News Headlines - 01 January 2019

▽8 injured as man rams car into pedestrians in Harajuku in 'retaliation for execution' - Japan Today

Eight people were injured after a man rammed his car into pedestrians on a shopping street in central Tokyo in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.
The police arrested Kazuhiro Kusakabe, 21, on suspicion of attempted murder... Kusakabe told the police he had intended to kill the pedestrians he hit "in retaliation for an execution." It was not immediately clear whether he was referring to a specific execution or the country's system of capital punishment.

▽Manchester Victoria stabbing: police raid suspect's home after 'terror attack' leaves three injured

On New Year's Eve, three people, including a police officer, were stabbed by a man who was heard shouting “Allah” at Victoria station.
British Transport Police (BTP) said a 25-year-old man had been arrested and added there was nothing to suggest a wider threat.

▽Venezuela offers help probing alleged planned attack on Colombia president | Reuters

Venezuela’s government is willing to help investigate a plot to assassinate Colombian President Ivan Duque, in which three Venezuelan nationals arrested in Colombia may be suspects, foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said.

▽Sudanese president orders to form committee to investigate recent protests - Xinhua

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Monday issued a decree to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the recent protests in Sudan, official SUNA news agency reported.
According to the decree, the committee will be chaired by Sudan's Justice Minister Mohamed Ahmed Salim, the report said.
Since Dec. 19, various areas in Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, have witnessed popular protests over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities.

▽Iran TV chief sacked over uncensored Jackie Chan sex scene - BBC News

Iran's state broadcaster, Irib, has sacked the head of a regional TV channel after it broadcast a Jackie Chan film without removing a sex scene.
A video posted online apparently by a viewer on Kish Island showed the Hong Kong martial arts star having sex with a woman in the film Shinjuku Incident.