Image is from this SCMP article.

Much of the analysis below is sourced from Michael Roberts' great website.

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Japan's ruling parliamentary coalition, consisting of the LDP (purple) and it's junior coalition partner Komeito (in light pink) have lost their ruling majority. They have ruled post-war Japan for almost its entire history. The LDP is currently led by Shigeru Ishiba after Kishida stood down due to a corruption scandal, and ties to the Unification Church.

While geopolitical factors (over the cold war between the US and China, etc) may have played a role, by far the biggest reason for this result in the poor economic conditions over the past few years. Inflation has risen and real wages have fallen, with little relief for the working class via things like tax reductions. While inequality in Japan is not as extreme as in America, it is still profound, with the top 10% possessing 60% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% possess just 5%.

Shinzo Abe previously tried to boost economic performance through monetary easing and fiscal deficits, while Kishida ran on a "new capitalism" which rejected Abe's neoliberalism and promised to reduce inequality. Nothing substantial has resulted from all this, however, other than increasing corporate wealth. Innovation continues to fall, and domestic profitability is low, resulting in decreasing investment at home by Japanese corporations. Labour productivity growth has only slightly picked up since the mid-2000s and is falling again. The rate of profit has fallen by half since the 1960s, and Japan has been in a manufacturing recession - or very close to it - since late 2022. In essence: there is no choice but between stagnation or decline.

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Palestinian Factions Sign Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity 2024-07-23 18:49

On July 23, 2024, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi attended in Beijing the closing ceremony of the reconciliation talks of Palestinian factions and witnessed the signing of the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity by 14 Palestinian factions.

In his remarks, Wang Yi noted that since entering the new era, President Xi Jinping has put forward proposals and propositions on addressing the Palestinian question, contributing Chinese wisdom and solution for addressing the question. Now, 14 Palestinian factions are gathering in Beijing with the greater good of their nation in mind. This is an important historical moment in the Palestinian liberation cause. China commends the reconciliation efforts made by all the factions, and congratulates them on the success of the Beijing dialogue and the signing of the Beijing Declaration.

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Wang Yi pointed out that only when Palestinian factions speak as one can the voice of justice be loud and clear, and only when they join hands and march forward shoulder to shoulder can they succeed in their national liberation cause. The most important consensus from the Beijing talks is to achieve the reconciliation and unity among the 14 factions; the core outcome is the affirmation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinian people; the biggest highlight is the agreement on establishing an interim government of national reconciliation focusing on the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza; and the strongest call is for truly establishing an independent State of Palestine in accordance with relevant U.N. resolutions. The key to the Palestinian reconciliation process is to bolster confidence, keep to the right direction, and make incremental progress. Only by making continuous efforts to build consensus and put it into practice can the reconciliation process yield more and more substantive progress and greater unity. Reconciliation is the internal affair of Palestinian factions, and cannot happen without international support. On the path toward reconciliation, China shares the same direction and destination with Arab and Islamic countries.

Wang Yi noted that the Palestinian question is at the core of the Middle East issue. China never has any selfish interests on the Palestinian question. China was among the first countries to recognize the PLO and the State of Palestine. China all along firmly supports the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights. We value fairness and advocate for justice. At present, the Gaza conflict drags on, its spillovers continue to spread, and multiple regional conflicts are interconnected. To help get out of the current conflict and predicament, China proposes a three-step initiative:

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The first step is to achieve comprehensive, lasting and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, and ensure access to humanitarian aid and rescue on the ground. The international community should build more synergy for ending the hostilities and establishing a ceasefire.

The second step is to make joint efforts toward post-conflict governance of Gaza under the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine.” Gaza is an inseparable, integral part of Palestine. Restarting post-conflict reconstruction as soon as possible is an urgent priority. The international community needs to support Palestinian factions in establishing an interim national consensus government and realizing effective management of Gaza and the West Bank.

The third step is to help Palestine become a full member state of the U.N. and get down to implementing the two-State solution. It is important to support the convening of a broad-based, more authoritative, and more effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-State solution.

Ceasefire and humanitarian rescue are pressing priorities. “Palestinians governing Palestine” is the basic principle for the post-conflict governance of Gaza. The two-State solution is the fundamental way forward. The international community should support the parties in taking the three steps in real earnest.

