Disasters & accidents, Finance & markets, Policy & regulation
499 storiesJapan regulator investigates Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory over beer price cartel
Japan's Fair Trade Commission carried out a mandatory investigation on 7 October into four major brewers — Asahi, Kirin, Sapporo and Suntory — over suspected prior coordination of beer price increases, which would breach Japan's Antimonopol…
Three typhoons active near Japan as Typhoon 27 moves north, JMA says
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced on Oct. 5 that Typhoon 28 (Nolo) and Typhoon 29 (Koguma) had formed, making three active typhoons near Japan with Typhoon 27 (Choi-wan). Typhoon 27 was large and very strong, moving north-northwest …
UAE sets phased caps on salt, sugar and fat in packaged foods, fines up to Dh500,000
The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention has begun implementing a resolution that caps sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged foods, with phased limits running until the end of 2030. The rules apply to locally made and imported produ…
China's central bank adds to gold reserves for 23rd straight month
China's gold reserves stood at 77.47 million ounces, or about 2,409.59 tonnes, at the end of September, up 740,000 ounces (about 23.02 tonnes) from 76.73 million ounces (about 2,386.57 tonnes) at the end of August, according to figures carr…
South Korea weighs ending military service exemptions for athletes and artists
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said on October 6 that it is considering tightening or abolishing the military service exemption granted to athletes and artists, after some Asian Games gold medalists said exemption mattered more to them than…
Korean court suspends market-cap delisting decisions; exchange halts two more exits
Seoul Southern District Court Civil Division 51 granted injunctions on Oct 2 suspending the Korea Exchange's delisting decisions against KOSPI-listed Joo Yeon Tech and KOSDAQ-listed KM Pharma until a main ruling. The court questioned the 45…
Russia's Finance Ministry places 39.13 bln rubles of OFZ 26252 bonds at auction
Russia's Finance Ministry held an auction on 7 October for federal loan bonds of the OFZ-PD 26252 series and placed 39.13 bln rubles of the issue, TASS reported, citing demand of 134.371 bln rubles. The ministry had announced the auction a …
S&P 500 sets record high, closes above 7,800 for first time
The S&P 500 rose 0.6% on Tuesday to a record high, surpassing its August peak, CNBC reported it touched an intraday record of 7,844.52 and closed above 7,800 for the first time. The rally came amid elevated oil prices and rising bond yields…
Defense minister: arts, sports military service exemption to be cut and abolished
South Korea's defense minister said on Oct 7 that the goal is to gradually reduce the arts and sports military service exemption and ultimately abolish it, after controversy over remarks by Asian Games football gold medallists about the exe…
Korea's top individual tax delinquent Kwon Hyuk to pay 393.8 billion won
The National Tax Service said on Oct 7 that Kwon Hyuk, chairman of Sido Group and the country's largest individual tax delinquent, has submitted a plan to pay his personal back taxes of 393.8 billion won in full, 15 years after the tax was …
Tropical Storm Isaias forms off Mexico, forecast to hit US Gulf Coast as hurricane
Tropical Storm Isaias formed early Wednesday in warm waters off eastern Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, and the National Hurricane Center said it is expected to strengthen into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season befor…
Land minister says Gangnam, Yongsan home prices have turned negative
Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Hong Ji-seon told a National Assembly audit on Oct 7 that home prices in Seoul's Gangnam three districts and Yongsan have turned negative, and said price growth should ease with the market stabili…
Nikkei average recovers 70,000 level for first time in about three months
Tokyo's Nikkei average rose above 70,000 during trading on 5 October, the first time in about three months, as buying concentrated on semiconductor and AI-related shares. Nikkei reported the morning close at 70,037.61, up 1,728.15 points or…
JPX to cut TOPIX constituents from about 1,600 to 986 under new selection rules
Japan Exchange Group announced on Oct 7 that it will sharply reduce the number of companies in the TOPIX stock index, to 986 from 1,634, in a phased change running from late October to July 2028. A reassessment in October 2027 will decide w…
Typhoon No. 27 moves north near Ogasawara as typhoons 28 and 29 form
Typhoon No. 27, described by the Japan Meteorological Agency as large and very strong, moved north over waters near the Ogasawara Islands and was forecast to approach the islands at very strong intensity from the evening of Oct. 5 to early …
ADIB shareholders approve AED1.75bn rights issue for Vision 2035
Shareholders of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank approved a rights issue of about AED1.75 billion ($476 million) at a General Assembly on Tuesday. The issue comprises 106,383,000 new shares at AED16.45 each, a 28.8 per cent discount to the August 24 …
Fire at Ustuu-Khuree Buddhist monastery complex in Tuva put out; no injuries
A fire broke out on 7 October at the Ustuu-Khuree Buddhist monastery complex in Tuva, about 5 km from the town of Chadan. Emergency services localized the blaze and later extinguished it; the MChS reported an area of 468 sq m, while earlier…
Tanker catches fire in Black Sea near Sochi; Sirius beaches closed
A tanker caught fire in the Black Sea near Sochi, according to Russian state and business outlets. The head of the Sirius federal territory administration, Dmitry Plishkin, said its beaches would be temporarily closed and that water and air…
Euro falls to 17-month low as Spain and France political uncertainty rattles markets
The euro fell to its weakest level since May 2025, dropping below $1.12 against the dollar, as political and fiscal uncertainty in Spain and France weighed on the currency. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called a snap election for Nov…
Asian Games exemption row widens: Ahn seeks abolition, ruling party open to overhaul
People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo said on 7 October that the military service exemption for Asian Games gold medalists should be abolished starting with this tournament, arguing it is set by presidential decree and President Lee Jae…