Here are five stories from around Asia that you may have missed this week.

Consumer prices in Singapore continued to climb in August and core inflation hit a near 14-year high, on the back of more costly services and food. 

Core inflation, which excludes costs of private transport and accommodation and reflects the expenses of Singaporean households more accurately, hit 5.1 percent year on year, up from 4.8 percent in July. This marks its highest level since it touched 5.5 percent in November 2008.

A powerful typhoon, dubbed Nanmadu (also called Nanmato), lashed through Japan on Monday, dumping heavy rain and unleashing winds that killed at least two people. The Japan Times said “it triggered floods, downed power lines and and saw millions advised to evacuate to safety.”

Power was cut to many households and some train services were suspended. After making landfall in Kagoshima Prefecture, Nanmadu headed on a northeast path along the west coast of Honshu.

Also in Japan, for the first time, over-75s now account for more than 15 percent of the population, after an increase of 720,000 to 19.37 million people, government data showed, in further evidence of the country's rapidly greying society. Also hitting a record this year was the number of those aged over 65, 36.27 million people, accounting for 29.1 percent of the population. 

The Japan Times reported: “Japan tops the world rankings for the oldest society by proportion of over 65s, well above Italy in second place at 24.1% and third place Finland with 23.3%. Elderly men totaled 15.74 million, making up 26.0% of the total male population, while the number of elderly women came to 20.53 million, accounting for 32.0% of the overall female population.”

At least 13 people including seven children were killed during clashes in Myanmar's Sagaing province, when army helicopters shot at a school. The military said it opened fire because rebels were using the building to attack its forces. The incident on September 17 was in Let Yet Kone village, Thabain township. 

A resident said about 2,000 people had fled their homes in the area. Reuters reported: “The government said security forces sent by helicopter had conducted 'a surprise inspection' and were attacked by 'terrorists'.”

In China, a man named Gan Yu was rescued after being out of contact for 17 days since an earthquake that rocked Sichuan Province on September 5. He was was found in Shimian County in the province's Ya'an City on Monday morning and later flown by helicopter to Luding County for a medical checkup and recuperation. 

Yu survived by drinking water from streams and eating fruits from the forest. He is reported to be recovering well.

(Cover: Shoppers on Orchard Road in Singapore, August 22, 2022. /CFP)