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Japanese lawmakers divided over nuclear submarine study in security documents

Lawmakers are split on whether Japan's security documents should include a study of nuclear submarines. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the public understands the need for discussion.

“I think the public understands the need for discussions”
Shinjiro KoizumiDefense minister

Japan considers including railways in defense-related spending

Japan is considering counting railway upgrades as defense-related spending in revisions to three security documents due by year-end. The goal is to help move supplies and equipment during emergencies.

Japan farm minister faces questions over election buses and past remarks

Kazuo Yana admitted arranging free bus rides for supporters but denied breaking election law. He also faces criticism over remarks about road budgets and reporters.

Kishida urges caution on tax breaks for Japanese government bonds

Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida questioned tax breaks for individual government bonds, saying they do not fit NISA’s goal of moving savings into investments.

Japan considers separate quota to restart foreign meal-service worker intake

Japan plans to consider moving meal workers at hospitals, care facilities and schools into a quota with room, while keeping new restaurant-worker intake suspended.

Japan agriculture minister calls road budget remark inappropriate, denies pressure

Kazuo Yana said his remark about cutting road funds was inappropriate but denied asking the transport ministry to reduce spending. He also defended free shuttle buses for supporters during a past election.

Debate over agriculture minister's future continues as LDP seeks to calm tensions

Discussion in Japan's upper house over Agriculture Minister Yanagi's future is drawing attention as the LDP tries to ease tensions. Discontent remains inside and outside the party.

Japan's extraordinary Diet session has begun full-scale debate, with attention focused on Agriculture Minister Yanagi's future.

The issue is being discussed in the upper house, one of Japan's two parliamentary chambers.

The Liberal Democratic Party is trying to calm the dispute, but tensions remain within the party and outside it.

The commentary questions whether this effort has eased discontent inside the LDP.

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Oita to begin collecting lodging tax in June 2027

Oita Prefecture will charge guests a nightly tax based on room rates from June 1, 2027, with revenue intended to support tourism and local municipalities.

The prefecture obtained the internal affairs minister's consent to introduce the lodging tax.

The prefecture announced that the tax would apply to guests at all lodging facilities and set rates based on room-only prices.

Gov. Kiichiro Sato announced that collection would begin on June 1, 2027.

Collection of the lodging tax is scheduled to begin.

Ichikawa mayor admits giving wrong reason for denying mosque prayers in park

Ichikawa Mayor Koh Tanaka acknowledged that he wrongly said a former neighbor moved because of the mosque. The city had denied the mosque permission to hold holiday prayers in a municipal park.

Mayor
Koh Tanaka
Mosque
Gyotoku mosque
City
Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture
Decision
Permission for group prayers in a municipal park was denied in May

Japan seeks tenfold increase in Cabinet public relations budget

The Takaichi administration requested 7.2 billion yen for public relations in fiscal 2027, about 10 times the previous year's budget. Critics warn the spending could promote the government rather than provide balanced information.

Japanese government Mainichi editorial

Purpose of the spending

The government says it will produce and distribute a broad range of easy-to-understand policy videos, primarily for young people.

The editorial says the rationale for such a large increase is unclear and questions whether the spending is linked to economic growth.

Public communication

The government says it will strengthen the quality and quantity of videos on topics including economic policy and child care support.

The editorial warns that presenting explanations favorable to the administration with taxpayers’ money risks becoming propaganda.

JCP draft manifesto voices concern over revival of militarism

The JCP’s draft manifesto expresses concern about a revival of militarism. The party is expected to formally adopt it at a convention next January.

World

Eight people injured in stabbing at Incheon supermarket

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, South Korea. Police detained the suspect and are investigating the attack.

“One person is in cardiac arrest and around seven others have been injured”
Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters officialOfficial

Emergency response for Christa Pike delayed by confusion after failed execution

911 recordings show more than half an hour passed before Tennessee prison officials confirmed a call for medical help after Christa Pike survived a lethal injection attempt.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

Burnham says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard likely directed Fairford plot

The British prime minister said a suspected plot near RAF Fairford was likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC. Iran denies involvement.

Russia avoids Ukrainian energy targets in one night after ceasefire announcement

Russia hit no Ukrainian energy targets overnight into Tuesday, but attacked transport and logistics sites with missiles and drones. Ukrainian officials said four people were killed in Kharkiv.

Joseph Kabila leads new coalition with M23 rebels in DR Congo

Former president Joseph Kabila has launched a political and military coalition with M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo. The group says it aims to unite resistance forces and may use force.

