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The president of Kyoto Animation, Hideaki Hatta, denied the arsonist Shinji Aoba's claims that the studio stole his novel during an 11th trial hearing for the deadly 2019 arson attack. Hatta stated the company does not steal ideas. While Aoba admitted carrying out the attack, his defense argued he was mentally incompetent. The fire killed 36 people and injured 33 others. After pausing productions, Kyoto Animation resumed work in 2022 with the release of Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid season 2.

Memorials honoring the victims are planned to be unveiled on the 5th anniversary of the tragic incident in 2024.

Archive.today link to animehunch.com

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Thailand police arrest 14-yr-old suspected gunman after 3 killed at luxury mall. According to the article, chaos erupted after gunfire was reported at the upscale Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok. Three people were killed and four others injured in the shooting. Police arrested a 14-year-old boy suspected of being the gunman. Hundreds of people, including children, were seen pouring out of the mall in torrential rain. Gun violence is not uncommon in Thailand, with the incident coming a year after a nursery shooting killed 36 people, including 22 children.

Siam Paragon is Thailand's most famous mall, known for its high-end stores and popular food court.

Archive.today link to www.reuters.com

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The article warns that a recession in the US may hit as early as the fourth quarter due to rising complacency. It argues the Fed's interest rate hikes will not fully impact the economy for another 18-24 months. Several potential shocks are highlighted such as an auto strike, student loan payments resuming, and a spike in oil prices. A slowdown in China and other developing economies is also weighing on global growth. While forecasts still largely expect a soft landing, the article notes that widespread calls for one often precede recessions.

It claims the credit system will face more difficulties as banks tighten lending standards.

Archive.today link to www.nakedcapitalism.com

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Ecosocialist Bookshelf profiles several new books addressing environmental and social issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. One book examines Cuba's successful transition to a low-carbon economy in response to losing oil imports after the Soviet Union collapsed. Another provides a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to viruses, revealing their true nature beyond just causes of disease. Kings of Their Own Ocean investigates the bluefin tuna and unsustainable industrial fishing practices. Saying No to a Farm-Free Future argues against replacing small-scale farming with factory-produced foods, instead advocating for low-carbon agrarian localism.

Finally, Slavery, Capitalism and the Industrial Revolution documents how slavery profoundly shaped Britain's economic rise and the forces of capitalism, showing its role was not just in toppling statues but building the entire system.

Archive.today link to climateandcapitalism.com

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Workers at Australia's two largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, are undertaking the first ever national strike on October 7th. The companies make billions in profits each year but pay workers very low wages, as low as 46% less for those under 20. Conditions are also poor, with unpredictable work hours and lack of job security. During the pandemic, workers faced abuse and threats from customers but stores remained open. The Retail and Fast Food Workers Union is leading the strike to demand higher pay, an end to junior rates, and safer working conditions. While the chains have agreements with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, the union is seen as too conservative and secretive. This strike will test the effectiveness of collective action and organizing led by RAFFWU versus backroom deals pursued by the SDA.

The worker interviewed encourages all supermarket staff to join the union ahead of the planned industrial action.

Archive.today link to jacobin.com

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Texas Governor Greg Abbott is pushing hard for school vouchers and privatization, arguing parents should have more choice over their children's education. However, rural Republican legislators and communities oppose this agenda, recognizing that it threatens local public school districts, which are major employers and social institutions in sparsely populated areas. If more students leave for private schools, districts will lose significant funding but still have high fixed costs. Decades of research also show that vouchers do not improve outcomes and can harm disadvantaged students. While Abbott frames this as helping religious families, some faith leaders argue it inappropriately uses public money for religious education. With Republicans making public schools a culture war issue, it is important for Democrats to defend them as community institutions rather than just focusing on test scores.

For now, opposition appears likely to block Abbott's voucher plans again in an upcoming special legislative session.

