Japan’s Far-Right Party Shocks Election

Asia & the Pacific

Far‑Right Sanseito breakthroughs in Japan’s Upper-House Election

Japan’s ruling center-right LDP‑Komeito coalition lost its majority in the upper house as the populist Sanseito party surged to 14 seats, up from just one in the last election. Led by former YouTuber Sohei Kamiya, Sanseito campaigned on nationalist, anti‑immigration rhetoric and promises of welfare and tax cuts - tapping into widespread frustration over inflation and immigration. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba vowed to stay in office but now faces obstructed governance and rising calls for a no-confidence vote from both within his party and opposition elites. As no party holds a clear majority, it reflects Japan’s fractured political landscape.

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Thailand and Cambodia border killed 24 people on Thursday, raising questions about ASEAN’s ability to manage internal crises. Read more

South Korea raided HYBE HQ in Seoul, targeting allegations of unfair stock trading by its founder—marking a rare crackdown in the influential K-pop industry. Read more

Eastern Europe

Ukraine’s Zelensky Faces Backlash Over Anti-Corruption Law

Ukrainian lawmakers passed a controversial anti-corruption bill perceived as consolidating presidential power sparking large-scale protests in Kyiv. Critics say the legislation undermines independent investigation bodies, undercutting checks on executive authority amid war-time governance. Protesters, including civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates, warn the law could cripple Ukraine’s democratic gains and damage ties with Western allies. The backlash reverberates through EU capitals supporting Kyiv with increased financial aid.

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Serbia’s student protest movement faces internal divisions, with critics saying it has become a platform for nationalism. Read more

A Soviet-era passenger plane crashed in Russia’s Far East, killing all 48 people on board and raising new safety concerns about aging infrastructure. Read more

Middle East

WHO Warns Gaza Faces “Man-Made Mass Starvation”

UN health chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared that Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation due to the Israeli siege and blocked humanitarian access. With hospitals overwhelmed and food distribution networks dismantled, health officials warned that famine conditions are no longer hypothetical. Regional mediators are attempting to negotiate a temporary ceasefire to allow aid corridors to reopen, but political momentum has stalled. The warning ushers in renewed international pressure, though diplomacy remains fragile.

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Violence in Syria’s Suweida province has killed over 800 people, the deadliest incident in years, as rival factions clashed in densely populated areas. Read more

France is preparing to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, aligning with growing international support for Palestinian sovereignty. Read more

Latin America & the Caribbean

Suriname’s First Female President has entered the office

The National Democratic Party (NDP) reclaimed the presidency in Suriname after years in opposition, with Jennifer Geerlings-Simons as President. Its return comes at a defining moment, as the country navigates palm oil expansion, indigenous rights controversies, and diplomatic realignment in Guyana and Brazil. Analysts note that her administration will face pressure to not squander the impending oil boom.

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Bolivia enters a contentious new political era, with the August 17 General Election likely to be end of the MAS party’s political dominance. Read more

Venezuela and Boliva celebrated the 242nd anniversary of the birth of Simon Bolivar, known to many as the hero of South America’s independence movement. Read more

Africa

Rebels Convicted by ICC in Central African Republic

The International Criminal Court has convicted Christian militia leaders in the Central African Republic for war crimes including murder, rape, and looting—marking one of the court’s few successful prosecutions in a fragile state. The verdict is a significant milestone in efforts to hold regional warlords accountable and deter future violence. Victims’ groups and local activists hailed the ruling as historic, though enforcement remains difficult amid ongoing instability. Observers say the verdict could encourage further prosecutions in conflict zones with weak judicial systems.

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RSF’s massacre in southern Sudan kills 32 people in a campaign of violence that local activists say is part of a larger ethnic cleansing agenda. Read more

Kenya dropped terror charges against activist Boniface Mwangi, though he now faces ammunition possession counts—a shift critics call politically motivated. Read more

Good News Around the World

Japan completed revolutionary undersea earthquake detection system—increasing warning times by 20 minutes and potentially saving thousands of lives. Read more

China dramatically cut its oil consumption by shifting to cleaner energy, with oil demand forecasted to peak in 2027 and reducing onwards. Read more

A Bogotá school now runs a unique program pairing students with rescued stray dogs, fostering empathy, improving canine welfare, and giving pupils hands-on responsibility. Read more