Heavy rains dominated the news, with a linear rainband forming over Miyazaki Prefecture, causing record-breaking rainfall and flooding. A man went missing after his car was swept away in Nichinan City. The approaching general election saw increased tensions, with Prime Minister Ishiba invoking the "nightmare of the Democratic Party administration" rhetoric. Economic concerns surfaced as the yen weakened to 151 against the dollar. The IMF projected Japan's policy interest rate to move towards 1.5%. In international news, concerns over North Korean troops potentially training in eastern Russia were raised at the UN. Domestically, the Fair Trade Commission began investigating JR Tokai and five consulting firms for suspected bid-rigging in bridge inspection contracts.