U.S. Energy Secretary Wright: whether Russia will release diesel remains unclear.

On Oct 17 Shenzhen entry‑exit inspection station processed 1.135 mln border crossings, near a historical peak; inbound inspections hit a record 698,000 and Shenzhen Bay port recorded a record 140,000 inbound entries. On Oct 18 the station inspected a record 40,300 foreign nationals in a single day; crossings at the new Huanggang port reached 160,000, about 80% higher than on the port's opening day.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the consumption tax rate will be cut within two years to ensure market confidence.