Chinese Use of Marmaray Subsea Tunnel Another First for Belt and Road Initiative Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: John C. K. Daly The Jamestown Foundation On November 7, at 3:30 A.M., a westbound train from Xi’an, China, for the first time ever used Istanbul’s $4 billion Marmaray sub-Bosporus railway tunnel to dispatch goods to central…
Sunni Islamists butcher Christians inside a church in Burkina Faso Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Christian worshippers, including the pastor and young children, were brutally killed by Sunni Islamists in Burkina Faso. Sadly, this event is nothing new to this country because Sunni Islamists often attack holy places of worship. This…
Art of Japan and the Buddhist holy preacher Nichiren: Mystical landscapes Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In these art pieces by the contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi, the theme flows from old Japan to the rich wisdom of the holy Buddhist cleric called Nichiren (1222-1282). In a sense, Utsumi is alluding to the rapidly…
The influential former Japanese PM dies but the legacy of Yasuhiro Nakasone lives on Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Yasuhiro Nakasone finally passed away from this earth at the age of 101 but his political legacy remains strong in modern Japan. The former prime minister led Japan between 1982 and 1987…
Dutch Court Case Reignites Europe’s Focus on ISIS Children by Abigail R. Esman Special to IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism He is a handsome boy, about 9 or 10 years old, with large, pale green eyes and dark hair. He speaks softly, conversing with a Western journalist. “We will kill you,” he says, as…
Art of Japan and the legacy of Buddhism and culture Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The impact of Buddhism on the art of Kaihō Yūshō (1533-1615) is abundantly obvious and the same applies to the role of this faith throughout his life. Of course, Yūshō isn’t alone when it comes to the enormous impact…
Earthquake hits Albania leaving at least 6 dead and many trapped by rubble Kanako Itamae and Chika Mori Modern Tokyo Times A powerful 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Albania earlier today with the result being fatalities and several people trapped. It is known that at least 6 people have perished. Thus, with people being trapped by…
France and the brutal murders of women by former or current partners Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The international image of Paris conjures up stunning architecture, exquisite art, high culture, trendy fashion, and so much more. However, on Saturday, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Paris against the brutal reality…
Russia Adopts National Strategy for Development of Artificial Intelligence Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor By: Sergey Sukhankin The Jamestown Foundation On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence (NSDAI) for the period until 2030. During the unveiling of the new strategy, Putin noted that “the global market…
Major protests in Colombia is following a similar regional anti-government theme Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times It appears that Colombia is following a similar anti-government theme that is affecting many regional nations. Thus, nations including Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have witnessed major anti-government protests. Therefore, it matters not if…
Art of Japan and the entangled state Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The flow of human life comes and goes at the drop of a hat but observance and familiarity can make yesteryear seem like now. In the art piece titled “The Blossoming of Life” by Sawako Utsumi, you can also feel the changed…
Many protesters killed by the theocratic state in Iran Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Reports emanating out of Iran and in the wider international community are stating that many protesters have been killed. Yet, the true extent of the crisis is blurred by the theocratic state cutting off the internet and…
Lawmakers Ask State Department to Investigate Jamaat-e-Islami’s U.S. Affiliate for Terror Financing by Abha Shankar IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism Three U.S. House members have asked the State Department to investigate a prominent New York-based Islamist network and its charitable arms for possible terror financing. In a Nov. 1 letter to the State Department’s…
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mocks people in Iran for protesting against poverty Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is known to control an enormous financial empire based on underhanded business practices. Despite this, he is accusing protesters who are facing economic hardship of being “counter-revolutionaries.” Since Friday many Iranians have…
The lower profile of hacktivism by Anonymous and the state apparatus Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times According to IBM’s X-Force, the international community is witnessing an enormous decline in the activity of hacking by political hacktivists. Of course, the decentralized hacktivist group Anonymous is part of this huge reduction in political…
Japan art before the eclipse of the Taira in the 12th century: Tragic boy Emperor Antoku Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times In twelfth-century Japan, the artist Tokiwa Mitsunaga was highly acclaimed. This notably applies to his “Annual Rites and Ceremonies” dated in 1173. Hence, people can get an insight into the various ceremonies that…
