The Liberal Party won the most seats in Monday’s general election but lost the popular vote, according to preliminary results. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will now lead a minority government (CBC).

While the Liberal Party held support in Quebec and Ontario, it lost in provinces (G&M) such as Alberta, where Trudeau’s government was criticized for delays on the construction of a major oil pipeline. The party is projected to take 157 seats (G&M), while 121 are expected to go to the Conservatives, a jump from the previous election but short of some predictions. Trudeau, who was criticized during the campaign for alleged corruption and for wearing blackface years ago, has pledged to increase emissions taxes, complete the pipeline, and expand pharmaceutical care.

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is among the leaders visiting Tokyo (SCMP) for Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony today, the highest-level South Korean visit since a trade dispute between Seoul and Tokyo escalated in July. 

CFR looks at what to expect from Naruhito.

China: China has surpassed the United States (SCMP) to become the country with the most start-ups valued at more than $1 billion, according to a Shanghai-based research group.

About two thousand U.S. troops have been pulled out of Afghanistan (NYT) over the past year, according to the top U.S. commander there. U.S. negotiations with the Taliban broke down last month.

In Foreign Affairs, Carter Malkasian looks at the risks of U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Nepal: China will give Nepal’s army $21 million in disaster relief (Reuters) over the next few years, Kathmandu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he has been unable to form a governing coalition (Haaretz), two days before a deadline from President Reuven Rivlin to do so. Rivlin is expected to tap former defense official Benny Gantz next to attempt to create a government.

Syria: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Sochi today, as a cease-fire agreement between Turkish and Kurdish forces in northern Syria is set to expire (Al Jazeera).

On the anniversary of a 1964 popular uprising, thousands of demonstrators in Khartoum and other cities called for the political party of ousted President Omar al-Bashir to be disbanded (Sudan Tribune) and voiced support for the country’s transitional government.

South Africa: Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba quit the main opposition Democratic Alliance (Al Jazeera), saying he can no longer reconcile with a group that believes “race is irrelevant in the discussion of inequality and poverty.”

The measures, decided in the UK Parliament while the Northern Irish government has been collapsed, took effect at midnight (BBC).

Eastern Europe: Nine of the world’s ten fastest-shrinking populations (Reuters) are in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, according to the UN Population Fund. The fund’s regional director called on countries to create jobs and improve living conditions for youth.

Protesters took to the streets across Bolivia after election officials announced that President Evo Morales won enough votes to avoid a runoff (NYT). The Organization of American States’ chief election observer said he was “profoundly concerned” by the announcement.

Four pharmaceutical companies agreed to the settlement (WSJ) with two Ohio counties to avoid a trial over their role in opioid-related deaths in the state. The deal could set a precedent for thousands of pending lawsuits nationwide about the opioid crisis. 

This CFR Backgrounder looks at the U.S. opioid epidemic.