Podcasts about Upper house

The Thai-Cambodia border skirmish has now escalated with both sides firing artillery across their borders.  Why the escalation now?  Japan's LDP loses its upper house majority and what does it mean for PM Ishiba's tenure as LDP party leader.  Taiwan has a recall election in a bid to unseat KMT legislators and allow the DPP to regain legislative majority that the ruling party lost in the January 2024 general election.  So what is the result and what are the implications of this recall election on party politics in Taiwan?

Lee Hardman, Senior Currency Analyst, sits down with Simon Mayes, Head of Corporate Sales for the UK, Ireland, and Switzerland (FX), to explore the outlook for the Japanese yen following Japan's Upper House election and the recent US-Japan trade agreement. With a potential policy shift on the horizon, could a hawkish Bank of Japan stance in the coming week give the JPY a boost?

20 जुलाई 2025 को जापान में Upper House के लिए चुनाव हुए और नतीजे इतने चौंकाने वाले नहीं रहे, लेकिन एतिहासिक ज़रूर थे. प्रधानमंत्री शिगेरु इशिबा की लिबरल डेमोक्रेटिक पार्टी यानी LDP और उसके सहयोगी कोमेतो गठबंधन बहुमत से पीछे रह गए। उन्हें सिर्फ़ 47 सीटें मिलीं, जबकि ज़रूरत थी कम से कम 50 की. इस बार महंगाई, खासकर चावल की बढ़ती क़ीमतें और देश में विदेशी मज़दूरों को लेकर चिंता बड़ी बहस का मुद्दा रही। और इसी माहौल में उभरी एक नई ताक़त  Sanseito पार्टी, जिसके नेता सोहेई कामिया ने “Japanese-First” जैसे नारों के साथ बड़ा असर डाला. ऐसे ही नारे हमने अमेरिका में राष्ट्रपती ट्रंप की रैली में भी सुन चुके हैं. ट्रंप ने जैसे बाहर से आकर अमेरिका की राजनीति के केंद्र में पहुंच गए, क्या जापान में भी ऐसा होता दिख रहा है… क्या इशिबा सरकार बच पाएगी? जापान की आर्थिक और विदेश नीति का क्या होगा? और भारत जैसे साझेदार देशों के लिए इसका क्या मतलब है? सुनिए 'पढ़ाकू नितिन' में. Disclaimer: इस पॉडकास्ट में व्यक्त किए गए विचार एक्सपर्ट के निजी हैं.

We unpack the results of Japan’s upper-house elections, including their effects on the minority government of Shigeru Ishiba, the economy and Japan’s trade negotiations with Donald Trump.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UN slams Israel's new evacuation order in Gaza as blow to lifesaving aid "The United Nations is condemning Israel's latest evacuation order in central Gaza, calling it a serious threat to humanitarian efforts. In a statement, the UN warned that this new ultimatum could bring already struggling aid operations to a halt and make life even more unbearable for civilians on the ground. The UN's humanitarian office says at least a thousand families have already fled the area in the past few hours." US officials reportedly growing frustrated with Netanyahu "There is increasing tension in Washington over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military decisions, especially following recent air strikes in Syria. According to a report by Axios, some senior officials in the White House have expressed serious concern, stating that Netanyahu's actions are becoming too unpredictable and disruptive. One official criticised the Israeli leader for behaving like a ""madman"" who ""bombs everything all the time.""" Death toll from Sweida clashes in Syria reportedly rises to 426 "The deadly clashes in Syria's southern Sweida province have now claimed at least 426 lives, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The fighting, which broke out about a week ago, pits an alliance of Bedouin tribal fighters against Druze militias. The toll includes some of the most vulnerable: seven children, ten women, six health care workers, and two media professionals, SNHR said in its latest statement covering the period from July 13 to July 20." Iran, E3 countries agree to resume nuclear talks in Istanbul "Iran and the E3 — France, Germany, and Britain — are returning to the negotiation table. Talks on Iran's nuclear programme are scheduled to resume this Friday in Istanbul, according to Iranian broadcaster Press TV. Earlier reports suggested a tentative agreement to restart discussions sometime next week, but it is now official with the timing and location of the talks confirmed." Japanese PM vows to stay on despite losing majority in Upper House elections "Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's party appears to have lost its majority in the country's Upper House elections. Local media outlets, including Nippon TV and TBS, project that the ruling coalition of Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has only secured around 41 of the 125 contested seats. That's well short of the 50 needed to maintain control."

Japanese PM Ishiba vowed to stay on despite exit polls from the election showing that the ruling coalition lost its majority.APAC stocks began the week mostly in the green, markets in Japan were shut for a holiday.EU envoys are set to meet as early as this week to formalise a retaliation plan in the event of a possible no-deal scenario with the US, Bloomberg.European equity futures indicate a lower cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 future down 0.3% after the cash market finished with losses of 0.3% on Friday.DXY is a touch lower, JPY outperforms post-election, EUR/USD remains on a 1.16 handle.Looking ahead, highlights include Canadian Producer Prices, US Leading Index Change.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Japanese PM Ishiba vowed to stay on despite exit polls from the election showing that the ruling coalition lost its majority.EU envoys are set to meet as early as this week to formalise a retaliation plan in the event of a possible no-deal scenario with the US, according to Bloomberg.European bourses are modestly lower, US equity futures are higher with outperformance in the RTY.JPY leads post-election, DXY trundles lower, EUR awaits trade updates.Bonds are boosted after PM Ishiba loses Upper House majority, but not as bad as feared.Choppy trade in crude while base metals are underpinned by China's dam constructionLooking ahead, Canadian Producer Prices, US Leading Index Change, BoC SCE, NZ Trade Balance, Earnings from Verizon, Domino's Pizza & Cleveland Cliffs.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Top European leaders will visit China this week for the 25th China-EU Summit (01:01). Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vows to keep his job despite an election loss for his ruling coalition (11:10). Chinese officials say the country has built the world's largest high-speed railway, expressway, and postal and express delivery networks (37:13).

Kristina Clifton and Carol Kong discuss the top influences affecting currency markets this week including the US-led tariff war, the European Central Bank policy meeting and Japan's upper house election.    Disclaimer:    Important Information   This podcast is approved and distributed by Global Economic & Markets Research (“GEMR”), a business division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945 (“the Bank”).  Before listening to this podcast, you are advised to read the full GEMR disclaimers, which can be found at www.commbankresearch.com.au.   No Reliance  This podcast is not investment research and nor does it purport to make any recommendations. Rather, this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon for any investment purposes.  This podcast does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial products, or as a recommendation, and/or investment advice. You should not act on the information in this podcast.   The Bank believes that the information in this podcast is correct and any opinions, conclusions or recommendations made are reasonably held at the time given, and are based on the information available at the time of its compilation. No representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made or provided as to accuracy, reliability or completeness of any statement made.  Liability Disclaimer  The Bank does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of any error or omission in or from the information provided or arising out of the use of all or part of the podcast.    

Japan's Upper House election has sparked market uncertainty after the ruling LDP coalition lost control. Nevertheless, the JPY remained surprisingly stable. The S&P 500 and MSCI World indices reached new heights last week, bolstered by robust economic data and impressive corporate earnings. The US Congress passes legislation regulating stablecoins, thereby giving credibility to the digital asset industry. According to Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis, the CHF is likely to maintain its strength, and small- and mid-cap stocks are currently preferred over large-cap equivalents in the Swiss equities market.(00:00) - Introduction: Helen Freer, Investment Writing (00:28) - Markets wrap-up: Mike Rauber, Investment Writing (06:09) - Technical Analysis update: Mensur Pocinci, Head of Technical Analysis (09:17) - Closing remarks: Helen Freer, Investment Writing Would you like to support this show? Please leave us a review and star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

【図解】参院選投票率の推移総務省は２１日、参院選の投票率が５８．５１％だったと発表した。 The voter turnout for Sunday's House of Councillors election in Japan was 58.51 pct, up 6.46 percentage points from the previous Upper House poll in 2022, the internal affairs ministry said Monday.

