TOP NEWS

Political situation in Japan
Japan's prime minister not resigning despite election defeat

Japan's ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house in Sunday's election. But despite that, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to stay in office, writes the BBC.

- We are in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States. We must never destroy these negotiations, Ishiba says at a press conference.

Normally, a prime minister resigns if the majority is lost. Ishiba's political situation is extra difficult because his coalition previously did not have a majority in the lower house. Not controlling either chamber of parliament increases political instability in the country, writes the AP.

Political situation in Thailand
Thailand accuses Cambodia of mining on the border

Thailand has sent soldiers to clear mines on the border with Cambodia, writes the Bangkok Post.

Last week, three Thai soldiers were injured when a mine exploded near the border. Thailand has accused Cambodia of mining the border, and the ongoing mine clearance operation is also intended to gather evidence of violations of the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines, according to Thai military sources.

Thailand's military says the mines were found on the Thai side of the border, and claims that Cambodian soldiers secretly entered the country. Cambodia denies the accusations, and has responded by publishing unverified videos that allegedly show Thai soldiers placing the mines themselves.

The situation on the border is very tense and has also caused widespread political turmoil inside Thailand.

Putin's Russia
Baku supports Ukraine - Russian bloggers call for invasion

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev recently said that Ukraine should never give up, that the country should not agree to occupation and instead stand up strongly for its territorial rights, something that has aroused disgust among Russian war bloggers, reports the independent Moscow Times.

So-called Z-bloggers call the statement “hostile” and “Russophobic” and want Azerbaijan to be the next country that Russia invades.

“Aliyev has adopted an escalating line and only force shown against him can make him change it,” says blogger Yuri Podoljaka.

Azerbaijan and Russia have long had a complicated relationship, but after Russia shot down an Azerbaijani passenger plane last year, it has deteriorated significantly. Aliyev announced over the weekend that his country plans to sue Russia for it, which also did not go down well with the Z-bloggers.