[Key Points] Ruling party resets opposition ties, eyes liberal alliance - The Korea Herald

• Thailand has implemented a new political amnesty law covering offenses committed over the past two decades. • The law provides legal relief for various political crimes but explicitly excludes "lese majeste" charges, which criminalize insulting the monarchy.

• South Korean President has accepted the resignation of Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho. • The departure follows a period of political tension after the liberal bloc implemented a controversial overhaul of the nation's criminal justice system.

• Japan carried out its first execution under the Takaichi administration, while the government removed the Cool Japan Fund from the budget and placed the post office under review. • South Korea, the United States, and Indonesia all set temperature records in July, though China did not experience a record high.

• The 34th Havana International Book Fair concluded its capital stage with over 95,000 books sold, demonstrating strong reader engagement despite ongoing economic pressures. • Russia served as the guest of honor for this edition, highlighting key cultural and literary ties between the two nations.

• Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman, chairman of the European Parliament's Security and Defense subcommittee, reports that the EU is politically divided over imposing an entry ban on Russian citizens. • The bloc is split geographically, with Scandinavian and Baltic states pushing for a strict EU-wide solution to restrict entry.

• EU member states have failed to reach a consensus on implementing a complete visa ban for Russian citizens. • A divide has emerged between Baltic, Scandinavian, and Dutch states demanding stricter policies, and France, Italy, and Spain, who oppose such restrictions.

• EU member states have failed to reach a consensus on implementing a complete visa ban for Russian citizens. • A divide has emerged between nations like France, Italy, and Spain, who oppose strict restrictions, and the Baltic, Scandinavian, and Dutch governments, who are demanding tougher policies.

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner recently held a private meeting in New York City to explore "potential areas of common ground." • The meeting between the Democratic leader and Donald Trump's son-in-law has drawn attention due to their starkly different political affiliations.

• U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas vacated a Trump administration policy that suspended visa processing for nationals from 75 countries, including Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Somalia. • The ruling stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio exceeded his legal authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by refusing visas to eligible applicants without a legal basis.

• India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. • This high-level diplomatic engagement follows the previous year's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and aims to address ongoing bilateral tensions.

• Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized Donald Trump and the GOP, accusing them of prioritizing billionaire interests, such as those of Mark Zuckerberg, over public health. • Warren claims that Republican policies threaten the healthcare access of approximately 15 million Americans.