The leader of Japan has vowed not to step aside despite his ruling coalition losing its majority in the Upper House election. What does the outcome mean for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba domestically? What impact will his weakened position have on looming US trade negotiations? Teresa Tang sits down with CNA’s Michiyo Ishida.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition lost its majority in Sunday's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament.

The voter turnout for Sunday's House of Councillors election in Japan was 58.51 pct, up 6.46 percentage points from the previous Upper House poll in 2022, the internal affairs ministry said Monday.

Forty-two women were elected to the House of Councillors in Sunday's election, hitting a record high for the upper chamber of Japan's parliament.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition loses its majority in the upper house with rival parties advocating tax cuts and increased spending. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says he believes an EU trade deal is feasible. However, reports suggest some EU leaders are considering harsher retaliatory moves should President Trump raise the baseline tariff rate. And in aviation news, Ryanair's net profits almost double in the second quarter as Easter travel boosts Europe's largest budget carrier. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The number of people who cast their ballots under the early voting system ahead of Sunday's election for Japan's House of Councillors came in at 26,181,865, a record high for any national poll in the country, the internal affairs ministry said.

Sanseito made impressive gains in Sunday's election for Japan's House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, as the opposition party called for stricter regulations on foreigners under its "Japanese First" policy.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition is certain to lose a majority in Sunday's election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament.

Voters head to the polls in Japan this weekend in a crucial Upper House election. The vote comes amid rising economic pressures, including the threat of US tariffs on key exports like cars, high inflation, low productivity and a rapidly ageing population. Also, the EU cuts its price cap on Russian crude oil to 47 dollars a barrel. France says it could force Moscow into a ceasefire in Ukraine.And after three decades on air, could The Late Show become too expensive for US television to sustain?

The number of people who cast their ballots by Friday under the early voting system for Sunday's House of Councillors election in Japan totaled 21,450,220, a record high for an election for either chamber of parliament, government data showed Saturday.

Voting began on Sunday morning for an election for Japan's House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, a poll that could affect the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who leads a minority government.

The European Union sharpens its sanctions against Russia, targeting its financial and energy sectors. Ukraine's President Zelensky calls the move "essential and timely", while the Kremlin warns it will backfire. We also head to Japan, where voters are heading to the polls this weekend in a crucial Upper House election that could determine the Prime Minister's political future amid rising inflation, ageing demographics, and the threat of U.S. tariffs on car exports. Plus, we look at how cryptocurrency theft has hit a record high in 2025, with cybercriminals and even violent attackers making off with billions in digital assets.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Republicans' move to rescind $9 billion in approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting; the House Armed Services Committee's NDAA markup as the Senate Armed Services Committee filed their version of the bill; President Trump's decision to sell arms to NATO members that would pass the weapons to Ukraine and 50-day deadline to make a peace deal otherwise Moscow would face stiff primary and secondary sanctions; the meeting between British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; France's new national security strategy; the de-escalating US-China trade war as a possible summit looms; Japan's Defense White Paper ahead of important Upper House election Sunday; China-Australia trade ties as war games and defense pressures mount; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's eroding coalition; Israel's strikes on Syria to prompt the country's interim leader to protect the country's Druze minority; and the rising death toll in Gaza rises as a Hamas deal remains elusive.

S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 hit record highs, Russell 2000 outperformed for the second consecutive day.Fed's Waller says they should cut by 25bps at the July meeting and thereafter adjust meeting-by-meeting.APAC stocks predominantly higher, China shrugged off a 93.5% tariff on graphite; European futures point to a firmer open.DXY rangebound, EUR/USD reclaimed the 1.16 handle, Antipodeans outperformed after Thursday's AUD pressure.Fixed benchmarks marginally higher, JGBs in-fitting into the weekend's Upper House election.Crude holds onto Thursday's upside, XAU rangebound, base metals post mild gains.Looking ahead, highlights include German Producer Prices, US Building Permits/Housing Starts, UoM prelim, G20 Finance Ministers Meeting, Speakers including ECB's Nagel & German Finance Minister Klingbeil, Earnings from 3M, American Express, Charles Schwab, Atlas Copco, Hexpol, Boliden, Skanska, Telia & Danske Bank.Click for the Newsquawk Week Ahead.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Uploaded every Friday, Nikkei Asia News Roundup delivers a collection of articles from Nikkei's English language media, Nikkei Asia. ・A selection of news headlines ・A glimpse into a notable story for deeper understanding ・A highlight of our best stories Today we focus on:"Japan's rice price shock and upper house elections” ・You can read more at: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Podcast/Podcast-News-Roundup

Friday 18th July is two days before election day for the Upper House in Japan on Sunday 20th July. Here are some sounds of the parties canvassing for votes in Kobe and Kyoto.

In this episode we catch up on the last few weeks including some new places to check out (24 BLVD and Upper House), Earn in Chiang Mai, Eric getting into an argument at a massage shop, and the perils of driving in Bangkok.

Opposition parties are stepping up fights in 13 multi-seat constituencies ahead of Sunday's Upper House election in Japan.

Yosuke Tsuruho of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday resigned as chairman of the House of Councilors' Budget Committee after being criticized by both ruling and opposition lawmakers for his recent remark about last year's Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, are struggling to maintain their majority in the House of Councillors ahead of Sunday's election, according to information obtained by Jiji Press so far.

Lee Hardman, Senior Currency Analyst, and Abdul-Ahad Lockhart, Currency Analyst from London, discuss the FX market's reaction to President Trump's recent tariff announcements.. They also explore whether rising political uncertainty in Japan ahead of the Upper House elections is playing a role in the yen's recent weakness.

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson sits down with Michael Huerter, author of The Hybrid Congregation: A Practical Theology of Worship for an Online Era. Michael shares insights from his research and ministry experience, exploring how churches can faithfully navigate the evolving landscape of digital and hybrid worship. From theology to technology, embodiment to community, this conversation offers a thoughtful and hopeful vision for the future of worship in a digitally integrated world.

Headlines: Noongar Yamatji teenager Cassius Turvey's murderers sentenced to life imprisonmentEstimated Gaza death toll much higher then official death tollSegments:- A speech from Janet Price at Elbit Future Fund rally on Thursday night. Janet is a former Australian Greens member, founding member of the Australian Greens, and a powerful campaigner for peace, justice, and the planet for over 40 years. As a senator she was a co-convener of parliamentary friends of palestine, friends of amnesty international, and the greens spokesperson for a range of portfolios such as foreign affairs and social and community services. Janet is the co-chair for Australia Tibet Council, and a campaigner for self-determination in West Papua.  - Caitlin Soennichsen speaking on her new feature film, the importance of supporting local creatives and an upcoming fundraiser for her film this saturday the 5th of july at Ceres at the learning center from 630-830pm get tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/silly-fundraiser-for-local-indie-movie-tickets-1370017151179?utm_experiment=test_share_listing&aff=ebdsshios&sg=e753fabe3a9e4aa4ef8e28d6970eb6a0a62dc439e459d99277e063d08aaf5916cc8d8e36e078d0c6b55e27b2b3a3ea78c8f48bd7ae2d0bf8308b99aa282f01a3bb1f44401ea87abf97e6017f30  - Two speeches from yesterdays free palestine rally, we will first hear Mililma (pron mileyema) May (Danggalaba Kulumbirigin Tiwi woman and community organiser from Darwin) speaking on first nations resistance and the connection between palestinian and first nations struggles, drawing the parallels of settler colonialism, in palestine and so-called australia. Secondly hear the MC Mo speaking on the Elbit Out of Victoria campaign.   - A speech from Scarlett O'callahan at the Rally Against Future Fund on Thursday night. Scarlett is a kindergarten teacher and a member of teachers and school staff for Palestine, an Australian education union member.   - Two speeches from the 2nd anniversary rally for Accessible Tram Stops on Sydney Rd from last Saturday on the 28th of June. The first speaker is Anasina Gray-Barberio Greens MP in Northern Metro Legislative Council, Upper House. And the second speaker is Christian Astourian, campaign founder, lifelong disability rights advocate and activist, member of Merri-Bek Disability Reference Group. - Two speeches from yesterdays Sunday Free Palestine Rally, the first speaker is hadir an egyptian activist, rejecting complicity in genocide and amplifying the desperate need for aid in Gaza. The second speaker is Amo Ihab. Music: - Quando Quando Quando by Englebert Humperdinck- Break It Down by Tjaka - Ingobernables by Sin Dios 

The state Opposition Leader is dismissing claims Mark Latham "runs" the Upper House in New South Wales.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, host Susan Smetzer Anderson sits down with acclaimed author Mitali Perkins to explore the intersection of art, justice, vocation, and faith. Drawing from her latest book, Just Making: A Guide for Compassionate Creatives, Mitali shares her journey as a Bengali American writer, her passion for justice, and how creatives can sustain their work in a chaotic world.Together, they reflect on how art can be a vehicle for shalom—a vision of universal flourishing—and how artists can navigate internal doubts, external pressures, and the temptation to turn art into propaganda or kitsch. Mitali also offers practical wisdom on embracing ancient spiritual practices, finding courage to share your work, and building creative community.

