public bank

Egypt has rejected calls from Israeli officials to expand military operations in the occupied West Bank, after far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich urged a Gaza-style war there. Cairo warned such a escalation would destabilise the region further, deepening tensions between Israel and a key mediator in the conflict.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to lift the cash rate to 4.6%, which would make it the highest level since 2011. The anticipated hike points to continued efforts to curb inflation, and would add to cost-of-living pressures for Australian households and businesses with mortgages and loans.

The head of the Dutch central bank, De Nederlandsche Bank, has warned that the Netherlands must keep its government debt under control. The remarks serve as a caution against loosening fiscal policy, stressing that public finances need to remain sustainable. The intervention is drawing attention amid ongoing debate in Europe over budget discipline and spending pressures.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Federal Reserve to keep an open mind when setting interest rates, arguing that artificial intelligence is boosting productivity in ways that could change the economic outlook. The comments add to ongoing pressure from the Trump administration on the central bank to consider cutting rates as AI-driven gains reshape growth expectations.

The US Federal Reserve has decided to keep interest rates unchanged even as inflation reaches its highest level in three years. The decision means borrowing costs will stay where they are for now, with policymakers weighing stubborn price pressures against signs of strain in the economy. Markets and economists are watching closely for signals on when, or whether, the central bank might move rates again.

A Dutch central banker has called for fiscal restraint, warning that government spending should remain disciplined. The appeal adds a central bank voice to ongoing debates in the Netherlands and across the eurozone about budget policy, debt levels and the balance between public investment and financial stability.

The Bulgarian National Bank has cautioned that the proposed tax on banks could increase the cost of credit for businesses and households. According to the bank, additional levies on the sector may be passed on to customers through higher lending rates or fees, weighing on borrowing and economic activity.

The United Nations has expanded its database of companies operating in Israeli West Bank settlements to 138 firms. The list, maintained by the UN Human Rights Council, flags businesses the UN says are involved in activities supporting settlement expansion, which it considers illegal under international law. Israel rejects the blacklist, and its publication has drawn criticism from Israeli officials and mixed reactions from companies and governments.

Nigeria's Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to account for ₦1.63 trillion and $6.23 million. The group is seeking a public explanation of how the funds were managed, pressing the apex bank for transparency over public money. The demand puts the CBN under fresh scrutiny over its financial stewardship and accountability to Nigerian citizens.

San Francisco's Proposition B would lay the groundwork for a city-owned public bank, a step that could shift how the city deposits and manages public funds away from commercial banks. Supporters frame it as a way to keep public money serving local priorities; details on funding and implementation remain limited in early coverage.