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Japan’s “Iron Lady” Sanae Takaichi Secures Stunning Election Victory

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Japan’s “Iron Lady” Sanae Takaichi Secures Stunning Election Victory

Tokyo, Japan — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi led her ruling coalition to a landslide victory in Sunday’s general election, securing a powerful mandate that clears the way for tax cuts and higher military spending aimed at countering China, policies that have already unsettled financial markets.

Projections showed Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party winning up to 328 of the 465 seats in the lower house of parliament. The LDP alone crossed the 233-seat threshold needed for a majority less than two hours after polls closed. With coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), the ruling bloc is set to command a supermajority, according to projections by public broadcaster NHK.

RELATED NEWS : Thailand PM Anutin Charnvirakul strengthens grip on power with landslide election victory

A conservative who says she is inspired by Britain’s “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is Japan’s first female prime minister. Her decisive win follows months of political turbulence under her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, during which the LDP lost control of both houses of parliament.

Outside a polling station in Uonuma, a snowbound town in Niigata prefecture, voter Kazushige Cho, 54, said Takaichi had given the country a renewed sense of direction. “It feels like the whole country is pulling together and moving forward,” he said.

Markets have reacted nervously to Takaichi’s campaign pledge to suspend the 8% sales tax on food to help households cope with rising prices. Investors remain concerned about how Japan, which carries the heaviest debt burden among advanced economies, would fund the measure. Takaichi has said she will speed up consideration of the tax cut while keeping fiscal sustainability in focus.

Chris Scicluna, head of research at Daiwa Capital Markets Europe, said the plan leaves “big question marks about funding and how the arithmetic will add up.”

Japan’s top business lobby, Keidanren, welcomed the election result, with chairman Yoshinobu Tsutsui saying the outcome restored political stability at a critical moment for the economy.

Takaichi’s strong mandate is also expected to have significant geopolitical implications. U.S. President Donald Trump last week gave her a “total endorsement” and said he would host her at the White House next month.

China is also closely watching the outcome. Weeks after taking office, Takaichi triggered Japan’s most serious dispute with Beijing in more than a decade by publicly outlining how Tokyo might respond to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China responded with economic countermeasures, including discouraging its citizens from traveling to Japan.

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Sunday that he wants to push ahead with policies to strengthen Japan’s defences while continuing dialogue with China.

“Beijing will not welcome Takaichi’s victory,” said David Boling, principal at the Asia Group. “China now faces the reality that she is firmly in place — and that efforts to isolate her have failed.”

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Thailand PM Anutin Charnvirakul strengthens grip on power with landslide election victory

Diplomat Times
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Thailand PM Anutin Charnvirakul strengthens grip on power with landslide election victory

Bangkok, Thailand — Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul secured a decisive victory in Sunday’s general election, with his Bhumjaithai Party emerging as the largest force in parliament, raising hopes of a more stable governing coalition after years of political uncertainty.

The snap election was called in mid-December amid a border dispute with Cambodia, a move analysts said was timed to capitalise on a surge in nationalist sentiment. The strategy appears to have paid off for Anutin, who took office after former premier Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party was ousted over the crisis, before dissolving parliament less than 100 days later.

RELATED NEWS : Thailand prepares to vote in elections framed by continuity or reform

“With more than 90% of polling stations reporting, it’s clear we will have the most seats,” Anutin said while addressing reporters. “Bhumjaithai’s victory is a victory for all Thai people, whether they voted for us or not. We will do our utmost to serve the nation.”

Preliminary results released by the Election Commission showed Bhumjaithai holding a comfortable lead over the progressive People’s Party in second place, followed by the once-dominant Pheu Thai Party.

When he dissolved parliament, Anutin cited dysfunction and infighting among rival parties that made it impossible to govern effectively with a minority administration. Sunday’s outcome marks a dramatic turnaround for Bhumjaithai, which was not a leading contender in the 2019 and 2023 elections, when it won 51 and 71 seats respectively.

Thailand’s 500-member House of Representatives is elected through a mixed system, with 400 constituency seats decided by first-past-the-post voting and 100 party-list seats allocated according to each party’s share of the national vote.

