North and South Korea fire missiles off each other's coasts for first time - bbc.co.uk

YONHAP/REUTERS

By Frances Mao in Singapore & Jean Mackenzie in Seoul

BBC News

North and South Korea have both fired missiles landing in waters off each other's coasts for the first time.

Seoul retaliated on Wednesday three hours after Pyongyang launched a missile that landed less than 60km (37mi) off the South's city of Sokcho.

The South's military said this was an "unacceptable" breach of its territory.

It fired three air-to-ground missiles in response, which officials said landed a similar distance past the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

The demarcation line marks the rough midway-point in the sea between North and South Korea, but the North has never accepted the boundary.

On Tuesday North Korea warned that South Korea and the US would pay "the most horrible price in history" if they continued joint military drills, seen as a veiled threat to use nuclear weapons.

The North is expected to resume nuclear weapons testing soon after a five-year break, with US and South Korean intelligence saying Pyongyang has completed all the necessary preparations.

• Why is Kim Jong-un upping the pressure?

The tit-for-tat missile launches come during a period of national mourning in South Korea, following the crowd crush in Seoul at the weekend which killed more than 150 people.

North Korea fired at least 10 missiles in both east and west directions on Wednesday, South Korean officials say.

At least one of the North Korean missiles - launched before 09:00 (00:00 GMT) on Wednesday - landed about 26km south of the border, 57km east of Sokcho and 167km north-west of Ulleung island.

It triggered air-raid sirens on Ulleung, where residents were told to evacuate to underground shelters.

The launch was picked up immediately by South Korean and Japanese authorities who swiftly condemned the escalation from Pyongyang.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol labelled it an "effective territorial invasion", although the missile landed outside South Korean territorial waters, and vowed a "swift and firm response".

Under international law, countries can only establish territorial claim to 12 nautical miles of sea bordering their land. Mr Yoon has made it his policy to take a tough line on North Korea.

Around three hours later, the South fired three precision air-to-ground missiles from warplanes into waters off North Korea's east coast.

The firings are a marked escalation in hostilities across the peninsula this year, which has already witnessed over 50 missile launches from North Korea - including one ballistic missile that passed over Japan.

On Monday a US nuclear-powered submarine arrived off the coast of South Korea as part of the joint US-South Korean drills, which began in August.

• Wargaming a North Korean attack

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiLmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLWFzaWEtNjM0ODExODPSATJodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hc2lhLTYzNDgxMTgzLmFtcA?oc=5

2022-11-02 06:19:07Z
1622275830

Israel elections: Benjamin Netanyahu set for dramatic comeback, exit polls say - bbc.com

Shutterstock

By Raffi Berg

BBC News Online Middle East editor, Jerusalem

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course for victory in the country's general election, exit polls say.

The projections give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his centre-left opponents led by current Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power.

"We are close to a big victory," he told jubilant supporters in Jerusalem.

The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return.

The exit polls suggest his bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament).

With just over 70% of the votes cast on Tuesday counted, it was projected to pick up as many as 67 seats. However, that is expected to change as the remaining ballots are processed.

In order to secure a parliamentary majority, Mr Netanyahu and his Likud party will be dependent on the support of the far-right, ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism party.

Its leaders have gained notoriety for using anti-Arab rhetoric and advocating the deportation of "disloyal" politicians or civilians.

• Far right advance in polls as Israel election looms

Mr Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, appeared at his Likud party's election night venue at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Wednesday to thunderous applause.

"We have won a huge vote of confidence from the people of Israel," he told his cheering supporters.

Since the exit polls were announced hours earlier when voting ended, the room had been a scene of celebration as people jumped up and down, waved flags and chanted Netanyahu's nickname, Bibi. One man repeatedly blew a shofar, or ram's horn, a ritual instrument used by some Jewish people at times of special significance.

At his party's camp in Tel Aviv however, Prime Minister Lapid told his supporters that "nothing" was yet decided and his centre-left Yesh Atid party would wait for the final results.

Getty Images

Mr Netanyahu, 73, is one of Israel's most controversial political figures, loathed by many on the centre and left but adored by Likud's grassroots supporters.

He is a firm supporter of Israel's settlement-building in the West Bank, occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. Settlements there are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - a formula supported by most of the international community, including the Biden administration in the US.