Archive.today link to jacobin.com

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Azerbaijan's victory in the 2020 war over Nagorno-Karabakh led to a new reality of Azerbaijani control over the region. However, tensions continued as issues around detainees, borders and Karabakh's autonomy remained unresolved. Russia had peacekeepers in Karabakh but its influence waned after invading Ukraine. Seeing an opportunity, Azerbaijan launched a new offensive in September 2023, seizing full control of Karabakh with little international opposition. The conflict is shaped by imperial interests of Russia and Turkey in the region as well as the pursuit of national capitalist states. It has perpetuated violence and ethnic cleansing, fueling hatred between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. Internally, the war has consolidated Aliyev's authoritarian rule in Azerbaijan and justified suppressing opposition.

As new forms of policing and militarization continue, the region appears headed towards a grim future of perpetual war, not peace.

Archive.today link to jacobin.com

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The Commune is a 1972 novel by Greek writer Marios Chakkas that was recently translated to English. It captures his experience growing up in working-class Athens amid the Greek government's violent suppression of communism after WWII. Chakkas was imprisoned in the 1950s under anti-communist laws and witnessed the 1967 military coup. The novel depicts the remnants of the communist movement building a commune and the narrator's declining health, representing the left's defeat and melancholy. However, Chakkas refuses to fully abandon hope, seeing how the blood and memories of past resistance in his neighborhood could inspire new opposition to the dictatorship.

The Commune provides a glimpse into the tragedy faced by Greek communists after the civil war and their struggle to maintain hope against overwhelming odds.

Archive.today link to jacobin.com

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The FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel announced that the FCC will take an active role again in overseeing corporate control of the internet. At its next meeting, the FCC will vote on restoring its Title II authority to regulate internet service providers. This will allow the FCC to prevent anti-consumer practices like price gouging, access throttling, and privacy violations. It will also empower the FCC to reinstate net neutrality rules barring ISPs from slowing access or prioritizing speed for certain sites. Net neutrality is overwhelmingly popular among the US public but has faced opposition from large telecom companies and their lobbyists. The article suggests the FCC's new stance may rekindle debates between tech and telecom giants over how the internet should be regulated.

Restoring the FCC's Title II authority is important for allowing oversight of hugely powerful ISPs and their control over a vital part of modern life and civic participation online.

Archive.today link to fair.org

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Workers are unhappier in their jobs now than at any point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with job satisfaction declining steadily since 2020. A survey of over 60,000 employees found a sense of resignation and apathy among many. Unfair treatment, lack of control, inflation, layoffs and uncertainty around return-to-office policies are troubling workers. Additionally, remote employees often feel disconnected from their company's mission. Meaningful work is important for happiness yet many lack a sense of purpose in their roles. Engaged employees boost business performance through higher profits and less turnover. However, disengaged staff costs the global economy an estimated $8.8 trillion annually in lost productivity.

While improving every problem may be difficult, managers can help by making time for understanding conversations with their teams weekly.

Archive.today link to www.cnbc.com

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Temperatures in Spain shattered heat records for early October according to the country's meteorological agency AEMET. Nearly 40% of weather stations recorded highs above 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit to start the month. Two cities, Badajoz and Montoro, broke continental Spain's record for the warmest October temperature with readings of 38 and 38.2 degrees respectively, surpassing the previous mark of 37.5 degrees. Most of the Iberian Peninsula saw temperatures 7 to 14 degrees above normal. Even Madrid's historic Retiro Park matched its October heat record of 30 degrees from 1930. The weather expert noted almost 100 individual records were broken just on October 1st alone. If the trends continue, future summers may not only be hotter but also longer, extending well into autumn which is usually milder.

The article notes that scientists widely attribute the rising global temperatures to human activity.

Archive.today link to www.reuters.com

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The Writers Guild of America went on strike for 148 days, forcing the studios to return to negotiations. With help from a SAG strike, writers secured major concessions around AI usage, streaming residuals, and staffing minimums. These were demands the studios had refused, but writers showed through an uncompromising strike that highlighted class differences that these were realistic goals. The victory sets a precedent for other unions to organize in the industry and demand increased protections. To defend their gains, writers will need to remain militant as the studios look for loopholes and try to roll back terms.

Increased organizing and a willingness to strike again will be crucial to protecting workers' interests when negotiations resume with SAG and in future contract fights.

Archive.today link to www.socialistalternative.org

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