Japan's oldest English daily newspaper, published in Tokyo.
Ukraine has reported that Starlink's military variant, Starshield, was slowed in mid‑October, degrading its drone and air‑defence operations. The Wall Street Journal has reported Donald Trump phoned Elon Musk and asked him to restore full service; Trump and SpaceX deny a formal White House order. Kyiv says speeds have only been partially restored and the disruption has cost defensive capability.
The European Parliament has awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the Hague tribunal has faced sweeping US financial sanctions announced in October. The EU and many member states have pledged support; the ICC and UN officials have condemned the US measures, while Israel and the Trump administration have welcomed them.
Lana Nusseibeh has entered the UN secretary-general race. She is the UAE's former ambassador to the UN and now a minister of state. Backers praise her diplomatic experience, while critics cite concerns over UAE's human rights record and its role in Sudan's conflict.
Investors have pushed new biotech winners — from Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide pill to startups tackling baldness and targeted autoimmune drugs — while market enthusiasm has cooled for some forecasts. Novo Nordisk has released a daily weight‑loss pill used by over 1.5 million people; hair‑loss startups have sent small caps soaring; India’s low‑cost GLP‑1 generics have underperformed expectations.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have published results showing collisions of oxygen-16 and neon-20 nuclei have produced quark–gluon plasma droplets. The experiments have revealed that particle emission patterns reflect the original nuclear shapes, offering a new probe of nuclear structure and the conditions that existed microseconds after the Big Bang.
Thailand has cut visa‑free tourist stays from 60 to 30 days for citizens of about 60 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and Japan, and will limit land‑border entries to twice per year. Officials say the move responds to national security, economic and tourism management concerns and will not affect tourists already in the country.
North Korea has commissioned the Kang Kon destroyer as part of an intensified naval buildup. Pyongyang frames the move as deterrence, while Washington and Seoul coordinate drills amid heightened tensions with the U.S. pressing allies to join in regional security efforts.
A hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters has claimed it has stolen two to three terabytes of FBI-related data, including a 5,000-line sample with names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers and assignment details for thousands of current and former FBI employees. The FBI has said it is aware of the claims, has taken the jobs portal offline and has opened an active investigation.
Opposition to AI data centers is rising, shaping campaign messaging ahead of the midterms. Democrats tie growth to living costs while Republicans push a pro-development stance, with President Trump backing rapid build-out. Public polling shows broad local opposition, complicating lawmakers’ strategies.
The United States has brought a racketeering case against Huawei, accusing the company of years of illicit activity including theft of trade secrets and sanctions violations. The trial in Brooklyn is set to last about three months as prosecutors present their case and the defense counters that the government relies on selective evidence and misplaced blame. The case ties Huawei’s global business to broader tensions in US-Chinese tech competition.
Israel has closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem as part of retaliatory moves after the UK announced a trade ban with settlements in the West Bank. The dispute also involves discussions over a Gaza ceasefire and British officials barred from entering Israel. Several former diplomats warn the move risks harming Palestinians and destabilising regional relations.
Republicans have held a two-day midterm convention in Dallas dominated by President Donald Trump and Vice‑President JD Vance. Vance has delivered a high-profile 40-minute speech that elevated his status as a potential 2028 standard-bearer while Trump has repeated ambitious claims — including a $5,000 payment pledge — and rhetoric that multiple outlets say includes misleading assertions about investment and the economy.
Alexander Zverev has claimed a second Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Ben Shelton in four sets to end American hopes for a homegrown champion since 2003. Shelton had reached the final amid historic firsts, including being the first Black American man in the New York final in 54 years.
Yamanashi prefecture has proposed charging climbers who attempt Mount Fuji during the off-season and who require helicopter rescues or fail to file climbing plans. The plan aims to deter dangerous, unplanned ascents with fees tied to helicopter operation costs, and to require advance plans for climbs above the sixth station outside the official season. The proposal follows rising off-season climbs and rescues.
The key Nintendo supplier is forecasting higher data-center and humanoid-robot demand and sees unlimited upside, as leaders push for growth. The company has no current plans for deals, focusing on rising volumes.