Mr Netanyahu is also currently on trial for alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust - charges he fiercely denies. His possible partners in a Likud-led coalition government have said they would reform the law, in a move which would bring a halt to his trial.

According to the exit polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties.

Yesh Atid, which led the coalition which brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 22-24 seats.

Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party.

"It will be better now," said Religious Zionism supporter, Julian, at the party's venue in Jerusalem.

"When [Religious Zionism politician Itamar Ben-Gvir] will be minister of public security, it will be even better - he'll bring back security to the people of Israel. That's very important."

However, political scientist Gayil Talshir, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, warned that if the exit polls "reflect the real results, Israel is on its way to become Orban's Hungary", recently branded an "electoral autocracy" by the EU.

If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock.

It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, whose political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021, with the uniting aim of making it impossible for Mr Netanyahu to form a government.

At the time, Mr Netanyahu vowed to bring it down as quickly as possible and one year later the coalition government concluded it could not survive and collapsed after resignations meant it no longer had a majority.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNC5hbXA?oc=5

2022-11-02 07:39:52Z
1628475326

Israel elections: Netanyahu in lead, exit polls say - BBC

By Raffi Berg

BBC News Online Middle East editor, Jerusalem

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course for victory in Tuesday's elections, according to exit polls.

The polls, which forecast the outcome before official results, give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his opponents.

Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power.

The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return.

Official results, which could still produce a different outcome, are expected in the coming hours.

As the polls were announced at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) upbeat music burst from loud speakers at the central venue of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party in Jerusalem.

"It's a good start," said Mr Netanyahu in a video broadcast by Israel's Kan 11 channel.

Getty Images

Mr Netanyahu, 73, is one of Israel's most controversial political figures, loathed by many on the centre and left but adored by Likud's grassroots supporters.

He is a firm supporter of Israel's settlement-building project in the West Bank, occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. Settlements there are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - a formula supported by most of the international community, including the Biden administration in the US.

Mr Netanyahu is also currently on trial for alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust - charges he fiercely denies. His possible partners in a Likud-led coalition government have said they would reform the law, in a move which would bring a halt to his trial.

Israel TV exit polls suggest Mr Netanyahu's bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat knesset (parliament).

"It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] as the prime minister," said 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler, from Jerusalem.

"But as it's been in the past three years, nothing is sure until the coalition is set up," he cautioned.

According to the polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties.

The centre-left party of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 22-24 seats.

Likud's ultra-nationalist ally Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party. Its leaders have gained notoriety for using anti-Arab rhetoric and advocating the deportation of "disloyal" politicians or civilians.

"It will be better now," said Religious Zionism supporter, Julian, at the party's venue in Jerusalem. "When [Religious Zionism politician Itamar Ben-Gvir] will be minister of public security, it will be even better - he'll bring back security to the people of Israel. That's very important."

However, political scientist Gayil Talshir, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, warned that if the exit polls "reflect the real results, Israel is on its way to become Orban's Hungary", recently branded an "electoral autocracy" by the EU.

If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock.

It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, whose political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021.

At the time, Mr Netanyahu vowed to bring it down as quickly as possible. He engineered its collapse after just 12 months.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNC5hbXA?oc=5

2022-11-01 23:20:20Z
CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNC5hbXA

Israel elections: Netanyahu in lead, exit polls say - BBC

By Raffi Berg

BBC News Online Middle East editor, Jerusalem

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course for victory in Tuesday's elections, according to exit polls.

The polls, which forecast the outcome before official results, give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his opponents.

Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power.

The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return.

Official results, which could still produce a different outcome, are expected in the coming hours.

As the polls were announced at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) upbeat music burst from loud speakers at the central venue of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party in Jerusalem.

"It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] as the prime minister," said 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler, from Jerusalem.

"But as it's been in the past three years, nothing it sure until the coalition is set up," he cautioned.

Getty Images

Mr Netanyahu, 73, is one of Israel's most controversial political figures, loathed by many on the centre and left but adored by Likud's grassroots supporters. He is a firm supporter of Israel's settlement-building project in the West Bank, occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. Settlements there are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - a formula supported by most of the international community, including the Biden administration in the US.

