USA – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 120

January 28, 2026January 23, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Tremors Revisited – The first time I ever saw the 1990 monster adventure movie Tremors was on home video. The movie turned out to be more thrilling and more enjoyable than I expected, and eventually I replayed it a number of times on cable TV and DVD in the years after. There is already a 4K Blu-ray of Tremors that I have yet to acquire. For me, Tremors is still a significant movie to watch again and its concept of having huge monsters that travel underground is still engaging to see. As the 1990 became a massive success AFTER its not-so-hot theatrical run (note: it achieved massive success on home video sales/rentals, cable TV and the like), Tremor is now a popular part of American pop culture and it is not surprising to see many retrospective YouTube videos about it. Posted below for your enjoyment are videos I selected.

#2 Luxury Food In Japan Sold At Bargain Rates –In Japan, there a certain types of food that are often sold at high prices in relation to their quality, availability and other socio-economic factors. Wagyu beef, for example, is a premium meat that recently has been in high demand in Japan as the very high number of foreign tourists are buying and consuming it there. Still, there are times when premium food items are temporarily sold with low prices that locals can take advantage of. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#3 How MIT Students Used Math to Win Millions of Dollars From Casinos – When you visit a casino, you often see people placing their bets in different games of gambling. Among the most popular forms of gambling is the card game which often requires discipline, precision and luck to win. Believe it or not, there were students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who were trained to win in card games with an emphasis on mathematics, discipline and teamwork. Decades ago, these students played in many casinos and won tens of millions of Dollars over a period of years before law enforcement and technology ended their streak. Watch and learn what happened in the video below.

#4 The Rise Of Solo Dining In South Korea – Have you been in South Korea over the past twelve months? Due to the rise of single-person households in the country, solo dining became a new trend there and there seems to be no sign of it slowing down. Watch the video below to discover what solo dining is and what created it.

#5 Final Fantasy IV Revisited – Final Fantasy IV is the first-ever Final Fantasy game I ever played as well as one of the very first Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) I played. The story had solid structure, the characters were memorable, the gameplay was challenging yet fun, and the fantasy settings were special. Released in America as “Final Fantasy II” on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the game succeeded commercially and critically, and it paved the way for the greater acceptance of JRPGs on consoles in the West. To learn more about Final Fantasy IV and why it is significant, watch the video below.

#6 Ranting For Vengeance Slams New Lara Croft – Recently a new live-action version of the video game icon Lara Croft was revealed with actress Sophie Turner playing her. This early, long-time fans of Croft and the Tomb Raider video game franchise in general rejected the newest live-action version. Ranting for Vengeance posted his own video reacting to Sophie Turner’s Lara Croft, explaining the legacy of the Tomb Raider franchise, and standing up for the long-time fans. His video is indeed critical but you have to watch it entirely to fully understand his reaction and logic. The video will also remind you that there is a woke mob out there and they are becoming the FAKE FANS of established entertainment franchises and icons.

#7 Silent Hill Movie Revisited – Just seven years after the release of the original Silent Hill video game, a live-action movie was released with the same title. While the early Silent Hill video games were critical and commercial hits, the effort to make an official film adaptation did not start immediately. In fact, Christophe Gans sent to Konami a video interview of himself (talking about Silent Hill) with Japanese subtitles which eventually convinced the publisher to award him the film rights. The Silent Hill movie did not gather much appreciation from film critics but it still succeeded in entertaining many moviegoers with its unique approach to horror and suspense. To see and feel the impact of the Silent Hill film and discover its production history, watch the videos below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Thailand Sets Ambitious Tourism Targets For 2026

January 25, 2026January 20, 2026carlocarrasco

Thailand, the 2^nd most visited nation of Southeast Asia in 2025, has set ambitious tourism targets for itself for 2026 and it includes achieving US$95 billion in tourism revenue, according to a VnExpress news release. Thailand attracted over thirty million international arrivals last year which was actually a decline of more than 7% compared to 2024.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has expressed confidence that the country’s tourism sector will earn 3 trillion THB (US$95.35 billion) in revenue this year through its “Amazing 5 Economy” strategy.