The government has seen its popularity decline to a fresh record low as foreign policy tensions and domestic economic pressures weigh on public sentiment. Officials are under pressure as investors watch the AI and chip sectors amid concerns over property prices and growth.
A three‑judge panel of the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals has largely upheld a lower court ruling that found the Department of Homeland Security’s third‑country removal policy unlawful, saying migrants must get a meaningful chance to raise safety concerns before removal. The panel narrowed one part of the decision on procedural grounds. The administration is expected to appeal.
Preliminary results have shown President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia has secured about 57–58% of the party vote and is set to take roughly 355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments have denounced the ballot as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.
The incident has prompted a Pentagon investigation into how cockpit canopy and weapons-bay door parts from an Australian F-35 ended up in Hong Kong. Australia says it is assisting in the inquiry; there is no public evidence of deliberate Chinese diversion, and officials stress the parts are not considered highly sensitive.
US ambassador to China David Perdue has said President Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would like to buy US weapons. The State Department has reiterated that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no plan to sell. The comments come as Washington has paused a roughly $14bn arms package to Taiwan.
Kobayashi’s company is the focus of buyout talks led by CVC Capital Partners and Nippon Sangyo Suishin Kiko, with Toho and domestic funds showing interest. The discussions aim to take the company private, buoyed by a preexisting impact from a 2024 supplement scandal and hopes for a premium for shareholders.
The Constitutional Court has accepted a case challenging unique barcodes on ballots used in the Feb. 8 election, testing whether they render votes traceable and violate ballot secrecy. A ruling could reshape Thailand’s political landscape and economy, with potential early elections if ballots are struck down.
Heavy, near‑continuous rain since late September has dumped roughly 300–330mm across Bangkok, forcing the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to declare all 50 districts disaster zones. Major roads and canals have flooded, thousands of households have been affected and airports and businesses have suffered disruptions as authorities pump water and open shelters.
An independent commission has reached findings against Abu Dhabi-backed City; the Premier League has not announced any official punishment, and City has denied wrongdoing and says it will appeal if the reports are confirmed.
OpenAI and Anthropic leaders have urged world leaders to coordinate safety and standards for artificial intelligence at the United Nations Security Council, warning of existential risks as AI models potentially improve autonomously. The leaders call for global cooperation, shared standards, and rapid action to ensure controllability as technology evolves.
AMD has announced an all-stock acquisition of World Labs for about $8.2 billion. The deal will bring World Labs’ world models, including Marble and Atlas, under AMD’s umbrella, with Fei-Fei Li joining as executive vice president and chief scientist. The transaction is expected to close by year’s end subject to regulatory approvals.
The final U.S. troops have withdrawn from Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve. Tehran and its allies call the pullout a victory and push for American forces to leave the region. Iraqi leaders warn security gaps could follow, as militias and Islamic State remnants pose fresh risks.
Google has unveiled Gemini 4 Argon, a frontier AI model the company says leads benchmarks in coding, cybersecurity and long-horizon professional work. The model has been rolled out to trusted cybersecurity partners and internal teams while Google conducts further safety testing and readies paid subscribers for phased access.
South Korea is evaluating a proposed $50 billion Alaska LNG project as part of a broader $200 billion investment package announced with the United States. While Washington touts the deal as a boost for energy infrastructure, Seoul is weighing commercial viability and legal compliance amid concerns about the project’s cost, timelines, and long‑term LNG demand.
Radiant World has been placed under interim judicial management by the High Court, with KPMG restructuring executives appointed to take charge. The move follows reports of fraudulent invoicing and mounting creditor pressure, marking a pivotal shift in a saga that has unsettled the global commodities sector.
Christa Pike has survived a botched lethal injection in Tennessee and remains in hospital with critical injuries. Lawyers say she is conscious and receiving care; a court hearing is planned as officials resign over the handling of the case.
The U.S. military has announced it will execute Hasan, the Fort Hood shooter from 2009, by firing squad in a procedure slated for December 3. It will be the first execution by the U.S. military since 1961, and details will be released by officials as preparations proceed.
President Donald Trump has negotiated for large shipments of Russian diesel to enter global markets and has pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to halt strikes on Russian refineries. European officials and some U.S. senators have warned the move will strengthen Moscow’s war effort; Zelenskyy has publicly accused Trump of betrayal and sought additional air‑defence deliveries.