House of Councillors lawmaker Yasuhiko Funago, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, held a press conference on Tuesday and announced his intention not to seek another term in this summer's Upper House election and to retire from politics. At the press conference in the Diet building, a statement prepared by Funago, 67, also deputy leader of the opposition Reiwa Shinsengumi party, was read using the automatic speech function of a personal computer, as he is unable to use his own voice. Episode notes: ‘Reiwa Shinsengumi Lawmaker with ALS to Retire': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/06/18/reiwa-shinsengumi-lawmaker-with-als-to-retire/

This special episode of The UpWords Podcast features clips from talks given at Upper House in the Spring of 2025. Upper House Commons gathers the university community for spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. We explore big ideas and engage in conversations that matter within arts and humanities, justice and society, leadership and vocation, science and technology, spiritual formation, and theology. Whether you are a student or faculty member at UW-Madison or beyond, working in the marketplace, or serving in the church, we see you as part of our university community. Gather with us for one of our programs —our “commons”— each a pasture for shared spiritual, intellectual, and vocational formation. Talk 1️⃣ = Reimagining Our Moment for Whatever Comes Next - with Anne Snyder (Recorded on January 30, 2025) Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/2fPLQhx0cdsXvUxzqP0YR3?si=Z4vbxvJMQM-fzwRKhhGkIQ Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039?i=1000688980527 YouTube = https://youtu.be/Pg6ODIUp8yQTalk 2️⃣ = Can Fiction Deliver What Technology Can't? - with Casandra Nelson (Recorded on February 14, 2025) Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/5CosoSlCWKmUShqnEK75Re?si=74f6cd9ca9584036Apple Podcasts =https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039 YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4uGiIvJTDePJylcsh84USjIpVkibpuM2Talk 3️⃣ = What Can Evangelicals Teach Us About Beauty? - Karen Swallow Prior (Recorded on March 14, 2025) Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/5CosoSlCWKmUShqnEK75Re?si=74f6cd9ca9584036Apple Podcasts =https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039 YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4uGiIvJTDePTHdNbYsoMMf8ZX80eEUet

Rachel is an Upper House state pollie with the Legalise Cannabis Party and has introduced a bill to protect sexual assault survivors

In today's episode, we are featuring a talk by Vanessa McDowell-Atlas at this year's Kingdom Justice Summit. This annual event is hosted in partnership with the Collaboration Project at Upper House. In this engaging keynote address, the Vanessa McDowell-Atlas reflects on her return to her community and shares powerful experiences from her involvement in a nationwide initiative to encourage voting through music. She highlights the challenges faced at polling locations, particularly in predominantly white spaces, and connects these experiences to broader social issues affecting marginalized communities. The McDowell-Atlas emphasizes the importance of positioning oneself for action, staying connected to faith, and actively participating in the fight for justice. She calls on individuals to take responsibility and get involved in their communities, urging everyone to 'get on your post' and make a difference.Vanessa McDowell-Atlas is a transformative leader, entrepreneur, and racial justice advocate with a passion for empowering marginalized communities. She made history as the first Black woman CEO of YWCA Madison, leading the organization through transformative growth, equitable initiatives, and the pandemic without layoffs. She is the founder of Madison Roots, LLC, dedicated to building generational wealth through Black homeownership, and VMA Entertainment and Consulting, LLC, offering DJ services and transformational leadership coaching for leaders of color and women. Currently serving as COO of Black Girl Ventures, Vanessa drives inclusive leadership and operational excellence. A recipient of the 2022 MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award, she holds a Sociology degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and serves on its Board of Visitors. Vanessa resides in Charlotte, NC, with her husband.

Welcome to The UpWords Podcast! This special episode explores the intersection of Christian faith in the academy, church, and marketplace. Today's episode features Dr. Christine Jeske's insightful talk from the Kingdom Justice Summit, hosted in partnership with the Collaboration Project at Upper House. Dr. Jeske, a professor of cultural anthropology at Wheaton College and author of several books, shares her extensive research on race, work, faith, and the good life. Her upcoming book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul, delves into how white Christians can develop long-term commitments to racial justice.With a decade of experience living in Nicaragua, China, and South Africa, Dr. Jeske brings a unique perspective to her work. Now residing in an old Wisconsin farmhouse named the Sanctuary, she continues to inspire through her writing and speaking.Tune in to hear Dr. Jeske's compelling insights and join us in this meaningful conversation on justice and faith.Enjoy the episode!

