Economy: Japanese banks report stronger corporate demand for funds despite the Bank of Japan’s rate hikes. September exports grew 16.7% year on year, but Japan still posted a ¥536.6 billion trade deficit. The government is prioritizing chips and video games in its near-term growth plan, with AI and robotics as longer-term bets. Trade & Security: China is defending rare-earth export curbs on Japan, raising concerns about supplies of yttrium, a key industrial mineral. Japan and the US are also holding large-scale Keen Sword drills with regional partners. Tourism: Foreign arrivals fell 5% in September, while visitor spending reached a record ¥7 trillion in January-September. A November shift from tax-free shopping to refunds has retailers worried about deterring big spenders. Public Safety: A data breach at Burger King Japan exposed personal information linked to more than 11 million app records. In Akita, authorities issued the highest-level flood warning after record rain. Space: Japan has launched its MMX mission to collect samples from Phobos, a moon of Mars, and return them to Earth by 2031.