North Korea launches ballistic missile ahead of US election
On the morning of November 5, just hours before the US election, North Korea launched a series of short-range ballistic missiles, flying about 400 km east of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea monitored the launch and shared information with Japan and the US.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the launches threatened regional peace and security. North Korea's move was seen as a response to joint US-South Korea-Japan military exercises that took place over the weekend, involving bombers and fighter jets.
Donald Trump wins the US election
Donald Trump has won the 2024 US presidential election, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris conceded defeat and urged her supporters to accept the results.
Mr. Trump also announced that he would not let family members join his government, emphasizing the difficulties his family experienced during his first term.
Republicans not only won back the Senate but also took the lead in the House elections, marking a strong comeback for Mr. Trump and his party.
Israel airstrikes Lebanon, US ceasefire fails
On November 6, Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in Lebanon, killing 40 people and injuring 53 around the city of Baalbek. Other airstrikes also took place south of the capital Beirut, destroying several Hezbollah bases.
Tensions escalated when the Israeli Prime Minister fired his defense minister and Hezbollah leaders said they would only accept indirect negotiations if Israel stopped fighting. A temporary 60-day ceasefire proposed by the US failed, making the situation more serious.
Germany's coalition government collapses
Germany's three-party ruling coalition, consisting of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Freedom Party (FDP) and the Green Party, officially collapsed on November 6 after failed negotiations. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner, leading to the decision to withdraw all FDP members from the government.
The Green Party expressed regret and wanted to continue supporting the minority government. Chancellor Scholz announced that he would hold a confidence vote in January 2025, paving the way for the possibility of early elections if he fails to secure the necessary support.
Another plot to assassinate Donald Trump
On November 8, the US Department of Justice said that a plot to assassinate former President Donald Trump had been thwarted before the 2024 presidential election. Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan citizen residing in Iran, was accused of carrying out the plot at the direction of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Mr Trump was previously assassinated in two other incidents in July and September. Shakeri is on the run, while two other US citizens have also been arrested in connection with the incident. Iran has denied the allegations.