Anutin said the results sent a “clear signal” from voters for Bhumjaithai to govern, adding that the party accepted the mandate under Thailand’s democratic system with the king as head of state. “This is the people’s win — all of them,” he said.

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Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been flown to Moscow from Dubai

Diplomat Times
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Russia says man suspected of shooting top general has been flown to Moscow from Dubai

Moscow, Russia – A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia’s most senior military intelligence officers, Russian security officials and investigators said on Sunday.
Lieutenant General Vladimir Alexeyev, deputy head of Russia’s vast GRU military intelligence service, was shot three times on Friday with a Makarov pistol equipped with a silencer in an apartment block on the Volokolamsk highway in northern Moscow, according to investigators.

Alexeyev, 64, was rushed to hospital and underwent surgery. His wife told a Russian war blogger on Sunday that Alexeyev had regained consciousness and was able to talk.
The Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, said in a statement that a Russian citizen named Lyubomir Korba was detained in Dubai on suspicion of carrying out the shooting.

Russian investigators said Korba, born in the Ternopil region of Soviet Ukraine in 1960, was tasked by Ukrainian intelligence to carry out the shooting. Russia said Ukraine was behind the shooting but Kyiv has denied involvement.

Russian media showed masked FSB officers escorting a blindfolded man from a small jet in Russia in the dark.
The FSB said it had identified two accomplices, also Russian citizens. One, Viktor Vasin, was detained in Moscow, while another, Zinaida Serebritskaya, escaped to Ukraine, Russian investigators said.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify the details of the suspects. President Vladimir Putin thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of the United Arab Emirates, for his help in detaining the suspect, Russia’s foreign ministry said.
The UAE did not release details about how Korba was detained.

SHADOW WAR

The shooting of such a senior Russian intelligence official just 12 km (7 miles) north of the Kremlin has underscored the vulnerability of top Russian generals involved in executing the war in Ukraine.

Some in Russia have questioned how Alexeyev could be tracked in such a location and why he was not guarded better.
The head of the GRU, Admiral Igor Kostyukov, has been leading Russia’s delegation in negotiations with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on security-related aspects of a potential peace deal.

Behind the front lines of the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two, Russia and Ukraine’s military intelligence agencies have fought a shadow “hybrid” war involving cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, strikes at strategic infrastructure, and killings.

Since December 2024, three other officials of the same rank as Alexeyev have been killed in or near Moscow.
Since the start of the war in 2022, Ukrainian military intelligence has claimed responsibility for assassinating several senior Russian officers, some of whom have appeared on a public list of Ukraine’s enemies.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha told Reuters on Friday that Ukraine had nothing to do with Alexeyev’s shooting.
“We don’t know what happened with that particular general – maybe it was their own internal Russian in-fighting,” he said.

‘SERIOUS BLOW’

The GRU, like the FSB, is a vast and powerful Russian intelligence agency that includes sleeper agents abroad, special forces units and advanced cyber capabilities.
Jailed Russian nationalist Igor Girkin, who has repeatedly scolded Russian generals for what he says the shambolic prosecution of the war, praised Alexeyev’s energy and courage but said the attack was a significant setback.
“This is a serious blow to our special services,” Girkin, himself a former FSB officer, said on Telegram.
Alexeyev came to national prominence in June 2023 when he was shown trying to calm down Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, during a failed mutiny.

In a video, Alexeyev listened as Prigozhin said he had come to take then-Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov.
“Take them then,” Alexeyev said with a chuckle.
The mutiny fizzled and Prigozhin died in a plane crash two months later.

SOURCE : REUTERS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over Bihar’s ‘Nirbhaya’, questioning the probe into the NEET student’s death

Ahsan Ansari
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Protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over Bihar’s ‘Nirbhaya’, questioning the probe into the NEET student’s death

New Delhi, India — The death of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant from Jehanabad district of Bihar has sparked protests in the national capital, with demonstrators gathering at Jantar Mantar on Sunday over the alleged rape and murder of the student in Patna.

Students’ groups, social activists, and supporters from across Bihar joined the protest, demanding justice for what they called the “Nirbhaya of Bihar.” Protesters questioned the investigation carried out by the Patna Police and the Bihar STF, asserting that the case was being wrongly portrayed as a suicide. They unanimously declared it a heinous crime and sought strict action against those responsible.

