TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan on Friday raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.75 percent, its highest level in three decades, and left the door open for more hikes.
At the end of its two-day monetary policy meeting, all nine policy board members, including Governor Kazuo Ueda, voted for the rate hike. (Japan-Interest Rate)
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TOKYO -- A powerful earthquake that has a high chance of occurring beneath Tokyo and nearby areas within the next few decades could kill up to 18,000 people, according to the damage estimates released by the government on Friday.
The latest figure, made under the scenario of a magnitude-7.3 quake centered in the southern part of central Tokyo, is about 20 percent lower than the previous estimate in 2013, due to improvements in seismic-prepared buildings and fire prevention measures, the government panel said. (Japan-Earthquake)
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CANBERRA -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday announced that a national firearm buyback scheme will be established to reduce the number of guns in the community following the Bondi Beach shooting.
Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra that the federal government will establish a national buyback to purchase and destroy surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms. (Australia-Gun)
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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's parliament on Friday approved a supplementary estimate of 500 billion rupees (about 1.61 billion U.S. dollars) to restore livelihoods and rebuild infrastructure damaged by a recent disaster.
The parliament said in a press release that the supplementary estimate was passed without a vote. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also attended parliament and participated in the debate seeking approval for the funds. (Sri Lanka-Disaster)
