Islamists kill over 100 in Nigeria and kidnap women Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Sunni Islamists have butchered over 100 rural workers and civilians in Northeastern Nigeria. The massacres took place in at least two villages in and around Koshobe in the state of Borno. Apparently, many rural workers were tied…
Tanzania to join Mozambique against Islamists in border areas Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The growing menace of Sunni Islamic terrorism in northern Mozambique is gradually spilling over to remote border areas in Tanzania. Hence, the armed forces of Mozambique and Tanzania have agreed to joint military operations. Of course, the…
Australia and Japan agree on a historic Defense Pact Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and Prime Minister Scott Morrison have agreed in principle to a significant Defense Pact. Of course, China isn’t happy about events. However, democratic nations need to focus on strengthening their respective…
Nikkei above 26,000 in high not seen since 1991: Japanese worry about Covid-19 Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese stock market in Tokyo reached 26,000 but the Nikkei isn’t painting the real picture of the economy. Instead, wealthy financial institutions and investors are making a killing out of government stimulus…
China, Japan, and South Korea sign the mega trade bloc RCEP Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times China, Japan, and South Korea – along with twelve other nations – signed the mega trade bloc called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Hence, the largest free-trade bloc in the world cements the Asia-Pacific.…
Alleged massacre in Ethiopia: Tigray crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions in the region of Tigray in Ethiopia are ongoing and many people have died in recent clashes. The thorny issues of power concentration, federalism, regional grievances, ethnicity, religion, a unitary state, and political differences all exist in Ethiopia to…
Armenia in crisis because of events in Nagorno-Karabakh: Deeds of NATO Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Armenian populated Nagorno-Karabakh region is in shock after recent battleground setbacks in and around this region. Thus the announcement by the leader of Armenia to an agreement with Azerbaijan of ending the conflict…
African Union calls for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia: Tensions in Tigray Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The nation of Ethiopia is multi-ethnic and multi-religious and many faultlines exist. Thus, issues around power concentration, regional dynamics, political differences, and ethnic issues can quickly spiral out of control. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed…
Russia sends peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh: France is watching events Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Russian Federation agreed with Armenia and Azerbaijan to send peacekeepers to the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Hence, 1,960 military personnel from the Russian Federation will monitor and help to de-escalate military tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.…
United States Presidential Election result will leave a sour taste Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The United States Presidential Election was meant to be a clear victory for Joe Biden over Donald Trump. Yet, the election between the Democrats and Republicans – despite the pundits predicting an easy win for Biden…
Islamist terrorist attack in Vienna: Austria in shock Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Islamist terrorism is once more erupting in the heart of Europe. The latest terrorist attack hit the capital of Austria. Hence, just like France is in shock by recent brutal murders – the streets of Vienna witnessed another…
Religious leaders in Sudan declare freedom of faith: Animism, Christianity, and Islam Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Islamism and Arabization caused enormous convulsions in the recent history of Sudan. Indeed, in recent times the nation split into ethnic and religious lines with the creation of South Sudan. However, both Sudan and…
Japan will not sign the United Nations Nuclear Ban Treaty based on geopolitics Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Japan is protected by the nuclear umbrella of the United States. Hence with Northeast Asia being a major area of competing militaries that have nuclear weapons, then naturally Japan refuses to join the…
Afghanistan ISIS attack aimed at the Shia kills at least 24 Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another barbaric terrorist attack by ISIS (Islamic State – IS) aimed at Shia Muslims in Kabul killed at least 24 young people. Over many decades different Sunni Islamist terrorist groups have targeted the Shia in…
Iran and its endless Covid-19 crisis Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis in Iran is never-ending. Indeed, deaths began to emerge in February and since then it is an endless curve of death. Therefore, the longevity of coronavirus is putting enormous strains on society, especially for people already struggling.…
US firm alleges China hacking Japan Covid-19 projects: Skepticism is needed Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga needs a calm head because these days China is being blamed for countless things. Often, without clear evidence that it is related to state involvement. According to an information security firm…
