Japan’s far-right party makes electoral gains with anti-globalist message
Japan’s Sanseito party wins big with ‘Japanese First’ push and anti-immigration rhetoric. Japan’s far-right Sanseito party has emerged as a major winner in the country’s upper house election, riding a wave of nationalist rhetoric, anti-immigration warnings and populist pledges on tax cuts and social welfare. Once seen as a fringe movement born on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanseito was projected on Sunday by national broadcaster NHK to secure up to 22 seats in the 248-member chamber, dramatically expanding its presence beyond the single seat it held previously. The party, which only holds three seats in the more powerful lower house, has broken into the political mainstream by capitalising on voter frustration over economic decline and rising living costs. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya, a 47-year-old former English teacher and supermarket manager, has been at the forefront of this shift. He has stirred controversy with conspiracy theories about vaccines and “globalist elites” and openly credits US President Donald Trump’s “bold political style” as inspiration. According to an exit poll by local media, Japan’s governing coalition is likely to lose its majority in the upper house where it is forecast to secure 32 to 51 seats. ‘Japan First’ movement In an interview with Nippon Television after the election, Kamiya defended his “Japanese First” slogan. “The phrase was meant to express rebuilding Japanese people’s livelihoods by resisting globalism. I am not saying we should completely ban foreigners or that every foreigner should get out of Japan,” he said. Despite his denial of xenophobia, Sanseito has built its platform on fears of a “silent invasion” by immigrants. Political analysts say this message resonates with many Japanese voters facing a stagnant economy and weakening yen, which has drawn record numbers of tourists and fuelled inflation. Advertisement Foreign residents in Japan reached a record 3.8 million last year, only about 3 percent of the population, but concerns about immigration remain present, even if not dominant. NHK polling before the election showed just 7 percent of respondents cited immigration as their main concern. Far more voters expressed anxiety over the country’s declining birth rate and rising food prices, particularly rice, which has doubled in cost over the past year. “The buzz around Sanseito, especially here in the United States, stems from its populist and anti-foreign message. But it’s also a reflection of the LDP’s [Liberal Democratic Party] weakness,” said Joshua Walker, president of the US-based Japan Society. Still, right-wing populism remains a relatively new phenomenon in Japan. While Kamiya and his party draw comparisons with other far-right European groups such as Germany’s AfD and Reform UK, these ideologies have not yet gained the same level of traction in Japan as they have in the West. Adblock test (Why?)
Senior Congress leader makes BIG remark on Shashi Tharoor, says, ‘Till he changes his stance…’
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Sunday hit out at party colleague Shashi Tharoor again, saying he will not be invited to any party programme in the state capital till he changes his stance on the national security issue. Read on to know more on this.
BIG blow to ex-Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, named in Rs 3500 crore liquor scam case, chargesheet says…
A chargesheet filed by Andhra Pradesh police in connection with the Rs 3,500 crore alleged liquor scam in a local court has mentioned former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of the kickbacks averaging Rs 50-60 crore each month. Read on to know more details.
Parliament monsoon session begins today: Operation Sindoor, Income-Tax bill, Bihar roll revision, Air India Crash; here’s what to expect
This session holds significance as it is the first since Operation Sindoor, India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
Meet Indian woman whose work shocked ‘father of atomic bomb’ Robert Oppenheimer, her name is…, she worked as…
Her story is an example of courage, determination, and passion for science.