One dead and several injured in incident at Six Flags Over Georgia

One person died and several others were injured in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Authorities are investigating how it happened.

One person died and several others were injured in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Georgia.

The park is about 24 kilometres north-west of Atlanta.

Police have not said how the person died or what caused the injuries.

Witness accounts reported by some outlets say a person fell from the ride, but officials have not confirmed this.

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Nuremberg airport suspends flights after aviation emergency alert

Nuremberg airport in Germany suspended flights after an unclear aviation emergency was reported. Police said an aircraft landed safely, and the cause is under investigation.

Bild reported that three pilots separately saw an object during takeoff or landing, disrupting air traffic.

Nuremberg airport suspended flight operations after an aviation emergency alert.

Police said an aircraft had landed safely and that the cause was under investigation.

Japan and US to review off-duty rules after Okinawa killing

Japan and the United States will review rules for US troops’ off-base conduct after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a woman in Okinawa.

Suspect
Devin Ballard, a US Marine stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Victim
Anna Yagi, 39
Location
A hotel in Naha, Okinawa
Arrest
Oct. 4, 2026

Germany Detains People Over Fire at Polish Starlink Station

German authorities have detained people in connection with a September fire at a Starlink station in Poland. Reports differ on whether the case now involves three or four detentions.

Poland Russia

Responsibility

Poland says Russian intelligence services were behind the fire.

Moscow says accusations of Russian involvement are baseless.

Nature of the incident

Poland describes the fire as sabotage aimed at disrupting internet services, including for Ukraine’s military.

Moscow calls the accusations the result of anti-Russian hysteria.

China opposes India naming 28 locations in Ladakh

China rejected India's move to give standardised names to 28 locations and geographical features in Ladakh, saying the areas belong to China. India says the naming is for official mapping and identification.

Business

Henry Schirmer to become Cofra CFO in January 2027

Cofra has named Henry Schirmer as its next CFO, starting 1 January 2027, subject to regulatory approval. He will succeed Florian Brenninkmeyer.

UBS customers receive overnight activation-code texts after technical problem

A UBS customer received two texts asking her to use an activation code after midnight. The bank reportedly told her the messages were linked to a technical problem.

McDonald’s Switzerland brings back The Prime for its 50th anniversary

The burger, created by TV chef René Schudel, won a fan vote and is returning to McDonald’s restaurants across Switzerland for a limited time, while stocks last.

“The Prime has a huge fan base – and now it is back. We listen to our guests every day and shape our offering according to the wishes of the majority.”
Severine CaspardMarketing manager at McDonald’s Switzerland

NZZ editor succession reportedly pits Mark Dittli against Benedict Neff

A Swiss media outlet says Mark Dittli is a contender to lead the NZZ, while alleging that outgoing editor Eric Gujer favors Benedict Neff. The claims have not been confirmed here.

UBS veteran Claudio Scarfone to retire at the end of October

Claudio Scarfone, a UBS executive who worked with independent wealth managers for more than 25 years, will retire at the end of October 2026.

Flexbase’s Aargau data centre and battery face financing and permit questions

Flexbase is building a data centre in Laufenburg, Switzerland, alongside a huge battery. The project faces questions over its financing, technology and missing permits for the battery and grid connection.

Bank Syz appoints new private banking head and chief operating officer

Marc Brodard will lead private banking at Bank Syz, while Martin Freiermuth becomes COO, overseeing operations, technology and security.

Bank Syz has appointed two senior banking executives to strengthen its leadership.

Marc Brodard will lead the bank’s private banking teams, while Martin Freiermuth will become chief operating officer.

Brodard’s appointment gives private banking its own leader, separating its day-to-day management more clearly from the strategic development of wealth management.

He has more than 40 years of banking experience and most recently worked at Banque Bonhôte.

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Swiss home prices rose again in the third quarter of 2026

Prices rose 2% for houses and 1.7% for apartments from the previous quarter. Limited supply has kept prices rising despite higher fixed mortgage rates.

Prices for Swiss single-family homes and condominiums rose.

cash.ch and Watson published reports on the Raiffeisen Transaction Price Index.

S&P cuts Zurich’s outlook to negative, keeps top credit ratings

S&P lowered Zurich’s outlook from stable to negative but kept its AAA long-term and A-1+ short-term ratings. It cited rising debt, spending and investment plans.

