At least 16 people, including children and women, were killed and several others were injured after a gas cylinder exploded in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar area early Thursday. At least 16 people, including children and women, were killed and several others were injured after a gas cylinder exploded
Vikram Bhatt fraud case: Last week, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Shwetambari Bhatt and directed that she be released forthwith, subject to her furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Udaipur. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted regular
The Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the trend of state governments announcing welfare schemes ahead of elections, observing that such a practice could hamper the country’s long-term economic development, Live Law reported. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday (February 18, 2026) he regretted Meta’s slow progress in identifying underage users on Instagram, as he faced stinging criticism at a landmark social media trial over accusations that his company deliberately hooked under-13s
Galgotias University in Noida, Uttar Pradesh has come under controversy after a robotic dog displayed at the India AI Impact Summit was allegedly presented as an in-house innovation but was later identified as a Chinese-made device. At the university’s stall on Tuesday
Legendary Sunil Gavaskar suggests Abhishek Sharma needs to ease pressure and play smarter at the crease. He also lauded Shivam Dube's powerful hitting and Varun Chakravarthy's crucial bowling. India's Super 8 plans are discussed, with a potential change in the playing eleven anticipated for the
Bangladesh has barred SpiceJet from its airspace over unpaid dues. Flights from Kolkata, including to Guwahati, are now taking longer routes, though the airline says operations remain unaffected. Bangladesh has reportedly barred SpiceJet from using its airspace
An Indian-origin man has been convicted of orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that cost a US-based company approximately $1.2 million by hiring his “lifelong friend" using a falsified resume. The accused, identified as Karan Gupta, defrauded his employer by hiring his “lifelong friend"
Japan PM Takaichi calls snap election three months after taking office
Japan PM Takaichi calls snap election three months after taking office
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will dissolve parliament on Friday, paving the way for an early election on 8 February that she hopes will translate her strong public polling into a big majority in the lower house.
It was an "extremely weighty decision" that would "determine Japan's course together with the people", Takaichi told a news conference in Tokyo.
The country's first female leader and her cabinet have enjoyed high public support since taking office last October.
But her party lags behind in polls and the move is risky. It's Japan's second general election in as many years and will test appetite for her plans to boost public spending when cost-of-living is top of voters' minds.
Having been elected as prime minister by lawmakers on 21 October, Takaichi is now seeking a public mandate in the House of Representatives, the more powerful house in Japan.
Since the day she took office, Takaichi said, she has been "constantly concerned that the Takaichi cabinet has not yet been tested in an election where the public chooses the government".
"Is Sanae Takaichi fit to be prime minister? I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide," she told the news conference.
Campaigning for the vote to elect the 465 lower house MPs, who serve four-year terms, starts on 27 January.
Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. It currently has 199 seats - including three held by its independent partners - in the House of Representatives, the most of any party. The LDP's coalition with the Japan Innovation party gives it a fragile majority, with just enough seats to govern.
A protege of former conservative PM Shinzo Abe and self-professed admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi is known as Japan's "Iron Lady".
She came into office promising an economic upturn after years of stagnation.
Takaichi is an advocate of heavy government-led spending to drive economic growth - a revival of the sort of stimulus measures that Japan saw under "Abenomics". Her first few months in office have seen soaring personal poll ratings - no Japanese PM has been popular since Abe, in 2012.
In December, her cabinet approved a record defence budget of nine trillion yen ($57bn; £43bn). This comes amid growing concern over China, with Tokyo describing its neighbour's military activities in the region as its "greatest strategic challenge".
Takaichi has found herself the target of China's ire since last November, when she made comments suggesting that Japan could respond with its own self-defence force if China attacked Taiwan. The diplomatic spat that ensued has sent bilateral ties plunging to their lowest point in more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Takaichi has pursued closer ties with the US. During US President Donald Trump's visit to Japan last October, the two leaders heaped praise on each other and signed a deal on rare earths. They also signed a document heralding a new "golden age" of US-Japan relations.
