Executive Summary Ishiba Shigeru, the prime minister, had declared that if the Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito won a majority, or at least 233 seats, he would declare the election a success. However, the coalition failed, with Komeito gaining 24 and the LDP obtaining 191. 53.85 percent of voters cast ballots in Sunday’s…

Executive Summary: This report assesses the ongoing political unrest in Pakistan, marked by large-scale protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The protests, spearheaded by Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have led to violent clashes with security forces in major cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The government’s crackdown has intensified, with…

Overview With the expiration of the current labor agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. port operators on September 30, 2024, the prospect of 45,000 dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts going on strike on October 1 appears increasingly likely. Contract negotiations have stalled, with the ILA demanding a 70% wage…

Situational overview Current Status: Volkswagen is currently experiencing significant operational challenges in Germany. The company is considering closing several of its 10 assembly and parts plants due to increasing production costs, heightened competition from Chinese and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, and declining demand in the European market. Layoffs are expected, and unions are gearing up…