September 30, Monday, 2024

1. The new leader of Japan’s main ruling Liberal Democratic Party has officially announced his executive lineup. LDP President Ishiba Shigeru is set to become prime minister on Tuesday. Ishiba has named former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide as the LDP’s vice-president. Aso Tar, who was vice-president, has become the party’s top advisor. Ishiba has appointed Moriyama Hiroshi, the former chairperson of the General Council, as the LDP’s secretary-general. Finance Minister Suzuki Shunichi will become the new General Council chairperson. Former Defense Minister Onodera Itsunori has been appointed chairperson of the Policy Research Council and former Environment Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has become chairperson of the Election Strategy Committee. 2. Japanese opposition parties have agreed to call on the ruling parties for sufficient deliberation on policies of the incoming administration of Ishiba Shigeru before the Lower House is dissolved for a general election. Ishiba is making arrangements to dissolve the Lower House on October 9. Voting in the resultant election is likely to take place on October 27. 3. The head of the interim government in Bangladesh has expressed his determination to quickly advance reform and hold an election. Muhammad Yunus became chief advisor of the interim government after the administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina collapsed in August after 15 years in power, following student protests. Yunus is the founder of Grameen Bank, which extends small unsecured loans to underprivileged people. He and the bank won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.