Takaichi Wins, Hong Kong Tycoon Jailed, Iran Cracks Down

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, riding the wave of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) biggest electoral victory in its 71-year history, is poised to pursue a conservative agenda that she acknowledges could "split public opinion," according to multiple reports. The LDP secured a supermajority in the snap elections for the lower house, solidifying Takaichi's position and setting the stage for significant policy changes.

The election victory, which took place on February 8, 2026, allows Takaichi to advance her political goals. Source 1 and 5 both highlighted the significance of the win, with Takaichi herself marking the names of winning candidates at LDP headquarters in Tokyo.

In other international developments, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that the U.S. has set a June deadline for the war with Russia to end, even as discussions regarding $12 trillion in economic deals between Washington and Moscow are underway, as reported by Source 2.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty under China's national security law, as detailed by Source 3. The 78-year-old activist and publisher received the sentence from a Hong Kong court.

Furthermore, Iran's security forces have expanded their crackdown on dissent, targeting figures within the country's reformist movement, according to reports from Source 4. This follows the suppression of nationwide protests, which resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of detentions.