TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Friday raised its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a 31-year high of 1.25 percent, while signaling further rate hikes ahead.
The central bank lifted the rate again after bringing it up to 1.0 percent in June, marking the shortest interval between increases since the BOJ ended its negative interest rate policy in March 2024. (Japan-Interest rate hike)
- - - -
KUALA LUMPUR -- Managing economic risks from prolonged geopolitical tensions and disruptions to critical commodities, especially oil and gas products, is at the top of the government's priorities, Malaysia's Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said on Friday.
The renewed conflict in the Middle East, especially over the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and disruptions to Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure continue to put pressure on the smooth flow of global oil exports, shipping, and energy supply, Akmal said in a televised address. (Malaysia-Energy security)
- - - -
JAKARTA -- A joint search and rescue team on Friday recovered three more bodies from a ship that capsized and sank in the Java Sea, bringing the death toll to nine on the sixth day of the search, the Indonesian Navy said.
Indonesian Navy spokesperson First Admiral Tunggul said naval divers entered the sunken vessel and found the bodies of two men and a woman. (Indonesia-Shipwreck-Rescue)
- - - -
KATHMANDU -- Nepal recorded an increase in both remittance inflows and foreign exchange reserves in the first month of the 2026-27 fiscal year, according to a report released by Nepal's central bank on Friday.
Remittance inflows increased 10.2 percent year on year to 1.40 billion U.S. dollars in the one-month period from mid-July to mid-August, Nepal Rastra Bank said in the report. (Nepal-Remittance-Increase)
