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Israeli strikes kill 3 people in Gaza: medics
Health officials reported that Israeli strikes had killed at least three Palestinians, including two members of Hamas's police force in Gaza on Sunday. The violence underscored the fragility and the U.S.-brokered truce. According to Gaza's Hamas-run interior ministry, a medical team reported that an airstrike had killed a person in the Maghazi Refugee Camp, while another struck and killed Wessam Abdel-Hadi (the head of the criminal force in Khan Younis) and his assistant. Israel has reportedly intensified its attacks against the Hamas-run Gaza police force. The militant group used this force to reestablish government?in areas that it controlled. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incidents. PERSISTENT VIOLENCE In the Al-Amal neighborhood of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, the blast that killed two?policemen left only a mangled skeleton on the spot where their vehicle had been parked. As the white-shrouded corpses of the men were carried through the streets, mourners chanted: "There is no God except Allah. The martyrs are loved by Allah." Ali Mousa was one of the mourners who condemned Israel for killing members of the police force of the enclave. Mousa said that despite the fact that the ceasefire was implemented several months ago, "the occupation continues to target police officers in order to create chaos amongst the people of this same nation." "The occupation seeks to create confusion and chaos in the Gaza Strip." "This is the sole goal," he said. Israel has continued to conduct?almost everyday attacks in Gaza despite a ceasefire that was signed on October 20, 2025. Local medics claim that at least 850 Palestinians were killed since the ceasefire came into effect. Israel, on the other hand, claims militants killed four soldiers during this period. Israel and Hamas blamed each other for ceasefire violation. Gaza's health officials say that more than 72,500 Palestinians have died since the Gaza War began in October 2023. Most of these were civilians. Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi from Cairo and Haseeb alwazeer from Gaza. Editing by Bernadette B. Baum and Helen Popper.
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Officials in Ukraine report three deaths from Russian strikes despite ceasefire
Ukrainian officials said 'on Sunday that at least three people have been killed in Russian airstrikes and more than 150 clashes on the battlefields took place during the last 24 hours despite an arranged 'ceasefire' between Kyiv, Ukraine and Moscow, which was mediated by Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Russia had agreed to a ceasefire for three days from May 9 through May 11. A broader peace initiative to end the war, which has been going on for more than four years, is stalled. Separate reports from regional governors and the police on Sunday revealed that one person in each of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions was killed by Russian drone strikes. Governor Oleh Syniehubov of the northeastern Kharkiv Region said that drone attacks on the regional capital, and nearby settlements, injured eight people? including two children. Oleksandr prokudin, the regional governor, said that seven people were injured in Kherson in?artillery or drone attacks since Saturday morning. State Emergencies Service reported that Russian forces used a drone to attack one of their rescue vehicles in Dnipropetrovsk, wounding the driver. Kyiv’s air force reported that Russia launched 27 long-ranged drones against Ukraine overnight, a number lower than usual. However, air defences shot down all of them. Ukraine's General Staff reported 147 clashes along the front lines in its daily morning report. Ukrainian officials have not yet publicly commented on Russian violations of a ceasefire brokered by the United States, which included a swap of 1,000 prisoners of each side. The Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday that Ukraine violated the ceasefire when it launched drones and artillery attacks against its troops. It claimed that Russian forces had'shot down 57 Ukrainian aircraft. Russia and Ukraine announced separate ceasefires earlier this week, starting on Friday and then Wednesday. They both accused each other of violating them. (Reporting and editing by Gareth Jones, Ros Russell, and Dan Peleschuk)
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Israeli strikes on Gaza kill three medics, say doctors, as they test fragile ceasefire
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least three Palestinians on Sunday, including two of the Hamas-run police force.?Health officials?said that the violence underscored the fragility a U.S. mediated ceasefire. According to the Gaza Hamas Interior Ministry, a medical team confirmed that an airstrike killed one person at the Maghazi Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip, while another struck the criminal policing force's head in Khan Younis Wessam Abdul-Hadi and his aide. It has been reported previously that 'Israel has intensified its attacks against?Gaza Hamas run police force that has been used by the militants to reestablish government in areas that are under their control. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incidents. Israel has continued to attack Gaza almost every day, despite a ceasefire in October 2025. Local?medics report that at least 850 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire came into effect, while Israel claims militants killed four of its soldiers during the same time period. Israel and Hamas have both blamed the other for violating ceasefires. Gaza's health officials say that more than 72,500 "Palestinians" have died since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Most of these victims were civilians. Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi Editing Bernadette B. Baum