Mr Netanyahu is also currently on trial for alleged corruption, fraud and breach of trust - charges he fiercely denies. His possible partners in a Likud-led coalition government have said they would reform the law, in a move which would bring a halt to his trial.

Israel TV exit polls suggest Mr Netanyahu's bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat knesset (parliament).

According to the polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties.

Likud's ultranationalist ally Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party.

The centre-left party of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 24 seats.

If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock.

It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, who's political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021.

At the time, Mr Netanyahu vowed to bring it down as quickly as possible. He engineered its collapse after just 12 months.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiM2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNNIBN2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC02MzQ1OTgyNC5hbXA?oc=5

2022-11-01 21:15:18Z
1628475326

Netanyahu in lead, Israel election exit polls say - BBC

By Raffi Berg

BBC News Online Middle East editor, Jerusalem

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be on course for victory in Tuesday's elections, according to exit polls.

The polls, which forecast the outcome before official results, give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his opponents.

Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power.

The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return.

Official results, which could still produce a different outcome, are expected in the coming hours.

As the polls were announced at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) upbeat music burst from loud speakers at the central venue of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party in Jerusalem.

"It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] as the prime minister," said 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler, from Jerusalem.

"But as it's been in the past three years, nothing it sure until the coalition is set up," he cautioned.

Getty Images

Israel TV exit polls suggest Mr Netanyahu's bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat knesset (parliament).

According to the polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties.

Likud's ultranationalist ally Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party.

The centre-left party of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 24 seats.

If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock.

It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, who's political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021.

At the time, Mr Netanyahu vowed to do everything in his power to bring it down. He engineered its collapse after just 12 months.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiNWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3dvcmxkLW1pZGRsZS1lYXN0LTYzNDU5ODI00gE5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3Mvd29ybGQtbWlkZGxlLWVhc3QtNjM0NTk4MjQuYW1w?oc=5

2022-11-01 20:53:24Z
1628475326

Brazilian truckers protest Lula's victory as Bolsonaro remains silent - Financial Times

Truckers blocked highways at more than 300 points across Brazil to protest at leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in Sunday’s presidential election, as concern lingered over incumbent president Jair Bolsonaro’s failure to recognise his defeat.

More than 24 hours after election officials declared that Lula had won the contest by a narrow margin of 1.8 percentage points, the hard-right president was ignoring appeals by allies to concede and had not appeared in public or made a statement.

Alexandre de Moraes, Brazil’s top electoral official, ordered highway police late on Monday to “take all necessary measures” to clear the truckers’ blockades, which were disrupting traffic in more than 300 points around the country. He threatened to imprison the force’s chief if he did not obey.

Truckers represent a critical group of supporters for Bolsonaro and have benefited from lower fuel costs under his government. There was no sign that other groups were joining the protests and most of the country remained quiet after the election.

Financial markets traded cautiously on Monday, with the Bovespa stock index closing up 1.3 per cent and the Brazilian real firmer against the dollar, as investors waited for clearer signals from veteran leftist Lula on economic policy and from Bolsonaro on his political intentions.

While world leaders including US president Joe Biden sent their congratulations to Lula, his defeated rival spent election night and the following day in silence in Brasília after losing by just 1.8 percentage points, with news reports saying he was struggling to accept his defeat and had refused to receive even close aides.

The social media accounts of the president, a former army captain, and his three politician sons were uncharacteristically quiet apart from a solitary post on Monday by Flavio Bolsonaro, a senator, on Twitter thanking supporters and adding: “Let’s raise our heads and let’s not give up on our Brazil! God in charge!”

Andre Perfeito of brokerage Necton said: “We need to see what Bolsonaro is going to do. We need the president to say something.”

Bolsonaro’s communications minister, Fábio Faria, told the Reuters news agency that the president would not speak until Tuesday.

Sunday’s result marked a dramatic comeback for Lula, who was president for two terms between 2003 and 2010 but subsequently accused of corruption. He served time in prison before his convictions were annulled.

Investors were also waiting to see who Lula would pick for the crucial roles of finance minister and chief of staff, with former health minister Alexandre Padilha and Fernando Haddad, the ex-mayor of São Paulo, said to be in the running.

Lula’s win followed a campaign marred by an avalanche of fake news and mudslinging, prompting frequent interventions from the supreme court and top electoral authority and sparking fears of post-electoral conflict.

