family father of two was shot dead by members of the Military Police. 38-year-old worker Marcelo Guimarães was killed at around 8:30 in the morning on his way home, where he forgot his cell phone, after dropping his son at the daycare center before work.

Since the 1990s there has been a "tradition" in working class neighbourhoods in France of setting cars on fire. Especially in the years when there were fights with the police, this also became a common part of the struggle of the masses there. This year, when the bourgeoisie tried to stop the masses from fighting by imposing curfews, which also applied on New Year's Eve, again many cars were set on fire all over France. Among others in Strasbourg where dozens of cars were set on fire and clashes with the police took place, injuring many policemen and arresting 40 people, including minors.

Over the past few days, there have been important political actions in Istanbul. At the Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, the "leading" university in Turkey, protests and lecture boycotts have been taking place for days against the installation of a new rector (Prof. Dr. Melih Bulu), who is known for being notably pro-government and reactionary. The protesting students were met with massive repression:

Sweden

Comrades from Kommunistiska Föreningen (Communist League),reportsthat on occasion of the 127 year of the birth of Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, paintings with the slogan “LONG LIVE MAOISM!” were seen in multiple neighborhoods of Stockholm, also some in Turkish and Spanish, as well as several places in central Gothenburg. Also in Gothenburg paintings were seen in support of the People’s War in Turkey and honoring the fallen comrades. Interestingly it is reported that revolutionary paintings also were seen in Växjö.

Traditionally, the armed struggle of the New People's Army (NPA) in the Phillipines is quite quiet in December. Nevertheless, the NPA is said to have carried out three attacks on security forces of the reactionary state the in last weeks.

The history of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) is long. It was founded in 1861 as the "Allgemeiner Deutscher Handelstag" by various capitalists to serve their common interest in uniform weights and measures, the abolition of bordercustoms and a uniform trade law.

Norway

The Norwegian Military is increasing its military presence in Northern Norway and the incresing hegemony of yankee-imperialism, is also making Norwegian imperialism closen its ties with the USA, and allow it to have a ever-increasing military presence in Norway, especially Northern Norway, where there is a direct border with Russia.

France had planned a lot, especially new laws directed against the citizens and especially against those who do not want to submit to the state of emergency and the increasing repression. For example, there was a talk of making it illegal for outsiders to be in university buildings. This would have made fighting in the universities almost impossible. However, this law has now been overturned by the Constitutional Council.