Japan's ruling party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, was projected to secure a decisive victory in Sunday's snap election, according to exit polls, while Thailand held an early election pitting reformists against conservatives. Meanwhile, a congressional commission warned of potential military threats posed by China's infrastructure projects in the Pacific, and a Minnesota DHS whistleblower detailed a "smear campaign" after reporting fraud concerns. Records also revealed regular interactions between former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein.
In Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Takaichi, was set to win a majority, according to BBC World, with projections indicating the coalition could secure as many as 366 seats out of 465. This success comes just four months after Takaichi became the LDP leader. The victory is a stark contrast to her predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority due to corruption scandals and rising costs. An LDP-led coalition has governed Japan for much of its post-war history due to a lack of strong opposition.
Simultaneously, Thailand held an early election after several coalition governments collapsed, resulting in three prime ministers in as many years, according to BBC World. The election pitted the People's Party, advocating for far-reaching change, against conservatives led by incumbent PM Anutin Charnavirakul. Most polls predicted a close race.
Across the Pacific, a bipartisan congressional advisory commission warned that Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands could provide future military access for Beijing, according to Fox News. Senior members of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, including Randall Schriver and Michael Kuiken, stated that projects like runways and ports, though appearing civilian, could enable military access. They urged lawmakers to tighten oversight as China expands its influence.
In Minnesota, a Department of Human Services (DHS) whistleblower, Faye Bernstein, reported facing a "smear campaign" after raising concerns about fraud in the state since 2019, according to Fox News. Bernstein, who has worked for Minnesota's DHS for two decades, called Governor Tim Walz's assertion that he was unaware of the problem "absolutely false." She alleged that state officials ignored previous warnings.
Furthermore, records released by the Justice Department revealed that former Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regularly interacted with Jeffrey Epstein over at least 13 years while they lived next door to each other in Manhattan, according to the New York Times. The records showed they invested in the same company, dealt with each other on neighborhood and philanthropic issues, and socialized in New York and the Caribbean. These records directly contradicted Lutnick's previous assertion that he had never set foot in a room with Epstein.
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