Thailand's ruling Bhumjaithai Party took an early lead in the general election, while Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to secure a strong majority in the lower house of parliament, according to preliminary results and exit polls released on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Meanwhile, in Italy, police used tear gas on protesters near a Winter Olympics venue, and in Spain and Portugal, thousands were forced to evacuate due to Storm Marta.
In Thailand, with approximately 30 percent of polling stations reporting, the Bhumjaithai Party, led by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, had a commanding lead, according to partial results released by the country's election commission, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Across the globe in Japan, exit polls indicated a significant victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's coalition. National broadcaster NHK predicted that Takaichi's coalition would win between 302 and 366 of the 465 seats in the lower house, well above the 233 needed for a majority, as reported by Sky News. Al Jazeera also reported that Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was set to win between 274 and 328 seats. With their coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP could potentially secure as many as 366 seats.
In Italy, police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters near a Winter Olympics venue in Milan, as reported by Sky News. The protesters, some of whom wore hoods and scarves, had broken away from a larger demonstration and threw firecrackers, smoke bombs, and bottles at the officers.
Storm Marta continued to batter Spain and Portugal, forcing 11,000 people to evacuate their homes, according to Sky News. A man in his 70s died in Portugal after his car was swept away by floodwaters. Police also found a second body in Malaga, Spain, near where a woman had been swept away by a river.
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