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The situation in the Middle East is escalating, with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to expand. On the 25th, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General C.Q. Brown began an unannounced visit to the Middle East, aiming to de-escalate tensions and prevent a full-scale conflict.

According to a Reuters report, Brown quietly visited Jordan as the first stop of his Middle East tour on the 25th. He stated that he would also visit Egypt and Israel to gather military perspectives from their leaders. Meanwhile, the U.S. is attempting to broker a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. Brown noted that if successful, it could help to cool down the situation in the region.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas Gaza war, now in its 11th month, has left Gaza in ruins. Israel has been repeatedly clashing with the Hezbollah group, backed by Iran, at the border. Additionally, in late October of last year, the Houthi movement from Yemen began attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. Pro-Iranian militia groups have also continued their attacks on U.S. forces stationed in Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.

Concerned that Iran might rally its allies to launch new significant attacks, the U.S. military has been actively bolstering its presence in the Middle East in recent weeks. This includes deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, sending a squadron of F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the region, and deploying a cruise missile submarine.
Brown emphasized that the additional U.S. military presence is intended to send a strong message to deter a full-scale conflict and to ensure protection if U.S. forces come under attack, stressing that the safety of U.S. troops is the "number one" priority.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was recently granted official re-election certification by the country's electoral body. However, this result has sparked significant controversy on the international stage. The United States, the European Union, and several Latin American countries have refused to recognize the election outcome, accusing it of being marred by widespread fraud and unfair practices.

Maduro won the presidential election again in August 2024 and was officially certified as president by the National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela. However, both domestic and international entities have questioned the legitimacy of the election. Critics argue that the electoral process was tainted by government interference, voter intimidation, and media control, making it impossible to ensure a free and fair election.

Following the announcement of the election results, the U.S. State Department quickly issued a statement declaring the election "illegitimate" and reaffirmed that the United States would not recognize Maduro's presidency. The European Union also noted the lack of transparency and international oversight in the election, calling for a fair re-election process.

Several Latin American countries, including Colombia, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, have also refused to recognize the election results. These governments generally view Maduro's re-election as a "regression of democracy," emphasizing that the Venezuelan people have the right to choose their future. In a statement, the President of Colombia stressed, "This election does not represent the will of the Venezuelan people, and we urge the international community to take unified action in support of the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people."

In response to international criticism, the Venezuelan government has strongly pushed back, accusing foreign powers of meddling in domestic affairs and claiming that opponents are trying to destabilize the country. In his speech after receiving re-election certification, Maduro stated that Venezuela's electoral process was "completely legal and transparent," and he accused Western countries of waging a "political and economic war" against his government. Maduro also emphasized that he would continue to advance Venezuela's "path of sovereignty and independence" and called on his supporters to remain united in the face of external pressure and challenges.

On the 20th, Indonesia's Constitutional Court ruled that candidates for local executive positions must be at least 30 years old. However, Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who has been nominated by a political party to run for vice governor of Central Java, will only turn 30 on December 25. This means that the court’s ruling effectively disqualifies Kaesang from running. In response, the Indonesian Congress immediately began deliberating a law amendment to relax the age requirement, sparking large-scale protests across the country.

On the 22nd, thousands of people nationwide took to the streets in response to the call. Angry protesters gathered in front of the Congress, holding banners and signs, attempting to push down barriers, setting tires on fire, throwing stones at police, and forming human walls to confront riot police, leading to intense physical clashes. The police deployed over a thousand officers, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

Many people believe that the Congress's move to amend the Constitutional Court’s ruling is aimed at paving the way for President Jokowi’s son, Kaesang, to run, thereby enhancing Jokowi’s political influence as he nears the end of his term. They argue that this action is politically motivated and undermines democracy.

In the face of the public outrage, the Congress, which had planned an emergency amendment, postponed the discussion due to a lack of quorum. Congress Vice Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the bill to amend the electoral laws will be reconsidered in the next legislative session, meaning it will not be approved before President Jokowi's term ends.

On the 21st, Hezbollah in Lebanon launched a powerful rocket attack on Israel, firing up to 180 rockets in a single day, causing severe damage to communities along Israel's northern border. This rocket barrage represents Hezbollah's largest-scale attack on Israel since the Israel-Hamas war. Israel subsequently retaliated with airstrikes, leading to an escalation of regional conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

Hezbollah began its rocket assault on Israel’s Golan Heights early on the 21st and continued throughout the day, targeting northern border communities in Israel. Hezbollah stated that the attack was a retaliation for Israel's strike on Lebanon on the 20th, with over 180 rockets fired in total. Hezbollah, a staunch supporter of Hamas, has been continuously launching rocket attacks on northern Israeli border communities since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, resulting in the evacuation of around 60,000 residents from northern Israel. This situation has persisted for over 10 months, with the conflict gradually intensifying from small-scale skirmishes to more significant clashes.

