On February 8, 2026, Japan held a House of Representatives election, and the result was a historic landslide victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Sanae Takaichi and its allies.

Takaichi’s LDP alone won over 316 seats, far exceeding the 233-seat majority threshold in the lower house, marking the strongest single-party performance since 1955. In alliance with the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition reached—or even exceeded—a two-thirds supermajority, giving the government greater legislative leeway. This victory set a postwar record, surpassing the previous benchmark of 300 seats.

Takaichi’s victory has already drawn close attention from both China and the United States. Her nationalist stance and emphasis on strengthening security policies have heightened tensions between Japan and China, especially after she publicly discussed possible Japanese responses if China were to take action against Taiwan, prompting strong criticism and countermeasures from Beijing. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed her leadership and plans to invite her to the White House, signaling that the U.S.-Japan alliance may deepen further under her administration.

Israeli military bulldozers have reportedly disturbed part of the historic Gaza War Cemetery in al-Tuffah, Gaza City, which is a burial site holding graves of British, Australian, Polish and other Allied soldiers from World Wars I and II. 

The satellite images from 8 August and 13 December 2025 were made public on 4 February 2026, when they were first published and analysed by The Guardian as part of its investigative report. They clearly show extensive earthworks in the southwest corner of the cemetery where rows of gravestones were removed and soil churned, consistent with heavy machinery use. Witnesses describe at least two bulldozing phases, inside and outside the cemetery walls.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) say these actions were taken as defensive measures in an active combat zone citing nearby militant threats. International veteran and war graves organisations have condemned the apparent damage to historic war graves.

Although it’s still early to assess diplomatic fallout, damage to graves of soldiers from countries like Australia could prompt Canberra to formally raise concerns with Israeli authorities, reflecting sensitivities around military heritage even as broader strategic relations continue.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Brazilian right-wing influencer Júnior Pena in New Jersey. Pena had long publicly supported U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline policies on illegal immigration.

Pena has lived in the U.S. since 2009. Over the years, he not only endorsed Trump’s policies but also criticized Brazilian leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and commented on political developments in Brazil and Latin America. On social media, Pena presented his content from an immigrant perspective and promoted Trump’s immigration crackdown, repeatedly telling Brazilian immigrants not to panic, claiming that only criminals are targeted and law-abiding immigrants had nothing to fear. Critics now view his own detention as an ironic “case of poetic justice.”

The detention occurred on January 31, when Pena was taken to the Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey. According to friends and his lawyer, the arrest stemmed from Pena failing to appear at a court hearing related to his immigration process. Although his lawyer submitted the necessary documents to prevent his transfer to another state facility, procedural errors still resulted in the execution of the detention order. Friends emphasize that Pena had no formal deportation order, and his immigration status was previously legal.

The case has sparked heated reactions in Brazilian online communities. Some mocked him for supporting Trump’s immigration policies only to become a target himself, while others prayed for him and shared updates on social media. As of now, Pena’s lawyer is working through legal channels to resolve the detention and court hearing issues.