Bolivia on tenterhooks after Evo Morales announces his resignation Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Tensions are running high in Bolivia after President Evo Morales announced his resignation. Of course, for supporters of Carlos Mesa and others opposed to Morales, then jubilation broke out. However, the crisis in Bolivia is far from…
Protests in Iraq Represent a Significant Challenge to Shia Militias Publication: Terrorism Monitor By: Rafid Jaboori The Jamestown Foundation Dozens have been killed and hundreds injured in the ongoing wave of street protests in Baghdad and the predominantly Shia provinces of southern Iraq. Protesters are demanding jobs, reform, and a real shake-up of the political…
South Korea is intent on terminating GSOMIA and this bodes well for Japan Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The government of Japan and South Korea are at loggerheads over history and other issues. Hence, with South Korea stating that it intends to terminate GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement), then…
Bolivia crisis is growing with both sides blaming each other for violence and disorder Sawako Uchida and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Since the re-election of President Evo Morales of Bolivia, the political situation is simmering to boiling point. This is based on the runner-up claiming electoral fraud. Hence, supporters of Carlos Mesa have…
Banking Trojans from Zbot to Goz Horace C. White Modern Tokyo Times Banking Trojans increase by 16% in 2018 Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab Solutions has raised an alarm over the skyrocketing number of cyberattacks with popular malware, Banking Trojans. According to the cybersecurity company, Banking Trojans attacked about 889,452 users of its anti-phishing software…
Death of AQIS Emir Asim Umar has Serious Implications for Al-Qaeda Publication: Terrorism Monitor By: Farhan Zahid The Jamestown Foundation Following the death of Hamza bin Laden, al-Qaeda has lost another key leader in late September after U.S. and Afghan security forces killed al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) emir Asim Umar in Musa Qila…
Contemporary Japanese artist and Utrillo in a New Transcendent Light Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The delightful contemporary Japanese artist Sawako Utsumi is once more paying homage to Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955). Like usual, the color scheme and hidden cultural meanings spring to mind. Therefore, the art piece titled “Utrillo in a New Transcendent Japanese…
South Africa crush England in Rugby Union World Cup Final in Japan Kanako Mita and Sawako Uchida Modern Tokyo Times The final of the 2019 Rugby Union World Cup witnessed a potent display by South Africa who crushed England. In the end, the final whistle provided mercy for England. Thus, the mighty Springboks demolished England…
Protesters in Iraq rebuke Iran with chants of, “Get out, Iran! Free Baghdad!” Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The crisis in Iraq is not abating because protesters demand genuine political change. At the same time, protesters want Iran to keep out of the body politic of Iraq. Equally important, protests have…
President Aoun of Lebanon calls for major political changes but will protesters take heed? Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Michel Aoun of Lebanon expressed his concerns about mass demonstrations and the need to listen. Thus, he vowed to form a new emergency government based on expertise and not political or…
State Department Official Demanded Kurds Capitulate to Islamists by John Rossomando IPT News Investigative Project on Terrorism First, the United States agreed to withdraw special operations forces from a section of northeastern Syria, opening the door to a Turkish invasion aimed at U.S.-allied Kurdish, Arab and Syriac Christian forces there who played a key role…
Merkel’s extremist legacy in Germany: Alternative for Germany gains in Thuringia Sawako Utsumi and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Chancellor Angela Merkel could have left a rich legacy in Germany before her policy of welcoming uncontrolled migration. Thus, the recent election in Thuringia highlights the real legacy of Merkel. This applies to a…
Ancient Japanese poetry of Mibu no Tadamine Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times The Japanese poet Mibu no Tadamine belongs to the early Heian poetry scene in Japan. Sadly, not much is known about his actual birth and death. Hence, little is known about the things that reached his heart during his early years of…
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “Died like a dog. He died like a coward,” declares Trump Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS (Islamic State – IS), was announced dead by President Donald Trump of America. This happened after Special Forces from America went into Northwest Syria after…
Over 40 killed in Iraq by government security forces and Iranian backed militias Ramazan Khalidov and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times Fresh violence erupted in Iraq after people chanted demands for change in several parts of Iraq. Once more, the disenfranchised called for jobs, hope, and an end to embedded corruption. Yet the…
Tensions in Bolivia after Evo Morales re-elected because of alleged fraud Noriko Watanabe and Lee Jay Walker Modern Tokyo Times President Evo Morales of Bolivia was re-elected according to internal sources that stipulate he won just over 47 percent of the vote. However, according to Carlos Mesa who won just over 36 percent of the…
