Eases

Exclusive: Stark health inequalities in terms of deaths before age of 75, NHS data revealsAdults with severe mental illness are nearly five times more likely than their peers to die from serious physical diseases before the age of 75, according to research.The analysis of NHS data by the Rethink Mental Illness charity reveals that people with severe mental health problems die 15-20 years earlier than the wider adult population, largely due to preventable physical conditions. Continue reading...

• Da Nang city generated approximately 1,328 news articles and posts between September 14 and September 19, 2026. • Reported events included the transfer of geological and mineral resource management to the Department of Industry and Trade and the granting of consular acceptance to the Chinese Consul General. • Local officials and leaders began a 2026 training course focused on preventing corruption, waste, and negative practices within government agencies.

The report highlights deep divides between low- and middle- income, a disparity that dates back decadesA new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reaffirms that adults are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as their income increases.The data brief comes as Republican cuts to food assistance programs, colloquially called “food stamps”, have led enrollment to “plummet”. Changes to US dietary guidelines, led by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, have also made a government-recommended diet more expensive. A new “food pyramid” released in January emphasized animal protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, all of which cost more, according to studies. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets rose recently as a Bank of Japan interest rate hike boosted Japanese equities and falling oil prices reduced inflation pressure. • Regional performance varied, with India’s Nifty 50 rising 0.2% and Thailand’s SET gaining 0.3%, while the Philippines’ PSEi fell 1.2%. • These shifts indicate that investors are reacting to central bank policy changes and fluctuating energy costs that impact corporate profitability.

• Wall Street stocks closed higher on Thursday as investors reacted to falling oil prices, lower Treasury yields, and positive labor data. • Financial markets now price in a 53.1% chance of a 25-basis-point interest rate hike at the next Federal Reserve meeting in October, up from 27.2% last week. • The Federal Reserve's commitment to a 2% inflation goal signals that more monetary tightening, or increasing interest rates to cool the economy, is likely this year.

• Asian stock markets rose recently as a Bank of Japan interest rate hike boosted Japanese equities and falling oil prices reduced inflation pressure. • Regional performance varied, with India’s Nifty 50 rising 0.2% and Thailand’s SET gaining 0.3%, while the Philippines’ PSEi dropped 1.2%. • These shifts indicate that investors are reacting to central bank policy changes and fluctuating energy costs that impact corporate profitability.

• Most Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday as investors reacted to a Federal Reserve interest rate hike that eased concerns over bond volatility. • Japan’s TOPIX rose 0.7%, New Zealand’s NZX 50 climbed 0.9%, and Thailand’s SET added 0.9%. • Market participants are now weighing whether the Federal Reserve's aggressive stance can lower inflation without causing a broader economic slowdown.

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a temporary relaxation of hours-of-service rules for drivers transporting gasoline and diesel. • The administration is easing these limits to prevent shipment delays caused by rising diesel costs and tighter fuel supplies this summer. • This decision aims to protect broader freight deliveries from being slowed by short-term supply chain disruptions.

• The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a proposal regarding the Postal Service and mailed ballots for the 2026 elections. • Attorney General Jackson cited Justice Kavanaugh's observation that state and local officials lacked sufficient time to implement the rule before voting began. • This decision prevents immediate changes to mail-in ballot procedures, ensuring stability for election officials and voters during the current cycle.

Mark Rutte said Britain will need to steadily increase defence spending to meet Nato target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035Britain needs to show “a credible path” of annual increases in its defence budgets to meet a Nato target of spending nearly £30bn more on the military by the middle of the next decade, the head of the alliance said on Thursday.Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, said that Britain could not wait until just before 2035 to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, in an unusually pointed intervention a day after he met prime minister Andy Burnham. Continue reading...

• US stocks traded mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited an interest-rate decision from the Federal Reserve. • The S&P 500 and Nasdaq rose while the Dow fell, with easing oil prices providing relief after a two-day decline. • Market volatility reflects investor concerns over inflation, high yields, and tensions in the Middle East.

María Elvira Salazar says some enforcement has ‘gone too far’ as GOP seeks distance from Trump before midtermsA Republican congresswoman has released a campaign ad criticizing Donald Trump’s approach to immigration enforcement, in the latest sign that a key plank of the president’s 2024 re-election campaign has become a liability for his congressional allies ahead of November’s midterm elections.“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far,” Florida’s María Elvira Salazar says in a 30-second ad. “In July, 50% of the 50,000 people that were detained had no criminal record. Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy.” Continue reading...

• Most Asian stock markets rose on Tuesday as investors reacted to a Federal Reserve interest rate hike that reduced concerns over bond volatility. • Japan’s TOPIX rose 0.7%, Thailand’s SET added 0.9%, and New Zealand’s NZX 50 climbed 0.9%, while Chinese shares lagged behind. • Market participants are now weighing whether the Federal Reserve's aggressive stance on interest rates can lower inflation without causing a wider economic slowdown.

• The European Commission intervened in Germany's legislative plans to introduce a mandatory streaming levy for media services. • The Commission used a formal notification procedure to challenge the legality of the proposed tax on streaming platforms. • This intervention creates legal uncertainty for streaming companies operating in Germany that would have been required to pay the levy.

