COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka's central bank decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate and the Standing Lending Facility Rate at their current levels of 14.50 percent and 15.50 percent, respectively.

The central bank announced on Thursday that it arrived at this decision after considering the latest macroeconomic conditions, expected developments, and macroeconomic projections. (Sri Lanka-Standing Deposit Facility Rate)

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KATHMANDU -- Sixteen people were killed and 20 others injured on Thursday when a passenger bus overturned in Nepal's Bara district.

A preliminary investigation has suggested overspeeding as the cause of the accident, Shrestha said. (Nepal-Road Accident)

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TOKYO -- Japan's central bank on Thursday maintained its economic assessment of eight of the country's nine regions, with one region's economic assessment upgraded.

According to the Bank of Japan's quarterly assessment of regional economies for October, most of the eight regions maintained the assessment suggesting "the economy has been picking up moderately," or "the economy has been picking up as a whole." (Japan-Economic Assessment)

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BANGKOK -- The death toll from a mass shooting at a childcare center on Thursday in northeast Thailand's Nong Bua Lamphu province has risen to 38, most of them children, local authorities said.

The shooting occurred at noon. Police identified the attacker as a former police officer who was arrested early this year over drug allegations and was dismissed from his post in June. (Thailand-Mass Shooting)

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ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the Pakistani government had spent almost 100 billion rupees (450 million U.S. dollars) for the relief and assistance of the flood-affected people, as relief and rehabilitation activities continue in affected areas.

China has provided great support to Pakistan after catastrophic floods played havoc across the country, Sharif said, adding that not only the Chinese government but the Chinese people and companies have extended helping hands to flood victims of Pakistan. (Pakistan-Flood-Relief)