(260208) — PASAY CITY, Feb. 8, 2026 (Xinhua) — Chahyee Wong (R) of Selangor Est Jersey of Malaysia competes towards Tantoy Ferrer of Gilas Pilipinas Stars of the Philippines throughout the pre-quarterfinal match between the Gilas Pilipinas Stars of the Philippines and Selangor Est Jersey of Malaysia on the Manila Hustle Philippine Women’s 3×3 International Invitational in Pasay City, the Philippines, Feb. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)
Janakpuri pit loss of life case: Delhi Police nab man from Firozabad
New Delhi [India], February 8 (ANI): Delhi Police on Sunday detained a person in reference to the loss of life of a 25-year-old man after his motorbike fell right into a deep, uncovered pit allegedly dug by the Delhi Jal Board throughout street work in West Delhi’s Janakpuri space.
The detained man, recognized as Yogesh (23), was apprehended by police in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. He will later be dropped at Delhi for questioning, and if wanted, a proper arrest will probably be made.
The accused was current on the scene of the accident the place a biker died after falling right into a pit. He knowledgeable the subcontractor in regards to the accident however then fled the scene.
He was the labour of sub-contractor Rajesh Prajapati, who was arrested on Saturday in the identical connection. The police will search the contractor’s custody.
On Saturday, Police additionally arrested sub-contractor Prajapati in reference to the loss of life of Kamal Dhyani after falling right into a pit.
According to the police, the subcontractor was notified of the accident at night time however did nothing to help the motorcyclist.
The police investigation revealed {that a} household was passing by when the 25-year-old, Kamal, fell into the pit, and the household knowledgeable the safety guard current there.
Sub-contractor Rajesh Prajapati was then knowledgeable at 12:22 am. Rajesh got here to the scene however didn’t examine the pit, police stated.
The incident occurred close to the B3B Block in Janakpuri, near Andhra School, on Professor Jogender Singh Marg on February 5.
According to the FIR, no warning indicators, reflectors, barricades or correct lighting preparations have been current on the web site, and no safety guard had been deployed. The FIR states that the pit was left open in the course of a public street with none security measures.
When police reached the spot, they discovered an unidentified man alongside along with his motorbike, mendacity inside a pit measuring about 20 ft in size, 13 ft in width and round 14 ft in depth. The pit had been dug in the course of the street as a part of street work.
The injured man was pulled from the pit by the hearth brigade and transported to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in a PCR automobile. However, the hospital later knowledgeable police that ‘the affected person introduced by PCR has been declared lifeless.
Quoting the medical report, the FIR said, ‘Patient was dropped at ER in an unconscious and unresponsive state with an alleged historical past of being discovered roadside close to Joginder Singh Marg at round 08:00 am. Injury particulars embrace a grazed abrasion over the epigastric area, and the affected person was introduced in lifeless.’ (ANI)
Photo Flash | Japan’s ruling coalition to safe decrease home majority in election: NHK exit ballot
(260208) — TOKYO, Feb. 8, 2026 (Xinhua) — A workers member works at a counting station for the overall election in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 8, 2026. Japan’s ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and its accomplice Japan Innovation Party is predicted to safe a majority of seats within the House of Representatives in Sunday’s common election, the NHK exit ballot projected. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Lamborghini Slams Into Police Car, Five Injured as Driver Flees
TOKYO, Feb 08 (News On Japan) –
A person suspected of a hit-and-run drove a high-end sports activities automotive right into a police patrol automotive, leaving 5 individuals injured.
Shortly after 5 a.m. on February eighth, a Lamborghini crashed right into a Metropolitan Police Department patrol automotive that had been stopped on Tsukiji Bridge in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward to deal with an accident involving a passenger automotive and a taxi.
The impression additionally concerned the passenger automotive and taxi, and a complete of 5 individuals suffered accidents starting from critical to minor.
The man driving the Lamborghini fled the scene, and the Metropolitan Police Department is trying to find him on suspicion of a hit-and-run.
Source: TBS
Japans Takaichi hopes for sturdy majority in snow-hit snap elections
Japanvoted in snow-hit snap elections Sunday with Prime MinisterSanae Takaichihoping to show a honeymoon begin intoa resounding poll field victorythat may rileChinaand rattle monetary markets.
Opinion polls counsel that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled nearly continuous for many years, will simply win greater than the 233 seats wanted to regain a majority within the highly effective 465-member decrease home.