Trump posts AI-generated video showing Obama getting arrested to ‘YMCA’
President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video of former President Barack Obama being arrested on Sunday, a nod to recent claims made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. In the Truth Social post, Trump shared a TikTok video of various Democrats, including Obama, saying that “No one is above the law.” Later in the 45-second AI-generated video, Trump and Obama are seen sitting in the Oval Office before Obama is arrested by agents as the song “YMCA” plays. The AI-generated version of Trump grins as Obama is apprehended and eventually thrown in a jail cell. The AI-generated Obama is also seen wearing an orange jumpsuit behind bars. OBAMA OFFICIALS ADMITTED THEY HAD NO ‘EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE’ OF TRUMP-RUSSIA COLLUSION: HOUSE INTEL TRANSCRIPTS The video surfaced amid allegations from Gabbard that Obama and his intel chiefs manufactured the Russia collusion narrative. “The implications of this are frankly nothing short of historic,” Gabbard said on Fox News Channel’s Sunday episode of “Sunday Morning Futures.” “Over 100 documents that we released on Friday really detail and provide evidence of how this treasonous conspiracy was directed by President Obama just weeks before he was due to leave office after President Trump had already gotten elected,” Gabbard claimed. WHITE HOUSE WANTS OBAMA INTEL OFFICIALS ‘HELD ACCOUNTABLE’ FOR ROLE PEDDLING 2016 RUSSIA HOAX Gabbard also said that she planned to send the uncovered documents to the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) for a criminal referral. Documents shared by Gabbard’s office claim that before the 2016 election, there was no evidence of collusion with Russia – and that politically motivated actors distorted the narrative to harm Trump, not in response to new intelligence. “Creating this piece of manufactured intelligence that claims that Russia had helped Donald Trump get elected contradicted every other assessment that had been made previously in the months leading up to the election that said exactly the opposite, that Russia had neither the intent nor the capability to try to ‘hack the United States election,’” Gabbard told host Maria Bartiromo. “So the effect of what President Obama and his senior national security team did was subvert the will of the American people, undermining our democratic republic and enacting what would be essentially a years-long coup against President Trump, who was duly elected by the American people,” she added. Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.
Trump lashes out at Biden after illegal immigrant accused of shooting CBP officer in NYC
President Donald Trump lashed out at former President Joe Biden after an off-duty Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer was allegedly shot in the face by an illegal immigrant with a lengthy criminal rap sheet in New York City. “Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday. “He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED.” The suspect was identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a Dominican national. DHS confirmed that Nunez was arrested by Border Patrol near San Luis, Arizona, in April 2023, but was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration. The agency also told Fox News that Nunez has an active warrant for kidnapping in the state of Massachusetts, in addition to prior felony arrests. During a press conference on Sunday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said Nunez had prior arrests for assault and violating an order of protection. Adams said Nunez also had an active bench warrant from the Bronx, was wanted for a robbery from last December and a stabbing from January. TEXAS BORDER PATROL SHOOTER DETAILS REMAIN SCANT AS VIOLENCE AGAINST ICE, CBP AGENTS SURGES “The Democrats have flooded our Nation with Criminal Invaders, and now, they must all be thrown out or, in some cases, immediately prosecuted in that we cannot take a chance that they are able to come back,” Trump added. “That’s how evil and dangerous they are!” Authorities said Nunez rode up on a motorized scooter with another suspect and attempted to rob the CBP officer as he sat in Riverside Park on Saturday night. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY THREATENING TO ASSASSINATE TRUMP IN HANDWRITTEN LETTER The officer, who has not yet been identified, pulled out a gun to defend himself. Police said the officer and Nunez were both shot multiple times. Nunez walked into an area hospital after the shooting, police said. The officer is expected to recover from his injuries. Trump added that the off-duty officer “bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage.” Adams said Nunez was taken into custody. “He has inflicted violence in our city and once he is charged for last night’s crimes, we will be able to add attempted murder to his rap sheet,” Adams said. DHS has lodged a detainer against Nunez. Fox News Digital’s Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
Mamdani to take extended Africa trip amid campaign for mayor of New York
Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani unapologetically announced an extended trip to Africa on Sunday while he campaigns to lead America’s largest city. Mamdani, who defeated Andrew Cuomo by more than 12 percentage points last month, securing the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City, released a video anticipating criticisms of his trip to Uganda. In a defiant, yet playful tone, Mamdani called out what he said have been “thousands” of messages on X telling him to “go back to Uganda where you come from and belong” and “go back to Africa.” “Being a politician means listening, not just to your supporters, but your critics too,” Mamdani said. “And some of these critics – especially on a certain website – have been giving me consistent advice.” “I hear you, and I agree. I’m going back to Uganda,” Mamdani said. CUOMO QUIPS ‘EVEN I WILL MOVE TO FLORIDA’ IF MAMDANI WINS NYC MAYORAL BID The mayoral hopeful said he was headed to Uganda “in a personal capacity” to celebrate his marriage to his wife, Rama, with their family and friends. “I do want to apologize to the haters, because I will be coming back,” he said. Mamdani