Japan

A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, with authorities issuing evacuation orders or advisories to nearly two million residents as the storm brings heavy rain and damaging winds. The evacuation calls cover multiple prefectures, with officials warning of flooding and landslides. Coverage is tracking the storm's path and any reports of injuries or damage.

Japanese authorities have urged nearly two million people to evacuate as a powerful typhoon sweeps across the country, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and the risk of flooding and landslides. Local officials have opened shelters and warned residents in low-lying and coastal areas to move to safety, with transport disrupted across affected regions.

Ukraine's Defense Forces reportedly struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, with additional hits reported on the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant. In parallel developments, Japan allocated a further $51.5 million to Ukraine, while a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged President Trump to take a harder line against Putin. Commenters are highlighting the combination of deep strikes inside Russia and continued Western financial and political support for Kyiv.

Japan has begun scaling back its ultra-loose monetary policy in an effort to prop up the yen, which has fallen sharply against the dollar. Commentators note the move is being helped by expectations of looser policy from the US Federal Reserve, dubbed Japan's 'American friend', which narrows the interest rate gap driving the currency's decline.

Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are reported to have pledged support for securing the Strait of Hormuz, reversing their earlier refusals following pressure from the United States. The move would mark a major shift in international engagement over the strategic shipping route, which carries a large share of the world's oil, though details of the pledges and any deployments have not yet been confirmed.

North Korea is conducting tests of swarm attack tactics that combine drones with missile launches, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The development suggests Pyongyang is working to integrate cheap, massed drone assaults with conventional missile strikes, a combination that could complicate defenses in South Korea, Japan and for US forces in the region.

England and Spain faced off in a high-profile international football match, with Spain's Lamine Yamal scoring what is being described as a goal of historic proportions against England. Searches for the two teams' standings surged worldwide, topping trending lists across France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Italy and Canada. The teenage winger's strike is drawing widespread reaction from fans and media.

Japan's national debt stands at roughly twice the size of its economy, the highest ratio among developed nations, but economists writing in Fortune argue the United States' debt load of around $40 trillion is the more worrying case. They point to America's faster-growing deficits and political gridlock over spending, contrasting it with Japan's domestic, stable creditor base.

Flash floods have struck Nepal, and an expert says climate change is to blame. Rising temperatures are believed to intensify monsoon rainfall, making sudden floods more frequent and severe in the Himalayan region. The comments add to a wider debate about how a warming climate is driving extreme weather disasters across South Asia.

The 20th Asian Games are under way in Japan's Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, running from 19 September to 4 October. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing across 43 sports. The Guardian has published a photo gallery from the event, showing scenes from the opening days of competition in Japan.

An earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture late on September 26, registering a seismic intensity of 4, with an estimated magnitude of 4.5 and a focal depth of about 10 kilometres. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued intensity readings by municipality, and officials confirmed there was no risk of a tsunami.

US 10-year Treasury yields have climbed into 5% territory, a level not seen in years, prompting renewed concern across equity markets. A Japanese commentary highlights a rare combination of interest rate hikes in both Japan and the United States — the first US hike in over three years — and its knock-on effects: a stronger yen pressuring tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq 100 and FANG+ stocks.

India played Japan in a one-off T20 International as part of the Suzuki Cup, with match highlights released by Star Sports drawing a huge response from cricket fans. The rare meeting between the two Asian sides drew attention, with viewers discussing India's performance and Japan's growing presence in international cricket following the contest.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, the Japanese maker at the center of a supplement contamination scandal linked to suspected deaths, is reportedly considering a buyout offer valued at more than ¥500 billion. The possible deal comes as the company continues to face fallout from the scandal, which damaged its reputation and finances.

Japan's government is moving to tighten regulations affecting foreign residents, according to Al Jazeera, which reports the shift is throwing people's futures into doubt. The report frames the policy as having significant consequences for foreigners living and working in Japan, though details of the specific measures are not provided in the headline.

Japan is moving to tighten rules for foreign residents, a policy shift that could leave many non-Japanese nationals uncertain about their ability to live and work in the country. The measures are drawing attention for their potential impact on migrants, workers and their families who had built lives in Japan under the existing system.