The presidential briefing documents were declassified on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacksSeveral dozen presidential briefing documents declassified on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, detail intelligence that government officials had gathered about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida leading up to the hijackings that killed nearly 3,000 people and upended American national security.The documents illustrate security analysts’ tracking of Bin Laden’s movements and support system, as well as concerns about possible threats to US targets. They also detail officials’ understanding of his network in the United States and other countries, including how his operations were financed. Continue reading...

• Multiple new movies and series, including Vishwanath and Sons and The Revolutionaries, are releasing this Friday across various streaming platforms. • New content will be available for viewers on Netflix, JioHotstar, Prime Video, and ZEE5. • Streaming subscribers can access a variety of genres ranging from family dramas to historical accounts of India's fight for independence.

The documents are available through an online portal that was launched three days before the 25th anniversary of September 11New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration has released more than 170,000 pages of municipal records involving the impact of the September 11 attacks on air quality health, as well as the city’s response.Mamdani announced the documents and an online portal for accessing them on Tuesday. The release comes alongside the settlement of two lawsuits pursued by 9/11 Health Watch, which fought for access to these long-withheld documents. Continue reading...

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'RAKSHA' document in New Delhi, establishing a strategic framework for India's global defence diplomacy. • The comprehensive roadmap outlines India's vision for international defence partnerships over the next 10 years. • This framework guides India's strategic alliances and cooperation efforts during a period of global geopolitical and economic turmoil.

• European stock markets rose as the global bond selloff eased, providing a more stable environment for equity investors. • Simultaneously, the Bank of Canada opted to hold interest rates steady amid economic uncertainty driven by fluctuating oil prices and potential tariffs. • In Canada, the TSX saw a significant rally led by mining companies as precious metals stocks dominated the top gainers.

• Wall Street indices rallied on Thursday as investors reduced their expectations for further interest rate hikes following comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller. • Market movement was further influenced by late second-quarter earnings reports, creating performance gaps between the software and semiconductor sectors. • Economic data released on the day remained generally positive, highlighted by an acceleration in the service sector and low jobless claims.

• European stocks trended upward as the recent global bond selloff began to ease, providing a boost to equity markets. • In the commodities sector, gold prices climbed above $4,400, driven by a weaker U.S. dollar and falling yields that renewed investor demand for bullion. • Oil prices experienced a decline following a three-session rally, influenced by Donald Trump downplaying the risk of war with Iran and an increase in flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz was arrested after a family altercation and restrained for ‘combative’ behaviorA cadre of Los Angeles police officers beat and restrained a handcuffed man in July, minutes before he was found dead in a jail cell, according to newly released body-cam footage.On 15 July, Jose Carlos Hoyoz-Munoz, 58, was found unconscious in his cell at the Van Nuys regional jail. At the time, the LAPD said two use-of-force incidents had occurred, without specifying the nature. In the video released on Friday, the department said three use-of-force incidents occurred. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong confirms increase to number of Australians missingGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVoluntary assisted dying laws have been passed in the Northern Territory jurisdiction following debate over a gag clause barring doctors from raising end-of-life options with patients, Australian Associated Press reports.The rights of the terminally ill bill passed on a conscience vote in the Northern Territory parliament late last night, with the gag intact. Continue reading...

• SPARK Industries Corporation announced on May 27, 2026, that internal validation of 1,000+ clinical MRI cases showed consistent signal relationships for TBI, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prostate cancer. • Following these successful internal results, SPARK is now moving forward with blinded third-party validation trials to further verify its findings. • In a separate development, KŪR Health has acquired intellectual property, key assets, and select talent from Catbird Health.

• Asian stock markets rebounded across the region, with South Korea’s KOSPI leading gains at 1.2%, followed by Japan’s Nikkei 225 (+0.7%) and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (+0.8%). • The recovery was driven by a stabilization in oil prices, which helped ease investor concerns regarding inflation. • Technology-heavy markets saw the most significant relief as investors positioned themselves ahead of the highly anticipated earnings report from Nvidia.

• Smart Travel Asia announced the results of its 2026 Best in Travel Poll, conducted among readers from June to late August. • The findings will be published in the September edition of the magazine, which has served international frequent travelers to Asia for 23 years. • This year's poll highlights a growing demand among travelers for increased security and service, while noting a decline in rankings for Dubai.

• Forbes Asia released the sixth annual edition of its "100 to Watch" list on August 25, 2026. • The list specifically spotlights emerging startups and small companies showing significant growth potential across the Asia-Pacific region. • This initiative matters as it provides visibility and recognition to high-potential entrepreneurs in a competitive regional market.

• HHS Secretary RFK Jr. is facing criticism for prioritizing general dietary advice over urgent public health responses as infectious disease outbreaks surge across the U.S. • Recent health crises include a massive recall of over 1.5 million dozen eggs linked to a salmonella outbreak that sickened approximately 100 people across 17 states by late July. • Other significant threats include widespread jalapeno-linked salmonella and waves of debilitating Cyclospora illnesses, highlighting a critical need for active federal oversight.