While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 28, 2024
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Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had said his target in the election was for the coalition to win a majority.
PHOTO: AFP
Japan ruling coalition projected to lose majority in election
Japan’s ruling coalition has lost its majority after snap elections, Japanese media projected early Oct 28, in what would be a major blow to new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
Ishiba, 67, called Oct 27’s election only days after taking office on October 1, aiming to bolster his position and that of his scandal-hit Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost continuously for seven decades.
But national broadcaster NHK and other media outlets reported in the hours after polls closed that the LDP – in the party’s worst result since 2009 – together with its long-term junior coalition partner Komeito had fallen short of the 233 seats needed for a majority in Japan’s lower house.
Netanyahu says Israel hit Iran hard; Khamenei says damage should not be exaggerated
REUTERS
Israel’s airstrikes “hit hard” Iran’s defences and missile production, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Oct 27, as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country was considering its response.
With warfare raging in Gaza and Lebanon, direct confrontation between Israel and Iran risks spiralling into a regional conflagration. But a day after the airstrikes, there was no sign they would spark another round of escalation.
However, heavy fighting in Lebanon between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah, which sharply intensified over recent weeks, continued on Oct 27 with an Israeli airstrike killing eight people in a residential block in Sidon, medics said.
South Korean delegation to brief Nato on North Korean troops for Russia, alliance says
REUTERS
A high-level delegation from South Korea will brief the North Atlantic Council about North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia on Oct 28, Nato said on Oct 27, after the US expressed grave concern over the possible use of the troops against Ukraine.
“Ambassadors from Nato’s Indo-Pacific partners – including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea – have been invited to attend,” the military alliance added. The North Atlantic Council is Nato’s main decision-making body.
Ukrainian military intelligence said on Oct 24 that about 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, were already in Russia, and training was taking place on five military bases.
Salah strikes late as Liverpool snatch draw at title rivals Arsenal
EPA-EFE
Mohamed Salah rescued Liverpool as the Egypt star’s late equaliser earned a pulsating 2-2 draw against title rivals Arsenal on Oct 27.
Arne Slot’s side were on the brink of only their second defeat this season until Salah netted with nine minutes left at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool had fallen behind to Bukayo Saka’s early opener and, although Virgil van Dijk equalised, Mikel Merino put Arsenal back in front before half-time.
Spurs lacked composure in 1-0 defeat at Palace, says Postecoglou
AFP
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou rued his side’s lack of composure in a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Oct 27, saying the visitors conceded a poor goal after losing the ball near their own box.
Palace claimed their first win of the season when Spurs defender Micky van de Ven slipped in possession as they looked to play the ball out from the back and the home side capitalised to score through Jean-Philippe Mateta.
“We could have dealt with those situations better but it was a poor goal and we should do better at that and not concede like that,” Postecoglou told reporters.
