Briefly

NORWAY

Bow attack appears to be 'act of terror'

Norway's domestic security agency, known by its acronym PST, said on Thursday that a bow-and-arrow attack that killed five people appears to have been an act of terrorism. Police said earlier that a Danish man, 37, suspected of the attack is a Muslim convert who was previously flagged as having been radicalized. Five people were killed－four women and one man－and two others were injured on Wednesday in the southeastern town of Kongsberg, nearly 65 kilometers away from Oslo. Although PST said the national terror threat level remains unchanged and was considered "moderate", the BBC said Norway's Police Directorate had ordered all officers to carry guns. Usually, police officers in the Scandinavian nation do not carry weapons.

LEBANON

Deadly chaos erupts during Beirut rally

Tank deployments and deadly exchanges of fire turned Beirut into a war zone on Thursday after a protest organized by Shiite parties against the lead investigator into last year's devastating port blast turned violent. Heavy fire rang out as ambulances rushed the wounded through the deserted streets, a few blocks from the Palace of Justice, where hundreds of black-clad protesters had gathered moments earlier to demand Tarek Bitar's removal. The judge has in recent days been in the sights of some parties for insisting on subpoenaing top officials in his probe into last year's deadly port blast. According to medics, at least three people were killed and 20 wounded, all of them by gunfire. Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for calm to be restored and warned against attempts to drag Lebanon into violence.

JAPAN

PM dissolves lower house for election

New Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Thursday, paving the way for the Oct 31 elections that will be Japan's first in the pandemic. At stake will be a potential coronavirus resurgence and how Japan will revive its battered economy, and if Kishida's government can leave the shadow of nearly nine years of Abe-Suga rule, which some describe as dominating to the point of muzzling diverse views. Kishida said he is seeking a mandate for his policies after being elected prime minister by parliament only 10 days ago.

THE PHILIPPINES

Tropical storm leaves at least 19 dead

A tropical storm in the Philippines has left at least 19 people dead, said disaster response officials on Thursday. Filipino authorities said they are still investigating a further 11 deaths that may have been caused by the tropical storm Kompasu, which triggered landslides and flash floods as it barreled over the northern tip of the Asia-Pacific islands on Monday. Another 14 people have been reported missing.

Agencies - Xinhua