Takaichi Victory: Japan's Tax Cuts & Regional Stability at Stake

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi celebrated a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, securing a historic two-thirds majority for her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and promising tax cuts, according to Al Jazeera. The win, which could reshape the region, according to Sky News, saw the LDP secure 316 seats in the 500-member National Assembly, as projected by the NHK broadcaster.

Takaichi, speaking at LDP headquarters on Monday, vowed to keep her cabinet intact, Al Jazeera reported. Sky News noted that this decisive victory was unexpected just months prior and could significantly alter Japan's trajectory. The election results have garnered international attention, with Sky News highlighting that "China is watching."

Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman, leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, unveiled an ambitious election manifesto, Al Jazeera reported. Rahman pledged to quadruple Bangladesh's gross domestic product (GDP) to $2 trillion by 2040 if his party wins the February 12 election. He addressed politicians and diplomats, outlining investment plans in technology and infrastructure.

In other election news, António José Seguro, the Socialist Party candidate, won the Portuguese presidential election runoff with 66.7% of the votes, Euronews reported. He defeated André Ventura of the far-right Chega party, becoming the first president from the socialist camp in 20 years.