OPINION: Shigeru Ishiba will be Japan's next prime minister. What should we expect?

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - In a vote to replace Fumio Kishia as head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), party members have elected Shigeru Ishiba as their new leader. Given the LDP's majority in parliament, the party leader will become prime minister by default. Ishiba, aged 67, joined the parliament in 1986 and held key cabinet posts throughout his career, including director of then Defense Agency (now Ministry of Defense). Amid growing public opposition

September 30, 2024

OPINION: Does Hezbollah represent Lebanon? And what impact will death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah have?

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Israel has killed the leader of the militant group Hezbollah in a airstrike in Beirut, marking a further escalation of hostilities in the region. The death of Hassan Nasrallah, confirmed by Hezbollah on Sept. 28, 2024, forms part of a major Israeli push against the Iran-backed group in recent days that has resulted in the death of several top leaders – but also killed hundreds of civilians and left many more fleeing Lebanon's south in fear of a gro

September 29, 2024

OPINION: African countries face hurdles, dangers in getting permanent seats at UN security council

SEOUL, September 27 (AJP) - There is growing global consensus among the members of the United Nations that the UN security council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, requires reform or restructuring to reflect the current balance of forces, and to improve its working methods and ability to do its work. There is also growing consensus among members of the African Union that Africa deserves a permanent presence at the council. The debate took a new turn

September 27, 2024

OPINION: European Union is becoming too obsessed with defense

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A new team of 26 leaders has been appointed to the European Commission, reflecting a carefully crafted balance of political ideologies and member states. Each will take on a different portfolio, from democracy to agriculture to innovation. And for the first time, the EU will have a dedicated defense commissioner in the form of Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that in her second term, the prim

September 26, 2024

Opinion: The financial markets and reality

KENOSHA, September 25 (AJP) - There is continuing economic growth and related positive news. Above all, inflation is declining toward the established Federal Reserve target of two percent. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell and colleagues at the Federal Reserve Board of the United States have therefore cut interest rates by fully one-half percent. Interest rates are going down, reflecting the new concern with unemployment. Stock declines have been concentrated in volatile technology sect

September 25, 2024

OPINION: AI is fueling deepfake porn crisis in Korea. What's behind it – and how can it be fixed?

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - It's difficult to talk about artificial intelligence without talking about deepfake porn – a harmful AI byproduct that has been used to target everyone from Taylor Swift to Australian school girls. But a recent report from startup Security Heroes found that out of 95,820 deepfake porn videos analyzed from different sources, 53 percent featured Korean singers and actresses – suggesting this group is disproportionately targeted. So, what&

September 25, 2024

OPINION: A weakened Hezbollah is being goaded into all-out conflict with Israel – the consequences would be devastating for all

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - For almost a year, Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in increasingly provocative cross-border skirmishes as onlookers warn that this escalating war of attrition could land the region in all-out conflict. The past few days have made that devastating scenario closer to a reality. First came Israel's pager and walkie-talkie attack, an unprecedented assault on Hezbollah's communications that injured thousands of the organization's operatives. It w

September 24, 2024

OPINION: Abortion rights are on 10 state ballots in November − Democrats can't count on this to win elections for them

SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Ten states will vote on ballot initiatives on abortion this November: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada and South Dakota. Many political analysts and pundits view abortion as a partisan issue, fueling speculation that direct votes on abortion rights will boost Democrats' chances up and down the ballot in November. Some Democratic strategists are hoping that turnout from the ballot initiatives will swin

September 23, 2024

Opinion: A wake-up call for Scholz and the European Union

KARACHI, September 20 (AJP) - The political landscape in Germany is undergoing a seismic shift, as evidenced by the recent state election in Thuringia. For the first time since World War II, a far-right party has emerged victorious in a German state election, marking a significant moment in the nation’s post-war history. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a staggering 32.8% of the vote, outpacing the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which managed only 23.6%

September 20, 2024