Outlook
Lowered from stable to negative
Long-term rating
AAA, unchanged
Short-term rating
A-1+, unchanged
Debt forecast
About 90% of current revenue by 2028, compared with 63% in 2023

Braunwald ski lifts remain closed after takeover offer goes unanswered

The main shareholder of Braunwald’s Sportbahnen AG did not respond to a takeover offer, leaving the ski lifts and mountain railways closed for now. The group behind the offer says it will keep seeking a way forward.

Bruuwald zäme” initiative Sportbahnen AG main shareholder Richi Bolt

Offer and closure

The initiative offered 300,000 francs for Bolt’s shares, subject to debt relief and payment of short-term liabilities, hoping to save the coming ski season.

Bolt did not respond to the offer before the deadline.

Next steps

The initiative said it would continue dialogue and work with existing shareholders to address open questions, including legal ones.

No view or next steps from Bolt are stated in the articles.

Schweiter names Stefan Boenders as its new CFO

Stefan Boenders will become CFO of Schweiter Technologies on November 1, 2026, succeeding Urs Scheidegger, who is leaving at the end of December.

Science & Tech

Cyberattack overheats refrigeration systems in hundreds of French supermarkets

Hackers remotely changed Danfoss refrigeration settings, spoiling fresh and frozen food in hundreds of French supermarkets. French authorities have opened an investigation.

“The attack was probably launched around 11 p.m., but we only realised at 4 a.m., when our delivery driver saw that the storeroom was flooded.”
Charles DezonOwner of an Intermarché supermarket in Gradignan

Cyberattack Defrosts Refrigerators at Hundreds of French Supermarkets

A cyberattack remotely triggered defrosting at hundreds of French supermarket stores, spoiling fresh and frozen food and reportedly causing fires. French prosecutors have opened an investigation.

Hubble data point to a possible second-generation planet around a white dwarf

Researchers found unusually high niobium levels in Hubble data from white dwarf HS 0209+0832, suggesting a planet formed from material shed by a dying star. The finding needs confirmation.

GitLab urges self-managed users to patch critical code execution flaw

A critical flaw could let unauthenticated attackers run code on self-managed GitLab servers. GitLab has released fixes and urges administrators to upgrade immediately.

Google launches Fitbit Edge with GPS, health tracking and replaceable battery

The $179.99 Fitbit Edge adds a display, built-in GPS and expanded health tracking to Google’s fitness lineup. Preorders are open, with sales starting October 27.

Maynooth Researchers Build a DNA Computer That Needs No Continuous Power

Researchers at Maynooth University built a DNA-based computer that can perform calculations without continuous electricity. It can be reused for up to 25 calculations, though it is slower than silicon computers.

Epic Games shifts toward AI to speed up game development

CEO Tim Sweeney says Epic Games is reorganising to use AI more in game development. A Disney collaboration featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters is reportedly delayed.

Epic Games is making a major shift toward AI to speed up the development of its games, CEO Tim Sweeney said on Oct.

12.

The American company makes Fortnite and also provides its Unreal Engine development software to other studios.

Epic says it is moving developers into new roles to make greater use of AI, with Sweeney saying the aim is to help teams build more and better products.

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Meta unveils two AI models it says rival leading systems

Meta introduced Muse Wonder and Wonder Full, saying they perform comparably to models from OpenAI and Anthropic. The models are expected to be available through its Muse app for paid subscribers.

Meta invested US$14 billion in Scale AI and hired its co-founder Alexandr Wang.

Meta launched its Muse Spark model.

Meta launched Muse Code, a product for AI-assisted coding.

Meta launched the Muse agent app and revealed Muse Charm, a handheld AI hardware product, at its Connect developer conference.

Meta unveiled Muse Wonder and Wonder Full.

Cyberattack disrupts systems at TFG’s three UK fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyber incident affected IT systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open while the company investigates.

Affected brands
Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
Unaffected UK brands
Inside Story and White Stuff
Stores
Open and trading
Other operations
TFG Africa and TFG Australia were not affected

Ahold Delhaize takes some systems offline after cyberattack

The grocery group says it disconnected some systems to contain a security issue. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders have been disrupted.

Shanghai robot debuts with a rated payload above five tons

Shanghai Chaifu Robotics unveiled its CR5000-3700 at an industry fair in Shanghai, demonstrating that it can lift a vehicle. Its performance in continuous industrial use remains to be proven.

