Japan's ruling party secured a supermajority in the lower house of parliament on Sunday, February 9, 2026, marking its biggest electoral victory in seven decades, largely due to the popularity of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Meanwhile, in the United States, lawmakers are calling for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign following the release of Jeffrey Epstein files revealing the extent of his relationship with the late convicted sex offender. Additionally, immigration courts are fast-tracking hearings for Somali asylum claims, and the U.S. mixed doubles curling team is headed to the Olympic gold medal game.
Prime Minister Takaichi's gamble to revive her ruling party paid off, leading to a landslide victory, according to NPR Politics. The win reflects a significant shift in Japanese politics, with the party achieving its most substantial electoral success in its history.
In the United States, the Justice Department's latest release of Epstein files has led to calls for Commerce Secretary Lutnick's resignation. The records, analyzed by the New York Times, revealed regular correspondence and social interactions between Lutnick and Epstein over at least 13 years, contradicting Lutnick's previous claims of severing ties in 2005, according to Time.
Simultaneously, immigration courts have been expediting hearings for Somali asylum claims. Dozens of cases filed by Somali migrants were suddenly rescheduled and recategorized over the weekend, as reported by NPR News.
Also, the U.S. mixed doubles curling team, with Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse, is set to compete for the gold medal after a tense semifinal match against Italy, according to Time. Dropkin's energetic approach to the sport has brought a new dynamic to the Olympic proceedings.
Furthermore, members of Congress who reviewed unredacted Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein discovered evidence of at least six men whose identities were concealed from public view without clear legal justification, according to Time. Lawmakers Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna noted the redactions included a high-ranking foreign government official and other prominent individuals. "There are six men, some of them with their photographs, that have been redacted, and there's no explanation why those people were redacted," Massie stated.
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