The Last First

China's top diplomat Wang Yi told former Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya that relations between Beijing and Tokyo must be "normalized," during their talks. The meeting is the first high-level exchange since relations plummeted over Taiwan last year, and is being read as an early signal that both sides may be looking to stabilise a badly strained diplomatic relationship.

India and the West Indies are meeting in the first One Day International of their 2026 series, with live scores and ball-by-ball commentary covering the last 30 overs of the match. Fans are following the game closely, with commentary streams drawing large audiences tracking every run and wicket as the series opener unfolds.

Bus drivers employed by First Student who serve Princeton City Schools in Ohio are set to go on strike after contract negotiations stalled. The work stoppage could disrupt transportation for district students while the company and drivers remain at odds over terms of a new agreement. Local residents are watching closely, with families facing potential last-minute changes to how students get to school if the strike proceeds.

New Datafolha surveys on a Lula versus Flávio Bolsonaro matchup are drawing attention days before Brazil's presidential election first round, prompting outlets to explain when the final polls come out and how reliable they are. Brazilian voters are closely tracking the last polling numbers before the vote, with coverage from CartaCapital, G1 and the BBC focused on what the final snapshots of the race show.

Tennessee is set to execute Christa Pike, who would become the first woman put to death in the state in more than 200 years. The US Supreme Court denied her final bid for a stay, leaving her out of appeals. Pike, the lone woman on Tennessee's death row, says she is at peace and has asked to die by firing squad rather than lethal injection.

A top prospect in the upcoming NFL Draft has been handed an indefinite suspension following an outburst during his team's loss to Alabama. The report, first carried by Fox News, gives no further details on who the player is, what triggered the outburst, or how long the suspension might last, leaving teams and fans awaiting clarification.

Science fiction readers are remembering Alfred Bester, the American author who died on September 30, 1987. Born in 1913, Bester was also a magazine editor and comic scriptwriter, but is best known for novels including The Demolished Man, which won the first Hugo Award in 1953, and The Stars My Destination. Fans are recalling his lasting influence on the genre.

Motor racing fans are being invited to get to know Sepang, the sweeping Malaysian circuit prized for its flowing layout, whether they are first-time viewers or long-time followers of the sport. The message mixes references to Formula 1 and the Bahrain Grand Prix even though Sepang last hosted an F1 race in 2017 and now chiefly holds MotoGP rounds, prompting some confusion among followers.

German media report concern for Princess Alexandra of Kent, a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II and great-cousin of King Charles III, after she abruptly cancelled planned appearances. The 88-year-old princess, whose official name is Alexandra Lady Ogilvy, is one of the last senior working members of the extended royal family, prompting speculation about her health.

The Ethernet specification was first drafted on this day in 1980 by Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel, and Xerox, establishing the networking standard years before the public internet existed. Commenters are marking the milestone by noting how the technology has endured, with Ethernet ports still considered a desirable feature on desktop PCs alongside long-lasting connectors like the 3.5mm audio jack.

A first-person account published by Progressive.org describes a survivor's effort to heal from a genocide they fled, exploring the lasting trauma of displacement and the process of rebuilding a life after leaving violence behind. The piece is being read amid ongoing global conversations about genocides and their aftermath.

Christa Pike (50) is set to be executed in Tennessee after her final appeal was rejected. The execution would be the first of its kind in the state in more than 200 years, drawing wide attention in Dutch media, including De Telegraaf. Pike was convicted of a notorious murder, and debate over her case has continued for decades.

The Meyer Theatre in Green Bay has announced a batch of new bookings, including a stop from the Bored Teachers comedy tour, dueling piano act Deuces Wild, and folk-bluegrass group The Last Revel. The announcement gives local audiences a look at the venue's upcoming season, mixing touring comedy with live music acts popular in the region.

Anniversaries are being marked for Enrico Fermi, the Italian-American physicist born 125 years ago, best known for creating the world's first nuclear reactor, the Chicago Pile-1, and for his work on radioactivity and quantum theory. Fermi won the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics and helped develop the first atomic bomb as part of the Manhattan Project. The Fermi paradox, questioning why humanity has not detected alien life, also bears his name.

Formula 1 is set to return to Sepang in Malaysia, with drivers predicting racing 'chaos' and plenty of 'unknowns' when the grid races at the circuit, which last hosted a grand prix in 2017. Observers are focused on how high heat, humidity and rain could shake up the order and test teams that have no recent data from the track.

Würzburg and Bonn meet for the first time since last season's playoffs, when Bonn edged a dramatic game-five quarterfinal win. Würzburg arrive on the back of a 90:67 victory in Ulm, while Bonn beat Weißenfels 77:72, and both sides sit near the top of the early BBL table. The rematch revives one of last season's fiercest playoff duels.

Motorsport strategist Ruth Buscombe says she is flying to Kuala Lumpur for what she calls the first and last ever Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, describing the country as a special place full of memories from her first race there. Her remark has puzzled and amused fans, as the Bahrain Grand Prix is traditionally held in Bahrain.

Greg Keeley is no longer with SMBC Americas, leaving his role as chief operating officer, according to an internal email sent to staff on Monday. Keeley joined the banking group's Americas operations only last year. News of the abrupt exit, first reported by Banking Dive, is drawing attention from finance industry watchers discussing leadership changes at the Japanese bank's US arm.

Apple TV is releasing 'The Last First,' a production depicting an extreme winter ascent of K2, the world's second-highest mountain. The item is being shared among Japanese-language television audiences, with interest centred on the mountain's notoriously harsh winter conditions and the climbers who attempt the rare feat of reaching its summit in that season.

A judge has granted Florida basketball guard Denzel Aberdeen a fifth year of eligibility through an injunction, clearing the way for him to return to college basketball. Aberdeen spent his first three seasons at Florida before playing for Kentucky last season. The ruling has fueled debate over whether Florida, already a national title contender, could enter next season as the preseason No. 1 team.

The Chicago White Sox are back in Houston for the 2026 AL Wild Card Series, playing at the stadium where they clinched the 2005 World Series — their last playoff series win. Juan Uribe, Paul Konerko and Bobby Jenks starred on October 26, 2005, and the club says it is focused on the present rather than history as it chases its first postseason series victory in two decades.