Typhoon Bavi: Japan’s Okinawa islands and Taiwan took the hit as Bavi brought violent winds, heavy rain, power outages, and major flight and ferry cancellations; Japan warned of landslides and flooding while Taiwan and eastern China ramped up evacuations ahead of a Sunday push toward China. Space Race: JAXA pulled off Japan’s first successful reusable rocket lift-off-and-landing test, a short hop that could cut launch costs and boost competitiveness. Security Diplomacy: Japan and New Zealand agreed to deepen security cooperation and coordinate with like-minded partners as China’s assertiveness stays on the agenda. Defense Talks: Japan and Vietnam set defense ministerial talks for next week, aiming to expand equipment and technology cooperation. AI for Local Government: Japan’s internal affairs ministry is studying how AI agents could take on tasks for understaffed local governments, with a report due by late 2026. Pensions & the Yen: Japan’s finance minister urged the GPIF to buy more domestic assets, but the fund is likely to stick to strict rules in the short term. Infrastructure: Narita Airport and local governments began steps for compulsory land acquisition to move forward with a third runway. Wildlife Safety: Japan released an anime-style bear safety guide for children after rising bear encounters. Culture/Everyday Life: FamilyMart updated Famichiki packaging for the first time in nearly nine years, and JR Central/JR West plan a new “Supreme Class” on Shinkansen private rooms from Oct. 1, 2026.