The first Ishara open  House Challenge .Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Odd Happenings{8:58 am, Wednesday, Sept. 3rd ~ 5 Days to go; the Final Salvo ~ at this time}I had deposited my Mother in the place I felt was safest for her   with OT (Oyuun T m rbaatar) at the Kazakhstan's UN mission. Her being my family was what mattered to them most. I picked her up on my way to work, which made my entrance into the lobby all that much more cataclysmic.I was traveling light with only Wiesława Živa providing me with security. Chaz, Pamela and Juanita were catching up with their sleep, with a promise of taking me out for a late lunch. That was really them telling me to not leave JIKIT until they came for me around 2:00 pm.So anyway, me, Mom and Wiesława walked into the ground floor of the Mil Ma Towers to find eleven people waiting on us. We were in downtown Manhattan in a part of town the NYPD paid particular attention to. What could go wrong, right? Two of the people were Amazons from Havenstone. With them were two fine young men from the US 'don't make me kill you' Department. By this time in my life I was sure they had one   which no one talked about.Five of my expectant visitors were of the same mold as those who protected Hana for me. Not the Ghost Tigers   that would have put me at ease. Sure, they were a gang of assassin and in this circumstance; I would have preferred them. As it was, ten sets of highly-trained Illuminati operative eyes kept me, my party and the four guardians of JIKIT in their overlapping fields of vision.The last two, were doing an impromptu family reunion. They were Aunts 'X' and 'Y', and neither of them smelled like fish, or crab."Aunt Deidre," I tossed out there. "What brings you here today?"It looked like clobbering time! No. Wait. Neither Mom, nor my aunts, were saying anything and they were normally so verbose."Sibeal.""Imogen.""Sibeal, you are looking surprisingly well for a dead woman," the other one said."Deidre, you are looking surprisingly alive for someone who deserves to be dead," Mom bantered back."How long have you known about this?" Imogen's eyes flickered my way."Not long, a while, more than a day, ah, take your pick," I mumbled. I decided to turn that frown aka 'my gut wrenching terror that my Mother was about to die' upside down aka ramped up my sexy, 'glad to see you in a totally incestuous way'."So, what brings you here today and why aren't you waiting upstairs with the rest of my band of cutthroats, malcontents and ne'er do-wells? Oh, and I'm happy to see both of you." Karma was about to bitch-slap the shit out of me and it was so well deserved."I'm pregnant," Imogen studied my reaction. Yeah, I had banged her after Deidre, but before Baibre because I am a fucking reprehensible human being and sometimes, I feel I am utterly irredeemable."Great news," I exhaled. I so wanted to ask 'so, who is the father?' except that was too cruel, even for an O'Shea.No one stopped me from stepping up and hugging her. Everyone in the lobby had heard her loud and clear. Anyone who knew me, or even about me, knew she wasn't passing on the information because Imogen liked sharing good news. I kept my hands on her hips while I leaned my torso back until we could make eye contact."Does Granddad know?" It occurred to me in that second that Pamela was going to kick herself for missing this and the opportunity to kick me as well."I told him over the phone. His reaction was neutral," she responded."Whoa, girl? Boy? How are you doing? When are we going to sit down and figure out a name? Is there anything I can do for you?""Come home with me," she suggested."No," Mom snapped. "Next time he steps into your custody, we all know you won't let him get away." She meant the plane trip to Ireland."No, Mom," I countered. "I'm a grown man now and I make my own decisions. That being said   no, I'm not going home with you.""Not only am I still in love with the concept of my personal freedom, I have important work to do. People are counting on me.""We are counting on you too," Deidre stated. "In fact, that is the other reason we came here. We need you.""Why do I feel that has to do with something besides sex?""Can we talk to you in private?" Imogen requested. There were a thousand and one reasons to say 'no'. Things like 'common sense', bad behavior   they had murdered my homicidal uncle   and the fact they were as morally twisted as their creator. Oh   and they were hot and I hadn't been laid in forever."Sure. Let's go upstairs. You can have your people sweep the room to ensure our privacy then the four of us can sit down and have a family chat," I offered."We don't want her in the room," Deidre indicated Mom."We are a package deal," I denied her. "Like her, or not, she is as much family to me as you both are."They consented far too fast. Either I was falling into their masterful trap, or something horrible had happened. Neither options was palatable to me. The bodyguards departed, Wiesława last of all."What's gone wrong?" Mom preempted me. Her sisters glared."Father's body is not his own," Imogen told us. I was trying to figure out the relevance of that when Mom gasped."Oh fuck," she said in a small voice. "No serum?" Oh yeah, the refinement of those addictive pheromones Grandpa Cáel had gifted me with. Whatever flesh-form he currently inhabited wasn't one containing his genetic make-up meaning,"Oh shit," I mumbled. "What can I do?""Yes," Deidre replied to Mom."Let them die," Mom insisted (to me). Less I forget, she was raised by Grandpa Cáel too. Her being a loving mother to me didn't translate over to her being a humanitarian of any kind."The Hell you say," I jumped up and stared down at Mom. "You hate them. I don't. Letting them die makes me worse than him." Grandpa."So you will help us?" Deidre moved to the edge of her seat."Okay. This is the point where I threaten you into making some concessions, we argue then you eventually cave in because no matter how terrible your futures look, you aren't willing to give up on living. None of that is going to happen. What do you need from me?""Come back with us to Ireland so we can finish our experiments," Imogen joined me in standing. Unwilling to give her sister any physical advantage, Mom stood as well."No. That isn't even a believable lie," I scolded her. "You don't need to blackmail me into helping you. I'll do it gladly. That doesn't mean I'll let you trick me into doing something stupid. I do 'stupid' all the time. I'm accustomed to it and I know it when its ugly head rises up before me. Try again.""We could pick a neutral location," Deidre suggested."How about Havenstone?" They didn't look like that plan was even worthy of their consideration. "Imogen, inside you is growing a possible heir to House Ishara. An attack on you would be an attack on Ishara. Barring you betraying the Amazons, you would be perfectly safe.""Wonderful," Mom's sarcasm dripped off every word. "I'm going to be a grandmother to my nephew while my son is bringing a child into the world that can double as his cousin.""That sound pretty horrible, Mom. It is the truth, but it still sounds pretty terrible."While those words tumbled out of my mouth, I did a little soul back-searching. How in the fuck was   outside of the actual fucking   was Imogen pregnant? My existence was a freaking fluke of nature. A few words were bandied about the room while I was lost in deductive reasoning and turning hunches into assumptions and turning those into reasonable mystic hypotheses.I created the Mojo-Little Engine that thought it could. Specifically, the legacy of Vranus. Legions of little Vranusian sperm had been jumping hurdle after hurdle to keep the faith alive   that Vranus would meet his Ancestors with his mission accomplished. I was already half way there.Still, the legacy of Vranus and the hopes of Dot Ishara hadn't stopped in their struggle just because I had been born. They were still trying to restore the mortal descendants of a Dead House. They were also still spiritually pushing me on to fulfill his last command   to save the Arinniti sons.I was halfway there by returning the offspring of Bolu, Vranus' fellow guardian, back to the fold. It remained for me to round up the purpose of the whole mission in the first place. My semen weren't taking a chance that I could get gakked before that was accomplished. Having knocked up an augur despite the toxic soup she called blood should have been a dire warning to me, I'm an idiot.When the curse of Sarrat Irkalli clashed with the actions of Dot Ishara, Ishara had won. Sarrat Irkalli sought to deny Alal any children of his own. Dot was insisting the male line of Vranus Ishara continue on. The end result was Alal received his long-denied grandson, who just happened to also want him dead because of a feud that stretched back over two millennia.As an added insult, his grandson then knocked up one of Alal's genetically manipulated daughters, again giving him something he couldn't accomplish on his own   heirs   grand-sons and  daughters, most who would also want to kill him, being Amazons and members of the 9 Clans after all. Why? Cause Goddesses are bitches, that's why.That got me to wondering when would be the next time I was going to meet Ishara. I hadn't suffered severe head trauma in while and she was overdue for some snuggle time, witty banter and a fortune cookie. I'd try to be careful. It wouldn't do any good, but I had to try."Why are you crying?" Mom touched my arm."No reason," I lied."Why don't we make plans for tonight?" Deidre insinuated herself next to me. "We'd like to meet Hana. From what I understand, Father likes her.""No can-do," I sniffled. "I've got an orgy with 159 women at 8 o'clock, except there won't be any sex, or fun of any kind. Basically, I have to convince a roomful of women to not beat me up and take my stuff.""You don't have to go," Imogen had finished boxing me in   I had a chair behind me and Momma-clones all around."For the same reason I'm going to take care of our child, Imogen, I have to go to this meeting. People are counting on me to do the right thing without telling me what the right thing to do is.""That's unfair," Deidre empathized by stroking my chest."Not so. This is just another day in the life of a new hire at Havenstone Commercial Investments. Every day is like this and in five more days, the real fun beings." That wasn't entirely accurate. I had one good, stress-free week. It was when Carrig put me in a coma. That week I had done pretty well for myself.{9:28 am, Wednesday, Sept. 3rd ~ 5 Days to go}I trundled my latest 'Assistant-in-Charge of keeping the hopes of future Isharans alive' (I didn't want to call Aunt Imogen, or any other woman, my 'Baby-Mamma'), along with Mom and Deidre, for a meet-and-greet with Buffy. I had spelled out in no uncertain terms that Buffy was the power behind the Ishara Throne and thus making 'her' believe they were playing on the up-and-up was their best hope for easing relations between the O'Shea and the Amazon Host.After they left me (with the assurance we'd be getting back together for lunch, with Hana), I made three calls. I needed to make a formal request to Katrina (any Illuminati member(s) entering any Amazon facility was her purview) and another to Elsa (as a sign of respect) that Aunt Imogen and two unarmed bodyguards, max, needed to see our medicos about a delicate issue.The third call was to Buffy to enlighten her as to both the arrival of another one of my aunts (so we needed to get along peacefully with her) and that Aunt Imogen was carrying yet another potential heir to House Ishara. I suggested it would be a symbolic gesture if a member of House Ishara could hang around for the visit, as it might impress upon Imogen our House had a vested interest in keeping her alive."Another one?" Buffy sizzled. "And this one is your aunt?""It is a date then," I stumped her."You are going to take your pregnant aunt out on a date?" Buffy's sizzle meter was rapidly climbing to Krakatoa proportions."Nope. I'm setting up a date for us. You, me and a quiet location at 12:01 am Tuesday morning, my First. Later in the morning, I'll be heading out to wherever they have stored Felix so we can work on some cooperative strategy.""And if I say 'no'?" She was terribly grumpy."Ugh, I guess I'll go bar-crawling with Odette and Timothy, Gay and Lesbian bars only. That way I know I'll behave.""And if they say 'no'?" she was slightly less hostile."I'll know you threatened their lives, and then you and I will finally find out who is better on the mats. Trust me, it will not be an experience you will enjoy.""I don't know. I think I'd like that.""No. You start threatening the other people I love and you will not be happy; I guarantee that, Buffy."She realized I was both serious and angry. She had stepped out of bounds, the 'bounds' I had set up two hours earlier during our elevator ride."Is the meeting still on for the night?" she evaded my disappointment."Yes. Will you be there?""Of course," she grumped."Buffy, don't bother showing up if you can't separate 'us' as friends, 'us' as Wakko Ishara and my First, and you as my apprentice."Making me miserable in the first relationship doesn't help the latter two one bit. I try not to be an irresponsible asshole as House Head. More than anyone else, you know what I will sacrifice to be Ishara and one with my Isharans. I'll also step out and be plain ole 'Cáel Nyilas' when events permit.""But I am sick and tired of people not taking my desire to be foolish and care-free seriously. Being a dogmatic ass-hat isn't in me, but if you can't work with that, from here on out we are Wakko Ishara and Buffy Ishara and nothing more. I will still trust you as an Isharan, but not as a friend. Your choice.""Don't be such an asshole!" she snapped."Screw you!" I fired back. "I made a fucking effort to plan out some personal time with you, disguised as a joke; you knew it and you still decided to be a ball-buster. Like I need another fucking ball-buster right now, with all the other shit on my plate. You know better!" I was screaming. The people in JIKIT were working overtime at not staring at me."I'm under a ton of stress here too," she snarled. "I have to deal with the Council, keep our House growing and fulfill my obligations with Executive Services.""Do you want to quit? No