The plan targets an 11% increase in international visitors, enhanced domestic tourism, and a focus on sustainable, high-quality growth despite global challenges.

TAT aims for 36.7 million international arrivals and about 210 million domestic trips in 2026. Meanwhile, the revenue target includes 2 trillion THB from international markets, with an expected 11% increase in international tourist arrivals, and 1 trillion THB from domestic tourism, projected to grow by 4%, said TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.

In 2026, TAT plans to reignite quality tourism growth by addressing challenges such as geopolitical tensions, increasing global competition, and domestic factors like the strong baht, household debt, safety concerns, and natural disasters. The key to success lies in the “Amazing 5 Economy” framework, which includes life economy, sub-culture economy, night economy, circular economy, and platform economy.

In 2025, Thailand recorded total tourism revenue of approximately 2.7 trillion THB. International arrivals reached 32.97 million, down 7.23% year-on-year.

It saw declines in short-haul markets such as Malaysia and China. However, long-haul markets showed strong momentum, with visitors from Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa reaching a record 10.8 million.

Notably, arrivals from the U.K. and the U.S. each surpassed one million for the first time. Domestic tourism also expanded, with more than 202 million trips, up 2.7%.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Have you ever toured Thailand before? If you did, how long did you stay in Thailand and how was your overall travel experience there? Do you think Thailand will be to achieve its ambitious tourism targets this year?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Lot More American Fruits And Vegetables Imported By Vietnam In 2025

January 23, 2026January 22, 2026carlocarrasco

Vietnam, a nation previously ravaged by war which eventually emerged as a major tourism destination in Southeast Asia, imported a lot more fruits and vegetables from the United States of America resulting in a jump of 67% to US$900 million, according to a news report by VnExpress. Vietnam’s exports to America, however, were not too great which resulted in a trade surplus of more than $350 million for America on fruits and vegetables.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news report. Some parts in boldface…

U.S. fruits and vegetables are pouring into Vietnam, with 2025 imports rising by nearly 67% to US$900 million, but Vietnamese exports to the U.S. are not keeping pace.

This marked a 10-fold jump in imports from the U.S. from a decade ago, with cherries, apples, grapes, and oranges being among the top fruits bought, according to Vietnam Customs.

Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to the U.S. were worth $546 million last year, a minuscule 1.49% share in a market is dominated by suppliers such as Mexico, Canada and South American countries.

Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said the U.S. is a very large market but also one marked by stringent technical standards and also long geographical distance for Vietnam.

Vietnam’s position as the 13 largest fruit and vegetable supplier to the U.S. is owed to the great efforts made by businesses in recent years, he added.

There is room for growth as the list of fresh fruits permitted for export to the U.S. continues to expand, and now includes pomelo, mango, dragon fruit, longan, lychee, star apple, rambutan and, most recently, coconut.

Consumer trends in the U.S. are shifting toward novel fruits, health-oriented products and more deeply processed items such as frozen fruit, dried fruits and juices, with Vietnamese products like coconut, durian and pomelo becoming increasingly popular.

But exports do face many challenges. Starting this month the U.S. began tightening regulations on traceability and food safety, particularly with respect to pesticide residues.

Vietnamese oversight of planting area codes and packing facilities remains uneven, which threatens to bring warnings or even temporary import suspensions by the U.S.

The high logistics costs due to the distance make it difficult for Vietnamese fruits and vegetables to compete on price with suppliers close to the U.S. such as in Mexico, Peru or Thailand.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you consider Vietnam’s heavy importing of American fruits and vegetables in 2025 big economic victories for Trump’s America? What do you think is the main reason as to why Vietnam purchases so much fruits and vegetables from the United States? Do you think Trump’s tariffs are already helping American producers of fruits and vegetables?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 119

January 21, 2026January 18, 2026carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Minty Comedic Arts’ Look At The E.T. Video Game – When it comes to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, it is always remembered as the very heart-warming Steven Spielberg film about a troubled little boy (played by Henry Thomas) who befriends an alien from outer space. It was also one of the highest grossing movies of the 1980s. Along the way, an official video game adaptation was made for the Atari 2600 which ultimately got rejected by gamers and the parents who bought it, which added to Atari’s financial problems. Recently, Minty Comedic Arts posted a comprehensive video about the E.T. video game and I encourage you all to watch it now.