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Wang Yi noted that intra-Palestinian reconciliation will bring hope and a future to the Palestinian people. It is an important step toward resolving the Palestinian question and achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. Unwavering efforts must be continually made in this direction. China sincerely hopes that Palestinian factions will achieve reconciliation and, on that basis, realize independent statehood at an early date. We will strengthen communication and coordination with the relevant parties and make joint efforts for the implementation of the Beijing Declaration.

Head of the Fatah delegation Mr. Mahmoud al-Aloul and head of the Hamas delegation Mr. Musa Abu Marzouk delivered remarks on behalf of the Palestinian factions. They noted that China holds an important place in the heart of Palestinian people, and expressed sincere appreciation for President Xi Jinping and China’s unchanging, firm support and selfless assistance to Palestine over a long period of time. They spoke highly of China’s acting as a responsible major country and upholding justice for Palestine in international fora. They expressed deep appreciation for China’s strong support for intra-Palestinian dialogue and reconciliation. They stated their readiness to implement the consensus, strengthen unity among factions, advance the reconciliation process, and work for an early solution to the question of Palestine.

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Diplomatic envoys to China or their representatives from Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Russia and Türkiye as well as representatives from 14 main Palestinian factions attended the closing ceremony.

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LONG LIVE THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA AND LONG LIVE COMRADE XI JINPING

Image is of Yemen seizing the first ship in its blockade of Israel (the Galaxy Leader) with a helicopter raid.

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Alternate title: What If It Was The Bab El-Womandeb And It Was Just For The Ladies?

Ansarallah is a key component of the broader Resistance movement, backed by Iran, and has been a stalwart member in engineering the ongoing collapse of Zionism. It has steadily escalated both its rhetoric and, rarely nowadays, its actions, proving that the mythical "red line" might actually exist in the world after all, after going MIA in both Russia and China. It has been striking first Israel-owned ships heading through the Bab el-Mandeb - the strait that leads into the Red Sea and then to the Suez Canal - and, recently, has demonstrated its promise that any ships that intend to dock in Israel will be attacked. While this is really only half a blockade, the cost of going around Africa is significant, and Western insurance companies really don't like it when their ships get blasted by missiles and drones. Several shipping companies have already stated their intention to alter/stop shipping routes through the Red Sea, trying to prompt the West to find a "solution".

Despite US naval presence in the area, Yemen possesses the ability to strike the oil refining facilities of the Gulf monarchies, leaving the US in a very difficult position. If they attack Yemen, then not only do Western ships risk being attacked directly, but those oil refineries may go up in smoke depending on if they help the West - and global oil prices will skyrocket, in an already declining world economy - and it might cost several Western leaders their leadership positions, including Biden himself. A regional war could ultimately tumble into worldwide chaos.

Equally, however, the US cannot afford to lose Israel. It is the single most important American imperial outpost, perhaps alongside Taiwan. If Zionism is destroyed as a local destabilizing influence, then the Russia-China-Iran axis will find itself in a leadership position over the region. Israeli military losses in Gaza increase every single day as they advance further into the labyrinth death trap under the obligation to show some kind of military victory, with Hamas' strategy of attrition taking its toll. And Hezbollah sits there, having destroyed most of the border infrastructure, silently threatening the obliteration of Israel's infrastructure under the rain of a hundred thousand missiles.

As world attention gradually shifts away from the Gaza genocide, we continue to approach the brink.

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The weekly update is here on the website. Your Tuesday Briefing is here in the comments and here on the website.

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The Country of the Week is Yemen! Feel free to chime in with books, essays, longform articles, even stories and anecdotes or rants. More detail here.

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https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2024/10/29/who-is-luce-the-anime-mascot-of-the-catholic-church-explained/

>The Catholic Church has unveiled a new cartoon mascot known as “Luce,” and the raincoat-clad anime girl has already made a splash online. > >Luce has been embraced and denounced by the extremely online masses, and, inevitably, inspired a ridiculous amount of fan art, and memes. > > Who Is Luce, The Vatican’s New Mascot? > >Luce was designed as a kid-friendly mascot for the Catholic Church’s upcoming 2025 Jubliee Year, which is all about hope, forgiveness and holy pilgrimages.

Catholic and kid-friendly do not belong in the same sentence.