Japan to support the United Kingdom joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Recently the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan, in principle, signed an important trade deal. Of course, for the UK, this comes at an opportune time because of ongoing issues with the European Union (EU). It is…
French teacher beheaded by Islamist for teaching: Why refugee status? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Another brutal Islamist terrorist attack struck France once more. This time, the victim was beheaded for being a teacher and having the audacity to believe in freedom. However, in the mindset of the Islamist, his God…
PM Suga of Japan to visit Vietnam and Indonesia: Anti-China hawks need silencing Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claims to want to preserve the mantle of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe. Yet, some individuals in his Cabinet appear more hawkish towards China and the Russian Federation. Therefore, if…
Southeast Asia: Crucible of Indigenous Survival Special Contribution: Gideon Sim The misleading portrayal of Southeast Asia as an oasis of economic growth and calm in global media belies the boiling over of ethnic tensions and discontent. From Mindanao where Philippine government forces extrajudicially kill indigenous Lumad and Moro minorities; to West Papua where the Indonesian…
Turkey increased military sales six-fold to Azerbaijan: Nagorno-Karabakh Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Military sales by Turkey to Azerbaijan have increased six-fold this year. Alongside this, Turkey is utilizing international Islamist terrorists just like in Northern Syria and more recently Libya. Therefore, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh – and Turkey’s historical animosity…
Japan protests after China patrol incursion: Early test for PM Suga Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan is facing his first geopolitical test after two Chinese patrol ships entered the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands. This comes shortly after recent anti-China stances according to political elites…
Armenian losses mount in Nagorno-Karabakh: NATO Turkey, terrorism, and France Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Under President Erdogan of Turkey, this nation continues to meddle against the Arabic speaking and regional Christian world. It matters not if upsetting Gulf states by supporting Qatar and its role in backing the Muslim Brotherhood,…
Brutal rape and murder of a two-year-old girl in Pakistan Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to the charity Sahil in Pakistan, approximately 1,500 children have been raped in the first six months of this year. Hence, the latest murder and rape of a little girl aged two highlights a major…
Covid-19 deaths and infections in China are estranged: Why mainly Hubei? Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Over one million people are known to have died from coronavirus (Covid-19) internationally. However, the initial epicenter of Hubei province in China remains an enigma. Therefore, while Wuhan in Hubei is synonymous with the coronavirus,…
DRC and another sex scandal involving the WHO during the Ebola crisis Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Various organizations within the United Nations (UN) – just like charities and humanitarian groups outside the UN – have been involved in countless sex scandals and the rape of children. Hence, even during the…
Prime Minister Suga showing early nationalist signs Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is showing early nationalist signs even if not overtly. Hence, it is striking that several members of his Cabinet and policies announced seem to have a nationalist slant. Of course, some of this is natural…
Armenia and Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh: Russia needs to warn Turkey Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh are nothing new in recent times. However, with Armenia announcing a general mobilization and imposing martial law, this time the situation appears more dangerous. Both nations have blamed…
PM Suga of Japan and President Xi of China talk by phone Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan and President Xi Jinping of China held their first talks by phone since Suga became the new leader of Japan. Unsurprisingly, both leaders promised to foster closer relations…
North Korea apologizes to South Korea over the recent killing Kanako Mita and Noriko Watanabe Modern Tokyo Times Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, made a rare apology to South Korea over the recent killing of a South Korean citizen. He made the apology to show his sincerity in what appears to be a…
Sanctions likely to be lifted in Mali once Interim President takes office Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The military coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita appears to be winning trust regionally. Thus ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is showing signs of compromise. At first, ECOWAS had tried to…
Trillions of dollars laundered by financial institutions: Drug cartels to terrorism Kanako Mita and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Allegations are emerging over enormous money laundering scandals covering the period 1999-2017. More than likely, this is only the tip of a much bigger iceberg. However, once more, the image of banks and multinational financial…
