SANA

President Ahmed al-Sharaa has appointed a first deputy governor of the Central Bank of Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. The move fills a senior vacancy in the country's monetary authority as Syria works to stabilise its banking sector and rebuild its economy after years of conflict and sanctions.

Turkey's foreign minister said Israel is facing growing international isolation and called for diplomatic solutions to the conflicts in the Middle East. Speaking to Syrian state news agency SANA, he urged dialogue over military escalation in the region. The remarks underline Ankara's effort to position itself as a mediator amid ongoing tensions involving Israel and its neighbours.

Japan's finance minister stated that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not a reflationist, aiming to calm investors who fear her government will spend excessively and pressure the Bank of Japan into keeping interest rates low. Markets have been watchful of Takaichi's fiscal stance, given expectations of expansive spending under her leadership. The remark is an attempt to reassure bond and currency investors that monetary discipline will be maintained.

Japanese leader Sanae Takaichi said Japan and the United States have agreed to work together on a range of issues relating to China. The announcement points to continued coordination between the two allies on security, economic and diplomatic concerns in the region. The remarks drew attention as tensions between Tokyo, Washington and Beijing remain a central topic in Asia-Pacific diplomacy.