RELATED NEWS : All India Christian Social Welfare Association Protests in Delhi Over Demands

Demonstrators pointed out that the victim was a minor protected under the POCSO Act, alleging that attempts were made from the outset to suppress and divert the case. Serious questions were raised about the roles of hostel management, private hospitals, and local police. Among the concerns cited were the recording of the victim’s age as 18 in the FIR, delays in informing her parents, shifting her to private hospitals instead of a government facility, failure to seal the crime scene, and the alleged disregard of her dying statement: “Something terrible has happened to me.”

Protesters said the post-mortem report noted multiple external and internal injuries, suggesting physical violence and possible sexual assault, while forensic findings reportedly detected semen on the victim’s clothes, undermining the suicide theory. Speakers expressed dissatisfaction with both the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Central Bureau of Investigation, calling for a time-bound, independent probe under public scrutiny.

Social activist Zaid Khan alleged that the arrest of Pappu Yadav, who had raised the issue from the streets to Parliament, signaled efforts to shield the culprits. Protesters said Bihar stands with the victim’s family and vowed to continue the fight for justice.

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Dalai Lama rejects Epstein links after name appears in US court files

Diplomat Times
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Dalai Lama rejects Epstein links after name appears in US court files

New Delhi, India – The Dalai Lama’s office on Sunday categorically denied any connection between the Tibetan spiritual leader and the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, after newly declassified American court records contained repeated references to his name.

“Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the ‘Epstein files’ are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein,” the Dalai Lama office said in a statement.

“We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf.”

The clarification from the office of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, follows the release of US federal documents in which members of his administrative circle are mentioned more than 150 times, according to an EFE review.

The declassified files indicate that in 2012 a budget of $1 million was allocated to renovate a residence intended to host the Dalai Lama and an entourage of 15 people for a two-week stay.

In an Oct. 21, 2012 email, Epstein wrote that he was going to attend an event on an unnamed island, which the Dalai Lama would attend.

“Yes. First step would be to meet Tenzin. His student who runs the Dalai Lama center and is now a Director’s Fellow at the Lab and going to start the ‘ethics initiative’ at the Media Lab,” reads another email sent to Epstein on May 10, 2015.

“We’re working on some cool things like a meeting about cognitive machines and man. I think you’ll probably like him. He can get us the Dalai Lama.”

The documents also reference the use of Epstein’s private aircraft network for travel related to the Tibetan leader that same year, as well as events in which the financier expressed his intention to meet him.

An email sent by Epstein in October 2012 underscores his personal involvement in the logistics.

In later correspondence, dated 2015, Epstein claimed he was “working” to attract Nobel Peace Prize recipients to private dinners and told partners that his academic contacts could “get the Dalai Lama.”

However, EFE has verified that more than 130 of the references in the documents are generic mentions, including press articles, Buddhist teachings, or lists of prominent international figures compiled by Epstein, rather than evidence of direct contact. 

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Thailand prepares to vote in elections framed by continuity or reform

Diplomat Times
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Thailand prepares to vote in elections framed by continuity or reform

Bangkok, Thailand – Thailand heads to the polls on Sunday in snap elections dominated by a choice between political continuity and reform.

The conservative Bhumjaithai Party (BJT) and the reformist People’s Party (PP) have emerged as frontrunners in the vote that coincides with a referendum on revising the constitution enacted under the former military junta (2014–2019).

Opinion polls suggest the People’s Party is on track to secure the largest share of seats, followed by Bhumjaithai, led by interim Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

However, neither party is expected to win an outright majority in the House of Representatives, making post-election coalition negotiations inevitable.

In a country where the military and the monarchy have long exerted decisive influence, the People’s Party has moderated its rhetoric on sensitive issues to avoid the judicial pressure that led to the dissolution of its predecessor, Move Forward (Avanzar), over proposals to reform the lèse-majesté law protecting the monarchy.

A renewed opening for reformists

In the 2023 elections, Move Forward stunned observers by winning the most votes, only to be blocked from forming a government by the conservative Senate, then appointed by the military and empowered to vote for the prime minister.

That dynamic has since changed.