longer by my 'apprentice'? Go back to working for Katrina full time?""Really?" she whispered."Of course the fuck not!" I shouted. "I didn't pick you for the job because of your sterling personality, or your bedroom excellence. I picked you because I had, and still have, utter faith in your ability to do whatever is necessary to overcome the landfill-sized colossal ill-fortune the Ancestors have dumped in our lap.""I'm just asking you to stop being a whiny, over-sensitive cunt and remember: it was the psychotic bitch who I chose for the top spot," I rumbled."I'm going to kick your ass," she seethed."Nice to know. We on for Monday night?"Pause."Yes," and she hung up. Two seconds later my phone rang again. "Buffy?" I answered. "And don't be late!" she menaced, then hung up again."So," Addison turned my way, "are you praying for World Peace to break out, or Nuclear War?""Hardy-har-har," I griped."Now that your personal drama is temporarily derailed, we have something for you to look at," Mehmet motioned for my attention. "Ever heard of Kōfuku no Kagaku?" I shook my head. "It translates over as 'Happy Science' and it is a cult-like organization in Japan.""Cool beans. Why do I have a sinking impression it is not a front for the Ninja?""That is what we want you to find out," Addison took over. "Of critical importance is the news conference their leader, Ryuho Okawa, gave earlier this afternoon/morning (~ 3:17 pm Tokyo time = 2:17 am East Coast time ~), especially a very relevant part of his interesting public announcement."He claims to be the Earthly manifestation of the Supreme Being. That is old news. Today he claimed that Temujin of the Khanate was the reincarnation of the original Genghis Khan and, with him, Ryuho, as the unifier of theological forces and therefore serving as spiritual advisor to Temujin, they would usher in a new period of Peace throughout Asia.""I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," I exhaled."He also claims that Japan is in the midst of an epic struggle, both spiritually and in the physical sense. The 'ancient guardians' of Japanese purity, the 6 Ninja Families, are at war with the depth of all Evil, the Chinese Seven Pillars of Heaven by name, who are determined to drag all of Asia away from the Light and into the Darkness of pain, degradation and slavery."In fact I quote: 'Alone among the nations of the Earth, only the Japanese cultural identity can stand firm against this global menace. Only the Japanese can keep the torch of true Enlightenment aloft. Only the Japanese can guide the development of the Khanate into the Supreme Empire it is meant to be'.""I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this guy is pseudo-religious, a Japanese ultra-nationalist as well as anti 'all things Sino'," came out of my mouth."Correct.""None of the Secret Societies would do something so public. Temujin's background is a mystery, but no one in the Khanate is calling him a reincarnated spirit, and they know the truth," I continued."This guy is pretty nutty," Mehmet confirmed. "He also claims to channel Buddha, Mohammed, Christ and Confucius. His followers worship him as the Earthly manifestation of the 'Supreme Being' named El Cantare, which is yet another name for any number of ancient supreme deities. And he claims to consult with the 'spirit guardians' of national leaders and aids in their mystic defense, with the aid of the Five Sacred Sisters' Spirits."Clearly this man was insane. Unfortunately, insane didn't make someone wrong,"Ah Hell," I muttered.Mehmet and Addison perked up; after all, figuring out the bizarre was my position on the team."He probably is insane, and I can't blame him," I sighed. "He isn't El Cantare; he is in touch with the Weave.""I have a feeling this is 'not good'," Addison murmured. "How bad is it?""The Five Sacred Spirit Sisters are most likely the five augurs who died in order to save Temujin, which, in turn, allies the 9 Clans with the E&S and Amazons to 'save' Japan, though it is not 'saved' yet.""Technically, the Weave IS the Supreme Being. It's largely indifferent, yet capable of doing both good and ill in response to outside (aka mortal) stimuli. If you can observe the Weave, you might be able to see the most likely path destiny is taking as well as the key players screwing with that destiny."That would include the Gong Tau sorcerers and the ninjas use of their own brand of magic; and God only knows what other mystic tricks the others have been attempting.""How do we get them to stop?" Captain Delilah Faircloth muttered."Not that easy Delilah. Everyone in this room has intersected because of a magic experiment that happened before any of us were born (Mom).""The fight at Summer Camp was flipped on its head because I saw the ghost the 7 Pillars sent to scout the area. My freeing of one of those trapped and tortured souls led to the calamity at the Barbeque Pit. I didn't use magic. I countered it. Still, my actions were interfering with the Weave."All four people the augurs, those Five Sisters, told me about had been dead at some point in time, some for thousands of years. Ajax didn't kill anyone using magic. Neither has Saku, yet both of them are products of disruptions in the Weave. 'Me' being alive and breathing is yet another disruption, since I shouldn't exist because of another mystic curse from five thousand years ago."Being alive and killing people means I've killed people who shouldn't be dead. Do we need to go into all the millions that have died in the Khanate war? Which was a combination of a resurrected Temujin and the 7 Pillars hunger for World Domination, if we do nothing, the rippled of those other disruption will still carry on."Except for me, no one on this taskforce has used an iota of magic, yet we are all dedicated to combatting mystical forces," I related to the group. I wondered where Rikki (Martin) and Beatrice (Ya Konan) had gotten off to. Lady Yum-Yum being absent only made my 'Scooby' senses tingle more."You use magic?" Agent-86 tilted his head in curiosity."I talk to a Goddess on a semi-regular business. I see ghosts. I've been the conveyer of messages from dead people and I've killed an un-killable man. Do we need to go back over my kidnapping by the 7 Pillars? The memories of my undead Grandfather floating around in my head?""I'm not calling thunderbolts out of the sky and shooting fireballs out my ass, but what I am doing is magical, nonetheless.""So, what do we recommend to our allies and benefactors (i.e., our sovereign governments)?" Mehmet inquired."Hmm, we tell our governments this crackpot is a Prophet of Doom who could be turned into an asset," I rubbed my brow with all four fingers and a thumb. Rikki, Beatrice and Lady Worthington-Burke quietly entered the room. They were all highly pleased in a 'I just won the lottery' kind of way. I was curious, but had to carry on with my train of thought."Quietly start seeking out other mystic societies, preferably low-key, quiet types who avoid the limelight, and start looking into other forms of magical insight and, quite frankly, protection. If the Weave has let this happen, we can expect worse. Lastly, I'll ask my 'Brother' to meet with this guy and get a feel for his personality.""That will only increase the believability of his ramblings," Addison protested."The boat called 'Denial' has already sailed. The World is in crisis. People are going to look for non-conventional answers. It is better to get ahead of this and bring Ryuho Okawa on board as a 'consultant'. Don't give him the whole picture by any means. The guy is definitely a loose cannon. Even worse, he is also a loose cannon the Weave has touched.""Besides, the Seven Pillars are going to figure this out pretty quick, their Weave sensitivity, ya know, and either kidnap him to be their own spiritual seismic sensor, or kill him for being both a loose cannon and yet another person screwing with their 'best laid plans'. Keeping him alive has the added benefit of making the Seven Pillars expend resources trying to get at him. Japan needs every bit diversion they can get."Let's not forget to tell our Secret Society allies of our plans, lest they kill him too. His babblings aren't going to make the 9 Clans or the E&S happy with him. They both have an established habit of making perceived enemies dead. Let's keep him alive and utilize this opportunity.""I like this plan," Addison nodded. Mehmet was clearly on board as well. Agent-86 clearly was playing the best on-line mystic MMORPG ever! (And with the added bonus that his team's action had real-world consequences.) The three 'ladies' new to the room received an abbreviated version of our discussion and my 'suggestions'. They weren't really suggestions. Barring a few insanely criminal endeavors, JIKIT treated me like a true asset."Something else big?" Addison looked to her British counterpart (Yum-Yum)."The Japanese Diet has voted for a public referendum on a Constitutional Amendment to repeal/revise Article 96 of the Japanese Constitution.""Oh fuck," was echoed, either verbally or subliminally, by everyone in the room except for me, Delilah and Agent-86.'Cáel' knew Jack and Shit about the Japanese Constitution. Hell, I barely knew about the US one and I was a native. However, Alal did know it, and knew both what Article 96 was and what its amendment really meant. Good-old 96 was the rolling dark cloud across the political Great Plains that heralded a swarm of tornados. Clouds were clouds and their arrival could mean anything.Article 96 dictated how the Japanese Constitution could be amended. The current process was a 2/3rd vote in both the House of Councilors (the 'Upper House', roughly equivalent to our Senate) and the House of Representatives (the 'Lower' House) followed by a public referendum. The proposed amendment to Article 96 would transform the process to a mere majority vote in both Houses.Imagine the shit-storm which would be unleashed if the US Congress tried to pull that shit. The biggest political issue was that the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held 294 of the 475 seats in the lower house (a clear majority) and 115 of the 242 in the Upper House (7 seats short of a majority). If the amendment passed next month (October 14th to be precise), the LDP could pretty much do as they pleased.And what was the first thing they were going to do? They were going to put to rest another part of the Constitution, namely the far more globally important Article 9. And what was that?Real World Stuff: WarningsArticle 9:(1)Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.(2)To accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.If Article 9 was repealed, the Japanese nation could exercise diplomacy by military means, aka declaring an offensive war against a foreign power. Currently Japan had a modest budget military budget of $48 Billion a year (Earth's 10th largest). It was modest when you considered it was a mere 1% of the Japanese GDP. Great Britain, France and South Korea's smaller economies all functioned nicely with double that percentage for their military budget.Regionally, every other nation was increasing their military expenditures, except Japan's protector, the US and (perhaps) North Korea, who's spending on anything was a closely guarded state secret. Right now, China and the Khanate's military expenditures were running roughly even at $180 billion each, but this was an arm's race the PRC would eventually win, they had too great an advantage in the size of their workforce and a far larger industrial base.The truth was, if the PRC couldn't win this race fast, she was facing a long, grinding war reminiscent of the Communists' Long Rise to Power that wrecked their country a century ago. The monetary dynamic was shifting badly against them because the Khanate wasn't alone.India, Taiwan and Vietnam were also ramping up their war spending to a combined tune of $34 billion and now allied with the Khanate, equating to an additional $90 billion the PRC had to overcome. South Korea was already adding $8 billion to their military and Russia was taxing the fuck out of Manchuria to both pay for their 'Peaceful Intervention' and to increase the 'Readiness' of their other forces.All of this military spending was bad for both the regional and global economies (unless you were Israel who was turning out hardware 24/7/365 for the Khanate and Indian war machines). So at this point, Japan doing 'nothing' was possibly more disastrous than doing 'something' else.They were already spending $50 fucking billion on glorified policemen while the future of East Asia was being decided without them. Doubling the military budget would place a huge burden on the largely pacifistic population. It would also put Japan in the position of deciding the Fate of Nations.With the repeal of Article 9, Japan could utilize 'proactive means' to keep the naval supply routes to China open, not even the Indian's had the naval presence to confront the Japanese. Such a policy was a nice, friendly gesture to the Asian Colossus, who wasn't likely to show a shred of appreciation for their efforts.No, China had spent the last 60 years stoking the hatred of the Land of the Rising Sun among their people. (Many Japanese forgot current Chinese hatred was based on the Japanese butchering their way across China for nearly a decade between 1937 to 1945).