added in the accompanying X post that he’d be back “by the end of the month.” Attempting to assert control over the narrative, Mamdani offered some imaginary headlines condemning his overseas travel. “And since you will undoubtedly read about this trip in the New York Post, inshallah [Arabic for God willing], on the front page, here are a few of my humble suggestions for headlines,” Mamdani said, jabbing at the New York-based newspaper. He proposed tabloid headlines including “M.I.A.? Mandani in Africa,” “Uganda Miss Me,” or “He’s Kampala-etely Crazy,” a reference to Kampala, the capital and largest city of Uganda. Mamdani also suggested the headlines: “He Africa-n’t Be Serious!” and “Carl Kampalanile Investigates Mamdani” – a satirical take on the name of American investigative journalist Carl Bernstein, who uncovered the Watergate scandal. “Zo-Running Away?” Mamdani said, offering one last imagined headline before the video showed himself and another campaign supporter waving to the camera and the screen fading to “Zohran for Mayor.” TRUMP SAYS CUOMO’S GOT A ‘GOOD SHOT’ OF BEATING MAMDANI IN NYC MAYOR ELECTION Mamdani holds dual U.S. and Ugandan citizenship. He was born in Uganda and was raised in South Africa until moving to New York City at age 7. He owns four acres of undeveloped land in Jinja, Uganda, that’s valued between $150,000 and $250,000, the New York Post previously reported, citing Mamdani’s 2024 New York Legislative Ethics filing. Despite this, resurfaced social media video shows Mamdani in the past has floated the “abolition of private property” – a principle of communism. His mother is an acclaimed Indian American filmmaker. She reportedly owned a nearly $2 million New York City loft for about a decade before recently selling the property, according to the Post. His father is a Columbia University professor who sits on the advisory council of an anti-Israel organization. The organization supports boycotts and sanctions of Israel, routinely accuses the Israeli government of committing “genocide,” and has expressed sympathy for suicide bombers. Mamdani’s candidacy has sparked concern from the Jewish community, as he declined to condemn the term “globalize the intifada” – a stance he has since walked back while courting local business owners. Meanwhile, New York City college campuses, including Columbia University, have faced rising antisemitism and anti-Israel protests and encampments in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel. Mamdani himself has defended BDS, or the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, saying at a May town hall that the anti-Israel movement “is consistent with my core of my politics, which is nonviolence.” Critics of Mamdani have also condemned how he’s campaigned on socialist ideals, including government-run grocery stores and rent freezes, despite his wealthy upbringing. Having won the Democratic mayoral primary, Mamdani has emerged as the frontrunner, and he is backed by progressives in Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., have been more cautious with Mamdani. It’s extremely rare for candidates who win the Democratic mayoral primary to lose the November general election, but Mamdani still faces Cuomo, who formally declared his independent mayoral bid last week. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is also running as an independent, as is former federal prosecutor Jim Walden. “Guardian Angels” founder Curtis Sliwa is the Republican mayoral candidate. Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller, Cameron Cawthorne and Deirdre Heavy contributed to this report.
ICE director blames left-wing ‘rhetoric’ for rise in attacks on immigration officers
Acting ICE director Todd Lyons blamed rhetoric from “elected officials” for the rise in attacks against immigration officers on Sunday. Lyons made the comments during an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation” that aired Sunday, tying the increased violence to President Donald Trump’s political opponents. “I think the sharp increase in the rhetoric, especially from a lot of elected officials, that are shaming, if you will, or speaking out against ICE law enforcement mission is what’s really increasing these attacks on officers,” he said. Lyons noted that there has been an 830% increase in assaults on officers compared to 2024. ICE AGENT SHARES FEARS ABOUT FAMILY SAFETY AS ASSAULTS ON OFFICIALS SURGE He added that the spike in violence is also due to ICE officers being more “visible” in communities across the country as Trump’s deportation campaign expands. “The immigration mission is one of the forefront of this administration, so there is a lot of scrutiny and publicity to it,” Lyons said. NO CAGES, DUE PROCESS RIGHTS INTACT: ICE AGENTS SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON TRUMP’S IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT The official also confirmed that ICE is not limiting its arrests to illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a separate crime. He said many illegal immigrants without criminal records have been taken in as “collateral arrests” during operations targeting violent migrants. Nevertheless, he added that ICE “targets the worst of the worst.” ICE officers themselves have spoken out about the increased violence and criticism they have faced under the new administration. “It has been very sad to see how we’re villainized, the names used towards us,” officer Kristian Moreno told “My View” host Lara Trump on Fox News this weekend. “Just doing this [interview] right now, I had to talk to my family about it and say, ‘Hey, this is something that I believe in, something I think is important for us to get our stories out there and let the American public know we’re humans.’ We got a job to do. We’re just enforcing the law. We’re not making up the law, and it’s sad, but we just keep pushing through it,” he added. He and officers Edgardo Centeno and Chris Sandoval shared their perspectives on the violence ICE officers risk daily. “We have to do our job. We raised our hands to defend the Constitution, and we’re enforcing the law, so we’re adjusting as we see what’s going on in our country, but it’s saddening my heart, especially when you serve in combat and come back and see your country so divided,” Centeno said.