Sports

Rams lose to Bills and look to reset before facing Cardinals

The Rams lost 37-34 to the Bills, leaving them 2-3 despite gaining 454 yards. Puka Nacua said the team must regroup and define its identity before hosting Arizona.

“We got the Arizona Cardinals, a familiar face coming in with Mike LaFleur, but it’s gonna be an opportunity for us to respond and really look ourselves in the mirror and say, what is our identity gonna be?”
Puka NacuaRams wide receiver

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

Josh Allen records fourth career game with 100-plus passing and rushing yards

Allen ran for 121 yards and passed for 210 in Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win over the Rams, recording the fourth double-triple of his NFL career.

Two players ejected after opening-kickoff fight in London

Jacksonville’s Bryan Thomas Jr. and Philadelphia’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were ejected after fighting during the opening kickoff. A 90-yard Jaguars return for a touchdown was called back because of penalties.

Penix’s rib injury is not considered serious, but Falcons return remains uncertain

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. injured his ribs against Baltimore. He could play against Chicago on Sunday, but the Falcons want to see him practice first.

Week 6 NFL picks predict Seahawks, Cowboys wins and another Eagles loss

A Week 6 forecast backs Seattle over Denver and Dallas over Green Bay, while predicting another loss for Philadelphia after a rough week for the NFC East.

Rams' limited investment in special teams faces renewed scrutiny

After another overtime loss, coach Sean McVay again criticized the Rams' special teams. The team has ranked near the bottom in several measures of investment in that unit.

The Rams lost to the Bills in overtime on Monday, and coach Sean McVay again pointed to special teams after the defeat.

McVay has replaced special teams coordinators, but the team’s personnel decisions are made by the organization, including general manager Les Snead.

An analysis found the Rams near the bottom of the league in five measures of how much teams prioritize special teams.

Seattle devoted more roster resources to special teams, including trading for returner Rashid Shaheed last season.

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Bills stay in Los Angeles before short-week game in Las Vegas

After beating the Rams on Monday night, Buffalo will stay in Los Angeles and prepare there for Sunday's game against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

The Bills beat the Rams in Los Angeles.

The Bills stayed in Los Angeles rather than traveling home.

The Bills are scheduled to play in Las Vegas.

The Bills have a bye.

The Bills are scheduled to play the Ravens at home.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

Suspension
One game without pay
Teams
San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks
Players involved
Dre Greenlaw and Ernest Jones IV
Game result
San Francisco won 32-29

Huntley leads Ravens comeback for 30-23 overtime win over Falcons

Baltimore rallied from an eight-point deficit to beat Atlanta 30-23 in overtime, with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley scoring the winning touchdown.

Commanders and Giants tie 27-27 after Washington runs out of time in overtime

Washington had a chance to kick a winning field goal against New York, but Jayden Daniels was tackled with eight seconds left and the Commanders could not stop the clock.

Entertainment

Bryan Cranston mourns Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, who died at 34

Cranston paid tribute to Mitte, who played his son on Breaking Bad, remembering his acting and disability advocacy. Accounts differ on whether his death was officially confirmed as suicide.

“I’m in deep despair as I write this tonight.”
Bryan CranstonActor who played Walter White

Van Gogh painting unseen in public for 60 years goes on display in Hong Kong

Hundreds queued in Hong Kong to see Van Gogh’s 1890 painting “Chestnut Trees in Blossom,” ahead of a New York auction on November 18 where it is expected to fetch about $180 million.

Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii makes interrogation game with AI in about 30 minutes

Yuji Horii shared a short, text-based game in which players question a suspect. He said AI helped him make it in about 30 minutes, without drawing or programming.

Sean Lennon says he and Julian received equal inheritances

Sean Lennon said he and his half brother Julian inherited the same amount from their father, John Lennon, with Julian’s trust slightly larger by a negligible amount.

Chandler Riggs Makes Resident Evil 7 Fan Film and Seeks Cregger Collaboration

The Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs made a 20-minute fan film based on Resident Evil 7 and says he would welcome working with director Zach Cregger on another film in the franchise.

Princess Eugenie shares video of daughter on eighth wedding anniversary

Princess Eugenie posted a video of Jack Brooksbank holding their two-month-old daughter, Adelaide, as she marked their eighth wedding anniversary.

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

Actor Selma Blair faces two assault charges after an incident on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York.

The charges say she allegedly kicked a police officer taking her to hospital and later kicked a nurse in Queens.