(The Cornerstone) There was a truism which had guided American, Chinese, Japanese and Russian political thought for 150 years: 'There could only be one supreme power in East Asia and the Eastern Pacific'. Japan had followed the logical expression of that paradigm by invading Taiwan (1895), Korea (1910), beating up on Imperial Russia (1904), taking Manchuria (1931) and going to war with China (1937) while that country was trapped in a bloody civil war.To stop the Empire of Japan's rise, the US had attempted to cripple the Japanese economy before the Empire could harvest their just-acquired Asian natural resources. In response, Japan had thrown its soldiers and sailors into a futile effort against the British Empire, the United States and China and lost.With Imperial Japan crushed and the Soviet Union preoccupied in Europe, China had risen. The irresistible force of China's rapidly increasing population, natural resources exploitation and extensive land mass took hold. Japan couldn't compete in a 'fair' fight. Since 1945, the Japanese government had lived with the fear of aggression from Russia and/or China aimed their way.The US felt the same way, or they had. The fear produced by the broad acceptance of 'Only-One-Shall-Rule-Asia' had led to the Korean War, the half-century cease-fire along the Demilitarized Zone in Korea and the Vietnamese Civil War. The Communists in China and Russia had feuded until the Soviet Union collapsed under its own economic inadequacies.A reborn Russia, even with the ultra-nationalist Putin at the helm, couldn't stop China's growing domination. Asia was China's for the taking, until the Khanate rose up like some desert mirage in the Western Steppe, one that turned into the Mother of All Storms. So now, miraculously, the dominion of Asia was up for grabs once more.Japan could not overcome China; that was a given. The Dragon had more people, more resources and an almost three-fold larger economy. Given a decade, the PRC would grind the Khanate down. Once more it was the tyranny of numbers. Even India, Taiwan and Vietnam could only slow down the inevitable.India's subpar economic output marginalized the power of their citizenry. Taiwan had the proportional economy, but not nearly enough people. Vietnam had neither and had always had a rough time defending themselves, much less been successful confronting powers beyond her homeland. Putin's Mother Russia had a host of other problems, internal and external, so she had already contributed as much as Putin dared.Until Thursday morning, Tokyo Time, the undeniable Destiny of Asia remained in the hands of those men in Beijing. The dominoes were falling in a way those rulers had not foreseen and now fumed over. But on Wednesday night, there was no industrial power (with the population to back it up) which could threaten the People's Republic of China.Europe and the US wouldn't intervene. Much like the leadership in Japan, the Communist Chinese Politburo believed Putin had wagered as much as dared. No other nation on Earth mattered. Japan? That was laughable. Their Constitution bound the hands off their military behind their backs with a pledge of eternal pacifism.The Chinese weren't blind to the 250,000 men and women of the Japanese Self Defense Force. Without the political will, those troops might have well have been in Brazil. A hostile Brazil was actually a greater worry because Brazil was the powerhouse of South America, a G-8 economy and hungered for a Permanent Seat on the UN Security Council. The PRC was dedicated to denying their desire as it would have diluted the PRC's burgeoning diplomatic power.Japan? Ha.Thursday morning, in what was essentially an undetected (by anyone except the Ninja and JIKIT) coup d' tat, pacifism was sacrificed on the Altar of Nationalism. Article 96's demise was pre-ordained. A poll taken on July 1st, 42% of Japanese felt positively about the repeal of Article 96 while 46% opposed it.The same agency took a new poll on August 28th. The economic-political situation of Japan was going through a titanic tidal shift. If Buddhism moved you toward devout pacifist, the Khanate had liberated Tibet and was clearly withdrawing as the UN troops' boots hit the ground.If you were a Nationalist of any kind, you were seeing a whole lot more people at your rallies, accessing your websites and signing up to join your formerly fringe parties. If you were a Socialist, you were scared. Why? The PRC was in the process of nationalizing all of Japan's (and South Korea's and Taiwan's) business interests in China, for the 'Duration of the Emergency', or so they said.That meant plenty of Japanese workers were losing their jobs and looking to blame someone. You couldn't blame the centrist LDP. The LDP had been working alongside the Japanese Communist Party for months. They had done nothing wrong and had worked tirelessly for a peaceful diplomatic solution. It was their 'comrades' in China, their Marxist confederates, who were costing the hard-working Japanese workers their jobs.If you were in the Establishment, all of the above worried the crap out of you. Japan's economy had been limping along at barely-positive growth for a decade. Your aging population needed more and more from their public services and, worst of all, you had nothing in your political and economic tool box to escape the obvious oncoming national catastrophe.The possibility of a Global Recession loomed on the horizon, if they were lucky. Highly respected economists in Japan and elsewhere were examining all the key indicators over the past three months and were suggesting hording as a viable policy for middle class households to consider. If you were in the Developing World, worse was heading your way.The word being bandied about on those esteemed academic internet websites wasn't 'recession', it was depression. Global prosperity thrived on nations investing in both their own economy and the economies of other nations. The governments representing a third of the World's population were not investing in their economies.Unless you were a war profiteer, you could expect fewer consumer goods on the shelves; and what was there would cost more. Your income wasn't going up; your expenses were. If you were an Atheistic homeowner in the Western World with a secured 3.25% fixed rate home loan, you took up religion. The prime interest rate would be racing for the 20% mark and that was only if your economy was stable.If you lived in a country in the Developing World, your trade goods didn't compete with those created in the G-20. Your competition was with other Developing World businesses and the prize was the pocketbooks of those consumers in the G-20, which was a shrinking purse.It wasn't like you were being paid all that much to begin with; and now those once poor-paying, but at least plentiful, jobs were drying up. You needed your government to help you out. It wasn't like those governments could raise money by taxing the unemployed and under-employed. They didn't have money. And the rich in most of those same nations had a long and successful legacy of avoiding paying.Those growing economies had a few tried and tested 'solutions' for getting their countries through these rough stretches.The IMF? 'We are out to make 'positive' capital investments and your economic outlook doesn't look promising. We suggest 'austerity'.'The BRICS? Since India and China were basically in an undeclared state of war: 'we won't be loaning anyone anything for a while.'The BIS? 'As soon as the People' Bank of China, the Reserve Bank of India, the Central Bank of Ireland, the Bank of Israel and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey get back to us about their sudden, serious lack of transparency, we'll call you back.'World Bank? Holy Shit! 'The world's going down the toilet, we will do what we can.'F Y I, I (as in Cáel) had been wrong. The 6 Elders of the Ninja families didn't talk to Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee. They talked with another, far more immediately important man. So sue me (Cáel) for not knowing the inner workings of various world governments, and creatively interpreting events surrounding all those people I (Cáel) didn't. I'm a freaking Liberal Arts major with a fertile imagination, not a superspy, or even a competent Intelligence Analyst!}The Japanese government had appealed to the U.S., U.N., P.R.C., A.S.E.A.N., India; and (through back channels aka JIKIT) the Khanate for an end to this madness; all with typical results:The U.S.A: We are working on it (without letting them know what precisely they were working on)Japan: Well, do something fast. Our Government Bonds are about to be more useful as wallpaper.The U.N.: We are working on it (with their long-established tradition of not doing anything until the crisis had passed)Japan: You are preparing to pass a Resolution to move this matter from the First Committee to the Fourth Committee, gee, thanks guys. Will they be meeting sometime before Christmas?The PRC: We are too busy right now, so shut up, keep the trade lanes open, and was that your submarine we detected sneaking into our territorial waters?Japan: What? What do you mean you are 'too busy?' You are one of our biggest trading partners, your economy is going down the toilet, and, No! That was not our submarine in your territorial waters. That accusation is absurd.(Note from Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee, to Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, head of the JMSDF {the de facto Japanese Navy}), The PRC has made this outrageous claim that one of our submarines has been sneaking around their territorial waters. There is no truth to that rumor, right?Kawano: Which time?Prime Minister: Oh My God! What have you people been doing and why is this the first time I'm hearing about it?Kawano: Sir, if you are just now getting around to asking us, you don't want to know.Prime Minister: What do you mean 'I don't want to know?' I'm the head of the damn government and, you are right. Fine. There is no way I'm going back to the Chinese Ambassador and apologizing for any this. Is there any way this can come back to screw us over?Kawano: With all these US and British submarines helping us out, not very likely, Prime Minister.Prime Minister: Oh, very good. You are correct, I don't want to know what you 'haven't' been doing. I am ordering you to destroy all transcripts and recordings of this conversation.Kawano: It has been my distinct honor not having this conversation with you, Prime Minister. Sayōnara.ASEAN, What do you expect us to do about this? Have you seen the unimpressive combined sizes of our members' air forces and navies? Did you see the smack-down the Khanate has inflicted on the PLAN's South China Sea Fleet?Besides, the PRC is claiming that the Khanate launched covert attacks against the Parcels and Spratly islands which originated from Indonesian and Filipino waters. We are investigating the issue. If you are asking us for help, you are truly screwed. Don't call us. We will call you.Japan, {muttering} Investigating the attacks that came from your territory, bullshit! You are covering your own asses, damn it!(Note from Prime Minister, Shinzō Awbee, to Shotaro Yachi, Japanese National Security Advisor), I've heard an ugly rumor that the Khanate has forces secreted in the Philippines and Indonesia. Do you happen to know anything about it?Yachi: Yes Sir. We had advance notice of the organization, composition and destination of those forces.Awbee (while muttering 'no one tells me anything anymore'): What the! Would you please tell me what is going on.Yachi: We have made critical steps toward future alliances which will guarantee Japanese security for decades to come.Awbee What does that mean, and since when have you been creating and implementing foreign policy? We have a Minister for that, in case you somehow over-looked him at the last cabinet meeting. Wait! Does he know about this too?Yachi: No Sir, Foreign Minister Kishida is currently unaware of the Kinkyū tokushu sakusen tasukufōsu (Emergency Special Operations Task Force). Admiral Katsutoshi knows the basics of our operational policy, since we need to borrow some of his assets from time to time. Director-General Kitada (of the Public Security Intelligence Agency) and key personnel from the Foreign Ministry's Intelligence & Analysis Service and Security Bureau make up the majority of the task force's operatives.Awbee: What have you been doing?Yachi: You don't want to know, Mr. Prime Minister. It would make things, awkward.Awbee: 'You don't want to know', of course, I don't. I'm only the elected head of this government. Why would I possibly want to know what acts of espionage and war my deputies are executing?Yachi: I am glad we are on the same page, Sir. Will there be anything else?Awbee: No, wait. Do you have any intelligence on what the Khanate is up to?Yachi: Yes Sir. Is there anything in particular you want to know?Analysis Services: Can you contact someone in their leadership willing to discuss regional affairs?Yachi: I can put you in touch with the Great Khan himself if necessary.AS: What!Yachi: Sir, I would hardly be acting in our nation's best interests if I couldn't divine the intentions of the key players on the stage. Shall I initiate the necessary communications to facilitate that level of clandestine diplomatic contact?AS: No. Yes. No, I need to think about this. Hmm, have you been conducting any domestic espionage missions?Yachi: You don't want me to answer that, Sir.Awbee: of course I don't, I'm only the damn Prime Minister. Shotaro, I'm still Prime Minister, aren't I?Yachi: Yes Sir. We have been working overtime to ensure that. We've foiled two enemy assassination attempts and one attempted kidnapping so far. We remain vigilant.AS: How come this is the first I'm hearing about it? Is the head of my security in on this conspiracy of yours too?Yachi: No Sir. These particular guardians wish to avoid notoriety at all costs.Awbee: Okay. Good to know. Ah, keep up the good work and destroy any trace of this conversation.Yachi: Way ahead of you, Sir. Have a good night.India, Yes, we are more than willing to work with you toward regional stability. Care to acknowledge the Khanate's legitimacy first? We'd really appreciate it. Sure, get back to us when you've done that. Until then, the South China Sea Awaits! Yes, we plan to keep what we've earned. Later now. We think there is going to be further instability in Southeast Asia.Japan, Ya think? It is your damn warships sailing around the freaking South China Sea enforcing your utterly un-secret alliance with the Khanate. Why are you doing this to us? What have we ever done to you?The Khanate, We are not out to damage your national interests. We apologize, but there is now way we will call off this war with the Communist Chinese. It is them, or us, to the death. We have already received and agreed to your request to allow all Japanese flagged ships safe transit through the South China Sea. We really wish to be your friends this time, to make up for those two invasion attempts seven hundred years ago.(Note from  Prime Minister to Self) Great. The only reasonable people who aren't out to kick me in the nuts are also the ones I can't acknowledge talking to. I've got to do something a

