What is the current strength of Typhoon 35 and what is its forecast track?

As of 3:00 a.m. on October 18, Typhoon 35 had a central pressure of 945 hPa and maximum sustained winds of 50 m/s — a drop of 40 hPa in just 24 hours — while tracking west-northwest near the Mariana Islands; it is forecast to reach waters south of Okinawa as a very strong storm around Friday, October 23, though the subsequent track remains uncertain and JMA is urging the public to monitor the latest information.

What were the circumstances of the Mogami City deputy mayor's death?

At around 5:50 p.m. on October 17, the 62-year-old deputy mayor of Mogami City was crushed when a 5.5-meter-tall, approximately 3-tonne taiko-dai festival float fell on him while he was participating as a carrier at the Mogami Festival near Izu Shrine; he was transported to hospital but was pronounced dead.

What are the details of the MMX launch schedule and exploration plan?

MMX is scheduled to launch aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41:03 a.m. on October 20; developed by JAXA at a cost of ¥55.3 billion, the spacecraft will take about one year to reach the vicinity of Mars, conduct a three-year survey of Phobos, and return Phobos samples to Earth in fiscal year 2031.

How did President Zelensky respond to President Trump's sanctions waiver order?

Zelensky strongly rejected the order on October 17, saying 'This is wrong — it only satisfies the desire to please Russia and to keep killing people,' and stated he was working toward talks with the U.S. side; he also revealed that the U.S. had proposed a trilateral summit including Trump, though prospects for the meeting remain unclear as neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed participation.

How did DeNA defeat Hanshin in the CS Final?

With two outs and runners on second and third in the ninth inning, Mitsumori (三森) hit a two-run single to overturn a 4–5 deficit, and DeNA won 8–5; Hanshin was hampered throughout the series by the near-absence of Sato Teruaki (佐藤輝明) and Morishita Shota (森下翔太), was shut out in three consecutive games, and set a CS record of 27 consecutive batters retired.

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NHKラジオニュース · News

マイあさ! 午前6時のNHKニュース 2026年10月18日

2026-10-18 · 13 min · 4 min read

Typhoon 35 has rapidly intensified near the Mariana Islands and is forecast to reach waters south of Okinawa as a very strong storm around October 23, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency to urge close monitoring. A 62-year-old deputy mayor of Mogami City in Yamagata Prefecture was killed when a massive festival float toppled onto him on October 17. The Mars Moon Explorer MMX is set for launch from Tanegashima Space Center on October 20, targeting the world's first sample return from Phobos.

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What this episode answers

What is the current strength of Typhoon 35 and what is its forecast track?
As of 3:00 a.m. on October 18, Typhoon 35 had a central pressure of 945 hPa and maximum sustained winds of 50 m/s — a drop of 40 hPa in just 24 hours — while tracking west-northwest near the Mariana Islands; it is forecast to reach waters south of Okinawa as a very strong storm around Friday, October 23, though the subsequent track remains uncertain and JMA is urging the public to monitor the latest information.
What were the circumstances of the Mogami City deputy mayor's death?
At around 5:50 p.m. on October 17, the 62-year-old deputy mayor of Mogami City was crushed when a 5.5-meter-tall, approximately 3-tonne taiko-dai festival float fell on him while he was participating as a carrier at the Mogami Festival near Izu Shrine; he was transported to hospital but was pronounced dead.
What are the details of the MMX launch schedule and exploration plan?
MMX is scheduled to launch aboard an H3 rocket from Tanegashima Space Center at 4:41:03 a.m. on October 20; developed by JAXA at a cost of ¥55.3 billion, the spacecraft will take about one year to reach the vicinity of Mars, conduct a three-year survey of Phobos, and return Phobos samples to Earth in fiscal year 2031.
How did President Zelensky respond to President Trump's sanctions waiver order?
Zelensky strongly rejected the order on October 17, saying 'This is wrong — it only satisfies the desire to please Russia and to keep killing people,' and stated he was working toward talks with the U.S. side; he also revealed that the U.S. had proposed a trilateral summit including Trump, though prospects for the meeting remain unclear as neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed participation.
How did DeNA defeat Hanshin in the CS Final?
With two outs and runners on second and third in the ninth inning, Mitsumori (三森) hit a two-run single to overturn a 4–5 deficit, and DeNA won 8–5; Hanshin was hampered throughout the series by the near-absence of Sato Teruaki (佐藤輝明) and Morishita Shota (森下翔太), was shut out in three consecutive games, and set a CS record of 27 consecutive batters retired.

Typhoon 35 Rapidly Intensifying, Heading West — Okinawa on Alert

As of 3:00 a.m. on October 18, Typhoon 35 — already classified as a very strong storm — was moving west-northwest at 25 km/h near the Mariana Islands. Its central pressure stood at 945 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds of 50 m/s and gusts reaching 70 m/s; gale-force winds of 25 m/s or higher extended within 140 km of the center.

