Japan Advances Legislation for First Centralized Spy Agency Since WWII with FBI Endorsement

• A federal appeals court ruled that the public interest in recordings of Joe Biden from 2016 and 2017 outweighs his privacy claims, denying his bid to block their release. • The recordings feature Biden discussing his political life and are being sought by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing legal advocacy group.

• Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) has reintroduced three bills designed to increase transparency and curb conflicts of interest within the federal judiciary. • Two of the proposed measures would prohibit Supreme Court justices and lower court judges from overseeing litigation in which they hold a financial interest.

• Donald Trump has vowed to retaliate against Iran by targeting a bridge or power plant every time Tehran strikes ships in the Strait of Hormuz. • Iran has accused the U.S. of using the suspected underground nuclear site at Pickaxe Mountain as a pretext for further military aggression.

• Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat identifies five key warning signs of democratic erosion: electoral manipulation, weaponized government, press intimidation, normalization of extremism, and transfer of power crises. • The analysis draws direct parallels between these indicators and recent political developments in the United States, specifically focusing on the actions of Donald Trump.

• President Daniel Ortega has announced that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, effectively removing any legal mechanism for the opposition to challenge his authority. • This decision comes as Ortega's current term is set to end next year, ensuring his continued grip on power.

• Arizona is conducting its 2026 Governor Primary elections to determine the nominees for the general election. • Republican candidates Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are competing for the GOP nomination to challenge the incumbent.

• President Trump has vowed to hold Iran accountable for the killing of U.S. service members. • Recent fatal shootings by ICE officers have sparked critical inquiries into the agency's recruitment and training protocols.

• Kalshi has launched a "Midterms Hub" providing live US midterm election forecasts, prediction market odds, and comprehensive race analysis. • The platform integrates polling averages from VoteHub, fundraising data from the Federal Election Commission, and historical election results for comparative study.

• Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was detained by police after calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign. • Gandhi demanded the resignation on the grounds that Modi is "destroying the future of India’s youth" during a protest action.

• Heightened tensions in the South China Sea have cast a shadow over the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, increasing the urgency for a formal code of conduct between ASEAN and China. • The high-level diplomatic gathering includes key figures such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

• Protesters from the CJP continued their "cockroach" march from Jantar Mantar toward the Indian parliament following a violent police crackdown on Monday. • The clashes resulted in significant casualties, with at least 60 protesters and 118 police officers reported injured during the unrest.

• On the third day of the 2026 Parliament Monsoon Session, Opposition MPs staged fresh protests demanding an immediate debate on the NEET controversy. • Protesters are calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and condemning police action against CJP protesters in Delhi.