On Monday, Typhoon Dujuan delivered unprecedented rainfall and powerful winds across eastern Japan, triggering emergency warnings for landslides and causing extensive disruptions to transportation. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a Level 5 landslide alert for Oshima in the Izu Islands at 12:40 p.m. Rainfall had already exceeded 500 millimeters in parts of the island chain, with Chiba Prefecture experiencing over 300 millimeters from Saturday through early Monday afternoon. Authorities advised residents to remain alert for flooding, swollen rivers, and hazardous waves.
Business
China kept its benchmark lending rates steady in September, holding the one-year loan prime rate at 3.0%. The over-five-year LPR stayed at 3.5%, based on the official rate fixings on September 20. Many lenders refer to this longer-term rate when setting mortgage prices. This decision resulted in both lending benchmarks remaining at the same levels as in August.
The government of South Korea has announced an extension of its temporary fuel tax cut scheme for an additional two months, now lasting through the end of November 2026, aiming to shield local consumers and logistics businesses from ongoing fluctuations in global energy prices. This decision was confirmed at an economy-focused ministers’ gathering in Sejong, led by Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, who also holds the position of Deputy Prime Minister. The current policy, which provides a 15 percent reduction on gasoline and a 25 percent cut on diesel and liquefied petroleum gas butane, originally set to end in September, will continue to be in effect at fuel stations nationwide.
India has cautioned Washington that proposed tariffs on nations importing Russian crude oil could damage bilateral relations and disrupt the global commodities market. This warning was issued after the United States House of Representatives approved the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, granting the government authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on leading purchasers of Russian energy. India asserts it will prioritize energy security for its citizens while retaining the flexibility to buy oil from global sources based on market conditions.
Spot gold fell 1 percent to $4,249 per ounce, reaching multi-session lows amid rising sovereign yields and tighter monetary policy measures. The increase in rates has raised the opportunity cost of holding physical gold, prompting institutional investors to shift funds into fixed-income assets instead.
Health
India’s drug regulatory authority has issued a caution to consumers regarding two whitening creams originating from Pakistan after testing revealed high levels of heavy metals. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation identified Goree Beauty Cream and Chandni Whitening Cream in a public health advisory issued on September 8. Both products bear labels indicating they were manufactured in Pakistan. The authority clarified that neither product has obtained clearance for import or sale within India. It further warned that the detected heavy metal levels could pose toxic health risks and cause adverse effects.
The World Health Organization reports that Ebola transmission is decreasing in certain regions hardest hit within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This positive trend is most evident in parts of Ituri province, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak. Nevertheless, the epidemic persists and continues to expand in other areas. Data up to September 13 indicate a total of 7,258 confirmed cases and 3,510 deaths across seven provinces, with the national case fatality rate at 48.4%.DR Congo’s Ebola response continues as health teams track changing transmission patterns.
Initial tests have found Legionella DNA in a cooling tower located at Yankee Stadium amid an ongoing investigation into a Legionnaires’ disease cluster in the South Bronx. By Tuesday night, New York City authorities confirmed 11 cases, including one fatality, with three individuals still hospitalized. The New York City Health Department pinpointed 10 cooling towers testing positive via preliminary PCR results across ZIP codes 10451 and 10456, covering parts of Melrose and Morrisania.
Researchers have pinpointed a rare inherited genetic alteration that can elevate an individual’s risk of developing lung cancer by approximately 25 times overall and by about 60 times among non-smokers, according to groundbreaking research published in the journal Science. Lead author Dr. Jaclyn LoPiccolo stated that possessing the variant increases the likelihood of lung cancer roughly 62 times in those who have never smoked, compared to around 11 times in people with a smoking history. Gene Could Elevate Lung Cancer Risk Nearly 60 Times in Non-Smokers.