Heavy snowfall blanketed many elements of the nation on election day, together with Tokyo and different areas that hardly ever see winter snow.
“I think it’s important to come, so that we can properly take part in politics as well,” a 50-year-old girl, who solely disclosed her surname as Kondo, advised AFP close to a voting station in Tokyo.
“Even if it snows more than it does now, I still plan to go,” she added.
“I struggled to find a way to the ballot box as snow was accumulating around it, and it was a pain to arrive here with bad road conditions,” a person in his 70s in Aomori in northern Japan advised public broadcaster NHK.
“I wish the election was held in a snowless season,” he stated. It is the primary time in a long time that Japan holds a basic election in snowy February.
Pollsters even counsel with some warning as a consequence of undecided voters and wintry climate that the LDP and its coalition associate may safe 310 seats wanted for a helpful two-thirds majority.
This could be the very best end result for the LDP since 2017 when Takaichi’s mentor, the late ex-premierShinzo Abe, achieved an analogous end result.
Takaichi was a heavy metallic drummer in her youth, an admirer of Britain’s “Iron Lady”Margaret Thatcher, and on the ultra-conservative fringe of the LDP when she turned chief in October.
She has defied pessimists to be successful with voters, particularly younger ones, with followers lapping up all the things from her purse to her jamming to aK-popsong withSouth Korea’s president.
Pandas and public debt
Takaichi has nevertheless not had all the things her personal method, specifically with regard to worries about her stewardship of the general public funds of Asia’s number-two financial system.
She adopted up a $135-billion stimulus bundle geared toward easing the ache ofinflationa large reason for voter discontent with a marketing campaign promise to droop a consumption tax on meals.
Takaichi’s promise to droop the 8 p.c gross sales tax on meals for 2 years to assist households address rising costs has spookedinvestors involved about how the nation with the heaviest debt burden amongst superior economies will fund the plan.
Japan’s money owed are greater than twice the scale of the complete financial system, and in latest weeks yields on long-dated bonds have hit report highs whereas the yen has seesawed.
Niigata resident Mineko Mori, 74, padding by means of the snow along with her canine early on Sunday, stated she frightened that Takaichi’s tax cuts may saddle future generations with a fair greater burden.
Mori deliberate to vote for Sanseito, a small far-right celebration that broke by means of in a 2025 higher home poll with guarantees to crack down on badly behaved foreigners and controlimmigration.
Read extraJapanese First: The deep roots of the rising far proper
Takaichi “always talks about taking responsibility through expansionary fiscal policy, and I dont know whether that will actually lead us in a better direction”, Chika Sakamoto, 50, stated as she visited a voting station in Tokyo.
“Still, I wanted to see what would happen if they pursued aggressive fiscal spending,” hoping that it could ease impression of rising costs on family revenue, she stated.
Barely two weeks in workplace, Takaichi seen earlier than assuming the premiership as a China hawksuggested that Japan may intervene militarilyif Beijing sought to take self-ruledTaiwanby power.
China regards the island as a part of its territory and has not dominated out utilizing power to “reunify” it with the mainland.
With Takaichi having days earlier pulled out all of the stops to welcome US PresidentDonald Trump, Beijing’s response to her unscripted remarks was livid.
It summoned Tokyo’s ambassador, warned its residents in opposition to visiting Japan and carried out joint air drills withRussia. Last month, Japan’s final two pandas have been even returned to China.
Trump has not publicly weighed in on the spat however final week endorsed Takaichi as a “strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country”.
Margarita Estevez-Abe, affiliate professor of political science at Syracuse University, stated that the China episode raised Takaichi’s reputation much more.
“Now she doesn’t have to worry about any elections until 2028, when the next upper house elections will take place,” Estevez-Abe advised AFP.
“So the best scenario for Japan is that Takaichi kind of takes a deep breath and focuses on amending the relationship with China.”
Voting stations have been as a consequence of shut at 8pm (1100 GMT) with media predictions primarily based on partial outcomes anticipated quickly afterwards.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Originally revealed on France24
Japan votes in snow-hit snap polls as Takaichi eyes sturdy mandate
Opinion polls recommend that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled virtually continuous for many years, will simply win greater than the 233 seats wanted to regain a majority within the highly effective 465-member decrease home.
