Visible Minorities: Yoshiro Mori’s Overdue Comeuppance
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori represents the worst of Japan’s politics, melding misogyny with racism.
Healthcare Privatization Undermined US Response to Covid-19
A panel of policy experts and medical professionals convened to examine the healthcare legacy of Donald Trump have concluded in a detailed report that the former US president’s sweeping regulatory rollbacks and full-scale assault on the already decimated public health infrastructure severely undermined the nation’s fight against Covid-19 and caused tens of thousands of preventable deaths.
Sri Lanka Halts Another Joint Development with Japan
Sri Lanka has announced that it is pulling out of a deal with Japan to develop a section of its main port of Colombo, marking the second time within six months that a major agreement has fallen through.
Taiwan Postal Workers Protest Employee Pay System
The Taiwan Postal Workers’ Union (TPWU) held a protest earlier this month at Chunghwa Post’s Taipei headquarters, demonstrating against what they say is an unfair system of pay within the company.
Ilhan Omar Warns US Democrats on Limiting Covid Relief Payment
US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has warned that corporate Democrats’ ongoing effort to further restrict eligibility for the new round of US$1,400 direct payments risks shedding progressive support for a final coronavirus relief package.
Taiwan Faces Invasion of American Iguanas
Thousands of invasive iguanas up to 1.5 meters long are spreading in Taiwan, with authorities complaining that pet owners abandon the reptiles when they grow to look like dinosaurs.
Bernie Sanders Praises Efforts to End Yemen War
US Senator Bernie Sanders was among those welcoming the White House announcement that the United States will limit its role in the Saudi-led war on Yemen by ending support for “offensive operations,” with the Vermont Independent calling the development “a tribute to the work of so many activists over the years.”
US Task Force Proposes Endless War in Afghanistan
In order to achieve a lasting peace in Afghanistan, the United States needs to keep waging its longest-ever war there. That’s the conclusion of a report published Wednesday by the Afghanistan Study Group.
Warren Blasts “Unconscionable” US$740 Billion Pentagon Budget
“We continue to overinvest in defense while underinvesting in public health and so much more.” That’s what US Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) said during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Kathleen Hicks, President Joe Biden’s nominee for deputy defense secretary.
Military Coup Unfolds in Myanmar
Long-simmering fears of a military-led subversion of Myanmar’s recent steps toward democracy became reality this week as the nation’s armed forces arrested civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and announced a one-year state of emergency that transfers power to Min Aung Hlaing, the Southeast Asian country’s top general.