
AI-generated summary
Last year, the US administration and South Korea agreed on a total investment plan of $350 billion, with $150 billion expected to be allocated to shipbuilding and $200 billion for direct investment. In exchange, the US had agreed to reduce correlated taxes and auto tariffs from 25% to 15%.
On September 30, US President Trump announced South Korea's investment in the US totaling $200 billion (approximately 31.5 trillion yen). The first phase of a $350 billion investment plan included a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Alaska and the construction of eight nuclear power plants in the United States. Japan is the second country after Japan to announce specific investment projects based on last year's trade agreement. Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump touted his massive investment in the United States.
The first investment in the US is a gas-fired power plant, but nuclear power plant construction is in trouble - South Korean government
Last year, South Korea reached an agreement with the US administration on an investment plan totaling $350 billion. It said $150 billion would be allocated to the shipbuilding sector and $200 billion would be invested directly. In exchange, the US agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs and auto tariffs from 25% to 15%.
The first round of investment projects will include approximately $120 billion for the construction of nuclear power plants in eight locations, including Ohio. Approximately $54 billion will be invested to build an LNG pipeline in Alaska. Approximately $22 billion will be allocated to the project, including the construction of a gas-fired power plant in southern Texas.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Construction of an LNG project in Alaska and a gas-fired power plant in Texas will begin in 2027 or later as South Korea's first direct investment in the United States.
Likely · Within months
Plans to build eight nuclear power plants in the U.S. may be delayed due to difficulties with regulatory approvals and local coordination.
Possible · Within years

The Federal Reserve's Office of Inspector General concluded that there was no evidence of wrongdoing in the headquarters renovation work. Nidek recorded an impairment loss of 632.2 billion yen for the group in the fiscal year ending March 2026. The mayor of Hitachiomiya, Ibaraki Prefecture, has announced that he will accept a literature review regarding the selection of a final disposal site for nuclear waste. Former boyfriend sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering Mito nail artist. Tobu Railway revealed that it violated company regulations in the accident that killed four people. In a lawsuit over voice imitation caused by generative AI, the Tokyo District Court has ruled that human voices are also protected by publicity rights. The US president signs AI-related documents with AI company leaders and signs an executive order mandating the use of "SI" in government documents. North Korea's Kim Yo Jong claims that the landmine explosion was South Korea's own doing. Former Foreign Minister Iwaya said that he felt that China wanted to encourage Japan to make efforts to improve the situation. The ICC changed the venue of the Conference of the Parties from New York to the Netherlands. The Chinese Vice Premier emphasized that China and Japan are important economic and trade partners. NIDEK has announced the resignation of President Mitsuya Kishida and will be succeeded by Senior Managing Executive Officer Kaida. According to the final figures from the 2025 census, the ``1-vote gap'' in House of Representatives constituencies is up to 2.275 times. The Chinese vice prime minister pointed out to former Foreign Minister Iwaya that some Japanese politicians are trying to challenge China's bottom line on the Taiwan issue. Former Foreign Minister Iwaya met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Beijing. The Bureau of Statistics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications accused Toyama city officials of inflating the city's population in its national census. Former Mayor Yamanaka of Yokohama City has officially announced his candidacy in the re-election. A man who claims to be in the real estate business was arrested on suspicion of providing customer information to an anonymous and mobile criminal group and being involved in a robbery. U.S. Open AI will cancel the release of next-generation AI models.

The age limit for NISA will be abolished, and "Children's NISA" for children aged 0 to 17 will begin in January 2027. Account opening will begin sequentially from October 1st. The structure is similar to the savings investment limit, with investment limits of 50,000 yen per month and 600,000 yen per year, and the total principal amount is tax-free up to 6 million yen. The securities industry hopes that this will help attract young people to invest.

Paid fastpasses, which give priority access to restaurants, are being expanded. The service, which allows you to purchase tickets in advance using a QR code and avoid waiting time for 500 to 2,000 yen, is popular among young people and tourists. Experts have analyzed that it matches the time performance orientation, and there are hopes that it will be expanded to facilities with long waiting times, such as art museums.

On the 28th, the US Department of Transportation announced new standards that significantly relax fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. As part of a review of the Biden administration's electric vehicle initiative, the government will lower fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks for the 2031 model year to about 34.9 miles per gallon (about 14.8 kilometers per liter). Additionally, the system for buying and selling credits for excess fuel consumption will be abolished starting with the 2028 model, and vehicle classification will also be reviewed.

This month, Shinki Bus hired Mr. Xu Kai (42), a male driver of Chinese nationality with a specified skill residence status, and began operating the Himeji Castle Loop Bus departing from Himeji Station. With the aim of resolving the shortage of drivers and maintaining the local transportation network, Mr. Xu drove along the route while making announcements fluently in Japanese. Mr. Xu, a native of Hubei Province, China, joined the company in September last year after completing technical training and commented on Japan's road conditions, saying, ``It's difficult to drive because it's narrow and there are many utility poles.''

Duskin's donut chain ``Mister Donut'' opened a new store in a shopping mall in Shanghai, China on the 28th. This will be the company's first re-entry into the Chinese mainland market in about seven years since it withdrew from the Chinese mainland market in 2019.