Kim Yo-jong, a senior official of the Workers' Party of Korea, on the 8th said Seoul's claim to provide "medical equipment assistance" to North Korea is a "serious provocation." She said South Korea on the 7th claimed it had in May submitted to the UN Security Council sanctions committee a "sanctions exemption request" to supply "medical equipment" and that it had been "approved," framing the move as relief for medicine and equipment shortages among vulnerable groups; Kim called the claim an ins

BOJ branch chiefs said cost-driven price rises are spreading from B2B transactions into consumer-facing industries, as energy and raw material costs—boosted by the Middle East conflict and a weaker yen—alongside higher transport and labor costs have led many firms to pass through higher inter-company prices. In its quarterly regional economic report the BOJ upgraded assessments for two of nine regions, left seven unchanged, and said regional economies are recovering despite some weakness. Overnight index swap markets price the probability of a BOJ rate hike in December at over 80%.

Singapore's benchmark stock index slid as much as 3.2% to 5,428.65.