At noon, the large and strong typhoon was moving north-northeast over waters west of Hachijojima. It retained a storm-force wind zone as it tracked toward the Izu Islands and Kanto region. Forecasters said the system would move faster and pass near Kanto later Monday. They warned of violent winds, very rough seas and further heavy rain across eastern Pacific coastal areas. Linear rain bands could also intensify rainfall across Tokai, Kanto and the Izu Islands.
Business
China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged in September, maintaining the one-year loan prime rate at 3.0%. The over-five-year LPR remained at 3.5%, according to the official September 20 fixing. Many lenders use the longer-term rate as a reference for mortgage pricing. The decision left both lending benchmarks at the same levels recorded in August.
Gold prices decline on Federal Reserve rate decision actions as elevated borrowing costs increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding precious metals across major financial trading desks.
Gold prices continued their downward trend across global commodity exchanges as investors digested the decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve to raise benchmark interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point. Spot bullion fell 1 percent during international trading sessions to reach $4,249 per ounce, reflecting heightened market pressure driven by tighter monetary policy conditions. Gold prices decline on Federal Reserve rate decision actions as elevated borrowing costs increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding precious metals across major financial trading desks.
Gold prices edged higher on Thursday as a softer U.S. dollar supported bullion before fresh U.S. inflation data. Spot gold rose 0.3% to $4,414.28 an ounce by 0419 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery slipped 0.1% to $4,457.20. The early gain kept spot gold above $4,400 after a sharp reversal during Wednesday’s trading. Gold had initially moved lower before finishing that session more than 1% higher.
The Panama Canal may reduce daily ship traffic to about 29 vessels in February or March 2027 if drought conditions continue, its new administrator said. Ilya Espino de Marotta took office on Sept. 7 and raised the possibility as El Niño pressures reservoir levels. The canal needs freshwater from rainfall-fed lakes to operate its locks. The Panama Canal Authority has already begun staged capacity cuts after below-expected precipitation across the watershed.
German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen AG agreed on Monday to sell its Osnabrück assembly plant to Israeli private equity firm Aurelius Capital and the German state of Lower Saxony. Under the preliminary agreement, the new owners will convert the vehicle manufacturing site into a dedicated security and defense production facility. The strategic transaction marks the first major industrial conversion of a German car factory to supply military hardware amid ongoing structural reorganization across Europe’s automotive sector. Israel Aurelius German state to take over VWs Osnabrueck plant defense projects to supply air defense equipment for European security markets.
Travel
Emirates enters winter season with strong booking momentum following a high-density summer operational period during which the airline transported more than 8.6 million passengers between July and August across 140 global destinations. The carrier’s seasonal performance highlights expanding passenger capacity and higher load factors across primary long-haul routes connecting North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Industry observers note that the sustained passenger volume underscores structural resilience across international long-haul aviation markets.
The iPhone Duo carries a 5.4-inch external screen for everyday phone use when the device stays closed. Opening the handset reveals a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display designed for larger apps and multitasking. Both panels support ProMotion and Always-On features, with outdoor brightness reaching 3,000 nits. Apple uses Grade 5 titanium for the enclosure and built the hinge from more than 100 components. The phone also carries an IP68 rating for resistance to water and dust.