1. Members of Japan’s largest opposition party have chosen Noda Yoshihiko as their new leader. He served as prime minister between 2011 and 2012. The Constitutional Democratic Party held a special convention on Monday in Tokyo to select its leadership. Four candidates ran in the contest. Noda came out ahead in a run-off against former party president Edano Yukio. Diet lawmakers, local assembly and general party members as well as supporters cast votes. Noda said: “I am determined to take over the government. The battle starts today. No matter who the Liberal Democratic Party chooses as its leader on September 27th, a general election will definitely be held before long. So, let’s start preparing for that battle today. From now on, we have ‘no sides.” Let’s unite our party so we can take power.” 2. Major League Baseball superstar Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles dodgers has marked his 53rd homer and 55th stolen base of the season. The Japanese player started as the leadoff designated hitter in Sunday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. Ohtani belted a solo home run at his fifth at bat in the bottom of the ninth inning. This tied the score 5-5. Mookie Betts followed suit with a back-to-back homer, giving the Dodgers a 6-5 win. Ohtani also stole two bases in the game, extending his stolen base record of the season to 55. 3. Seven people are dead in the wake of torrential downpours in Japan’s central Ishikawa Prefecture that have caused rivers to flood and mudslides across the Noto region. Some people living in temporary shelters following the New Year’s Day earthquake are once again facing recovery efforts, this time from flooding.