Regarding the ongoing threat from Hezbollah, there is internal disagreement in Israel about whether to launch a comprehensive military campaign against the group. According to a survey by the Israeli National Security Studies Institute (INSS), less than half of the Israeli public supports military action against Hezbollah due to concerns about triggering a regional war. Hezbollah appears to be exploiting these domestic divisions within Israel, continuing localized provocations without escalating to a full-blown conflict, thereby weakening Israel’s defensive capabilities and contributing to a prolonged military and political quagmire.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Palestine war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made his ninth visit to the Middle East, seeking the possibility of a ceasefire. However, as he departed the region on the 20th, there remained significant divisions between Israel and Hamas, preventing a ceasefire agreement. At the airport in Qatar, Blinken stated that "time is of the essence" and that a ceasefire must be achieved as soon as possible, along with the release of Israeli hostages. Yet, there are no signs of success for this U.S.-led diplomatic ceasefire effort.

During this visit, both Egypt and Qatar cooperated with the U.S. in hopes of achieving a ceasefire for Gaza, including meetings with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss how to end the conflict. Sisi emphasized that now is a crucial moment for a ceasefire and that the Middle East conflict should not be allowed to escalate further, causing more severe consequences. He also pointed out that international recognition of Palestine as a state and the implementation of a two-state solution are essential for maintaining regional stability.

Blinken reiterated after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 19th that the latter accepted a "transitional plan" for a ceasefire. He urged the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to also accept the plan and finalize the details as soon as possible to reach an agreement in the coming days. However, the Israeli government has neither confirmed nor denied acceptance of Blinken's "transitional plan." On the contrary, Netanyahu insisted on the 20th that Israel would retain troops in the Philadelphia Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, which has become a major obstacle to reaching an agreement. Blinken reiterated that the U.S. opposes a long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza and advocates for a gradual withdrawal of troops after the conflict.

Since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7th of last year, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and about 250 hostages, Israel's retaliatory actions against Gaza have caused approximately 40,000 Palestinian deaths.

The number of "lying flat" youth in South Korea aged 15 to 29 has reached a historic high of 443,000, marking a 10.4% increase from last year. The term "lying flat" refers to individuals who, while not suffering from severe illness, choose not to work temporarily. These youths represent 5.4% of South Korea's 8.15 million young people, setting a new record.

According to reports, this non-economic activity population consists of those who, despite not having illnesses or disabilities, opt to "lie flat" without a specific reason. They are neither classified as employed nor unemployed.

Among the lying flat youth, 75.6% have no intention of working at all, while those who do seek employment face issues such as mismatched salaries and conditions, and a lack of skills and experience. With the increase in the lying flat population, the youth employment rate in South Korea fell to 46.5% in July, marking three consecutive months of decline. However, because the lying flat individuals are not counted in the unemployment figures, the unemployment rate actually decreased by 0.5 percentage points.

Academics believe that the lack of quality job opportunities and the slow recovery of labor-intensive industries have exacerbated the polarization of the job market. The wage gap between large enterprises and small-to-medium-sized businesses is 1.6 times, with the average salary in large companies at 5.91 million won in 2022, compared to 2.86 million won in smaller businesses. Additionally, the retirement age in large enterprises is extended, and smaller businesses prefer candidates with experience, making it harder for youth to find jobs.

This year, over 30% of young people have opted for short-term contracts of less than a year as their first job. The lying flat youth cause a dual loss to society and the economy: their knowledge and skills are wasted, the country fails to fully utilize its labor force, and young people, unable to find ideal jobs, forgo relationships, marriage, and childbirth. This leads to reduced income, weakened domestic demand, and overall adverse effects on the economy and society.

A recent poll shows that 48% of American adults have a favorable view of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, surpassing President Biden's 38% favorability rating before he withdrew from the race.

As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches, Harris is set to attend, supported enthusiastically by fellow Democrats. Her popularity has not only improved, but public recognition of her is also higher than that of Biden before he withdrew. Additionally, Harris slightly outperforms Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds a 41% favorability rating.

Among American men, about half have a negative view of Harris, with roughly 60% of white men expressing disapproval. White men without a college degree, a demographic traditionally strong in Trump’s support base, are particularly unfavorable toward Harris. On the other hand, Harris enjoys better favorability among white women, with 49% holding a positive view and 46% negative. Among those over 60 years old, around 50% view her favorably, up from 46% in June. It appears that if Harris is to win, she must work to suppress Trump's ability to galvanize white male voters.