会談に臨む自民党の武見敬三参院議員会長と立憲民主党の水岡俊一参院議員会長ら、２８日午前、国会内自民、立憲民主両党の参院幹部は２８日、国会内で会談し、参院で審議中の２０２５年度予算案について協議した。 Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday broadly agreed with the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to put a revised government budget bill for fiscal 2025 to votes at the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, the upper parliamentary chamber, and at a plenary session of the Upper House, both on Monday.

In late 2024, Upper House member Jeremy Buckingham addressed the NSW state parliament with a shocking possibility—one of Australia's most prolific serial killers may have never been identified.There are up to 72 unsolved cases of missing and murdered persons along the NSW North Coast, spanning from 1977 to 2024. In today's episode of Australian True Crime, guest host and criminologist Dr. Xanthé Mallett speaks with Jeremy Buckingham to discuss the disturbing possibility that these cases are connected—and why police haven't acted sooner.Do you have information regarding any of the cases discussed on this podcast? Please report it on the Crime Stoppers website or by calling 1800 333 000.Click here to subscribe to ATC Plus on Apple Podcasts and access all ATC episodes early and ad-free, as well as exclusive bonus episodes. Got a True Crime question you want answered on the podcast? Send us a question by recording a voice message here.For Support: Lifeline  on 13 11 1413 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732CREDITS:Guest Host: Dr. Xanthé MallettGuest: The Hon. Jeremy Buckingham, MLCExecutive Producer/Editor: Matthew TankardThis episode contains extra content from Channel 9.GET IN TOUCH:https://www.australiantruecrimethepodcast.com/Follow the show on Instagram @australiantruecrimepodcast and Facebook Send us a question to have played on the show by recording a voice message here.Email the show at AusTrueCrimePodcast@gmail.com  Become a subscriber to Australian True Crime Plus here: https://plus.acast.com/s/australiantruecrime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben is joined by Martin Drum from the University of Notre Dame to discuss the new electoral system for the Western Australian Legislative Council and to look back at the last four years of WA state politics in the lead up to next month's state election. This podcast is supported by the Tally Room's supporters on Patreon. If you find this podcast worthwhile please consider giving your support. You can listen to an ad-free version of this podcast if you sign up via Patreon for $8 or more per month. And $8 donors can now join the Tally Room Discord server.

