Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns, the race for succession begins

Today's headlines: Record vacancy rates for flats in major Chinese cities; Afghan earthquake refugees refuse to return to their villages for fear aftershocks;. A building collapses in Indonesia where dozens of women were praying; A forum between Pacific countries begins today to address tensions between the US and China.

JAPAN

Following the announcement of the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, several members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the same party as the Prime Minister, have signalled their willingness to run as successors. According to local media, the party is expected to announce tomorrow the timing and procedures for deciding on the succession to the LDP leadership. Ishiba had been pressured by his own party to resign after the electoral defeat in the local elections in recent months.

CHINA

China continues to face record vacancy rates, even in the most important commercial cities: according to real estate consultancy Savills, at the end of June, Shenzhen had the highest vacancy rate among the country's four first-tier cities, at 30.6%, followed by Shanghai at 23.7%, Guangzhou at 22.6% and Beijing at 19.6%. Since 2020, rents for Class A offices in the four cities have fallen by between 20% and 40%, with the largest decline recorded in Beijing.

AFGHANISTAN

Survivors of the earthquake in Afghanistan are refusing to return to their villages for fear of further aftershocks, and many have vowed to stay along the riverbanks despite the lack of tents and aid to the population needed to cope with the tragedy. According to official figures, the death toll has risen to 2,200 and the number of injured to 3,600. The World Health Organisation has asked the Taliban to lift restrictions on women so that they can travel alone to receive treatment and assistance from female staff.

INDONESIA

At least four people died and dozens were injured yesterday after a building collapsed on the island of Java. About a hundred people, mostly women who had brought their children with them, had gathered for a Koranic recitation in a community hall in the Bogor district of West Java province to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Pacific island leaders kicked off a week-long summit in the Solomon Islands today, during which they are expected to approve a declaration called “Ocean of Peace” in response to growing tensions between the United States and China over the region. Pressure from China to prevent Taiwan from participating in the forum, whose members include Australia, led the Solomon Islands to cancel the participation of two dozen donor partners, including China, Taiwan and the United States. Of the forum's 18 members, three have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, three have defence agreements with the United States and several are French territories. Thirteen of the members have ties to China.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Abu Dhabi has seen a 42% year-on-year increase in registered entities in the first half of 2025, a sign that companies are seeking to strengthen their presence in the Gulf. The Abu Dhabi Global Market also recorded a 42% increase in assets under management since last June, with the financial centre now home to 154 asset managers managing a total of 209 funds.

RUSSIA - FINLAND

Since the beginning of this year, Finland has repatriated 104 Russian citizens whose asylum applications had been rejected, according to the website Vot Tak, based on data from the Finnish police, specifying that checks on Russian immigrants are much longer and more thorough than those from other countries, and 90% are rejected, especially those who justify their request with the attempt to escape military mobilisation in Russia.

ARMENIA - AZERBAIJAN

Since the beginning of this year, Finland has repatriated 104 Russian citizens whose asylum applications had been rejected, according to the website Vot Tak, based on data from the Finnish police, specifying that checks on Russian immigrants are much longer and more thorough than those from other countries, and 90% are rejected, especially those who justify their request with the attempt to escape military mobilisation in Russia.

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