>Luce means “light” in Italian; the anime girl is designed to appeal to the youth of today, who have grown up watching One Piece and Demon Slayer. The character is rendered in the “chibi” art style, meaning short, cutesy characters with big heads and stubby limbs. > >Luce was designed by Simone Legno, the Italian pop artist behind the tokidoki brand, who takes inspiration from street graffiti and Japanese art. > >Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the organizer for the jubilee, says the mascot was inspired by the Catholic Church's desire "to live even within the pop culture so beloved by our youth." > >Luce also appears to be a pilgrim, which is why she wears a raincoat, muddy boots and walking staff, symbolizing her perseverance through a storm-ridden landscape. > >Luce’s whole outfit is loaded with Catholic iconography and symbolism; she wears rosary beads around her neck, and her bright blue hair might be a reference to the Virgin Mary’s blue hair covering. > >Luce also has scallop shells in her eyes, which are an iconic symbol of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, with the shell representing the way to the Cathedral. > >Luce proved a pleasant surprise for anime-loving Catholics, instantly inspiring a deluge of fan art and positive commentary. > >Many made comparisons to Rei, a blue-haired character from the legendary anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Others pointed out that Luce bears a striking resemblance to the “Morton Salt Girl,” the official mascot of Morton Salt. > >It didn’t take long for artists to reimagine Luce in multiple different styles, and a variety of poses; the mascot even inspired Halloween costumes. > >However, not everyone was impressed with the Church’s new anime girl; more traditional commentators saw the chibi mascot as an embarrassment, too modern and silly to represent their faith. > >Some even compared the name of the anime character to the devil himself, Lucifer, but the supposed link was quickly debunked.

Okay this sounds like some shit my crank protestant theocratic fascist coworker would try to say smear the Catholics, like the fact that it's an anime isn't cringe enough as is.

>Many commentators urged the traditionalists to lighten up, and made jokes about the cultural divide between Luce fans and haters. > >Brightly colored cartoon characters are a fun, inoffensive way to appeal to the youth, and the Catholic Church could stand to shed its image as a dusty, archaic institution. > >While Luce has been introduced online, the character is due to make her official debut at the Lucca Comics & Games convention in Lucca, Italy, in the first week of November. > >Luce will also appear as the Vatican’s mascot at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, where she will be used to promote the theme of “Beauty Brings Hope.”

color revolution oclock

> In discussions with Lebanese politicians, Johnson reportedly said, "Israel cannot achieve everything through war; it's time for you to do your part and launch an internal uprising under the banner of 'Enough.'"

> The ambassador added, "The Lebanese people must show their desire to rise up and get rid of Hezbollah and return to the context that emerged after the assassination of Rafik Hariri, especially since the regional, international, and field circumstances are in your favor."

> According to the source, the ambassador asked the politicians, "Why do you seem afraid? Hezbollah has been defeated, its leadership is destroyed, and we are with you, and the entire free world stands by your side."

!amerikkka

“Although in this case it is an acquisition of ammunition, the Interior Ministry has initiated the administrative procedure to cancel the purchase,” it added.

It also said Israeli firms will be excluded from any outstanding tenders.

The Cadena SER radio station reported earlier that Spain’s Civil Guard police force had agreed to a sale of over 15 million nine-millimeter rounds for $6.48 million from Guardian LTD Israel.

The announcement comes the week after the Spanish Defense Ministry told local media that it had halted the purchase of weapons from Israel. The European country had said it would stop arms sales to Israel after the start of the war on 7 October 2023.

This decision marks the first signal that the Spanish pledge will include purchases from Israel and not just sales.

The fascist Tel Aviv regime just carried out another genocidal attack on Gaza today. This one targeted a residential high rise building in northern Gaza's Beit Lahia, massacring 109 civilians (mostly refugees sheltering there). Meanwhile, US liberals offer virtually no criticism of this fully US-backed genocide (or if they do criticize, they do so in a way that carefully shields the White House and the "Democratic" Party political machine).

Snip:

Israeli warplanes have bombed a residential building sheltering displaced Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip, killing scores of people and trapping many others.

At least 109 civilians, including women and children, lost their lives in the Israeli airstrikes that flattened the five-story building in the city of Beit Lahia on Tuesday.