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Saudi Aramco Q1 profits rise 25% due to higher sales and a full pipeline
Saudi oil giant Aramco announced on Sunday a 25% increase in its first-quarter profit. This was mainly due to increased sales. The East-West crude pipe that circumvents the Strait o f 'Hormuz is now at full capacity. The?top oil exporter in the world reported a net profit of $32.5 Billion for the three-month period ended March 31. This was higher than the LSEG consensus estimate, which was $30.95 Billion. The total revenue increased 11.4% over the previous quarter, to $115.49 Billion. Amin Nasser said that the results show "strong resilience and operational agility in a complex geopolitical context". He had previously warned of "catastrophic" consequences if the strait remained closed. Aramco increased crude oil flows from the production heartland of Iran on its east coast, to the port of Yanbu in the 'Red Sea' following the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. "Our East-West Pipeline has proved to be a vital supply artery. It helped to mitigate the effects of a global oil shock, and provided relief to customers who were affected by shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz," he said in a press release. Recent events have demonstrated that oil and gas are vital to energy security, the global economy and reliable energy supply. Aramco’s adjusted net profit for the third quarter was $33.6billion, exceeding a median estimate of $31.16billion provided by 13 analysts. The figure is'stripped out' of $1.06 billion worth of non-operational items. These were mainly related to changes in inventory costs, gains or losses from energy trading contracts, and certain financing expenses. Capital expenditures fell to $12.1 billion from $12.5 billion a year ago, but were down sharply from $13.4 billion during the fourth quarter. Aramco gave a capital spending guidance of $50-55 Billion this year.
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Africa's richest person Dangote is looking at Kenya for a new refinery.
The Financial Times, citing a recent interview with Aliko Dangote, reported that the Nigerian billionaire is considering?Kenya for the location of an oil refinery capable of producing 650,000 barrels per day. Dangote stated in the interview that he was leaning towards Mombasa, because it has a larger and deeper port. This report follows Kenyan President William Ruto's?statement last month that East African nations were discussing plans to build a 'joint oil refining facility at the Tanzanian Port of Tanga, which is modelled on Nigeria's Dangote operations. Dangote, in an interview, compared Mombasa, Kenya, to the port of Tanga, Tanzania, and stated that "Kenyans consumed more." It's bigger. He said, "The ball is now in President Ruto's hands." "I will do whatever President Ruto says," he said. The FT reported that Dangote estimated that it would cost between $15 billion and $17 billion for the refinery to be built. East Africa imports its refined petroleum products primarily?from the Middle East. This leaves the region susceptible to supply disruptions and price spikes that were seen during the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. Aliko Dangote is Africa's richest person. He said at an infrastructure conference?in Nairobi, last month that he could replicate his 650,000 barrel-a-day Nigerian refining plant in East Africa if the governments of the region supported this initiative.
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Two missing Singaporeans found after Mount Dukono eruption; one Indonesian is dead
Indonesian authorities confirmed on Saturday that they had located the two Singaporeans who were missing, but it was not yet known if either of them was alive. They also confirmed the death of an Indonesian woman 'hiker, after Mount Dukono erupted in the Pacific island of Halmahera. "We have located their coordinates." Iwan Ramdani of Indonesia's rescue agency said that it was around the crater's rim. This is consistent with the witness reports and drone surveillance. The spokesperson for the disaster mitigation agency, Abdul?Muhari, stated that both appeared to be between 20 and 30 metres (65 to 100 feet) away from the rim. Iwan said that the body of an Indonesian woman had been found and returned to her family. The volcano, located in the North Maluku Province, began erupting Friday and spewed ash up to 10 km (6 miles). The search was temporarily suspended on Saturday night due to the continuous eruptions. Iwan stated that operations will resume on Sunday. Iwan said that at least 100 rescuers and military personnel as well as 2 thermal drones were deployed on Saturday morning. The extreme terrain and the ongoing eruptions made evacuations difficult. Seven Singaporeans and ten Indonesians were evacuated by authorities on Friday. Police chief Erlichson Pasaribu said that the hikers had told the police that the three missing persons, including the Singaporeans were dead. Pasaribu stated that they are investigating the tour company that provided services to the hikers for possible "negligence" that could have endangered other lives. Six people were questioned, but not arrested. The police will investigate why the tour company allowed tourists to climb Mount Dukono despite it being banned. Pasaribu stated that hiking to Dukono's peak has been banned since 2024 because of?eruptions, and in April this past year the local government prohibited all climbing activities due to increased eruptions. The Volcanology Agency is maintaining the third highest alert level on Mount Dukono, and has banned all activities within 4 km of the crater. No reports have been made of flight disruptions due to the eruption.
