April 30, Tuesday, 2024

1. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he has no plans for a snap election after the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party took all seas in three by-elections on the weekend. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party did not field a candidate in two of those constituencies, but lost the other in Shimane Prefecture. Kishida said on Tuesday: “The LDP’s political fundraising issue proved to be a major factor during the Shimane election campaign. I am very sorry for the defeat – both to the candidate and to all of the local people who gave him their support.”
2. US President Joe Biden has urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to help secure the release of the hostages being held by Hamas. The White House said the president and the leaders discussed the deal now on the table to secure the release of the hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
3. Hundreds of demonstrators at about 20 universities across the United States have reportedly been arrested as protests against Israeli attacks on :Gaza expand.