A new Senate, selected through an indirect process in June 2024, no longer participates in choosing the head of government, a shift that could ease a reformist path to power.

The People’s Party closed its campaign on Friday at a packed sports arena in Bangkok, ahead of the legally mandated reflection period on Saturday, when political events and alcohol sales are banned.

“Thailand faces very serious structural problems, and the People’s Party is the only party willing to question them,” said Kokin, a 30-year-old voter, while Pinda, 38, said the reformists are “the only ones who speak directly to the working class.”

The conservative alternative

The elections were called by Anutin after four months leading a minority government, which he formed with the backing of the People’s Party under a commitment to hold early polls.

Anutin assumed office following the removal of two prime ministers from the Pheu Thai party, Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who were ousted in 2024 and 2025 respectively in separate, controversial rulings by the Constitutional Court.

Throughout the campaign, Anutin has leaned heavily on patriotic rhetoric, against the backdrop of renewed tensions with Cambodia over a long-standing border dispute.

Two rounds of border clashes in 2025 left around 100 people dead.

Once a regional force and political kingmaker, Bhumjaithai has expanded its national reach by absorbing influential local political clans, strengthening its electoral prospects.

“Anutin has positioned BJT as the only stable conservative option without the stigma of the 2014 coup leaders,” said Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun of Kyoto University.

A decisive constitutional vote

Sunday’s elections are further magnified by a parallel referendum asking voters whether Thailand should draft a new constitution, replacing the charter approved in 2017 under military rule.

For the People’s Party, a strong “yes” vote, anticipated by polls, would provide momentum to dismantle judicial mechanisms frequently used to constrain civilian governments.

Conservatives, by contrast, view the referendum as a threat to the system of oversight entrenched since the 2014 coup.

For many voters, the referendum represents the true choice: a decisive step toward full democracy or the continuation of Thailand’s hybrid political order.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

India–US trade deal grants Tariff-Free entry to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, No relief for Tesla

Diplomat Times
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India–US trade deal grants Tariff-Free entry to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, No relief for Tesla

New Delhi, India — India will sharply cut import tariffs on high-end American cars and eliminate duties on Harley-Davidson motorcycles under an interim trade pact with the United States, while keeping electric vehicles outside the agreement — a move that leaves Tesla without relief, an official said.

Under the interim framework released on Friday, India will reduce tariffs on premium U.S. cars to 30% from levels as high as 110%. Duties on traditional internal-combustion vehicles with engine capacity above 3,000 cc will be lowered gradually over a 10-year period, according to the official. Import duties on Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be scrapped entirely, with other premium motorbikes also set to receive reduced tariffs.

The announcement comes days after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would cut duties on Indian exports to 18% from 50% in return for New Delhi halting purchases of Russian oil, bringing the two sides closer to a broader trade agreement.

Electric vehicles, however, have been excluded from the interim deal, effectively shutting the door on a lower-tariff entry route for Tesla and sidestepping a key demand from CEO Elon Musk, who has repeatedly criticised India’s high import duties.

India’s position contrasts with the market access it has offered the European Union, where New Delhi has agreed to deeper tariff cuts — in some cases as low as 10% — across a broader range of vehicles, including eventual concessions on certain electric models.

India, the world’s third-largest car market after the U.S. and China, has long protected its domestic auto industry with import tariffs ranging from 70% to 110%. While it imports relatively few cars from the U.S., it does bring in high-end motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as details of the interim pact are yet to be fully disclosed, said the tariff cuts are expected to take effect after the two countries sign a formal agreement, likely in March. India’s trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular office hours.

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All India Christian Social Welfare Association Protests in Delhi Over Demands

Ahsan Ansari
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All India Christian Social Welfare Association Protests in Delhi Over Demands

New Delhi, India — On February 2, the All India Christian Social Welfare Association organized a protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding stronger protection of minority rights and swift justice in alleged cases of violence against the Christian community.

Addressing the gathering, association president Harry D’Souza claimed that incidents of atrocities against Christians are steadily increasing across the country. He warned that if authorities fail to take concrete action and ensure justice, the association would be compelled to launch a large-scale nationwide movement in the coming days.

