FirstUp: Sarkozy to begin his prison term, Japan set to vote in its first woman PM… The news today

It’s Tuesday and it’s going to be a busy, busy day around the world.

Today, the Japanese legislature, known as the Diet, is set to meet for an extraordinary session to vote for the next prime minister.

In India, investors are gearing up for the much-anticipated Muhurat Trading session. Also, officials from the Assam Special Investigation Team (SIT) will visit Singapore and meet their counterparts there in relation to singer Zubeen Garg’s death.

Also, the former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, will go to prison today after a court sentenced him to five years for criminal conspiracy over a scheme to obtain election campaign funds from the regime of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

More from Explainers

The 'Justice for Zubeen Garg' campaign launched by late singer's fans gets support from his wife: 'I have a request for all of you so that...' Vishal Dadlani remembers late singer Zubeen Garg, reveals 'I will definitely sing for him and...'

Sarkozy to begin his incarceration

Nicolas Sarkozy will become the first former French president in modern history to step into a prison cell on Tuesday (October 21). He was earlier was convicted of criminal conspiracy in what the court heard was a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favours. He was sentenced to five years in prison but is likely to be released on parole partway through.

“I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll keep my head held high, including at the prison gates,” Sarkozy told La Tribune de Dimanche. He has been ordered to present himself at the gates of La Santé prison in the south of Paris early on Tuesday morning. He said he had asked for “no privileges” in his treatment behind bars.

Sarkozy, 70, told Le Figaro that he had packed family photos and three books, as permitted for the first week. “I’m bringing The Count of Monte Cristo and two volumes of the biography of Jesus by Jean-Christian Petitfils,” he said.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

In Photos | Cyprus, the island where there's a cat for every one of its 1 million inhabitants

What is the connection between Angelina Jolie and prostate cancer?

He is expected to be held in solitary confinement for his own security, in an individual cell of about nine metres squared. He will have no mobile phone, but will have a small television. A security-controlled phoneline will allow him contact with his lawyers and family. He is expected to have the right to two visits a week from family. He told Le Figaro that he’d been advised to take earplugs. “At night you hear lots of noise, shouting, screaming,” he said.

New Japanese PM expected to be sworn in

The Japanese legislature, known as the Diet, is set to meet for an extraordinary session today to vote for the next prime minister.

This comes after the collapse of a 26-year-old partnership earlier this month between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the smaller Komeito party after Sanae Takaichi took the helm of the LDP.

The LDP has been the dominant force in Japanese politics since the 1950s, but over the past two years, it has lost its majority in both legislative houses after failing to address a series of problems, including a major corruption scandal and Japan’s cost-of-living crisis. Now, the LDP is at risk of losing power completely unless it can bring another opposition party to its side.

Some Japanese media reports suggested on Sunday that the LDP had reached an agreement with the Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin) to form a coalition that would ensure that Takaichi is elected prime minister. But details of the partnership remain unclear, and the two sides have yet to confirm it.

Diwali Muhurat trading

Indian stock markets will open for a special one-hour Muhurat trading session today. This annual Diwali tradition marks the beginning of the new Hindu financial year, Samvat 2082, and is considered an auspicious time for investors to make fresh trades.

For the first time in decades, the ritual trading hour has been shifted from its usual evening slot to the afternoon.

Muhurat Trading is a symbolic stock market session held every Diwali. The word “muhurat” means auspicious time, and the session is seen as a ceremonial start to the new financial year in the Hindu calendar.

For 2025, Muhurat Trading will take place on Tuesday, October 21. The pre-open session will run from 1:30 pm to 1:45 pm, followed by the main trading window from 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm, and a closing session until 3:05 pm.

Zubeen Garg case: Assam SIT to meet Singapore officials

Two senior officials of the Assam Police have reached Singapore and will begin their investigation the death of singer Zubeen Garg in the island country last month, an official said.

An SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police is currently probing Garg’s death case after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state.

According to a senior official, CID Special DGP Munna Prasad Gupta and Titabor Co-District SP Tarun Goel have already reached Singapore on a direct flight from Guwahati. The official declined to share operational details of the ongoing investigation in Singapore, but reports suggest that the two SIT members will visit the “place of occurrence where Garg had breathed his last.”

ODI Women’s World Cup: South Africa v Pakistan

Today, the women of the South Africa team will take on Pakistan at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday, October 21. South Africa has already sealed a semi-final berth, but will look to maintain their winning momentum for a top-two finish in the group stage when they face Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Securing a higher rank will help the Proteas women avoid Australia, who are strong favourites to top the table.

With inputs from agencies