BANGKOK -- Thailand's central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday as policymakers seek to support a slowing economy and navigate heightened uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict.
The Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 6-0 to maintain the policy rate at 1 percent following a cut at its February review, retaining borrowing costs at their lowest level since September 2022. (Thailand-Policy Rate)
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TOKYO -- A man who allegedly attacked two high school students with a hammer and sprayed an unidentified substance at police in Tokyo on Wednesday morning has been on the run after initially barricading himself inside his home, local media reported.
Police have launched a search for the man on suspicion of attempted murder. (Japan-Street Attack)
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SEOUL -- The sentence for former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was increased to seven years on Wednesday on appeal for obstruction of arrest, according to the rule of the Seoul High Court.
The court overturned the lower court's ruling, lengthening Yoon's prison term from five to seven years. (SKorea-Yoon-Sentence)
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MANILA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday downgraded its economic growth outlook and raised inflation projections for developing Asia and the Pacific due to severe and prolonged disruptions from the conflict in the Middle East.
The ADB forecasts regional growth at 4.7 percent in 2026 and 4.8 percent in 2027, down from the 5.1 percent forecast for both years in early April, based on an assumption of earlier stabilization of the situation in the Middle East. (Philippines-ADB-Economic Growth) ■