Reports said dozens of people are still trapped under the rubble as rescue workers continue operations to find survivors and retrieve the bodies of the victims.

Meanwhile, Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, told Al Jazeera TV channel that dozens of the injured have arrived at the facility and that many any of them may die because of the lack of resources.

I legit don’t understand how they can block a UN agency? Like, what? Is that legal - I know they’re killing UN peacekeepers which should also be illegal but this seems a step even beyond that. Can countries just ban UN agencies from working there?

!sadness-abysmal

>Later snowfall on Mount Fuji could be a worrying indication of where the world is headed, with warmer winters having an impact on snow, tourism, local economies, food and water supplies and even allergies.

tags: Nadia Ahmad, Liano Sharon, Esam Boraey, Lauren Gurley, Adam Lapino, Scott Gustafson

>The Elysian Valley Riverside Neighborhood, a working-class community with a large Latino population, criticized the Frogtown Flea Crawl event for bringing in hundreds of "trust fund hipsters" who have "created traffic jams, blocked driveways, left behind trash and even urinated in public," according to the Los Angeles Times.

>Neighborhood Council President Arturo Gomez told the LA Times that people who attend the event "exhibit an attitude of entitlement that this neighborhood is for people who want to treat it like a playground, as opposed to the people living here just trying to live their lives."

>Videos widely circulating on social media show Chinese food delivery drivers increasingly having meltdowns. They are among the 12 million drivers who support the world's largest food delivery market. Amid a stagnating economy, more people are turning to gig work as a means of supporting themselves. What was once an industry that provided delivery workers a stable income has become a pressure cooker exacerbated by increased competition and, according to some drivers and experts, a gamified delivery app algorithm that does not have the workers' best interests at heart.

originally posted in the news mega by our comrade @xiaohongshu@hexbear.net

Archive Link

What's up with Lula?

Russian military and FSB border guards eliminated a group of Western mercs yesterday that attempted attacking Bryansk oblast. The news link contains (18+) video evidence. Snip:

"On October 27, officers from the FSB Border Service in the Bryansk region, together with units of the Russian Armed Forces and the Russian National Guard, thwarted an attempted state border breach by a sabotage-reconnaissance group in the Klimovsky district," the security agency stated.

According to the FSB, "four saboteurs were eliminated in the clash, while the remnants of the retreating group were hit by missile and artillery strikes, resulting in further losses."

The FSB added that "the eliminated saboteurs were found with foreign weapons, equipment, communication devices, and personal items indicating ties to third countries (a Canadian flag, a prayer card in Polish, and a notebook with tactical training notes in English). A tattoo of the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, US Army Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment, was found on the body of one of the eliminated individuals."

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/6081992

> # Spokesman for DPRK Ministry of National Defence Makes Public Final Results of Investigation into Case of Grave Infringement upon Sovereignty by Drone from ROK > >Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK released Sunday the final results of investigation into the case of infringement upon its sovereignty which confirmed the take-off point and route and purpose of intrusion by the drone from the ROK found in the area of the DPRK capital city. > >According to the spokesman, under the instruction of the DPRK government on scientifically and thoroughly proving the truth behind the case of the grave infringement upon the country's sovereignty by a drone, a military means recognized by the world, the joint investigation group involving the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of State Security and other relevant specialized organs completely dismantled the flight control module from the remains of a crashed enemy drone and analyzed the flight plan and flight log in a comprehensive way. > >The results of analysis of the flight control program of the enemy drone conducted by the joint investigation group indefensibly and clearly proved the most vulgar and shameless provocative nature of the ROK military gangsters who have persistently evaded the responsibility for the illegal intrusion by their drone into the sky above the capital city of the DPRK. > >The collected evidence data include 238 flight plans and flight logs worked out between June 5, 2023 and October 8, 2024, and the remaining data except the data of October 8 are the data of flight in the territory of the ROK. > >According to the analysis of the flight control program, a plan for scattering political motivational rubbish is to be worked out when the flight plan is drawn out, and when the drone reaches the position reflected in the scattering plan, the flight control module is to send an electrical signal to the scattering means. > >The flight data number of the enemy drone crashed after intruding into the DPRK on October 8 was analyzed. > >The plan for scattering political motivational rubbish and the scattering log were recorded correctly in the enemy drone. > >It was proved that the drone of the ROK military gangsters which took off at Paekryong Island at 23:25:30 on Oct. 8 and intruded into the territorial air of the DPRK flied over Jangyon County of South Hwanghae Province and the waters around the Cho Islet till the waters around Namjoap Islet, and then over Chollima District, Nampho Municipality and intruded into the capital city of the DPRK. > >The enemy drone scattered the political motivational rubbish in the sky above the area between the building of the DPRK Foreign Ministry and Sungri Station of the Pyongyang Metro at 1:32:8 on Oct. 9 and in the sky above the building of the Ministry of National Defence at 1:35:11. > >The confirmed objective and scientific evidence data expose that the intrusion by the drone is aimed at scattering the anti-DPRK political motivational rubbish and that the principal of the hostile infringement upon the DPRK sovereignty is none other than the puppet ROK military gangsters. > >The spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence stressed once again that the last warning to the dangerous and reckless, political and military provocation by the ROK military gangsters which went beyond the limit of patience has already been made. > >In the case of infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK reoccurs due to the blind trust in the master, seizing the ROK, the most vulgar and malignant rogue state, and its extremely bad habit of challenge, the source of all misfortunes and provocations will disappear forever by the merciless offensive of the DPRK. -0- >www.kcna.kp (2024.10.28.)

