Three-quarters of the global population, or about 6 billion people, live in areas where fresh water has dwindled since 2002. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/07/world/the-earth-is-drying-out/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #climatechange #pollution #greenenergy

London-born Carlo Acutis, who died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, was canonized in a solemn ceremony in St. Peter's Square, with his family watching on. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/07/world/pope-canonizes-first-millennial-saint/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #popeleoxiv #carloacutis #piergiorgiofrassati #stpeter039ssquare #vaticancity #millennial

Europe should seek common ground with China on clean trade and investment instead of pursuing defensive industrial policy. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/07/world/china-europe-climate-connection/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #europe #eu #catl #evs #byd #climatechange #carbonemissions #pollution #cop30

Russia’s campaign in Ukraine is wearing down that country’s resistance as U.S. President Donald Trump focuses on short-term deals and personal accolades, leaving the conflict’s outcome increasingly in Putin’s favor. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/05/world/putin-sees-us-weak-over-ukraine/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #ukraine #russia #russiaukrainewar #donaldtrump #defense #europe #eu #nato

China’s diplomatic moves echo Japan’s 1943 Greater East Asia Conference, as Xi Jinping showcases military power, courts authoritarian allies and promotes a global governance agenda while challenging Western influence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/04/world/time-to-divide-the-dictators/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #northkorea #russia #xijinping #us #donaldtrump #kimjongun #vladimirputin #pla #defense #usmilitary #wwii

East Asia’s fertility plunge is driven not just by financial costs but by perfectionist cultural expectations that burden parents with intense educational and social demands, discouraging larger families. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/05/japan/east-asias-demographic-crisis/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #asia #eastasia #china #japan #southkorea #education #children

While markets clearly reflect the belief that the United States is ahead in the AI arms race, early leadership does not mean victory — especially when it comes to innovation. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/04/world/china-europe-climate-connection/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #us #ai #artificialintelligence #tech #openai #chatgpt #deepseek

Research shows the ease with which artificial intelligence can manipulate people into remembering things that never happened. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/04/world/artificial-intelligence-lies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #ai #artificialintelligence #deepfake #loftus #mit #ucirvine

China’s extravagant military parade on Wednesday sent a clear signal: Beijing possesses the firepower, partnerships and ambition to mold a new world order — one it aims to dominate. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/04/world/china-parade-shows-who-is-calling-the-shots/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #northkorea #russia #xijinping #us #donaldtrump #kimjongun #vladimirputin #pla #defense #usmilitary #taiwan #wwii

Japan’s political steadfastness, long tied to Liberal Democratic Party rule, is unraveling as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a leadership crisis after the party’s historic Upper House defeat in July. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/04/japan/the-ldps-political-drama/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #ldp #shigeruishiba #2025upperhouseelection #hiroshimoriyama

Autonomies: **The spectacle of power**

https://autonomies.org/2025/09/the-spectacle-of-power/

Official news is elsewhere. Society broadcasts to itself its own image of its own history, a history reduced to a superficial and static pageant of its rulers — the persons who embody the apparent inevitability of whatever happens. The world … Continue reading →

#Commentary #GuyDebord #Situationists

With extremists gaining power, human rights abuses surging, and regional stability at risk, Bangladesh is veering toward a Pakistan-style crisis that the international community can no longer afford to ignore. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/03/world/bangladesh-is-a-waiting-time-bomb/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #bangladesh #india #pakistan #muhammadyunus #sheikhhasina #religion #islam

India and Japan are steadily deepening energy cooperation through investments, technology partnerships and policy frameworks to advance clean-energy cooperation and transition goals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/03/japan/india-and-japans-energy-agenda/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #narendramodi #shigeruishiba #india #indiajapanrelations #trade #defense #energy #oil

At the SCO summit, India balanced engagement with China and Russia while maintaining its sovereignty and independence, signaling a cautious, pragmatic foreign policy amid rising U.S.-China tensions. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/03/indias-diplomatic-dance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #india #china #us #russia #donaldtrump #narendramodi #vladimirputin #xijinping #beltandroadinitiative

Chinese leader Xi Jinping's gathering to commemorate the end of WWII reflected Beijing’s authoritarian vision for the future. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/03/world/the-message-behind-chinas-grand-parade/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #northkorea #russia #xijinping #us #donaldtrump #kimjongun #vladimirputin #myanmar #cuba #humanrights

Structural issues — including population decline, job shortages and an insufficient social-safety net — are hampering consumption and demand. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/03/world/what-is-behind-chinas-positive-gdp/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #china #chineseeconomy #gdp #chinesecommunistparty #xijinping

The Cheap Seats

Great Australian Pods Podcast Directory: https://www.greataustralianpods.com/the-cheap-seats/

https://www.europesays.com/2379025/ DOGE this! Florida DOT hides crosswalk crackdown records – Orlando Sentinel #commentary #DepartmentOfGovernmentEfficiency #doge #ElonMusk #LatestHeadlines #LocalNews #Musk #opinion #OpinionColumnists #ScottMaxwell

Many of the grievances Indonesia's reformists once raised about the Suharto-era — entrenched corruption, concentration of political power and deep inequality — are prevalent today. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/02/world/indonesia-protests-and-anger/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #prabowosubianto #indonesia #suharto #democracy

U.S. missteps have fueled fears of “losing India” to China, even as New Delhi navigates its strategic autonomy, maintains ties with the West and resists being fully drawn into any single bloc. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/09/02/world/indian-realism-and-realpolitik/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #india #china #us #russia #indiausrelations #indiachinarelations #indiarussiarelations #donaldtrump #narendramodi #vladimirputin #xijinping