Biden admin spent hefty sum of US tax dollars to upgrade embassy swimming pools in Iraq, Russia
The Biden administration’s State Department authorized more than $1 million in taxpayer funds for renovating swimming pools at U.S. embassies and mission residences in war-torn countries such as Haiti, Sudan and Iraq, a report from Sen. Joni Ernst’s office found. “The Biden State Department threw a blowout summer pool party on your dime,” Ernst, R-Iowa, said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. “Bureaucrats might think wasting millions is a drop in the bucket, but I am sick and tired of taxpayers getting tossed in the deep end by Washington,” Ernst added. “I will continue working with the Trump administration to put a stop to the splashy spending of the Biden years.” Ernst’s office found that the State Department under the Biden administration authorized that two pools in Haiti, five in Iraq, three in Sudan, one in Russia, one in Zimbabwe and one in Ghana be renovated, totaling more than $1.2 million, according to the New York Post, which first reported on the pool renovations on Thursday. RUBIO OFFICIALLY KILLS USAID, REVEALS FUTURE HOME FOR FOREIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Taxpayers spent $41,259 to rehabilitate the pool at the U.S. embassy in Moscow in a contract inked three months after Russia invaded Ukraine in a war that has continued raging. The purchase order was dated June 3, 2022, through Aug. 15, 2022, after the war began in February that same year. RUBIO SPEARHEADS MASSIVE STATE DEPT REORGANIZATION SET TO ELIMINATE, MERGE MORE THAN 300 OFFICES The U.S. embassy in Baghdad was awarded a whopping $444,000 to replace its indoor dehumidification system for its pool in a contract that began on Sept. 27, 2024. While the U.S. Consulate in Erbil, Iraq received over $10,000 to conduct mechanical repairs to its pool, according to the Ernst report reviewed by Fox News Digital. DOGE’S GREATEST HITS: LOOK BACK AT THE DEPARTMENT’S MOST HIGH-PROFILE CUTS DURING TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS In Sudan, taxpayers spent $24,000 in 2021 for the installation of a pool deck. Sudan has notably been under a State Department do not travel advisory “due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping,” with the embassy in Khartoum suspending operations in 2023 over the ongoing violent conflicts in the nation. Some of the contracts detailed in the report have not been fully paid out, such as a $173,000 award to conduct work on a swimming pool in Indonesia at the embassy in Jakarta. The federal government has previously been criticized for the amount of taxpayer funds spent on U.S. embassies overseas, including spending hefty sums on artwork under the Obama administration, Fox Digital reported at the time. U.S. embassies are primarily funded through congressional appropriations to the U.S. Department of State. Ernst’s report follows months of the Department of Government Efficiency reporting it has saved the federal government billions of dollars amid its ongoing investigations into various federal agencies in search of corruption, overspending and mismanagement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been at the forefront of gutting departments and programs under State’s purview, including shuttering USAID earlier in July for failing to ensure its programs actually supported America’s interests. RUBIO OVERHAULING ‘BLOATED’ STATE DEPARTMENT IN SWEEPING REFORM “This era of government-sanctioned inefficiency has officially come to an end. Under the Trump administration, we will finally have a foreign funding mission in America that prioritizes our national interests. As of July 1st, USAID will officially cease to implement foreign assistance. Foreign assistance programs that align with administration policies – and which advance American interests – will be administered by the State Department, where they will be delivered with more accountability, strategy, and efficiency,” Rubio said in comment regarding shuttering USAID.