Heavy snowfall blanketed many elements of the nation on election day, together with Tokyo and different areas that not often see winter snow.
“I think it’s important to come, so that we can properly take part in politics as well,” a 50-year-old lady, who solely disclosed her surname as Kondo, instructed AFP close to a voting station in Tokyo.
“Even if it snows more than it does now, I still plan to go,” she added.
“I struggled to find a way to the ballot box as snow was accumulating around it, and it was a pain to arrive here with bad road conditions,” a person in his 70s in Aomori in northern Japan instructed public broadcaster NHK.
“I wish the election was held in a snowless season,” he mentioned. It is the primary time in a long time that Japan holds a normal election in snowy February.
Pollsters even recommend — with some warning as a result of undecided voters and wintry climate — that the LDP and its coalition companion might safe 310 seats wanted for a useful two-thirds majority.
This could be the perfect end result for the LDP since 2017 when Takaichi’s mentor, the late ex-premier Shinzo Abe, achieved an analogous end result.
Takaichi was a heavy metallic drummer in her youth, an admirer of Britain’s “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, and on the ultra-conservative fringe of the LDP when she grew to become chief in October.
She has defied pessimists to be successful with voters, particularly younger ones, with followers lapping up every thing from her purse to her jamming to a Ok-pop music with South Korea’s president.
Pandas and public debt
Takaichi has nevertheless not had every thing her personal manner, specifically with regard to worries about her stewardship of the general public funds of Asia’s number-two economic system.
She adopted up a $135-billion stimulus bundle aimed toward easing the ache of inflation — a giant reason behind voter discontent — with a marketing campaign promise to droop a consumption tax on meals.
Japan’s money owed are greater than twice the scale of your complete economic system, and in current weeks yields on long-dated bonds have hit file highs whereas the yen has seesawed.
Takaichi “always talks about taking responsibility through expansionary fiscal policy, and I dont know whether that will actually lead us in a better direction,” Chika Sakamoto, 50, instructed AFP as she visited a voting station in Tokyo.
“Still, I wanted to see what would happen if they pursued aggressive fiscal spending,” hoping that it could ease impression of rising costs on family revenue, she mentioned.
Barely two weeks in workplace, Takaichi — seen earlier than assuming the premiership as a China hawk — prompt that Japan might intervene militarily if Beijing sought to take self-ruled Taiwan by power.
China regards the democratic island as a part of its territory and has not dominated out power to annex it.
With Takaichi having days earlier pulled out all of the stops to welcome US President Donald Trump, Beijing’s response to her unscripted remarks was livid.
It summoned Tokyo’s ambassador, warned its residents in opposition to visiting Japan and carried out joint air drills with Russia. Last month, Japan’s final two pandas have been even returned to China.
Trump has not publicly weighed in on the spat however final week endorsed Takaichi as a “strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country”.
Margarita Estevez-Abe, affiliate professor of political science at Syracuse University, mentioned that the China episode raised Takaichi’s recognition much more.
“Now she doesn’t have to worry about any elections until 2028, when the next upper house elections will take place,” Estevez-Abe instructed AFP.
“So the best scenario for Japan is that Takaichi kind of takes a deep breath and focuses on amending the relationship with China.”
Voting stations have been as a result of shut at 8:00 pm (1100 GMT) with media predictions primarily based on partial outcomes anticipated quickly afterwards.
Originally printed on France24
Mario Bautista secures submission victory in main-event debut
(Photo credit score: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images)
Bantamweight Mario Bautista handed his first UFC main-event check with flying colours, securing a second-round rear-naked-choke submission towards Vinicius Oliveira of Brazil to cap a six-fight UFC Vegas 113 fundamental card on Saturday.Bautista (17-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) earned his first submission win since March 2023, which additionally got here by the identical technique. Oliveira (23-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC) had not misplaced since July 2022.’I met the highest of that degree and it rubbed off on me tonight,’ Bautista stated following the stoppage win.The co-headliner noticed flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi’s productive placing make the distinction, because the Japanese fighter received a unanimous resolution 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 towards Iraq’s Amir Albazi to extend his flyweight profitable streak to 5 in a row and his general profitable streak to seven.
