2019, year of the classic anime 'Akira', also proves to be the beginning of a new imperial era in Japanese real life: 'Reiwa'. Announcement of the new era name seems a good occasion to catch up on world events.
In America, the Mueller investigation into 'Russiagate', object of a two-year hysteria promoted by liberal media, Democrat politicians, and intelligence bureaucrats, ended in nothing. Perhaps it is the last gasp of American liberalism. Formerly the political center, ageing liberals may now become the swing voters who will decide Trump vs Sanders in 2020, a contest of conservative nationalism versus progressive populism.
In Asia, India versus Pakistan remained the thorniest conflict. A suicide bombing of Indian paramilitary forces in Kashmir led to Indian aerial bombing of jihadi camps in Pakistan, all this with Indian elections just months away. India fumed as, at the UN, China again blocked designation of the head jihadi as a terrorist; and celebrated when Modi announced successful testing of an anti-satellite weapon, India thereby joining America, Russia, and China as a military space power.
China continued to consolidate its economic and technological power. Italy became the first G7 country to join Xi's new Silk Road, and Huawei remained the leader in 5G technologies, Samsung its only real rival. Even in India, Chinese phones and apps dominated the market.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation criticized India's actions in Kashmir and lauded China's actions in Xinjiang. A Muslim congresswoman in America created a stir by criticizing Israeli influence in American political life, and an Australian terrorist appalled the world by livestreaming the massacre of fifty innocent Muslims in a New Zealand mosque.
Brexit continued to not happen, but the nationalist right in many countries was on track to increase its presence in the European parliament. Ukraine, formerly Russia's gateway to Europe, proposed to make a fake president from a TV comedy their next real president; while Kazakhstan, still Russia's partner in cooperation with China, renamed its capital in honor of its retiring long-term president.
Thailand voted (but the king did not allow his sister, friendly to exiled PM Shinawatra, to run). Indonesia prepared to vote, the incumbent president perhaps having the advantage over his ex-military opponent; the Malaysia of Mahathir 2.0 prepared to put former PM Razak on trial for corruption; and Brunei prepared to make homosexuality, theft, and blasphemy punishable by death. Vietnam hosted another Trump-Kim summit, but America was not willing to withdraw its nuclear bombers from East Asia, as Kim proposed.
With the support of Brazil and America, the young head of one of Venezuela's two competing legislative assemblies declared himself president. In Nigeria, a reformed coup leader from thirty years ago, won reelection as the civilian president. Egypt continued to work on its new administrative capital, outside Cairo.
The Reiwa era of 'beautiful harmony' is due to begin next month. It seems we all have some work to do.
