Today’s news: Hezbollah fires (intercepted) missile at Tel Aviv, death toll from Israeli raids rises to 569. Former Prime Minister Noda is appointed leader of the opposition party in Japan. Bangkok begins distributing the 10,000 baht subsidy. Pakistan auctions off its national airline. Galstanyan launches a new protest campaign in Armenia.
CHINA
China claims to have successfully carried out a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean. Beijing authorities said the missile “fell within designated sea areas,” adding that the test launch was “routine” and part of its “annual training.” The description is surprising because the last such test took place in 1980. China’s tests typically take place within the country, and China has in the past conducted intercontinental missile tests in the west, in the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region.
LEBANON-ISRAEL
Hezbollah fired a ballistic missile this morning at the outskirts of Tel Aviv. This is the first time that the Israeli metropolis has been directly targeted by the Lebanese Shiite militia since the outbreak of hostilities almost a year ago. The missile was intercepted by Israeli anti-aircraft systems and there were no injuries. Meanwhile, Israeli raids in Lebanon continue: according to the Ministry of Health in Beirut, the death toll since Monday has risen to 569 people.
JAPAN
The former prime minister Yoshihiko Noda67, was elected chairman of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), Japan’s main opposition party. He defeated the party’s former chairman, Yukio Edano, in the second round. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the ruling party in Tokyo, will hold its primary election on September 27 to replace Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is not seeking re-election. Early elections are expected to be held in Japan at the end of the year.
THAILAND
The Thai government has launched today the first phase of its economic stimulus program, under which some 45 million people will ultimately receive 10,000 baht (about 270 euros) each. The initial phase will distribute the sum among 14.5 million social assistance card holders and disabled people, and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
PAKISTAN
The auction for sale The Pakistani national airline will be shut down on October 1, the head of the National Assembly’s privatisation committee announced. The Islamabad government plans to sell between 51% and 100% of the shares of the company, which is plagued by heavy losses, as part of reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund.
RUSSIA
One of the last representatives of the Dolgani ethnic group, a group of Turkic origin living in the Taimyr province in the Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk, has published a book in the Dolgani language, “Even the Frost Melts,” about the last generation of her people, of which there are just over 7,000 people left, recalling her childhood in the tundra with deer.
ARMENIA
Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the opposition in Armenia, announced the start of a new and intense campaign of protests starting on October 2, “not only to overthrow the government, but as a mission to bring about changes in values and civilization,” addressing the challenges of security, social justice, corruption and Artsakh (the Armenian name for the Nagorno-Karabakh region reconquered by Azerbaijan).
Add Comment