After his second convincing victory in lower than 4 months’ time, Horiguchi (36-5 MMA, 9-1 UFC) made it clear he needs a flyweight title shot after beating Albazi (17-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in his first combat since November of 2024.Russian heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev’s clinch work was sufficient to outlast Jailton Almeida of Brazil and win a unanimous resolution 30-27, 30-27, 29-28. Kuniev (13-3-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who just isn’t at the moment within the UFC heavyweight rankings, handed Almeida (22-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who entered because the No. 6 heavyweight contender, his second straight loss.Middleweights Michal Oleksiejczuk of Poland and Marc-Andre Barriault of Canada introduced the META Apex to their toes as each males left all their vitality within the Octagon. After two carefully contested rounds, Oleksiejczuk (22-9 MMA, 10-7, 1 NC UFC) was capable of safe a unanimous resolution, profitable 29-28 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Oleksiejczuk has now received three in a row, whereas Barriault (17-11 MMA, 6-10, 1 NC UFC) has dropped 5 of his final six regardless of practically ending Oleksiejczuk in Round 2 by a would-be TKO.Bantamweight Farid Basharat of Afghanistan remained undefeated with a split-decision win towards Brazil’s Jean Matsumoto, taking the playing cards 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.
In the decisive third spherical, Basharat (15-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) traded blows with Matsumoto (17-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), shedding in complete strikes (111-95) however profitable in important strikes (80-76) and placing accuracy (55.2% to 42.2%).Light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby opened Saturday’s fundamental card in spectacular style with a second-round KO/TKO towards former faculty basketball participant Julius Walker to extend his KO/TKO streak to 3. Jacoby (22-9-1 MMA, 10-6-1 UFC) known as for a combat on the White House in June, whereas Walker (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) didn’t safe his second consecutive win.-Field Level Media
India Women go all the way down to FK Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc 0-1 in pleasant
New Delhi [India], February 8 (ANI): The senior Indian girls’s nationwide crew suffered a 0-1 defeat by the hands of FK Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc on the Fanatic Tour Serik Sport Center, in Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday. The Romanian membership scored within the twelfth minute, as per an AIFF launch.
India had earlier performed 5 pleasant video games in opposition to Ukraine’s FC Metalist 1925 (0-2 loss) on January 18, Switzerland’s FC Schlieren (2-1 win) on January 24, Russia’s WFC Spartak Moscow (0-0 draw), Germany’s Hertha BSC Frauen (1-0 win), and Russia’s Zvezda-2005 Perm (2-0 win). India performed their the friendies in Antalya as a part of their preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
In their earlier match, in opposition to Zvezda, the Blue Tigresses beat Russian facet Zvezda-2005 Perm 2-0 on the S&B Sport Football Complex in Serik, Antalya, on Wednesday. In the match, Anju Tamang scored the early purpose within the ninth minute, earlier than Lynda Kom Serto netted late on within the 89th to safe the win for the senior Indian girls’s nationwide crew. The Blue Tigresses additionally registered a 1-0 victory over German facet Hertha BSC Frauen of their fourth pleasant match of the tour. In the match, Grace Dangmei scored the decisive purpose within the thirty seventh minute to safe the win for India.
The Blue Tigresses will depart from Turkey for Perth, Australia, on February 10, the place they are going to play further pleasant matches forward of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. India’s first match on the Asian Cup is in opposition to Vietnam on March 4 on the Perth Rectangular Stadium, adopted by matches in opposition to Japan on March 7 in Perth and Chinese Taipei on March 10 in Sydney. (ANI)
Japan votes in snap election as PM Sanae Takaichi seeks mandate, vows to resign if coalition falls quick
Tokyo [Japan], February 8 (ANI): Voting started throughout Japan on Sunday within the snap common election known as by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who’s looking for a public mandate to push forward along with her financial and safety agenda alongside her new coalition accomplice, in accordance with Kyodo News.
Takaichi is aiming to safe a majority within the 465-member House of Representatives for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led bloc with the Japan Innovation Party, whereas heavy snowfall throughout extensive components of the nation threatens to dampen voter turnout.
Japan’s first feminine prime minister, who took workplace final October, has mentioned she would ‘instantly resign’ if the coalition fails to safe management of the highly effective decrease chamber.
Nearly 1,300 candidates are contesting the election, with 289 seats determined in single-seat constituencies and 176 by means of proportional illustration throughout 11 regional blocs.
With households grappling with rising dwelling prices, main events have campaigned on pledges to ease tax burdens, whereas the ruling camp has additionally emphasised strengthening Japan’s defence posture amid what it calls a worsening safety atmosphere.