Protesters held placards and raised slogans calling for accountability, legal safeguards, and government intervention to prevent further incidents. The demonstration remained peaceful, with organizers stating that their aim was to draw national attention to their concerns and seek dialogue with the authorities.

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US winter storm death toll tops 40 as snow and ice continue

Diplomat Times
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US winter storm death toll tops 40 as snow and ice continue

Washington/New York, USA — A massive winter storm has killed more than 40 people across the United States, with authorities now reporting that the death toll from the devastating Winter Storm Fern has risen to at least 42 and could exceed 60 as investigations continue across more than a dozen states as of January 28, 2026.

The storm has blanketed large swathes of the country with heavy snow and ice while plunging temperatures deep into Arctic cold, leaving hundreds of thousands without power and paralyzing travel.

RELATED NEWS : Winter storm leaves over a million homes without power in the US

At least 300,000 to 500,000 electricity customers remained without power nationwide, down from peak outages that affected between 800,000 and one million homes and businesses. The hardest-hit states included Tennessee — where outages at one point neared 250,000 — Mississippi, Louisiana, and other parts of the South. Officials warned that full restoration could take days or even weeks due to catastrophic ice damage, with Mississippi experiencing its worst ice storm since 1994.

Deaths were reported in more than a dozen states affected by extreme winter conditions. Deep snow exceeding one foot stretched across a 1,300-mile corridor from Arkansas to New England, shutting down highways, grounding flights, and forcing widespread school closures. Areas north of Pittsburgh recorded up to 20 inches of snow, while wind chills dropped as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 32 Celsius). Forecasters warned that a fresh surge of Arctic air would prolong freezing temperatures in already snow- and ice-covered regions, with the potential for another winter storm to strike parts of the East Coast.

The rising death toll included people struck by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents involving teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman found dead beneath snow in Kansas after being reported missing. In New York City, officials said eight people were found dead outdoors over the frigid weekend.

One of the most tragic incidents occurred near the north Texas town of Bonham, where three brothers aged six, eight, and nine drowned after falling into an icy pond. Their mother attempted to rescue them but was unable to reach all three children in time.

Southern states bore the brunt of infrastructure damage. In Mississippi, emergency crews distributed cots, blankets, bottled water, and generators to warming centers as thousands endured freezing homes. State officials reported that at least 14 homes, one business, and 20 public roads suffered major damage.

The storm also triggered massive disruptions to air travel and education. More than 14,000 flight delays and cancellations were recorded in a single day, with nearly half of all U.S. flights canceled at the height of the storm — the worst aviation disruption since the Covid-19 pandemic. Major hubs, including Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, were severely impacted, stranding passengers and flight crews nationwide.

New York City experienced its snowiest day in years, with some neighborhoods recording between 8 and 15 inches of snow. While public schools closed, around 500,000 students were required to attend classes online. Across the Midwest, South, and Northeast, communities woke up to subzero temperatures, with all 48 contiguous U.S. states forecast to record their coldest average low temperatures since January 2014.

Authorities continued to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, conserve heat, and check on vulnerable neighbors as Winter Storm Fern’s deadly impacts linger and the death toll continues to climb.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Police Martial Arts Championship and Award Show to Be Held in South Korea on February 7, 2026

Kyung An
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Police Martial Arts Championship and Award Show to Be Held in South Korea on February 7, 2026

Seoul, South Korea — The Police Martial Arts Training Institute has announced that the 2026 Police Martial Arts Championship will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, marking a major national event in the field of police and professional martial arts.

The championship will take place at the Gimhae Culture & Sports Center, with the opening ceremony scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Competitors from across South Korea, along with invited international participants, are expected to take part.

The tournament will be chaired by Kwang-ho Eom, while Ye-su Park will serve as Tournament Director.

The event is hosted by the Police Martial Arts Training Institute (Incorporated Association) and organized by the International Culture Athletic Promotion Association.

Organizers said the championship is officially recognized by South Korea’s central ministries, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. It is also recognized by the National Police Agency, with results counting toward martial arts competency points, underscoring its importance within the professional evaluation framework of the country’s police forces.

The 2026 Police Martial Arts Championship aims to promote discipline, professional excellence, and international cultural exchange through martial arts.

SOURCE : ICAPA |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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