This week featured national elections in several countries worldwide: incumbent right-wing leaders retained their seats in Japan and Thailand; Bangladesh held an election regarded as the most honest and fair in 17 years; and Portugal elected its first socialist leader in 20 years.
Meanwhile, South Korean intelligence reports indicate that Kim Jong-un is positioning his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor to become North Korea’s fourth-generation supreme leader.
Canada experienced a school shooting resulting in six deaths, leading the Prime Minister to cancel scheduled foreign visits. This tragedy ranks among the deadliest school shootings in the nation's history.
Iran held large marches commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, reaffirming its political identity and stance amid ongoing tensions with Israel and the United States.
Bad Bunny’s all-Spanish performance blending Latin culture at the Super Bowl sparked criticism from the US President, who claimed it did not reflect America’s greatness.
Russia is advancing social media control by blocking WhatsApp due to legal violations, amid allegations that it is pushing users toward state-run platforms.
In Argentina, 1,837 people floated simultaneously on a salt lake attempting to break a world record. Although they did not surpass the existing record, the effort created a memorable spectacle.
This week, the world focused on national elections in multiple countries. In Portugal, António José Seguro won a landslide victory over a right-wing opponent in the presidential runoff on 8 Feb, becoming the country's first socialist head of state in 20 years. In Asia, Sanae Takaichi retained the post of Japan's Prime Minister, with the Liberal Democratic Party increasing its parliamentary seats to two-thirds. Similarly, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul retained power after the general election, with the Bhumjaithai Party winning the most seats amid controversy over the Election Commission's vote counting. Bangladesh held a significant general election considered the most honest and fair in 17 years following large youth protests against authoritarian rule; unofficial counts show the BNP party led by a new generation of leaders won a parliamentary majority for the first time in 20 years.
Some South Korean lawmakers cite recent intelligence reports that Kim Ju-ae, daughter of Kim Jong-un, is being groomed as North Korea's fourth-generation supreme leader. She has increasingly appeared in official state media alongside her father during inspections of weapons development projects. This development could significantly impact the Korean Peninsula’s stability and the country's global role. Although Pyongyang has not officially confirmed this, observers are watching whether Kim Ju-ae will participate in the Workers' Party congress scheduled for late February and if she will receive important positions soon.
Police are investigating a school shooting at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on the afternoon of 10 Feb local time. The attack resulted in six deaths among teachers and students and at least 25 injuries. The 18-year-old suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot at the scene. Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled planned visits to Germany and stated that all Canadians mourn with the affected community during this difficult time. This shooting is among the deadliest in Canadian history and has sparked widespread debate about school safety and gun control in Canada.
Iranians nationwide commemorated the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on 11 Feb, a significant day marking the transformation of the country's power structure and ideology. This year’s events included parades and marches in Tehran and major cities, reflecting pride in the Islamic Republic established in 1979 and support for the current government under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The demonstrations emphasized standing firm amid conflicts with Israel and the United States.
Grammy-winning artist Bad Bunny performed a 14-minute all-Spanish set blending Puerto Rican culture during the Super Bowl Halftime Show on the evening of 8 Feb, concluding with the phrase “God Bless America” and naming countries across the Americas. However, President Donald Trump criticized the performance as failing to reflect America’s greatness and called it one of the worst shows ever. Despite the US having nearly 42 million Spanish speakers—about 13.5% of the population, one of the highest globally—the event illustrates the growing influence of Latin pop music and culture becoming mainstream in the US.
The Kremlin spokesperson confirmed to reporters on 12 Feb that the Russian government is blocking WhatsApp, owned by Meta, following recent restrictions on Telegram, which millions of Russian military and civilians use. The official reason given was legal violations by the platform owner, though no further details were provided. WhatsApp responded by stating that the Russian government is attempting to force citizens to use state-controlled applications instead.
At Lake Mar Chiquita in Argentina, over 1,837 people wearing swimsuits gathered to attempt a Guinness World Record for the most people floating simultaneously in water. The lake is known for its high salinity, making it easier for many to float. Although the current record of 1,941 people set in 2017 at Argentina’s Lake Epecuén remains unbroken, the event created a memorable spectacle for both children and adults participating.
ReferencesReuters,Japan Times,The Guardian,Reuters,Reuters,BBC,Al Jazeera,CNN,CNNandIndia Today
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