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.

NASA's Artemis II mission is set to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, prompting questions about why the gap lasted more than five decades. Commentators point to shifting political priorities, soaring costs, and the cancellation of earlier programs like Constellation as reasons the US pause extended so long.

India and the West Indies are meeting in the first One Day International of their 2026 series, with live scores and commentary covering the final 30 overs of the match. Cricket fans are following ball-by-ball updates as the two sides open the bilateral contest, with the result expected to set the tone for the rest of the series.

The UEFA Nations League is back in the spotlight, with Xavi earning his first win as Netherlands head coach and Denmark beating Wales. England are preparing for a Wembley showdown against world champions Spain, who won on their last Wembley visit thanks to a single goal. Midfielder Elliot Anderson said 'there's no better game' ahead of the clash, as fixtures draw attention across Europe and Latin America.

A year after Giorgio Armani's death, Milan is showcasing the fashion house's business and creative evolution. The presentation highlights how the brand has developed its identity and operations since the passing of its founder, underlining his lasting influence on Italian fashion and the company's future direction.

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.

Sports betting analysts released last-minute picks for NFL Week 3, highlighting the Seattle Seahawks covering comfortably in quarterback Sam Darnold's return against his former team, while the Las Vegas Raiders dropped their first game of the season. The roundup gave bettors final guidance on spreads and outcomes ahead of kickoff.

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.

Virat Kohli has signalled his intent to play the 2027 ODI World Cup, describing it as his last and speaking of unfinished business with India. The comments point to the 37-year-old extending his international career for another two years as he chases a first 50-over world title since 2011, when he was part of the winning squad.

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.

French player Corentin Jacquet has reached his first ATP Tour semi-final at the tournament in Hangzhou, China, marking a career milestone. Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev also progressed, fighting through to the last four. The results set up an intriguing end to the week, with the rising Frenchman now facing the biggest test of his career against more established opposition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Authorities are set to resume the search Sunday for a man who went missing after being last seen in the ocean at Robert Moses State Park on Long Island. The news was first reported by News12, with reports appearing on both its Long Island and New Jersey outlets. Details about the man's identity or the circumstances of his disappearance have not yet been released.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A Panamanian expert panel has recommended that First Quantum Minerals' copper mine, shut last year after nationwide protests and a Supreme Court ruling, be temporarily restarted to fund a phased closure of the site. The proposal would allow the mine to operate while generating revenue to cover the costs of safely winding down operations. The recommendation revives debate over one of Panama's biggest foreign investment projects, and it remains unclear how the government and protest movements will respond.