#2 Island Of Cats –Have you ever visited a place that had more cats than people? There is one particular island in Japan with such a huge cat population and there you will see how many types of cats are present. The island, which is accessible by boat, has no guest houses, no stores and no vending machines. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Arrogant Palestinian Heckler Humiliated – Recently there was an event graced by a Jewish CEO. He got heckled by a Palestinian heckler who arrogantly ranted against him, cursed Israel, cursed the Jewish people and more. That heckler got humiliated and if you want to know how, watch the video below. Pay close attention to the details.

#4 RoboCop 3 Revisited – When my friends and I saw RoboCop 3 in 1993, it was clear to us that the film was badly made, was not very cinematic, and it was inferior to its predecessors in almost every way. Still, there are some people out there who find it interesting or even entertaining. As such, it is not surprising that a variety of retrospective videos of RoboCop 3 can be found on YouTube. To find out more about the 1993 movie, watch the selected videos posted below.

#5 You, Me and The Movies React To The Fly (1958) – Some of you may have seen the 1986 film The Fly which was actually a remake of the original movie from 1958. Like some people here, I saw The Fly (1958) after seeing the 1986 version. If you want to discover The Fly of 1958 right now, watch the reaction video of You, Me and the Movies below. It is an entertaining reaction.

#6 Circus Circus Hotel and Casino Revisited – When I first visited Las Vegas in 1989, my family and I stayed at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino (for location, click here) which was a very lively and fun place for tourists and families. I myself enjoyed playing games are the hotel arcade, watching the indoor circus live shows and the buffet. Through the decades, Las Vegas changed a lot as more hotels and casinos emerged and offered visitors a more premium experience. Circus Circus has not changed much and it does not match the glamour of the more expensive joints, but it does not really need to as it remains focused on catering to families with kids, and to tourists who are not heavy spenders. Circus Circus is arguably the most wholesome place for people visiting Las Vegas and its more expensive rivals are themselves suffering from the high costs of operation and maintenance (note: the high price of being a premium joint). Watch and learn from the video below.

#7 US Senator John Hawley Destroys Pro-Transgender Doctor’s Credibility – What do you get when you have a medical practitioner who claims to follow the science but remains a prisoner of woke and Satanic Leftist ideology. One such practitioner appeared in front of US Senator John Hawley who asked her if men do get pregnant. To find out how her credibility got destroyed and how she embarrassed herself, watch the videos below.

#8 The Dashi Specialty Shop In Japan – In the Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan, there is a Dashi specialty store that opened a few months ago. Dashi is a fundamental Japanese soup stock made by very specific ingredients. As soup is very common in Japan, the Dashi store has the ingredients sourced from around the nation. To find out more what Dashi is and what the store looks like, watch the Nippon TV video below. It is an informative and educational watch.

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Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Takes Back Grande Island

January 21, 2026January 17, 2026carlocarrasco

Due to lease violations on the part of GFTG Holdings Corp., the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) repossessed Grand Island in Subic Bay, according to a news report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Grande Island is a historic island located several kilometers away from the shores of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The island used to be Fort Wint (American military defense point) and through the decades, it became a US naval resort and even as a processing site for foreign refugees. Grande Island today is a tourism location accessible by boat. For the Philippines, Grande Island is considered strategically important as it provides a clear view of sea lanes in the West Philippine Sea.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of the PDI. Some parts in boldface…

Grande Island has been repossessed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) following the pre-termination of its lease with GFTG Holdings Corp., an SBMA official confirmed on Tuesday.

