North Korea Signals Interest in Building Tokyo Ties
North Korea has been clearly signaling an interest in improving relations with Japan, although there remain far more questions than answers.
Communist Party Aims for Gender Equity
The Japan Communist Party (JCP) has made another step forward toward becoming the major national political party most committed to gender equity, but it is far from clear this approach will allow it to break into the mainstream.
Hunger, Disease, and Death in Gaza
The United Nations continues to urgently proclaim to the world that the civilian population of the Gaza Strip is being “stalked by hunger, disease, and death.” But these desperate pleas fall on deaf ears in Washington, both its political class and the mainstream media, which continues to be deeply beholden to the Israel Lobby, and to provide money, weapons, and political support to the ongoing mass murder.
The Evolution of Tucker Carlson
Tucker Carlson has been evolving into someone whose foreign policy views now run parallel with some tenets of the anti-imperialist left, even if his conclusions have sprung from a different intellectual and moral path.
Political Divisions Harden in West Africa
Three military dictatorships in West Africa have announced a split with a major regional organization which they had helped cofound almost half a century ago, marking an increasingly bitter division in the region, with global implications.
Many Democrats Give Biden Pass on Enabling Genocide
Polling reveals that half of the US citizens who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 believe that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people. However, many seem to either support the genocide or, at least, don’t view the Biden administration’s backing of a genocide as a disqualification to receive a second presidential vote.
Operation Lone Star Boosts Republicans
While it is on dubious legal and sometimes factual ground, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s “Operation Lone Star” looks to be a political winner in 2024, causing headaches for US Democrats both at the national and local levels.
“Genocide Joe” Seeks Helping Hand from Beijing
In a tacit admission that US influence in the Islamic world is in freefall, the Biden administration is openly seeking the People’s Republic of China’s help in extricating itself from its self-inflicted fiascos in Gaza and Yemen.
More Reform Kabuki Over Ruling Party Factions
Reform kabuki can never become actual reform until the Liberal Democratic Party is dislodged as Japan’s semi-permanent ruling party.
Visible Minorities: Positive Steps for Non-Japanese
This month’s column will offer my impressions about how much Japan has changed regarding the issues that have always been on my radar screen—society’s openness to newcomers. On that score, I have some positive developments to report.