NHK on the 15th reported Prime Minister Takaichi told reporters at the prime minister’s residence she will formally appoint LDP lawmaker Takebe Arata to replace the agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister who resigned amid a remarks-related scandal. The move would mark Takebe’s first cabinet post.

The Financial Times, citing four people, reported the US proposed that European governments unfreeze part of Russia’s sovereign assets frozen after the Ukraine war and transfer them to a Washington-controlled body to try to restart peace talks. How assets would be unfrozen and how proceeds would be used remain under discussion. The idea was floated at a Miami meeting last week attended by Trump’s peace envoy and officials from Ukraine, France, Germany, the UK, the EU and NATO, but European representatives rejected it. European governments and Kyiv said they were shocked, raising questions about US intent and signalling a markedly different US posture on ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

CHINA STATE PLANNER data: as of Sep 30 national hog slaughter price 10.71 yuan/kg (down 2.64% vs Sep 23); major wholesale corn price 2.42 yuan/kg (down 0.83% vs Sep 23); hog-to-grain price ratio 4.46 (down 1.98% vs Sep 23).