Japan's parliament passed legislation on July 17 making violation of the national flag a criminal offence, a flagship right-wing policy of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi; opponents called it an attempt to intimidate dissent and silence criticism of the government.

Support for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's cabinet fell to below 50% in a Jiji Press poll published July 16, the first such slip since she took office, as Japan's parliament entered its final stretch with bond-market pressure complicating the government's growth agenda