Lawyer Melvin Varias, SBMA deputy administrator for legal affairs, said the takeover stemmed from the SBMA Board’s October decision to cancel GFTG’s lease for failure to meet development obligations. A notice of pre-termination was served, giving the company 60 days to vacate the property.

The notice of repossession was issued on Jan. 5, and the actual takeover took place on Jan. 9, Varias said, noting the schedule was adjusted due to the holidays.

GFTG has since sought reinstatement of its lease, with its appeal now under review by an SBMA board committee.

Grande Island drew national attention last year after Chinese nationals were arrested there for alleged surveillance activities involving drones and naval monitoring. Authorities seized firearms, fake documents, and electronic devices containing photos and videos of Philippine and US naval assets in Subic Bay.

Following the arrests, the Department of National Defense proposed converting Grande Island and nearby Chiquita Island into military reservations, citing national security concerns. The SBMA, however, opposed the move, noting the presence of existing tenants and locators on the islands.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you glad that the SBMA took back Grand Island given its high value as a tourism spot as well as being a highly strategic site related to developments in the West Philippine Sea? Were you surprised that Chinese nationals were caught in Grande Island for spying on Philippine and American naval assets?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Japan Achieves New Record-Highs On Foreign Visitor Arrivals And Related Revenue In 2025

January 21, 2026January 20, 2026carlocarrasco

2025 is officially a year of tremendous tourism breakthroughs for Japan as a record 42.7 million foreign visitors were counted along with more than US$60 billion in related revenue, according to a news article by Kyodo News.

Overtourism has been going on in Japan for some time now and it does not seem to be slowing down even though there was a sharp drop of tourists from Communist China which was the result of increased tensions between China and Japan. As a lot more foreign tourists explored Japan, local businesses benefited in different ways but overcrowding, increased littering and acts of bad behavior by foreigners were reported.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…

Foreign visitors to Japan reached a record estimated 42.7 million in 2025, the government said Tuesday, with their spending also at a new all-time high of 9.5 trillion yen ($60.1 billion), thanks to a weaker yen and increased flights to Japan.

The preliminary figures also showed, however, a 45 percent drop in Chinese tourists in the month of December from a year prior to 330,000, tourism minister Yasushi Kaneko told a press conference. The fall came as an ongoing row between Japan and China appears likely to weigh on inbound travel trends in 2026.

The decline in Chinese visitors was the first fall since January 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism said, adding the government is monitoring the situation around Chinese visitors.

Overall visitors surpassed 40 million for the first time, and the estimated total was around 6 million people higher than for 2024. Kaneko said Japan will “engage in strategic Japan tourism promotion” amid a diversifying inbound market, highlighted by rising arrivals from Australia, Europe and the United States.

Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have soured since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in early November on a Taiwan contingency infuriated China.

The fallout has seen economic measures from China, including urging its people to refrain from visiting Japan, and some airlines reduced flights on Japan-China routes.

While the Japanese government has set a target of attracting 60 million foreign visitors a year by 2030, some popular sightseeing destinations are facing problems such as overcrowding and misbehavior by some tourists.

For added insight about tourism-related attractions, activities and trends in Japan, watch the Nippon TV videos below.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Japan will be able to attract even more foreign tourists and be able to collect better revenues this year without China? If you plan to visit Japan this year, what is the purpose of the trip and where do you plan to visit?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at Prime #14 (1994)

January 16, 2026January 13, 2026carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back, superhero fans, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Ultraverse to take a look at one of the many tales of Prime from the monthly series that first launched in 1993.

In recent times, I’ve been reading and reviewing Prime comic books I missed out before. For my most recent Prime retro reviews, click here and here. For the newcomers reading this, Prime is one of the most definitive heroes of the entire Ultraverse and his true identity is the teenager Kevin Green.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #14, published by Malibu Comics in 1994 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by the Darick Robertson with ink work done by Barbara Kaalberg.