Japan is moving to tighten its rules for foreign residents, and Al Jazeera reports that the changes are throwing people's futures into doubt. The measures could affect the status and long-term prospects of foreigners living and working in Japan, a country that has increasingly relied on foreign labour amid a shrinking population.

Coverage of the Asian Games 2026 on September 27 centres on India's scores, updates and results from Day 8 of the competition. Sports outlets are tracking how Indian athletes are faring across events as the Games, hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, move into their second week, with medal standings and key match outcomes drawing particular attention from Indian audiences.

South Korea has long avoided any commitment to involvement in a potential conflict over Taiwan, keeping its policy deliberately vague to balance ties with the United States and economic relations with China. Reporting by The Japan Times says that maintaining this discretion is becoming harder, as regional security pressures mount and Washington expects allies to clarify their roles in a Taiwan contingency. Observers are debating whether Seoul can continue to stay on the sidelines if tensions escalate.

Japan's tourism industry is growing rapidly, but efforts to make the sector more sustainable are lagging, according to reporting by The Japan Times. The country has seen record inbound visitor numbers in recent years, raising concerns about overcrowding, strain on local communities, and environmental impact as the industry works to balance economic gains with greener practices.

Japan is considering stricter regulations on regenerative medicine as treatments in the field proliferate across the country. The move follows growing concern that clinics are offering unproven therapies under looser rules than those governing conventional drugs. Officials are debating how to balance patient access to innovative treatments with safety oversight, and medical groups are watching closely for what the revised framework could mean for practice.

Japan's finance minister said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not a reflationist, seeking to calm investors who fear her government will spend excessively and push the Bank of Japan to keep interest rates low. The remarks aim to reassure markets concerned that a Takaichi-led administration could fuel inflation through loose fiscal policy and pressure on monetary policy.

India are playing Japan in the first T20 International of their 2026 series, with live score and commentary drawing heavy attention from cricket fans. The unusual matchup between an established Test nation and an emerging associate side has sparked curiosity about how competitive Japan can be against a full-strength India team.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed creating a Congress of Europe, framing it as a step in the right direction given the scale of the continent's geopolitical challenges. The idea, reported by international media including the Japan Times, is being debated as a possible way to strengthen European unity and coordination on security and foreign policy.

A high-profile Japanese anime voice actor has taken TikTok to court, alleging the platform hosted videos featuring an artificial intelligence clone of his voice without his consent. The case highlights growing tension between voice performers and AI companies over unauthorised replication of their voices, and could set a precedent for how Japanese law treats voice rights in the age of generative AI.

India are playing Japan in the first T20I of their 2026 cricket series, with live score and commentary drawing a large audience following the action ball by ball. Fans are discussing the matchup, which is a notable fixture given Japan's emerging presence in international cricket against a major Test-playing nation.

India will meet Afghanistan in the cricket quarter-final at the Asian Games 2026, a rematch of the Hangzhou 2023 final where India took gold. The match is a knockout, so the loser is eliminated. Fans are searching for live broadcast and streaming details as the tournament reaches its decisive stages in Japan.

France defeated Turkey in a UEFA Nations League match, drawing wide attention in Japan alongside Nations League coverage. Japanese sports media also highlighted a national team player's first international goal, saying the coach urged him to keep attacking, with a failed World Cup selection serving as motivation behind his move to PSG.

India take on Iran in the kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games, with India also meeting Japan in hockey and Indian athletes competing in athletics events. The clashes are drawing major attention from Indian sports fans, with hundreds of thousands engaging with live coverage of the day's action across the Games.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange began trading after Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party elected a new leader, a decision with potential implications for the country's political direction and economic policy. Investors are watching how the leadership change might affect fiscal and monetary policy, with markets in Asia closely tied to Japanese political developments at the moment.

The Asian Games are getting under way in Japan, with coverage highlighting ten athletes expected to make an impact at the multi-sport event. The preview comes as competitors from across Asia arrive to compete, drawing attention to standout names in athletics, swimming and other disciplines ahead of the opening of competition.

England are preparing to take on Spain in a headline UEFA Nations League fixture, with matchday one also featuring Italy against Belgium. The fixture is drawing attention across multiple countries, ranking among top searches in Australia, Mexico, Singapore, Japan and beyond. Preview coverage from UEFA and football outlets highlights the England-Spain clash as one of the standout matches of the round.