The BBC's Anthony Zurcher breaks down how the US president's connections have brought about a breakthrough moment for the Middle East.

A life-sized holographic police officer has been installed in central Seoul in a bid to deter crime. The BBC took to the streets to ask people if they think it’ll work.

James, who led a civil fraud case against US President Donald Trump, was indicted in Alexandria, Virginia.

Japan’s new administration under Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi faces its first major diplomatic test: an inaugural summit with President Trump, expected on October 28. How that meeting unfolds—and how Takaichi responds if Trump presses Japan to lift defense outlays to 3.5% of GDP—will shape Tokyo’s security posture. With Beijing wary of Takaichi’s stance, the trajectory of Japan–China relations is also in focus. (News On Japan)

Four former executives of Alts, an AI development company previously listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Growth Market, were arrested on October 9 on suspicion of falsifying financial statements. (News On Japan)

Sumitomo Life Insurance has reported that around 80% of households in Japan are being impacted by rising prices, with monthly living costs now about 9,600 yen higher than a year ago. The findings come from the company’s latest survey on household finances, which shows that inflation is putting significant pressure on family budgets. (News On Japan)

Osaka is grappling with a wave of confusion and last-minute activity after announcing it would halt new approvals for special “minpaku” short-term rental properties in response to mounting complaints over noise and garbage. One week after the policy shift, application counters are fully booked, with wait times stretching to two months. (News On Japan)

Trump's unique style and his relationships with key players helped but there were also factors beyond his control.

Trump's unique style and his relationships with key players helped but there were also factors beyond his control.

The intersection of modern interior design and real estate has become increasingly significant in recent years, fundamentally transforming how properties are valued, marketed, and sold. (News On Japan)

Fender, the US-based instrument maker, unveiled its first collaboration guitar with Godzilla on October 9 in Tokyo, featuring a special-edition “Godzilla Guitar” capable of reproducing the monster’s iconic roar. (News On Japan)

The bald, subterranean rats are the world's longest-lived rodent.

Adrian De Wet tells the South African court that "when pigs are hungry enough, they'll eat anything".

People in Gaza celebrate a potential end to the war, but know it will mean facing the grief they have put aside.

Two games in Macau this weekend will be the first since the league was effectively frozen out in 2019.

Japan’s annual prefectural attractiveness ranking has placed Saitama Prefecture at the bottom for the first time, surprising even local restaurant owners. Now in its 17th year, the 2025 survey once again crowned Hokkaido as the most attractive prefecture — maintaining its perfect record since the ranking’s inception. (News On Japan)

Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released The Official Record of Empress Kojun, chronicling the life of Empress Kojun, wife of Emperor Showa and grandmother of the current Emperor. (News On Japan)

Bear attacks are intensifying across Japan, with fatalities in fiscal 2025 already matching the record high set in 2023. Experts warn that the rise reflects not only an increase in bear numbers but also changes in human society that have blurred the line between mountain habitats and residential areas. (News On Japan)

A French court increases by a year the jail term of the only man who challenged his conviction for raping Gisèle Pelicot.

The US government said approximately 2.9 million cars could be impacted by the investigation.