Overall, as both Harris and Trump's campaign teams rush to define her as a new candidate in the race, more Americans are forming new opinions about her, leading to an increase in her favorability. The percentage of Americans who feel they do not know enough about Harris to evaluate her has dropped from 12% in June to 6% now.

Additionally, Harris leads Trump by 9% in the area of "possessing an effective spirit of public service." Many polls indicate that as Harris takes up the mantle of the Democratic Party, more voters are beginning to see her as more suited for the presidency than Biden, and she is receiving more support than Trump in many aspects, successfully reversing Trump's earlier lead.

Recently, the election for the president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has become a focal point, with young and mid-career lawmakers within the party calling for a generational change and openly supporting Takayuki Kobayashi. They believe Kobayashi is the best candidate to lead the LDP into a new era. With his youthful image and policy proposals, Kobayashi has garnered significant support from many young lawmakers. They emphasize that the LDP needs a leader who can reflect the demands of the younger generation and address Japan’s current challenges, including economic recovery, declining birth rates, and diplomatic issues.

Young and mid-career lawmakers argue that the current leadership’s age structure has led to more conservative policies that fail to fully address the increasingly diverse needs of Japanese society. They see Kobayashi’s candidacy as an opportunity for reform, bringing new energy to the LDP and helping the party remain competitive in future elections.

On the other hand, the party’s conservative faction remains cautious, with some senior lawmakers questioning Kobayashi’s policy capabilities, citing his lack of experience and potential inability to handle complex domestic and international situations. Despite this, the call for generational change is growing louder, becoming a central theme in this election.

As election day approaches, competition within the LDP is intensifying. Whether the support from the younger faction can translate into actual votes for Kobayashi will be a key factor in determining the election outcome. Regardless of the result, this election has highlighted the need for generational change within Japanese politics and the younger generation's hopes for the future direction of the country.

On the 16th, Thailand's House of Representatives voted to approve Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the new Prime Minister. She will become the third Prime Minister in her family, following her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, and her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra. Paetongtarn is also Thailand’s youngest-ever Prime Minister and the second female Prime Minister in the country's history.

According to the Thai constitution, a Prime Ministerial candidate must receive the support of a majority of the House of Representatives to be elected. With 493 members in the House, Paetongtarn Shinawatra was elected with 319 votes in favor, 145 against, and 27 abstentions, securing the position as the 31st Prime Minister.

At 37 years old, Paetongtarn is the youngest daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Her election makes her the third Prime Minister from her family. Her father, Thaksin, was a popular but controversial figure who was ousted in a 2006 military coup. Her aunt, Yingluck, became Prime Minister in 2011 but was also eventually forced into exile. Thaksin returned to Thailand in 2023 and is currently on parole after being convicted of corruption charges.

After her election, Paetongtarn stated that her primary task would be to revitalize the economy. Whether she will continue the 10,000-baht digital wallet policy left by former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is also a matter of public interest. According to constitutional procedures, Paetongtarn's appointment as Prime Minister will take effect once it receives formal approval from the King.

Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin, who was elected Prime Minister of Thailand in August last year, made a minor cabinet reshuffle at the end of April this year. Among the changes, he appointed legal advisor Phichit Chuenban as Minister of the Prime Minister's Office. This appointment was contested by 40 former senators, leading the Constitutional Court to rule on the 14th that it was unconstitutional and to remove Srettha from his position as Prime Minister, as well as dissolve the cabinet.

The controversy originated from a 2008 land acquisition case where Phichit, acting as a lawyer, represented then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Phichit was accused of attempting to bribe a judge with 2 million baht and was sentenced to six months in prison. His controversial past led to collective objections from legislators, who argued that both Srettha and Phichit violated ethical standards for cabinet ministers as outlined in the Thai constitution. They requested the Constitutional Court to determine the suitability of Srettha and Phichit for their respective positions.

Although Phichit resigned under public pressure before the Constitutional Court session, the incident still had significant repercussions for Prime Minister Srettha. The court ruled him unfit for office, and Srettha was removed less than a year into his tenure, with 5 out of 9 Supreme Court justices declaring the appointment unconstitutional. Thailand's political scene has been highly unstable over the past 20 years, with several governments or parties being dissolved or removed by the Constitutional Court for unconstitutional actions.

Following Srettha's dismissal, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will temporarily assume the role of Prime Minister. It is expected that on the 16th, members of parliament will select a new Prime Minister from the list of candidates proposed during last year's parliamentary elections.