Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday under Beijing's national security law, while Japan's ultra-conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to consolidate power following a snap election, according to exit polls. Simultaneously, in Bangladesh, the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Shafiqur Rahman, unveiled an ambitious election manifesto.
Lai, a pro-democracy campaigner and British citizen, was found guilty of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. The 78-year-old had denied all charges. The sentence, handed down by a Hong Kong court, concludes a legal saga spanning almost five years, as reported by Al Jazeera and Sky News. His family, lawyer, supporters, and former colleagues have appealed for his release, warning he could die in prison due to health conditions, including heart palpitations and high blood pressure, according to Al Jazeera.
In Japan, Prime Minister Takaichi's coalition is predicted to win between 302 and 366 of the 465 seats in the lower house, surpassing the 233 needed for a majority, according to national broadcaster NHK, as reported by Sky News. This victory could significantly alter the political landscape of Japan and the surrounding region. "China is watching," noted Sky News Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, suggesting potential implications for regional stability.
Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman, the emir of the Jamaat-e-Islami, addressed politicians and diplomats, unveiling a manifesto that included a pledge to quadruple the country's gross domestic product to $2 trillion by 2040 if his party wins the February 12 election, as detailed by Al Jazeera.
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