Opinion polls show that while the LDP remains broadly unpopular among Japanese residents, Takaichi and her government have charted approval ratings of 60-80%.
This popularity is what Takaichi hopes can help the LDP secure a "sole majority" in parliament and push through bolder policies more easily, Dr Seijiro Takeshita, a management professor at the University of Shizuoka, told the BBC World Service's Asia Specific podcast.
"She wants to solidify her position to make things smoother at a later stage," Takeshita said.
But the snap election gamble comes with its own set of risks.
The LDP's leadership has been on shaky ground, and Takaichi is the country's fourth PM in five years. Her predecessors' terms were cut short by falling public support and scandals.
Her immediate predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, also announced a snap election shortly after taking office - leading to one of the LDP's worst ever results and costing the party its majority in the House of Representatives.
Another challenge looms in the form of a new, consolidated opposition, the Centrist Reform Alliance, which was formed last week by Japan's largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Komeito party, the LDP's former coalition partner.
Takaichi said the dissolution of parliament was being carried out only "after establishing a thorough system" which ensures there is no disruption to economic policies affecting livelihoods and rising prices.
What Takaichi is hoping for is that "people will trust her to deliver on her promises", Dr Jeffrey Kingston, an Asian studies professor at Temple University in the US, told the BBC.
Her high approval ratings are "only going to decline so she wants to lock in the benefits of a long honeymoon", he added.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: Japan's economy limps back to scant growth in Q4 Ukraine's ex-energy minister detained while attempting to leave country Iran Foreign Minister in Geneva for second round of U Did Karnataka Minister Call Congress MLAs China is hitting Japan where it hurts Malaysia and Japan plan major cross-border carbon capture project Tarique Rahman takes oath as Bangladesh prime minister after BNP’s landslide Japan to invest $36 billion in US projects under trade pact IT minister apologises for Delhi AI summit ‘mismanagement’ Google CEO Sundar Pichai meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Embraer and Mahindra are planning to establish Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul capabilities in India for the C-390 Millennium aircraft. This move is contingent on the aircraft being selected for the Indian Air Force's Medium Transport Aircraft program
1 hours ago
Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) said it has "no reason" to believe that India has changed its position on buying Russian oil, which it said is beneficial for both countries and maintains stability in the global hydrocarbons market
1 hours ago
SUV dreams on a budget? These five rides under Rs 10 lakh hide features you won’t believe for the price! Affordable SUVs are booming in India, and buyers are spoilt for choice. If you’re eyeing a budget-friendly SUV, we’ve rounded up five top picks under 10 lakh, including Tata Nexon
1 hours ago
Tripunithura MLA K Babu announced his decision to step down from electoral politics. He will not contest the upcoming Assembly elections for personal reasons. Babu has a long political career, having contested seven Assembly elections since 1991 and won six
1 hours ago
Shafali Verma made history on Thursday during the second T20I between India women’s cricket team and Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. The Indian opener became the third Indian batter to reach the 2500-run milestone after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur with her 23-ball 29
1 hours ago
The makers of the upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat on Thursday told the Supreme Court that its title and all related promotional material have been “unequivocally withdrawn”, PTI reported. Taking on record an affidavit filed by director Neeraj Pandey
1 hours ago
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have brushed off concerns that Formula 1’s new 2026 race-start procedure poses a safety risk. With the removal of the MGU-H from the 2026 power units, drivers must manually spool up their turbos to eliminate lag: a longer
1 hours ago
Bill Gates will not deliver his keynote address at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi, his philanthropic organisation said hours before the Microsoft co-founder was due to speak. The Gates Foundation said the decision was made after "careful consideration" and "to ensure the focus remains on the
1 hours ago
Top court observed that handing out state benefits indiscriminately, without distinguishing between those who genuinely need assistance and those who can afford to forgo it, amounts to appeasement and does little to support the country’s economic progress
1 hours ago
US officials may be overconfident about oil prices in a potential US-Iran conflict. Despite last year’s limited impact on oil after Trump bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, past stability doesn’t guarantee future calm, experts warn. High US shale output, strategic reserves