This conversation explores the intersection of writing, contemplation, and community within the context of Christian thought. Jean Geran and Anne Snyder discuss the role of language as a tool for connection and understanding, the importance of contemplation as a form of resistance in a fast-paced world, and the need for community in fostering spiritual growth. They also delve into creating a manifesto to bridge the gap between traditional institutions and contemporary needs, emphasizing the generative culture that can emerge from these discussions. The conversation concludes with reflections on the next generation's challenges in navigating institutional landscapes and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. ====Our host, Jean Geran, is a Senior Advisor for Foundation Initiatives for the SL Brown Foundation. ====Our guest is Anne Snyder, the editor-in-chief of Comment Magazine, host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast, co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year, and author of The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver's Guide to Renewing Our Social and Moral Landscape.====In this conversation, Jean and Anne reference Anne's talk at Upper House. Here are 3️⃣ ways to watch or listen to this talk:

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan on today's Inside Politics podcast to discuss the week in politics:· As the count continues to fill seats in the Upper House, and high-profile candidates lose out, the panel looks at whether the Seanad is a ‘creche for future TDs and a retirement home for others'.· Ireland's 23 new junior Ministers have been decided, but how many of them are real jobs, and who is likely to use their new position as a springboard to a senior ministry in the future?· And the proposal to give the Regional Independent Group 10 minutes of speaking on Opposition time that caused uproar in the Dáil last week looks far from over with no resolution forthcoming.Plus, the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including Bertie for president? The place of small farms in modern Ireland, Latin America reacts to Trump's aggression, and restriction on immigration in Germany. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill, executive director of the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, has a conversation with Chi Ming-Chien and Victor Ho to discuss their entrepreneurial journeys, the intersection of faith and business, and the importance of community and culture in leadership. They explore the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood, the evolution of their understanding of risk and reward in entrepreneurship, and the unique business models they have developed to serve the common good. The conversation also delves into personal experiences that shaped their views on leadership, healthy organizational culture dynamics, and vulnerability's role in facing failure.Chi-Ming Chien lives and works in San Francisco's diverse Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. He is a member of Redeemer Community Church, where he leads worship and serves as an elder. He co-founded Dayspring Partners, a digital consultancy envisioned as an experiment in Christian business.Victor Ho was co-founder & CEO of Fivestars, a FinTech startup focused on helping small businesses that emerged from God's call to “business as a mission field."====For more information about the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation and Upper House, please visit https://slbf.org!

In this conversation, Rachel Mickelson, Co-Founder and President of Generous Jalopy, discusses the concept of redemptive entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of integrating faith into work and community service. Host John Terrill and guest Rachel Mickelson introduce the nonprofit Generous Jalopy, which addresses transportation needs for individuals facing economic challenges. The discussion explores the differences between exploitative, ethical, and redemptive frameworks in business, highlighting the significance of motives and community collaboration. Rachel shares personal experiences and insights on approaching nonprofit leadership and the value of listening to community needs. The conversation concludes with an invitation to join a cohort focused on redemptive entrepreneurship.Rachel Mickelson (guest) loves to see people, organizations, and communities thrive. Rachel is the Co-Founder and President of Generous Jalopy, a Madison-based nonprofit that brokers transportation solutions for people working with their nonprofit partners to stabilize employment, housing, and livelihood. Rachel is also an Enterprise Program Manager with the Strategic Development group at Insperity, where she drives innovation to help businesses succeed so communities prosper. For 19 years, Rachel has partnered with nonprofits, churches, and businesses to navigate change, foster innovation, and build effective leadership, strategy, and operational models. Rachel holds a M.A. in organizational leadership from Crown College and serves as the Redemptive Entrepreneurship Labs lead for the Madison, WI ecosystem.John Terrill (host) is the Executive Director of the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, managing Upper House, Dottie's Ranch, and various initiatives. Previously, he directed the Center for Faithful Business at Seattle Pacific University and worked with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. John's early career includes consulting with the Hay Group and lending at Bank of America. He holds degrees from Indiana University, the Kellogg School of Management, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Seattle Pacific University. John chairs the boards of Religion News Service and Science for the Church.

Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news  Bitcoin is down half a percent at $95,160 Eth is down half a percent at $3,607 Solana, down half a percent at $235 Russia's upper house approves new tax bill for crypto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices