International
Shinzo Abe murder suspect: What we know
AFP
The man accused of assassinating Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been arrested and named by police as Tetsuya Yamagami.
Police say the unemployed 41-year-old admits shooting Abe with a homemade gun at a campaign event on Friday, but what else do we know about the suspect so far?
Who is Yamagami?
Yamagami told police he had served in Japan’s navy, the Maritime Self-Defense Force, for three years from 2002.
More recently, he worked at a factory in western Japan for around a year and a half, but quit in May this year, local media reports said.
“His attitude towards work had not been a problem. I’m surprised and shocked,” his former manager at the plant told the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.
Yamagami spoke to police after the attack in a “matter-of-fact” way, according to officers.
Former middle school classmates interviewed by public broadcaster NHK said the suspect had been quiet but not a loner, and was good at both sports and academics.
What could the motive be?
“The suspect stated that he held a grudge against a particular organisation, and that he committed the crime because he believed former prime minister Abe had a connection to it,” police said Friday.
They did not give the name of the organisation in question, but Japanese media said it was a religious group, citing unnamed investigative sources.
NHK and the Mainichi Shimbun said Yamagami’s family had suffered troubles as a result of his mother’s financial donations to the organisation.
Yamagami had originally planned to target the head of the group but then switched focus to Abe, who he believed had promoted the organisation in Japan, Kyodo News reported, also citing anonymous investigative sources.
How was the crime carried out?
Yamagami said he had used a handmade gun to carry out the attack, and images from the scene showed a crude, boxy weapon with two barrels, covered in heavy-duty black tape.
Police searched his home and confiscated “several handmade gun-like items”.
He is suspected of making at least one of the weapons several months ago, Jiji news agency said. Jiji also reported that Yamagami had taken part in live-fire shooting exercises in the Navy.
The officers said Yamagami had found out about Abe’s visit to Nara online.
He is believed to have taken a train to the station where the former prime minister was giving a stump speech.
International
American Airlines sued after woman alleges sexual assault on flight
A woman has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging she was sexually assaulted during a red-eye flight from San Francisco to Dallas last year. According to court documents made public in recent hours, the woman claims airline staff failed to respond to her complaints during the incident.
The alleged assailant, identified as Cherien Abraham, is a Texas man who had previously been reported to the airline for a similar incident involving another female passenger in 2023. The lawsuit states that Abraham “placed his hand on the plaintiff’s thigh, slid it toward her vagina, and touched her genitals.”
In a statement sent to media outlets, American Airlines confirmed it is “working closely with authorities on the investigation.” The company added that “this individual will no longer be allowed to fly with us.”
The plaintiff, Barbara Morgan, was traveling to Dallas to visit her son. She was seated next to Abraham during the flight. After the assault, she attempted to notify flight attendants, but according to her testimony, she received no assistance from the airline staff.
International
Houthis threaten israeli airports, urge airlines to cancel flights
Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Sunday that they will begin targeting Israeli airports and urged international airlines to cancel all flights to the country. The statement came just hours after a missile launched from Yemeni territory struck near Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion, causing panic among passengers.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces will target Israeli airports, particularly the one in Lod, known as Ben Gurion,” said Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree in a statement. He also urged “all international airlines to take this announcement seriously and immediately cancel flights to the enemy’s airport.”
The Houthis have carried out multiple attacks against Israel throughout the war in Gaza in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The missile strike near Ben Gurion International Airport occurred shortly before Israel’s top cabinet ministers were scheduled to vote on whether to escalate military operations in Gaza.
In a related development, Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, announced the military will begin calling up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for possible further action.
International
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Work is accelerating inside the Sistine Chapel as the Vatican prepares for the papal conclave set to begin on Wednesday. The preparations include the installation of a wooden floor, the setup of a stove for burning secret ballots, and the iconic chimney that will signal the election results.
A nearly five-minute video released by the Vatican on Saturday shows technicians assembling scaffolding beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes and laying a false wooden floor, where large tables will be placed to accommodate the 133 cardinals expected to vote.
Elsewhere in the chapel, workers are installing the heavy stove that will be used to burn the ballots. The footage, dated Friday, also shows firefighters climbing the tiled roof to prepare the chimney flue, which will emit either white smoke when a new pope is elected, or black smoke if no decision has been reached.
“This is a key stage for the Catholic Church,” said Silvio Screpanti, deputy director of Vatican infrastructure, on the Vatican’s official website. The stove has been discreetly tested, and in case of any issues, a technician will remain in a nearby technical room with a remote control to manage the stove, which now operates electronically.
A team of five electricians, five technicians, and two florists will remain on-site throughout the conclave. After taking an oath, they will stay within Vatican grounds with no outside contact, including with their families.
Some of these workers have participated in previous conclaves, while younger staff will receive guidance from more experienced colleagues, ensuring a smooth transition for future conclaves.
American Airlines sued after woman alleges sexual assault on flight
Houthis threaten israeli airports, urge airlines to cancel flights
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
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