1 hours ago
The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Reliance Group chairperson Anil Ambani for recording his statement on February 26, agency sources said on Thursday (February 19, 2026) The agency had earlier summoned his wife, Tina Ambani, twice. However, she is yet to join the investigation
1 hours ago
Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is an upcoming high-octane spy action thriller set to release on March 19, 2026. New Delhi: Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is set to hit theatres on March 19. As excitement around the film continues to grow
1 hours ago
A video showing a Mahindra Thar seemingly crashing straight into a massive highway exit signboard has taken social media by storm and the internet is having an absolute field day. The clip shows a Thar lodged high up in an overhead board that reads “Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Exit 22, NH-48
1 hours ago
After an impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign last year, where Punjab Kings reached the final, the franchise is gearing up for IPL 2026 with fresh momentum and renewed ambitions. After an impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign last year, where Punjab Kings reached the final
1 hours ago
Priyanka Chopra will be next seen in 'The Bluff', taking on high-octane action scenes against Karl Urban with swords and guns in full swing. Los Angeles: Parents can go to any extent to protect their children, and Priyanka Chopra's character of Bloody Mary in her upcoming film 'The Bluff' embodies
1 hours ago
The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on a plea by AIADMK leader Saidai S Duraisamy. This plea challenges a Madras High Court ruling that dismissed his election petition. The petition was against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin concerning alleged corrupt practices during the 2011
1 hours ago
Under the new rules, only online applications for ration cards will be accepted in Delhi, and each member of the household will be required to furnish their Aadhaar numbers for it, officials said on Wednesday. The applications received online will be scrutinised at the food supply officer level
1 hours ago
When Afghanistan and Canada first met in a T20, back in 2010, they were two teams on the same boat — Associate nations scrapping it out in the backwaters of international cricket. Over the next 16 years, Afghanistan has zoomed far ahead of Canada in the global circuit
1 hours ago
Thames Valley Police have arrested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor at Sandringham on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest follows new evidence in the DOJ Epstein files regarding leaked trade documents. In a surprising turn of events for the British Monarchy
1 hours ago
In a major blow to NDA, Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has allied with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) for the Assembly election likely in April or May. The alliance was confirmed by DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakant on X after she met DMK president and Chief
1 hours ago
South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol has been jailed for life for masterminding an insurrection by trying to impose military rule. Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying military troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians on 3 December 2024
1 hours ago
In an incredible feat, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has etched her name in the annals of women's cricket history. Achieving this landmark on Thursday, she has become the most capped international player, eclipsing the record previously held by New Zealand's Suzie Bates.In an incredible feat
1 hours ago
West Bengal election: Sharma had repeatedly voiced support for the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, arguing that the Darjeeling Hills require focused administrative attention and development. Kolkata: Rebel BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma joined the ruling TMC in West Bengal on Thursday ahead
1 hours ago
Indian Railways is increasingly shifting from traditional liquid painting to high-grade vinyl wrapping to give its trains a fresh look. This approach is quicker, cleaner and more cost-effective. The move gained attention after a video showing railway employees applying red vinyl film to a train
1 hours ago
Indian equities entered a consolidation phase in January 2026 amid global de‑risking, currency pressures and commodity volatility, and equity valuations have moderated toward a long‑term average range of approximately 19–20x earnings. Mumbai: Due to macro stability and recent trade deals
1 hours ago
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani announced that Reliance and Jio plan to invest Rs 10 lakh crore in artificial intelligence over the next seven years, starting this year, as the group aims to scale AI adoption across India. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit
1 hours ago
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting that any negotiations must leave historical debates behind and focus squarely on ending the war. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Zelenskyy wrote
1 hours ago
