分类： politics

A California man, Yaoning “Mike” Sun, has agreed to plead guilty to charges of acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government while serving as a campaign advisor for a local politician in Southern California. Sun, a Chinese citizen legally residing in the U.S., is expected to appear in court in Los Angeles on Monday to enter his plea under a deal with federal prosecutors. The agreement, signed earlier this month by Sun, his attorney, and a prosecutor, stipulates that Sun could face a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison if the plea is accepted by a judge.

According to the plea deal, Sun admitted to acting as a foreign agent on behalf of the People’s Republic of China from 2022 to 2024 without notifying the U.S. attorney general, as required by law. The case against Sun was filed during President Joe Biden’s administration amid growing concerns that the Chinese government had established a network of operatives to influence local U.S. elections to install politicians favorable to Beijing. Sun was accused of conspiring with Chen Jun, who was previously sentenced to 20 months in prison for similar charges.

Sun allegedly received instructions from Chinese government officials to post pro-Beijing content on a website he co-managed with another individual, who later became a successful local candidate in 2022. Sun served as a campaign advisor for this individual and drafted a report for Chinese officials seeking funding and assignments for further pro-Beijing activities. The individual involved has not been named in court documents.

Sun was listed as a campaign treasurer for Arcadia City Council candidate Eileen Wang in February 2022, according to city records. Arcadia, a city northeast of Los Angeles with a significant Asian population, has stated that Sun had no official affiliation with the city. Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto confirmed that Wang has not been charged and plans to cooperate with federal officials. Messages left for Wang at Arcadia City Hall have not yet been returned.

In a historic turn of events, Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female prime minister, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s political landscape. The 64-year-old leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured her position after a decisive victory in the Lower House elections, garnering 237 votes against her closest rival, Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who managed 149 votes. This was followed by a successful runoff in the Upper House, where she secured 125 votes, meeting the constitutional requirement for leadership. Takaichi’s ascension comes at a critical juncture for the LDP, which has faced consecutive electoral defeats, leading to a minority status in both houses of the Diet. To bolster her government, Takaichi has formed a coalition with the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), whose 35 Lower House votes were pivotal in her election. The new coalition has pledged to focus on national revival and self-sustainability. As Takaichi prepares to assemble her cabinet, expectations are high for her to navigate Japan through both domestic and international challenges. Her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, who resigned after 386 days in office, expressed gratitude for public support and urged continued backing for the new administration. Takaichi’s leadership is anticipated to bring a fresh perspective to Japan’s governance, with her cabinet formation expected to reflect her commitment to innovation and resilience.

Sanae Takaichi, a staunch conservative and admirer of Margaret Thatcher, has made history by becoming Japan’s first female prime minister. Appointed by parliament on Tuesday, Takaichi’s rise to power comes amid significant political and economic challenges for the country. Her leadership, however, is not seen as a feminist milestone but rather as a continuation of her hardline stance on defense, economic security, and immigration. Takaichi, a former economic security minister, has been a vocal critic of China and a supporter of Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of strengthening security ties between Taipei and Tokyo. She has also been a regular visitor to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, though she recently toned down her rhetoric on China and avoided a festival at the shrine. Takaichi’s political journey is marked by her conservative views on gender, including her opposition to revising a 19th-century law requiring married couples to share the same surname. Despite this, she has vowed to improve the gender balance in her cabinet to ‘Nordic’ levels, addressing Japan’s poor ranking in gender equality. Takaichi’s policies echo those of her mentor, Shinzo Abe, including aggressive monetary easing and big fiscal spending, which could unsettle markets. Her tough stance on immigration and foreign influence is seen as an attempt to regain voters lost to a new nationalist party. On tariffs, Takaichi has indicated she will push for renegotiations with the United States if the current deal is deemed harmful to Japan.

In a historic and dramatic turn of events, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was incarcerated on Tuesday, marking the first time a former leader of an EU state has been jailed. Sarkozy, who served as France’s president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted last month for his involvement in a scheme to secure illegal campaign funding from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. The verdict, which carries a five-year prison sentence, has sent shockwaves through France and beyond. Sarkozy, 70, entered La Sante prison in Paris under heavy police escort, maintaining his innocence in a defiant social media post. ‘It is not a former president of the republic being jailed this morning, but an innocent man,’ he declared on X (formerly Twitter). ‘I have no doubt. The truth will prevail.’ The case, known as the ‘Libyan affair,’ centers on allegations that Sarkozy’s aides struck a deal with Gaddafi in 2005 to fund his 2007 presidential campaign. In return, Gaddafi allegedly sought assistance in rehabilitating his international image, tarnished by Libya’s involvement in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and other atrocities. Sarkozy’s imprisonment has drawn mixed reactions. While a recent poll by Elabe found that 60% of French citizens consider the sentence fair, supporters gathered outside his home, chanting ‘Free Nicolas’ and singing the national anthem. Sarkozy’s wife, singer Carla Bruni, stood by his side as he left for prison. The former president’s legal troubles have been mounting since his 2012 re-election defeat. He has faced multiple trials, including a previous conviction for graft, which led to house arrest and the revocation of his Legion of Honour. Despite his fall from grace, Sarkozy remains a significant figure in French politics, occasionally meeting with current President Emmanuel Macron. Macron defended a recent meeting with Sarkozy, calling it ‘normal, on a human level.’ Sarkozy’s incarceration is a stark reminder of the legal and ethical challenges facing political leaders, even after leaving office.

The Tata Group, a prominent Indian conglomerate, has come under intense scrutiny for its extensive ties with the Israeli government and military, as highlighted in a detailed 59-page report titled *Architects of Occupation: The Tata Group, Indian Capital, and the India-Israel Alliance*. Published by the South Asian political organization Salam, the report accuses Tata of being deeply embedded in systems of occupation, surveillance, and dispossession in Palestine. The report’s release coincides with growing pressure on the New York Road Runners (NYRR) to sever ties with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the title sponsor of the TCS New York City Marathon, over its alleged complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza. Since 2024, activists in New York City have spearheaded the #TataByeBye campaign, accusing Tata of enabling Israel’s apartheid regime. The report alleges that Tata provides critical hardware, machinery, and digital infrastructure supporting Israel’s military operations. Tata’s involvement in Project Nimbus, a cloud-computing initiative with Amazon and Microsoft, has further fueled criticism, with activists claiming these partnerships contribute to surveillance and repression. The report also underscores Tata’s role in global defense networks, including joint ventures with American defense giants and collaborations with Israel Aerospace Industries. Tata Motors, through its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover, supplies chassis for armored vehicles used by Israeli troops in the West Bank. Despite the controversy, Tata has not publicly responded to the allegations. The TCS New York City Marathon, scheduled for November 2, remains a focal point for activists aiming to disrupt Tata’s global image of corporate benevolence.