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/020f000d8a64a13ad58dba4fb5c28e73.kcmsf https://archive.is/jkp6R

> # Press Statement of Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of C.C., WPK > >Pyongyang, October 28 (KCNA) -- Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the following press statement on Sunday: > >An unidentified drone appeared in the sky above Seoul and leaflets criticizing puppet Yoon were scattered. > >The military, individual organization or any individual of the DPRK did not let fly a drone. We can not confirm it and it is worthless to give answer to it. > >This is an assumed situation. > >Under such situation, I'd like to see once how the dirty curs in Seoul bark. > >The world may also be curious about it. -0- >www.kcna.kp (2024.10.28.)

http://kcna.kp/en/article/q/51d2e2dad25d130a1b8f1a04e6619709.kcmsf https://archive.is/WNjgu

https://archive.is/9Xcv8

Editor of KawsachunNews on Twitter | [CW: Blood] Video direct link

> # US plan for arms sales to Taiwan condemned >By ZHOU JIN | CHINA DAILY | Updated: 2024-10-28 07:43 > >China has urged the United States to stop arming the Taiwan region and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, vowing to take resolute measures to safeguard national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. > >The Foreign Ministry made the remarks late on Saturday in response to US approval on Friday of a $1.99 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, including delivery of an advanced surface-to-air missile system and radar systems. > >The surface-to-air missile system has been battle-tested in Ukraine and represents an increase in the air defense capabilities that the US is exporting to Taiwan. > >China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the US move and has lodged serious protests with the US, the ministry said in an online statement. > >The sales seriously undermine China's sovereignty and security interests, harm China-US relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and send a gravely wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, a spokesperson said in the statement. > >Washington's arms sales to the island seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, especially the Aug 17 communique of 1982, according to the statement. > >The US decision to use Taiwan to contain China and help advance a "Taiwan independence" agenda by arming the island goes against US leaders' commitment to not supporting "Taiwan independence" as well as the two sides' efforts to stabilize China-US relations, the spokesperson added. > >On Sunday, Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, warned Taiwan authorities under Lai Ching-te that purchasing weapons will not bring safety to Taiwan, but will only push the region toward the danger of military conflict. > >Separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and external interference cannot halt the trend of China's national reunification or shake China's determination and resolve to solve the Taiwan question, she said. > >Under US President Joe Biden's administration, there reportedly have been 17 arms sales to Taiwan. > >Earlier this month, the People's Liberation Army carried out an interservice exercise surrounding Taiwan aiming to thwart Taiwan separatists' attempts. > >In response to Taiwan leader Lai's remarks that he "would not yield an inch of ground in defense of Taiwanese territory", Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian emphasized that Taiwan is part of China's territory. > >No matter what the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan say or do, the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China will not change, Lin said on Friday at a regular news briefing in Beijing. > >The historic trend that the two sides of the Strait will and must be reunified will never be reversed, he added.

!theory-gary don't buy stuff from microsoft, if you can'tavoid using it