Early story

The story begins with Prime flying and deeply thinking about the group of powered social outcasts…Freex. Prime, who recently spent time with Freex and helped them fight monsters (click here and here). He wished to help them more but does not want to be like them. He wants to show the whole world that it cannot push him around only because of his youth.

Moments later, Prime arrives at Venice Beach in California to meet members and agents of the media…

Quality

*This should remind you to always behave yourself in front of any family member of your friend. Prime ends up being disrespectful to Kelly’s mother due to Kevin’s lack of maturity.*

As a long-time Ultraverse comic book reader, there is a lot to like in this tale of Prime. For one thing, it is a pure character-driven story with a strong emphasis on how Kevin Green’s personal views develop, why he keeps on struggling to understand society and why his way (in the form of Prime) of interacting with ordinary people remains awkward.

There is so much stuff here, it can be challenging to realize the main themes of the story written by Jones and Strazewski. To make things clear, at this point in the Ultraverse, worldly authorities are very aware of the Ultras who seem to want to help people with problems but they are compelled to use force to confront them as those super powered beings are capable of making their own rules, violate laws with impunity and cause trouble in societies.

Prime is already in the middle of a troubled American society and the government as well as secret societies have other Ultras to deal with. Being a teenager himself, Kevin Green is able to relate with members of Freex who have no families to return to and are always on the run being chased by the authorities and being hated by the world. Along the way, Prime is acting impulsively with the adults and members of the media since Kevin himself lacks maturity and has yet to fully understand society and its norms. Kevin also forgets how to behave properly as he fails to control his emotional impulse.

When it comes to the art, Darick Robertson did a really fine job visualizing Prime and in most pages of the comic book, he uses dynamism to make the reading experience look very lively. He also did a good job with the facial expressions.

Conclusion

*Prime recalls the time he spent with Freex.*

It is very clear that the writing in Prime #14 (1994) done by the Jones-Strazewski duo is rich and deeply layered. Being a self-declared fighter and supporter of young people in this issue puts Prime into deeper trouble as he does not realize yet the consequence of the moves he made. The creative team really excelled in dramatizing Kevin Green – in the physical form of Prime – being impulsive and immature to adults while acting as a helpful adult to teenagers he meets. This story also sheds light on broken families which will instantly remind readers about poverty, vices and long-lasting negativity in unchecked parts of American society. That being said, this Prime story is a great read and its social commentary remains very relevant. This is also a great development of Prime’s personality.

Overall, Prime #14 (1994) is highly recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/.

I Love Israel: Israel And Japan Ties Emphasized As Top Officials Meet

January 13, 2026January 12, 2026carlocarrasco

Israel and Japan formally engaged with each other diplomatically as Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and their Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar separately in Jerusalem, according to reports by The Jerusalem Post and NHK World.

The meetings are significant not just because it marks the first time a delegation representing Japan under the administration of new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in Israel for diplomacy and cooperation, but also because Japan supports the American-led Gaza peace plan of US President Donald J. Trump (click here and here) and will be proactive in recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. The Japanese, however, expressed disagreement over Israel’s West Bank (biblical Judea and Samaria) settlement activities and insisted on a two-state solution. On the bright side, Japan will still NOT recognize a Palestinian state.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of The Jerusalem Post. Some parts in boldface.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss continued cooperation between Israel and Japan, the Prime Minister’s Office stated.

Netanyahu congratulated Motegi and the delegation members on their visit to Israel and thanked them for their support, the PMO noted. During the meeting, Netanyahu and Motegi also discussed different ways to address regional challenges.

Earlier, Motegi met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

This is Motegi’s first bilateral diplomatic visit since taking office.

Motegi is also expected to meet with President Isaac Herzog on Monday morning during his visit to Israel, the PMO added.

Japan won’t recognize a Palestinian state given US ties – Israel and Japan align on some regional issues critical to the Jewish State.

The Asahi newspaper, citing unidentified government sources, reported in September 2025 that Japan will not recognize a Palestinian state for now, probably to maintain relations with the United States and to avoid a hardening of Israel’s attitude.

