VIJAY PRASHAD looks at the web of militias and drug-trafficking gangs that emerged in the Sweida region through the Syrian civil war, and how they relate to recent clashes and Israel’s intervention
Latest editorial
People power kills east London’s giant glowing bauble
IAN SINCLAIR tells the story of a small group of east London activists who took on and defeated a billion-dollar US corporation that wanted to build a giant sphere venue coated in gaudy LED lights
The US-based MSG group wanted to build one of their light-polluting sphere monstrosities, like the one shown here in Las Vegas, in the heart of east London
[Harold Litwiler/ Creative Commons] 
by Roger D Harris and John Perry
VINCE MILLS says Scottish Labour has adopted better positions than its Westminster counterpart — but unless it starts to fight for them that will count for nothing
Labour MSP CAROL MOCHAN calls for Britain to follow France’s lead and recognise the Palestinian state as part of efforts to end this war
A Chilean court ruled that funds were illegally taken by the dictator to accumulate family wealth that is now disputed among his heirs, writes PABLO MERIGUET
The shock suspension of socialist MPs and Diane Abbott’s re-suspension reveals a leadership intent on crushing internal debate — but MERCEDES VILLALBA MSP warns against surrendering party democracy without a fight
HERE is a good news story to inspire activists working for a better world in 2025.
Concluding last year, it is the story of a small group of campaigners defeating a multinational corporation that had the backing of the mayor of London and the British government.
The corporation in question is the US-based Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company (MSG), which announced in February 2018 that it wanted to build the MSG Sphere in Stratford, east London, on 4.7 acres of land they had purchased for a cool £72 million.
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