Livni’s political support fades

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s hopes of becoming the second woman to lead her nation suffered a serious setback on Friday when a critical political partner refused to join her in a new ruling coalition.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas Party’s decision makes it more likely that Israel will have to hold snap elections, which could propel Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu back into power. Both Livni and Netanyahu have negotiated with the Palestinians, but Netanyahu is more hawkish, for example insisting that all of Jerusalem must remain in Israeli hands and calling for a pre-emptive attack to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Livni, who recently succeeded Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the ruling Kadima Party, said that she would call for new elections on Sunday if she couldn’t win enough political support.

Kadima holds 29 of the 120 seats in the Israeli parliament, and the center-left Labor Party and its 19 lawmakers have agreed to join Livni. But Shas and its 12 parliamentarians, who were part of Olmert’s ruling coalition, are still holding out.

Taipei, Taiwan

Student dies after eating contest

A student in Taiwan has died right after winning an eating contest at a university campus, apparently choking on Chinese steamed buns filled with cheese and eggs.

Local newspapers Apple Daily and United Daily News say 23-year-old Chen Chun-ing dashed to the bathroom after swallowing two buns in one minute. Other students found him lying on the floor soon afterward.

The papers say Chen was rushed to hospital but failed to respond to resuscitation efforts.