With regards to the meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister, posted below is an excerpt from NHK World. Some parts in boldface…

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has visited Israel and held talks with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar. Motegi called for the steady implementation of a US-led peace plan for the Gaza Strip, while pledging a proactive role by Japan in the strip’s reconstruction.

At the opening of their meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Motegi said that to improve the situations surrounding Israel and the Palestinians it is important to steadily implement the peace plan.

He also said both sides should take concrete action toward the elimination of mutual distrust that has persisted over many years in order to ease regional tension and bring peace to the area.

Motegi also urged Israel to take appropriate responses to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian assistance in Gaza offered by international organizations, NGOs and others. He added that Japan will play a proactive role in engaging in the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.

Motegi told Sa’ar that Israel’s settlement activities in the West Bank are in violation of international law, and that Japan is concerned that the increase in settler violence may further destabilize the situation in the region.

Motegi urged Israel to immediately cease what he described as any unilateral actions that run counter to a two-state solution.

Motegi later met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first face-to-face meeting with him by a Japanese senior government figure since then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in 2018.

There are indeed imperfections as revealed by the two news reports regarding the latest Israel-Japan meetings. In my opinion, Japan has yet to realize that the two-state solution is both pointless and worthless. They have yet to realize the truth that the Palestinians have a tradition of violence against the Jewish people, and they often followed terrorist leaders (fact: Palestinians expressed support for Hamas terrorists with regards to the October 7 attacks against Israel in 2023). Japan should realize that the West Bank is not rightfully owned by the global community and international law covering the said region is just an illusion. As such, we who support Israel should pray to the Lord that the Japan’s diplomats will get enlightened as they cooperate more with Israel in the years to come.

Praise and thank the Lord for the high-level meetings between the governments of Israel and Japan. Pray to Him to bless Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and the people of Japan. Pray also for the potential future visit of Prime Minister Takaichi to Israel.

To all my readers, I encourage you to accept the truth that Israel is the land God designated specifically for the Jewish people (read Genesis 35:10-12) and His command must be followed without hesitation. If you want to be blessed further by the Lord, do so by loving and blessing the Jewish people (Genesis 12:1-3). I did my part when I was in Israel. Also, let me remind you all that the ties between the Jews and Christians are truly biblical!

I encourage you all to pray to the Lord God in support of Israel, to love and bless the Jewish people, and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

If you truly believe in Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God the Heavenly Father wholeheartedly and you continue to be faithful, you should be aware that Christians are meant to stand united with Israel and love the Jewish people no matter what. You can do your part supporting Israel by donating to Christians United for Israel (CUFI). Do not forget to read the Holy Bible, then pray in tongues to the Lord in the privacy of your room with the door shut.

Always be the fearless and aggressive church of Lord Jesus!

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 118

January 12, 2026January 8, 2026carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Wagyu Beef In Japan – Have you ever heard of Wagyu? Wagyu collectively refers to four main Japanese breeds of beef cattle. All the Wagyu cattle today are the result of the cross-breeding between Japanese cattle and cattle from overseas (particularly from Europe) that happened centuries ago. When it comes to food, Wagyu beef is a premium type of meat that features marbling (referring to the streaks of fat existing within the red meat). It is of great quality and taste, it is not surprising that a lot of people enjoy it in Japan. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV video below.

#2 2001: A Space Odyssey Reaction Videos –When it comes to the science fiction genre of films, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a landmark achievement and it is one of the most defining movies that Stanley Kubrick ever directed. The sci-fi epic was released long before the first Star Wars movie even came out and it influenced at lot of filmmakers. That said, it is not surprising that a lot of YouTubers made lots of reaction videos, retro reviews and analysis about it. Watch the videos posted below.