She was arraigned in Queens on two counts of second-degree assault and has pleaded not guilty, according to one account.

A judge set bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, and she was released.

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Ego Nwodim responds to Shane Gillis’ joke about women’s gym clothes

After Gillis joked that women at the gym “dress like whores” on SNL, Nwodim posted a gym photo captioned “whore reporting for duty.” Dan Levy also criticized the remarks.

Shane Gillis hosted “SNL” and joked about women’s workout clothes in his monologue.

Dan Levy posted a reaction criticizing the jokes.

Ego Nwodim shared a gym photo and a post-workout meal photo with pointed captions on Instagram Story.

Voice actor Kenichi Suzumura’s agency to close in March 2027

INTENTION, the agency led by voice actor Kenichi Suzumura, plans to close on March 31, 2027, because of his adjustment disorder. The agency says it will support its talents through the closure.

Agency
INTENTION
Closure date
March 31, 2027
Announcement date
October 13, 2026
Reason cited
Kenichi Suzumura’s adjustment disorder

Glen Schofield says Krafton made him release The Callisto Protocol early

Glen Schofield says Krafton withdrew three promised months of development time during the pandemic, forcing his team to release The Callisto Protocol in December 2022 with problems still unresolved.

Glen Schofield Krafton

Development time

Schofield said Krafton promised three extra months and then withdrew them, forcing the game to ship.

Schofield said Krafton thought the game was a complete failure; Krafton’s own account is not included in the sources.

Management and development

Schofield said many of the studio’s problems were caused by Korean management.

Schofield said Krafton required a PlayStation 4 version, which he said would cost an extra $20 million; the sources do not include Krafton’s response.

Ben Affleck calls Justice League reshoots the low point of his career

Affleck says making Justice League was a deeply negative experience, citing the reshoots after Zack Snyder left the film and tension between the director and studio.

Health

A Career Decision Shows the Balance Between Risk and Familiarity

A worker weighing a new job offer highlights a broader choice: rely on what already works or explore uncertain alternatives. Reinforcement learning offers one way to think about that balance.

Experts answer questions about the manosphere and its influence on young men

A panel of experts is answering questions about the manosphere and its messages about masculinity and relationships. The Australian government is expected to introduce legislation giving users control over social media algorithms.

Boreout links workplace boredom to emotional distress

Boreout describes distress linked to prolonged boredom and lack of challenge at work. It is not recognized as a clinical diagnosis in major disease classification systems.

“There is an important difference between having a calm routine and feeling professionally emptied.”
Denise Milk VargasPsychologist

Setting clear goals can help people make lasting personal changes

The article says personal change starts with thinking about a goal, then taking actions that support it. Repeated reminders can help people resist urges and build new habits.

Twin study links recreational screen use with later mental health symptoms

A study of nearly 22,000 Swedish twins found links between recreational screen use and anxiety or depression symptoms, but the associations weakened when researchers compared twins within the same family.

A psychologist’s burnout was linked to patterns learned in childhood

A psychologist’s exhaustion at work also affected her parenting and relationships. Her therapist linked it to childhood patterns of self-sacrifice and emotional restraint.

Study links language patterns in life stories to psychopathic traits

Researchers found links between how 451 people wrote about their lives and three psychopathic traits. They say language patterns are not a way to diagnose anyone.

Researchers at the University of Mississippi found links between writing and psychopathic traits in a study of 451 people.

Most participants were students, while 144 said they had been in prison.

They wrote about high points, low points and turning points in their lives, then completed a questionnaire measuring boldness, callousness and disinhibition.

People scoring higher in boldness used fewer words about fear, while those scoring higher in callousness used a more positive tone and more words about achievement and rewards.

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When anxiety symptoms may call for professional help

Anxiety can cause physical and emotional symptoms and lead people to avoid activities. Professional help may be needed when it disrupts daily life, relationships or decisions.

Argentina began marking Psychologist’s Day on October 13, following the First National Meeting of Psychologists and Psychology Students.

Infobae published its article about anxiety symptoms that may call for professional help.

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Outlet
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Published
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Article content
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Psychologist suggests a boundary-setting response to gaslighting

Psychologist Lisa Marie Bobby recommends a short response for people whose views are dismissed: “You may have a different perspective, but please do not invalidate mine.”

Children’s speech patterns may signal later mental health vulnerability

An AI-assisted study of 204 children found that how they told stories was linked to mental health risks up to six years later, but it cannot predict who will develop a disorder.