A San Francisco-based company has opened access to its most capable AI models for verified organizations. The program enables high-risk safety testing on critical infrastructure like power grids, banks, and flight systems, signaling a step toward deeper, real-world evaluation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Nidal Hasan, convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shootings, is scheduled for execution by firing squad on Dec. 3 and that the military will make the execution public. The Department of Defense has declined to comment on how the execution will be presented to spectators or whether it will be broadcast.
Taiwan has set a record defence budget for 2027 to deter threats while stressing it will not provoke. President Lai Ching-te has warned against aggression and called for international support, with US backing cited as crucial. The National Day address underscores Taiwan’s commitment to exist and defend its democracy amid ongoing cross‑strait pressure.
A year after a ceasefire was supposed to allow food into Gaza, hunger remains widespread. Families rely on humanitarian kitchens for meals as malnutrition and food insecurity affect children and pregnant women. Aid has eased some shortages, but dietary diversity remains limited and infections risk rising.
A series of Houthi missile and drone strikes has struck Saudi airports this week, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International that has killed and wounded dozens and forced prolonged airport closures. Saudi and allied forces are mounting counter‑operations in Yemen while global leaders have condemned the assaults and airlines have suspended flights.
Multiple projectiles have hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh over the past week, including a deadly strike that has killed at least 13 people and wounded hundreds. Saudi authorities have closed the airport, are conducting damage assessments and safety inspections, and several governments have warned citizens against travel to affected Saudi airports.
Bayer Leverkusen has secured a third consecutive Europa League win, beating OFI Crete 2-0 with a Jonas Hofmann double. Juventus is held to a 2-2 draw by Rennes after a late winner is ruled out by VAR. Sunderland’s draw in Poland accompanies a busy night of European action.
President Donald Trump has said the US is holding talks with Russia and China aimed at denuclearising their largest arsenals and that China could "catch up" to US nuclear capacity within five years; he has discussed the issue in interviews and, Newsmax reported, in a call with Xi Jinping. Today's date: Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:20:11 +0100.
Katie Zacharia has left the White House press secretary post five days after taking it, following a troubled debut briefing and scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Donald Trump told reporters he had advised her to "reconsider" the job; the White House has not named a permanent replacement.
Nidec Corp. has published a redacted report that deepens a crisis surrounding chairman Shigenobu Nagamori and the company’s governance. The findings prompt a review of privatization options and pose questions about internal controls as the company seeks auditor approval and market confidence. New CEO Michio Kaida faces pressure to restructure loss-making units while defending against activist scrutiny.
Five space agencies have launched the MMX mission to land a robotic prospector and a rover on Phobos, Mars’ moon. The spacecraft has separated, paving the way for the Idefix rover and a two-hour surface operation planned for 2028-29, with a 2031 Earth return.
Japan has repeatedly demanded consular access and the journalist’s immediate release after a Japanese national working for Hokkaido Shimbun was detained on Sakhalin Island on espionage suspicions. Tokyo cites a consular-right protocol and a long-running Kuril dispute as context for Moscow's handling.
Elon Musk has said special committees at Tesla and SpaceX are exploring a possible merger and that combining the firms "would be a good idea." He has recused himself from the committees. The proposal would require approval from at least 50% of Tesla shareholders and has sparked stock movement and renewed debate over control, AI and national-security implications.
The balance of power in the Middle East remains centered on Iran and regional deterrence. Analysts say Israel’s security doctrine rests on breaking Iran, holding buffer zones, and using force to deter enemies, with no prospect of a broad shift toward Palestinian diplomacy after the election.
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across France to protest school conditions and rising living costs. Police have arrested nearly 1,000 people and deployed about 70,000 officers; riot units have fired tear gas and used water cannon in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities. Authorities say violence was lower than last week but rights groups have criticised police tactics.
The Federal Election Commission has identified the issue affecting its electronic filing system and is implementing a fix, but the outage continues to block 24- and 48-hour reporting windows ahead of the midterm elections. An official warns of a bad actor attempting to breach the system, while spending trackers show record political ad activity in the closing days.