Arthur Lira, speaker of the lower house of Congress and one of the few Bolsonaro allies to comment publicly, said it was “time to disarm the passions and reach out to opponents”.

Lula’s victory was warmly received by global leaders, who will welcome Brazil’s return to multilateralism after the diplomatic isolation of the Bolsonaro years.

As well as Biden, president Emmanuel Macron of France and Chinese leader Xi Jinping were quick to congratulate Lula. Biden telephoned Lula on Monday to discuss future co-operation and highlighted in a statement that Brazil’s elections had been “free, fair and credible”. Russian president Vladimir Putin also sent his congratulations. Russia is a big fertiliser supplier to Brazil.

Lula’s win will bring to an end four years of hard-right populism and nationalism under Bolsonaro. It is the latest in a string of races that have turfed out incumbents across Latin America, returning mainly leftwing leaders.

The victory has also raised hopes of an end to illegal deforestation in the Amazon. Lula has pledged to halt the practice following a surge in destruction of the earth’s largest rainforest under Bolsonaro.

Lula won 50.9 per cent of the vote versus 49.1 for Bolsonaro after edging ahead during a cliffhanger three-hour count. He faces huge challenges.

Brazil’s economy is set to slow sharply next year and government finances have been strained by a pre-election spending splurge from Bolsonaro, who succeeded in circumventing a constitutional cap on public spending to try to win re-election.

Global economic headwinds and weaker growth in China, Brazil’s biggest trading partner, will complicate Lula’s challenges in delivering on ambitious promises to boost spending on welfare, health and education. Investors have raised concerns about his refusal so far to commit to firm targets on budget discipline or to detail how he would fund his pledges.

Video: Brazil: a nation divided | FT Film

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiP2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmZ0LmNvbS9jb250ZW50L2RlZWMxZDM3LTM4Y2UtNDBiOC04MjBiLTExYTRhMDcyZGRiMdIBAA?oc=5

2022-11-01 02:52:11Z
1626826790

Itaewon crush: South Korea police admit response was inadequate - BBC

Reuters

By Tessa Wong

BBC News, Seoul

South Korea's police chief has said crowd control during the Itaewon crush was "inadequate" - the first acknowledgement from officials that they did not do enough to prevent it.

Amid growing calls for accountability, Yoon Hee-keun said police response was "disappointing" and that he felt "limitless responsibility about public safety" over what happened.

He vowed a full investigation.

The deadly incident killed 155 people and injured 152 others.

It happened on Saturday night as crowds gathered in an alley in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, to celebrate Halloween without restrictions for the first time since Covid.

Mr Yoon said police had received numerous calls before the accident happened, alerting them to the seriousness of the situation, but their response was lacking. Seoul police said the first call to South Korea's emergency number came at 18:34 local time and there were 10 more calls over the next three-and-a-half hours.

The police chief said the police would conduct a "speedy and rigorous intensive investigation" to see if proper action was taken after receiving the calls, and if officers had reacted appropriately.

Mr Yoon's comments follow growing public demands for accountability. Authorities initially sought to portray it as an accident which could not be easily blamed on anyone.

The police earlier said they deployed more officers for this year's Halloween festivities than they did for pre-Covid parties. One congressman on Tuesday also pointed out that because there was no main organiser for the party, there had been no special requests made to the police for crowd control and safety management.

"It's impossible to ask for legal responsibility, as nobody was responsible," said Yoo Sang-bum, who is with the ruling People's Power Party, on local radio.

But President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Tuesday the incident revealed the importance of crowd management and a lack of research in South Korea on the subject.

"Rather than nitpicking about whether the event had an organiser or not, it's the people's safety that's important, and we need to come up with thorough measures," he said, while suggesting the use of drones and other digital capabilities to manage crowds in future events.

President Yoon had been facing mounting political pressure and plummeting ratings even before the incident. Police have said that on Saturday night they had to redirect some of their resources to manage huge protests against the government elsewhere in the city.

• Five friends went to Itaewon; only two came home
• Tributes paid to South Korea Halloween crush dead
• How the Seoul Halloween tragedy unfolded

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiIWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy82MzQ2NzIwMNIBJWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy82MzQ2NzIwMC5hbXA?oc=5

2022-11-01 05:09:53Z
1632462040