The typhoon has undergone rapid intensification, with its central pressure dropping 40 hPa in just 24 hours from 985 hPa recorded at midnight on October 17. It is expected to continue strengthening as it tracks westward, reaching waters south of Okinawa as a very strong storm around Friday, October 23, where it could bring high waves and other hazardous conditions. The subsequent track remains uncertain, and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is urging the public to stay up to date with the latest information.

A weather forecaster noted that satellite imagery taken at 5:30 a.m. showed a small, clearly defined eye — a sign of an advanced state of development. At that time the eye was located just south of Guam, raising concerns about potential impacts on the island.

Deputy Mayor of Mogami City Killed by Falling Festival Float

At around 5:50 p.m. on October 17, the deputy mayor of Mogami City (age 62) was killed at a temporary venue near Izu Shrine in Mogami City, Yamagata Prefecture, when a taiko-dai festival float toppled onto him. He was transported to hospital but was pronounced dead.

The deputy mayor had been participating in the Mogami Festival (最上祭り), a tradition dating back to the Edo period, as one of the float carriers. While participants were hoisting and swaying the float high into the air, it collapsed. The float stood approximately 5.5 meters tall and weighed about 3 tonnes; eleven floats were assembled at the venue at the time. Police are interviewing festival organizers and others involved as they investigate the exact circumstances.

Mars Moon Explorer MMX to Launch from Tanegashima the Day After Tomorrow

The Martian Moons eXploration spacecraft (MMX), which aims to collect surface samples from Phobos — a moon of Mars — and return them to Earth, is scheduled to launch aboard an H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:41:03 a.m. on October 20. Developed by JAXA at a cost of ¥55.3 billion, MMX will attempt the world's first landing on Phobos and the world's first sample return from a Martian moon.

The spacecraft is equipped with four landing legs for touchdown on Phobos, along with a sample collection device and various scientific instruments. It also carries a Super Hi-Vision camera co-developed by NHK and JAXA. After launch, MMX will take approximately one year to reach the vicinity of Mars, conduct a three-year survey of Phobos, and return Phobos samples to Earth in fiscal year 2031. JAXA aims to develop deep-space exploration technologies while using sample analysis to scientifically resolve the question of the origin of the Martian moons.

Zelensky Strongly Rejects Trump's Sanctions Waiver Order

On October 16, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order exempting most sanctions from a law that would have tightened measures against Russia over the situation in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky responded sharply on October 17: "This is wrong. It only satisfies the desire to please Russia and to keep killing people. This will never stop the war."

Zelensky said he was working to hold talks with the U.S. side in the near future. When asked about a possible meeting with President Putin, he revealed that the U.S. had proposed a trilateral summit including President Trump. Potential venues include the UAE, as well as a possible gathering in the United States alongside the G20 summit in December. However, neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed participation, and Zelensky acknowledged that prospects for the meeting remain unclear.

On the reported restriction of Starlink satellite communications in Ukraine, Reuters reported on October 15 that instructions to restrict the service had come from the White House. Trump denied this on October 16, but Zelensky maintained that the restrictions were disrupting Ukrainian drone-intercept operations, adding: "There are no restrictions in EU member states — only Ukraine is restricted. This is being done deliberately."

CS Final: DeNA Rallies in Ninth to Beat Hanshin and Reach Japan Series for First Time in Two Years

In Game 4 of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars defeated the Hanshin Tigers 8–5, clinching a berth in the Japan Series for the first time in two years.

DeNA scored first in the first inning, but the game became a back-and-forth contest and Hanshin took a 5–4 lead into the ninth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Mitsumori (三森) came through with a two-run single to put DeNA back on top, and the team closed out an 8–5 victory.

Hanshin was hampered throughout the series by the absence of two key players. Sato Teruaki (佐藤輝明), who had been integral to the team's pennant run, left Game 1 due to a physical condition issue and missed Games 2 and 3; Morishita Shota (森下翔太) was also withdrawn during Game 2 and did not start Game 3 for similar reasons. The pair had combined for 74 home runs and 192 RBIs in the regular season, and their absence from the middle of the lineup proved devastating: Hanshin was shut out in three consecutive games and set a CS record of 27 consecutive batters retired. Both players returned for Game 4 and the offense regained some life, but the momentum had already shifted decisively. The series exposed Hanshin's over-reliance on its run producers, and reinforcing the batting lineup will be a clear priority heading into next season.

Takeaways

Typhoon 35 rapidly intensified by 40 hPa in 24 hours and is forecast to approach waters south of Okinawa around October 23, though its track beyond that point remains uncertain.
Japan's MMX spacecraft launches from Tanegashima on October 20 on a mission to achieve the world's first Phobos landing and sample return, with samples due back on Earth in fiscal year 2031.
DeNA clinched the CL Climax Series with a ninth-inning comeback win over Hanshin, whose near-absence of sluggers Sato Teruaki and Morishita Shota led to three consecutive shutouts and a new CS futility record.

台風35号MMX火星衛星探査機プロ野球クライマックスシリーズウクライナ情勢最上市

This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.