Japan will be without giant pandas for the first time in half a century, as twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei return to China. This symbolically ends an era of "panda diplomacy" amid deteriorating Japan-China relations.
Japan rejected the EU's proposal to use frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. Tokyo refused to use $30 billion in frozen assets held on its territory to issue a loan to Ukraine.
A 7. 6 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of Japan, reaching an intensity of over 6 on the Japanese scale. A tsunami warning has been issued, with the epicenter located east of Aomori Prefecture.
Tokyo has dropped to third place in the ranking of the world's most populous metropolises, ceding to Jakarta, which topped the list. According to a UN report, the number of metropolises has quadrupled since 1975, mainly in Asia.
Nissan Motor is selling its global headquarters in Yokohama to KKR for 97 billion yen, which will generate an extraordinary profit of 73. 9 billion yen. The deal will be completed by December 2025, and Nissan will continue to lease the building for 20 years.
The US dollar held firm at high levels in early Asian trading on Friday after reaching a three-month high. The dollar index remained stable at 99.478 after the stock market fell on Wall Street on Thursday.
Automaker Toyota Motor denied making direct promises to US President Donald Trump regarding new investments totaling $10 billion. Executive Director Hiroyuki Ueda explained that the company merely confirmed its readiness to continue investing in American enterprises.
Newly elected Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi also promised to nominate the US President for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the gift of 250 cherry trees and fireworks to Washington. This will happen in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
On October 28, Wild Food Day, World Judo Day, International Animation Day, and Grandparents' Day are celebrated. Orthodox Christians commemorate the Martyr Paraskeva.
US President Donald Trump began his Asian tour with a royal reception in Japan, where he met with Emperor Naruhito and discussed economic and defense issues. A key moment of the trip will be a meeting with Xi Jinping to discuss a trade truce and Russia's war against Ukraine.
China will focus on technological self-sufficiency and innovation in a new five-year plan, which will begin in 2026. The country's government has outlined key priorities, including the development of its own semiconductor supply chain and stimulating domestic demand.
Japan's export credit agency NEXI is ready to expand war risk insurance in Ukraine. This is a key step to attract Japanese investments and technologies for the reconstruction of Ukrainian industry and infrastructure.
Toyota has officially unveiled the Land Cruiser FJ, a compact lifestyle-oriented SUV. The model is scheduled to launch in Japan in mid-2026, with a prototype to be presented to the public at the Japan Mobility Show 2025.
Japan's LDP and the Japan Innovation Party signed a coalition agreement on October 20. Sanae Takaichi, leader of the LDP, is expected to become the first woman to lead Japan's government.
Parliamentary elections have begun in Moldova, which will determine the composition of the legislative body for the next four years. Voting will take place from 7:00 to 21:00 at 2274 polling stations, of which 1973 are open on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.
Playground Games has announced Forza Horizon 6, which will be set in Japan. The game will be released on Xbox and PC in 2026, with a PS5 version to follow.
Ukrainian athletes won five medals at the World Armwrestling Championship in Bulgaria. Oleh Zhoh won gold, while Artem Popov, Sofia Onopriienko, and Andriy Dendeberia took home bronze medals.
Ukrainian athlete Yaroslava Mahuchikh won a bronze medal at the 2025 World High Jump Championships in Tokyo. She cleared 1.97m, and the competition was suspended twice due to heavy rain.
Ukraine and the Czech Republic have agreed to accelerate the signing of an intergovernmental agreement (G2G) to implement Ukraine's reconstruction projects. The Czech Republic has received 188 million euros in credit guarantees for these purposes and plans to begin their implementation in 2026.
Armand Duplantis set a new world record in pole vault, clearing 6. 3 meters. This is already the 14th record in the career of the Swedish athlete.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation after less than a year in office. His party, the LDP, suffered electoral setbacks, leading to calls for a change of leader.
Japanese Prince Hisahito, who turned 18, has officially come of age. He is second in line to the Chrysanthemum Throne, but the lack of male heirs after him raises concerns about the future of the imperial family.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting China for the first time in seven years, meeting with Xi Jinping and Putin. This visit is a signal to the US amid deteriorating relations over tariffs.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung proposed "peace without absorption" to North Korea, recognizing its political system and renouncing violent unification. He called for the restoration of the 2018 military agreement to reduce tensions, despite North Korea's recent rejection of reconciliation.
In Tokyo, two boxers died from injuries sustained during professional bouts. Another athlete is in a coma after a fight.
Matt Smith, known for his role in "House of the Dragon", is expected to get a villain role in Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: Starfighter" film. Filming will begin in the autumn, with the premiere scheduled for May 28, 2027.
The city of Isesaki, Japan, recorded its highest temperature in history – 41. 8°C. The heat has gripped most of the country, causing heatstroke warnings.
Two barges caught fire at a fireworks festival in Yokohama, causing chaos. Five workers were rescued, one sustained minor injuries.
An opinion column by financial expert Olena Sosedka.
