Capital of Japan and a global megacity
The FIFA president has apologized to the FIFA Council for missteps in a private World Cup sell-off plan that was later scrapped. European critics demand documents and clarity ahead of the March presidential election, with UEFA pressing for answers to 42 questions by November 2.
World Athletics’ Ultimate Championship is running Budapest’s three-day event with a $10m prize pot and a winner’s share of $150,000, aiming to give track and field a new, spectator-friendly format. Top athletes from around the world are competing; the event seeks to sustain interest between Olympics and Worlds.
Japan is accelerating defense planning amid heightened activity around the Nansei Islands. Tokyo argues strengthening the defense system is essential to protect the country and Okinawa, while local concerns warn against making the region a larger target.
World Athletics has awarded Nairobi the 2029 World Championships, marking Africa’s first hosting of the event. Munich will stage 2031, while London and Rome miss out. Kenya touts upgrades to Kasarani Stadium and infrastructure as a historic milestone for African sport.
Japan has 107,677 centenarians, the highest global figure, with 88% women. The country’s aging population coexists with a shrinking birth rate, pressuring social security and the economy. Officials cite medicine, diet, and active living as key factors, while authorities warn of fiscal strain as the population declines.
Yu Zidi, at 13, has claimed a major Asian Games gold with a record-setting 2:05.08 in the 200m butterfly, pushing her closer to a potential showdown with McIntosh as the race calendar moves toward Budapest 2027 and Los Angeles 2028.
Typhoon Dujuan has brought sustained winds of 130–144 km/h, prompting evacuations across multiple prefectures. Airports have canceled dozens of flights, trains are suspended, and power cuts affect tens of thousands as officials warn of record rainfall and landslide risk. The storm is moving northeast, with authorities forecasting further heavy rain.
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.
Ohashi has secured multiple golds at the Asian Games, including a world-record 200m breaststroke and a series of freestyle titles, highlighting Japan and China’s ongoing supremacy in swimming as Tokyo hosts a broader sports programme.
Rivet has rolled out a new approach to dating by letting volunteer matchers rate potential couples, aiming to prioritize quality connections over sheer volume. The system blends personality data with AI-generated visuals and social votes, while keeping the final dating decision in the hands of the individuals involved.
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.
Japan hosts a delayed, chaotic Asian Games with logistical issues shadowing standout performances. China leads in diving and tennis through young stars like Yu Zidi and Wang Xiyu; Japan and other nations show flashes of talent while organisers face criticism over accommodation and transport.
Nidec has reported significant writedowns and accounting irregularities, sending its bonds and shares lower amid leadership shake-ups and a delayed filing. PwC Japan has refused to sign off on its statements, prompting questions about the company’s financial stability and future reporting.
A US Marine has been arrested in Naha on suspicion of murdering a 39-year-old Japanese woman and stealing her belongings. Governments demand full cooperation, insist stricter discipline, and Okinawa residents rally as protests widen. Authorities are coordinating with Japanese prosecutors as the US forces face renewed scrutiny over crime linked to personnel.
India secures multiple medals across disciplines at the Asian Games in Japan, with Neeru Dhanda’s trap gold, Vithya Ramraj’s 4x400m haul, and Sahil Jadhav’s archery success highlighting triumphs against financial and logistic hurdles.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed seven nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics: Qatar, India (Ahmedabad), South Africa, Germany (Munich), Hungary, Turkiye (Istanbul) and South Korea. The IOC has set an Oct. 31 deadline for other entries, will assess feasibility by March 2027 and expects a final host vote in 2029.
Regulators have begun examining Japan’s top beer makers over alleged cartel-like price coordination. Officials have raided Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory, while all four firms acknowledge cooperation with investigators and say they will respond fully.
What happened has prompted Japan and the U.S. to reassess security measures on Okinawa after a Marine's alleged killing of a local woman sparked protests, a 48-hour pause, and a 30-day curfew for troops. Governors, ministers, and diplomats are pushing for preventive steps amid calls to reduce the base burden.
Global AI semiconductor stocks have surged on AI infrastructure demand, but fresh data show a pullback in memory-chip names as CXMT’s advances raise questions about yield, scale and margins. Investors are reassessing pricing power and the durability of AI-driven demand.
Lumentum has acknowledged it cannot meet about 70% of demand for certain products next year and 30% through 2028, despite a $2 billion investment from Nvidia that is supporting capacity expansion and data-transmission tech.
Russia has arrested a Japanese journalist identified by Moscow as Yuki Imai of the Hokkaido Shimbun, accusing him of collecting information on Russian defence capabilities for Japanese intelligence. The FSB has flown him to Moscow and a court has remanded him until 12 December. Tokyo has demanded information, summoned the Russian ambassador and requested consular access.
Winnie-the-Pooh marks 100 years since the first Milne tale, celebrated with stamps, exhibitions, and a New York Public Library show. UK and US outlets highlight Pooh’s enduring popularity and the cross‑Atlantic tug‑of‑war over the bear’s home.
Japan and the United States are conducting Keen Sword 27, a biennial exercise involving about 45,000 Japanese troops and 12,000 American service members, plus participants from seven other nations. The drills focus on defending Japan’s southwestern islands and nearby waters amid tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia, with new missiles and systems deployed to Yonaguni and surrounding areas.
Japan is launching MMX, the first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, Mars’ inner moon, to study its origin and evaluate its potential as a future site for human exploration. The five-year mission includes a Danish-French rover and NASA instruments; Phobos samples will form the core data, with Deimos observations planned.
Japan is balancing a planned sales tax cut with higher defense spending amid concerns about mounting debt. Yields on the 10-year government bond have risen above 3%, underscoring investor worries since Takaichi’s leadership began.
Two Japanese firms have cleared final steps to begin China operations as Beijing welcomes a trade delegation. BPCE’s banking arm plans to buy Tokyo advisory firm Sangyo Sosei, while other moves show continued cross-border investment.