#3 Lufia Games Revisited – When it comes to Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) in the 1990s, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) had a lot of them. Among the many RPGs from Japan were a few specific games that made waves among gamers but never achieved massive commercial success. I am talking about the games Lufia & the Fortress of Doom and Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. To this day, there is a dedicated fanbase of those two Lufia titles which were overall enjoyable and immersive in different ways. It is a tragedy that the Lufia series (including handheld titles) has been dormant for a long time and Square Enix (which acquired original Lufia publisher Taito) has not shown any interested to revive it which makes it hard for gamers to play the old games. Lufia game developer Neverland went out of business more than a decade ago. To find out why the two Lufia RPGs were fun and still significant, watch the videos below.

#4 Are Open-World Games Getting Worse? – Open-world games are collectively popular as gamers always enjoy in-depth exploration, quests or activities they can participate it when they decide to, following the main story and sub-plots, and more. As many open-world games have been released over the past two decades, some people observed that game developers are making production short-cuts that reduce the depth of the gameplay experience. And there are games that have bad open-world maps. I understand that video game production today keeps getting more expensive and more stressful to do but there is something to learn from the video posted below. If you’ve been playing open-world games since before 2010, you will realize something.

#5 Scary Crosswind Landings – When traveling far away by airplane, it is only natural for travelers to be safe all the time. Still, nature has its own ways of changing randomly which means varying wind speed which in turn makes it challenging for airplane pilots to land. Some of you might have experienced the rough landing before but what you will see in the video below could scare you.

#6 Influencers Who Died On Mount Everest – When it comes to climbing Mount Everest, it is truly very daunting to do not only because of the sheer height but also because of the weather conditions, the cold, the need to be equipped and the need to work closely with other climbers. Given the significance of Mount Everest, it is not surprising that social media influencers want to make a spectacle online by climbing it and showing images or videos of themselves to their followers around the world. However, to climb the great mountain is very risky and doing something for the sake of social media mileage should be the LAST thing to do. Watch and learn from the video below.

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Meralco Plans Key Study With USTDA This Quarter

January 12, 2026January 6, 2026carlocarrasco

Philippines energy giant Meralco revealed that it intends to start a crucial study with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) within the first quarter this year, according to a BusinessWorld news report. The topic of the study is the adoption of small modular reactors (SMRs).

For the newcomers reading this, Meralco is the most notable private entity in the Philippines with strong interest on nuclear power. To learn more about them and their nuclear pursuit, click here and here.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

MANILA ELECTRIC CO. (Meralco) plans to begin a study with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on the adoption of small modular reactors (SMR) within the first quarter, the company said in a disclosure to the local bourse on Monday.

“The study is expected to commence during the first quarter and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter this year,” it said.

The power distributor is set to issue a request for proposal this month to select a contractor that will conduct the feasibility study.

Meralco earlier secured a $2.7-million (P160 million) grant from USTDA to fund the assessment of SMR deployment in the Philippines.

The initiative forms part of Meralco’s Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program, under which the company has been carrying out pre-feasibility work and partnership discussions to evaluate nuclear technologies suitable for local conditions.

The study supports the Department of Energy’s (DoE) goal of incorporating at least 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power into the country’s energy mix by 2032 as part of efforts to diversify supply and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Starting in April, Meralco said it would begin identifying potential sites suitable for SMR facilities, in coordination with government agencies such as the DoE and Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. Site selection will consider technical, environmental and regulatory factors.

SMRs are designed to generate up to 300 MW each and can be built in a shorter timeframe compared with conventional large-scale nuclear power plants. Proponents say their smaller size and modular construction could allow more flexible deployment.

Aside from the technical study, Meralco said it would carry out stakeholder engagement and consultations, capability-building initiatives and support work related to the country’s legal and regulatory frameworks governing nuclear energy.

By the fourth quarter, the company expects to produce a shortlist of potential sites for submission to the DoE and Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, the recently established independent regulator overseeing nuclear and radiation-related activities.

“The NEST program is in its preparatory phase, thus no material impact is expected on the company’s business, operations, and financials at this juncture,” Meralco said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you hopeful that Meralco’s planned study with the USTDA will lead to progress to achieving nuclear energy in the Philippines within the next few years? Are members of your local community aware about the current move of the country towards nuclear power?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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