Japan's ultra-conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to significantly increase her power after an exit poll predicted a substantial majority for her coalition in the lower house of parliament, according to Sky News. The poll, conducted on Sunday, February 8, 2026, suggests Takaichi's coalition could win between 302 and 366 of the 465 seats, well above the 233 needed for a majority, as reported by national broadcaster NHK.
This potential victory represents a "landslide so decisive that just a few months ago it would barely have been believed," according to Sky News Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith. The election outcome could have significant implications for the region, with analysts suggesting that "China is watching."
In other international news, a Russian citizen, Lyubomir Korba, was detained in Dubai on suspicion of shooting Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev in Moscow on Friday, February 6, 2026, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced, as reported by Sky News.
Meanwhile, in Iran, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to more than seven additional years in prison after commencing a hunger strike on February 2, 2026, according to her supporters, as reported by Euronews. Her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, confirmed the sentence, which was handed down by a Revolutionary Court in Mashhad on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
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