1. A conservative political activist and influential ally of US President Donald Trump has been shot dead in the western state of Utah. Charlie Kirk was attending an event on a university campus when he was shot by an unidentified attacker at around noon on Wednesday. Kirk was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
2. A former economic security minister of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kobayashi Takayuki, has announced that he will run in the LDP’s leadership election. The race comes after Japan’s prime minister announced his decision to resign. Kobayashi held a policy study session on Thursday afternoon to exchange views on the party’s presidential election.
3. Atmospheric conditions have become extremely unstable in wide areas due mainly to an autumn rain front, bringing heavy rain to western Japan and the Kanto-Koshin region. Downpours also fell in Tokyo.