Under Takaichi’s management, the federal government has rallied help for enhancing army capabilities, even because the ruling bloc entered the race with solely a razor-thin majority, supported by independents, earlier than parliament was dissolved late final month, Kyodo News reported.
Even if the coalition clears the bulk mark within the decrease home, it nonetheless lacks management of the higher chamber, that means cooperation from opposition events will stay important for passing laws.
For the primary opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, the election represents its first main take a look at after being fashioned by means of a merger involving the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, because it seeks to counter criticism that the alliance was created purely for electoral benefit.
Media surveys have indicated a widening lead for the ruling bloc. Ahead of the vote, the LDP held 198 seats, the Japan Innovation Party 34, and the Centrist Reform Alliance 167, in accordance with Kyodo News.
Japan is holding a February common election for the primary time in 36 years, a choice by Takaichi that has drawn criticism as a result of extreme winter situations complicate campaigning.
The earlier election in October 2024 marked a turning level when the LDP below Takaichi’s predecessor misplaced its majority with former coalition accomplice Komeito.
Takaichi’s snap election name has additionally sparked criticism for delaying passage of the fiscal 2026 funds, initially anticipated by the tip of March forward of the April begin of the monetary 12 months. She has defended the transfer, saying she has but to obtain public backing for Japan’s ‘main coverage shifts’, together with her ‘accountable but aggressive’ fiscal strategy and the brand new ruling coalition fashioned in October.
The Centrist Reform Alliance is difficult the conservative bloc, hoping to draw voters uneasy with what it describes as Japan’s more and more ‘right-leaning’ political local weather.
Komeito, backed by Japan’s largest lay Buddhist organisation Soka Gakkai, had been allied with the LDP for 26 years earlier than the partnership led to October.
Almost all events have pledged to droop or abolish the consumption tax on meals merchandise to counter extended inflation, although funding sources and timelines stay contentious amid considerations over Japan’s fiscal well being, Kyodo News mentioned.
Foreign coverage has additionally emerged as a marketing campaign subject, together with Takaichi’s dealing with of tensions with China following her remarks on a Taiwan contingency, in addition to relations with the United States, Japan’s closest safety ally. The ruling bloc’s plans to ramp up defence spending are below shut scrutiny.
For the LDP to advance its long-standing aim of constitutional revision, it could want a minimum of 310 seats, a two-thirds majority, to provoke modifications forward of a nationwide referendum. (ANI)
India’s foreign exchange reserves contact recent file excessive of $723.8 billion
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 8 (ANI): India’s overseas alternate reserves reached one other new all-time excessive within the week ended January 30, based on the Reserve Bank of India’s newest knowledge.
Foreign alternate reserves rose sharply by USD 14.361 billion within the week to USD 723.774 billion, pushed by a leap in gold reserves whereas overseas forex belongings dropped.
Over the previous few weeks, the foreign exchange kitty has been largely in an uptrend.
Its earlier excessive was USD 709.403 billion, touched within the earlier week.
For the reported week (that ended January 30), India’s overseas forex belongings (FCA), the most important part of overseas alternate reserves, stood at USD 562.392 billion, down USD 493 million.
The RBI knowledge confirmed that gold reserves presently stand at USD 137.683 billion, up USD 14.595 billion from the earlier week.
After the newest financial coverage evaluate assembly in early December, the RBI had stated that the nation’s overseas alternate reserves have been enough to cowl greater than 11 months of merchandise imports.
Overall, India’s exterior sector stays resilient, and the RBI is assured it will possibly comfortably meet exterior financing necessities.
In 2025, the foreign exchange kitty has elevated by about 56 billion, based on knowledge.
In 2024, reserves rose by simply over USD 20 billion.
In 2023, India added round USD 58 billion to its overseas alternate reserves, contrasting with a cumulative decline of USD 71 billion in 2022.
Foreign alternate reserves, or foreign exchange reserves, are belongings held by a nation’s central financial institution or financial authority, primarily in reserve currencies such because the US dollar, with smaller parts within the Euro, Japanese yen, and Pound Sterling.The RBI typically intervenes by managing liquidity, together with promoting {dollars}, to stop a steep depreciation of the rupee. The RBI strategically buys {dollars} when the Rupee is powerful and ideally sells when it weakens. (ANI)
