Japan’s gov’t loses upper house control, as far-right party makes gains

Japan’s ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house after Sunday’s election, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito falling three seats short of the 50 needed to maintain control. The defeat follows an earlier loss of the lower house and deals another blow to Ishiba’s minority government, which faces pressure amid high‑stakes trade talks with the U.S. The right‑wing populist Sanseito party made significant gains, winning 14 new seats by tapping into public frustration over inflation and immigration, Al‑Jazeera has reported. Ishiba said he would remain in office despite the setback.