A word of warning to top Chinese officials: don’t criticise Xi Jinping’s handling of the economy on social media. This happened to Zhu Hengpeng, deputy head of economics at China’s Academy of Social Sciences. He has now disappeared, and his two bosses have been sacked.
The IMF's intervention comes as markets put pressure on countries like France, where public debts surged during the pandemic and where budget deficits remain large. French borrowing costs have risen compared to Germany's.
Over the weekend, Michel Barnier, France's new prime minister, signaled he would lift taxes on the wealthy to help close the hole in public finances.
But critics denounce the program as shortsighted, inhumane and a threat to what little progress Japan has made in opening its economy to foreign workers.
“It’s a disgrace. It’s cold-hearted,” said Hidenori Sakanaka, director of the Japan Immigration Policy Institute, an independent research organization.
“And Japan is kicking itself in the foot,” he added. “We might be in a recession now, but it’s clear it doesn’t have a future without workers from overseas.”
“It’s baffling,” said Angelo Ishi, an associate professor in sociology at Musashi University in Tokyo. “The Japanese government has previously made it clear that they welcome Japanese-Brazilians, but this is an insult to the community.”
“I’ve lived in Japan for 13 years. I’m not sure what job I can find when I return to Brazil,” he said. But his wife has been unemployed since being laid off last year and he can no longer afford to support his family.
“We worked hard; we tried to fit in. Yet they’re so quick to kick us out,” he said. “I’m happy to leave a country like this.”
Yes, Russia's military has shown signs of weakening due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Several factors contribute to this assessment:
1. **Heavy Losses**: Russia has suffered significant personnel and equipment losses. Western officials estimate that around 1,200 Russian soldiers were being killed or wounded daily during peak periods of the conflict⁵.
2. **Supply and Staffing Issues**: The retreat from areas like Kharkiv has exposed critical weaknesses in Russia's supply chains and staffing capabilities⁶.
3. **Increased Pressure**: Ukrainian counter-offensives have forced Russia to redeploy units and stretch their resources thin, further highlighting logistical and operational challenges⁵.
4. **International Sanctions**: Economic sanctions have also impacted Russia's ability to sustain its military operations, affecting everything from equipment maintenance to new acquisitions⁴.
These factors collectively indicate that the war has strained Russia's military capabilities significantly.
BREAKING NEWS: Yunus Emre Geçti, who martyred police officer Şeyda Yılmaz, was put in a black garbage bag and taken to the courthouse by female police officers in a vehicle belonging to the Animal Bureau.
