Sberbank forecasts Russia inf at 6.5%-7% in 2026.

An advisory panel to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommended on Tuesday raising the national average minimum hourly wage by 4.9% to ¥1,176 (about $7.18) for the current fiscal year. The ¥55-an-hour increase is the second-largest on record, though below last year’s 6.3% rise, would cover more than 50 million workers and is expected to be phased in from October after prefectures set specific rates. The wage gain supports the Bank of Japan’s effort to create a wage-driven demand–inflation virtuous cycle, strengthening the case for further tightening as a weaker yen raises import energy and food costs and squeezes household spending.

CENTCOM said more than 20 vessels are conducting military operations in the Middle East, including strict enforcement of the US "ironclad blockade" against Iran. As of July 28, it had rerouted 18 commercial ships, destroyed two vessels and boarded and inspected two others to ensure full compliance with the blockade.