“I swear to God, for my country, for all Peruvians, I will faithfully exercise the office of President of the Republic,” Jeri declared during his oath ceremony, before delivering his first address as head of state.

In his speech, Jeri placed citizen security at the centre of his administration’s priorities, vowing to take immediate action against the surge in organised crime . “The evil that afflicts us at this moment is citizen insecurity,” he said. “Criminal gangs, criminal organisations — they are our enemies, and we must declare war on crime.”

He also called for unity and renewal, appealing to Peruvians across generations. “From now on, we build the country we should be — the Peru of our dreams, the dreams of our parents and grandparents, and the dreams of our children , of Generation Z, which is rightfully demanding change,” he said.

Jeri’s rise to power followed a Congress vote of 124 in favour of removing Boluarte for “permanent moral incapacity”, a constitutional term frequently invoked in Peru’s recent political crises. Boluarte, who did not attend the session to present her defence, was ousted less than two years after assuming office in December 2022, when she replaced former president Pedro Castillo following his failed attempt to dissolve Congress.

Peru has now seen six presidents in less than a decade, underscoring the deep political instability that has plagued the Andean nation. Jeri, stepping into the presidency amid widespread frustration and insecurity, faces the daunting task of restoring both public trust and political order.

Thailand’s Supreme Court is also set to rule on September whether Thaksin improperly avoided serving an eight-year sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest by staying in a hospital ward instead of a prison cell.

In a statement on Friday, Thaksin said he had initially intended to travel to Singapore but diverted to Dubai because of an airport closure. He added that he would see respiratory and orthopaedic doctors during his stay in the Middle East country, where he had spent 15 years in self-imposed exile.

Though Thaksin pledged to return by Tuesday to face the high court’s decision. 

Whoever emerges as Thailand’s next prime minister will inherit a volatile landscape shaped by the military’s entrenched influence, the civilian government’s tainted record, and border tensions with Cambodia — the issue that ultimately led to Paetongtarn’s dismissal.

The Pheu Thai Party, which has won five of the past six elections, is fighting to reassert itself against Bhumjaithai, a former coalition partner that has gained momentum by securing support from the largest bloc in parliament.

That pledge has put Bhumjaithai’s leader, Anutin Charnvirakul, in a strong position heading into Friday’s parliamentary vote, where he must secure a majority in the lower house to claim the premiership.

In response, Pheu Thai nominated Chaikasem Nitisiri, a 77-year-old former justice minister and attorney general, vowing that if he becomes prime minister, he will call fresh elections immediately.

Purawich Watanasukh, a Thai political science lecturer, previously told Global South World that any new government would most likely be fragile.

“I can foresee that it will be a short-term government (next administration) to pave the way for the new election,” Watanasukh had said. “They will be in power for months, not a year. So, it is likely to be another transitional period.”

“Even when the new election is called. I don't think that it will produce a strong government because the constitution is purposely designed to create a multi-party system and an unstable government where you have a fragmented party system,” he added.

Wu is expected to replace A Kesavadas Nair, whose two-term limit ends this month.

The stunt sparked public backlash and criticism from party officials, prompting an apology from state veterans club chairperson Lee Kong Hing.

"I have no intention to insult women, and I respect women,” Lee said in an interview with Sin Chew Daily. “I used sanitary pads as a tool and hope that everyone does not misinterpret my intention.” 

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke called the act “inappropriate” and “insensitive,” stressing that internal party concerns should be addressed through proper channels.

The stunt also reinforced the stigma on menstruation, especially in a developing country like Malaysia, where poverty is a hindrance to affording menstrual products, said Deputy Communications Minister and Wanita DAP chief Teo Nie Ching.

“Yet, here they are wasting large quantities of sanitary pads just to mock their political rivals," she said. 

Lee explained that he had considered three props and chose sanitary pads for their airtight quality, symbolising what he described as the silence of 19 state DAP committee members on the matter.

"After the incident, some leaders called to express their concern, and a few women also called me. They didn't think the item was harmful to women," he said.

Malaysia is home to 16.9 million women, accounting for 46.7% of its population, according to 2024 World Bank data.

Iran has withdrawn a proposed internet censorship bill after political and public backlash. Introduced after a brief conflict with Israel, the bill aimed to penalise "false" online content but drew criticism for threatening civil liberties and expanding censorship. The move underscores tensions in Iran between national security and digital rights, with critics warning the bill's vague terms could worsen repression in one of the world’s most restrictive online environments.

Iran’s oil exports surge

Despite sanctions and military strikes, Iran’s oil exports soared in the first half of 2025, reaching nearly 1.7 million barrels per day in June, totalling over $3.6 billion in revenue, according to Tankertrackers. This marks a 30–37% increase compared to January 2025 levels, outpacing export figures at the end of the Biden administration. The rise challenges U.S. goals to curb Tehran’s oil revenue, which funds domestic repression and regional threats. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s pledge to cut exports to near zero remains unmet.

Iran slams US sanctions on Indian firms as ‘modern economic imperialism’

Iran's Embassy in India condemned U.S. tariffs on Indian imports and sanctions on six Indian firms trading Iranian petrochemicals, calling it “modern economic imperialism.” Tehran accused Washington of weaponising sanctions to pressure independent nations like Iran and India. The embassy urged resistance to such policies, framing it as support for a stronger Global South. Iran's foreign ministry also called the sanctions a “malicious act” against its economic development.

Iran insists on US compensation before talks

Iran reaffirmed its commitment to uranium enrichment and ruled out resuming nuclear talks unless the U.S. compensates for damages from its recent conflict with Israel, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Financial Times. Araghchi cited deep mistrust of the Trump administration and strong domestic opposition to negotiations. He reiterated Iran’s stance on a peaceful nuclear program, referencing a longstanding fatwa banning nuclear weapons, and confirmed message exchanges with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff during and after the conflict.

Russia voices concern over threat of new strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities

Following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Russia called for renewed dialogue to resolve the nuclear issue. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed concern over further strikes and stressed that a deal with Tehran remains possible through diplomacy. The strikes came during a 12-day Iran-Israel conflict sparked by Israel’s June 13 aerial attack. The violence, which caused casualties on both sides, ended with a ceasefire on June 24. The US joined the conflict, targeting Iranian nuclear sites on June 22.