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Kremlin: Peace in Ukraine still far away
The Kremlin said on Saturday that the United States was in a hurry to clinch a peace agreement to end the Ukraine War, but that it would be a long time before they could reach any kind of agreement because the issues are so complex. Russia and Ukraine confirmed that they had agreed on a three-day ceasefire, which will run from May 9 through May 11. U.S. president Donald Trump said he hoped that it would be prolonged. Pavel Zarubin, a reporter for state television, was told by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov that it is understandable why the Americans are in a rush. Peskov stated that "the issue of a Ukrainian solution is too complex and the process to reach a peace agreement is long with many complex details." Russian troops have been fighting in Ukraine since well?over a year - 'longer than Soviet forces in World War Two in Russia, also known as the "Great Patriotic War" of 1941-45. Trump has promised repeatedly to end the Ukraine War, calling it a "stupid and crazy"?war which is causing?vast casualties on both side, but has not yet achieved peace. (Reporting and editing by Guy Faulconbridge; reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin)
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Indonesia continues to search for missing hikers after Mount Dukono eruption
An official says that Indonesian authorities resumed their search efforts for three missing hikers on Saturday following the eruption of Mount Dukono?on Halmahera Island. The volcanology agency of Indonesia reported that Mount Dukono in North Maluku Province erupted at 7:41 am on Friday (2241 GMT, Thursday), releasing volcanic ash up to 10 km (6 miles) high into the air. Rescue agency had stopped the search on Friday evening because it was still raging. Iwan Ramdani is the head of the local rescue agency. He said that at least 100 rescuers and military personnel, as well as?police officers, as well as thermal drones were deployed on Saturday morning to search for the missing three. He added that the hikers were two Singaporeans, and one Indonesian. Iwan stated that "we are focusing the search around a crater covering an area of around 700 meters." On Friday, authorities evacuated 17 people. Seven of them were Singaporeans while the other ten were Indonesians. Erlichson Pasaribu, the local police chief, said that three people died, including two Singaporeans. However, the rescue agency had not confirmed the deaths by Saturday. Iwan said that Saturday's search had been hampered because of the continued eruptions. Lana 'Saria, head of the agency, said that the volcanology agency had recorded at least four explosions on Saturday morning. She added that the agency maintains the alert status of Mount Dukono on the third highest level. She said that residents and tourists should not engage in any activity within a radius of 4 km (2 miles) from the crater. No reports have been made yet about flight disruptions due to the eruption. Indonesia is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area of intense seismic activity at various tectonic plate boundaries.
Leading British horses have a stellar start to the Cheltenham Festival
The New Lion, Lulamba and other horses will compete for a piece of the $6.70 million prize pool at the opening of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.
The festival, which attracts 200,000 racegoers over four days, is estimated to be worth 274 million pounds to the local economy, boosting local hotels, restaurants and pubs.
William Hill predicts that 450 million pounds of bets will be placed in Britain. Guinness will be sold by the gallon at a price of 30 pence less.
For those who are at the core of the sport it's all about the horses, and if this year's crop can rival the Irish.
The golden age of British jump racing, when Paul Nicholls of Somerset and his horses such as dual Gold Cup-winner?Kauto Star or 18-times successive hurdle winners Big Buck's dominated the field, is now almost 20 years old.
Willie Mullins has continued to dominate since then. His team of 113 winners have earned him the title of leading trainer 12 times. This year's team is no less dangerous, backed by wealthy owners such as former Barclays executive Rich Ricci or businessman J.P. McManus.
Mullins pick for the?most prestigious jump race is Gaelic Warrior, who appears set to be favourite in Friday's Gold Cup feature. This race has eluded owner Susannah Ricci so far. Majborough, the favourite in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion chase is Mullins' pick for jump racing's?most prestigious race.
Skelton, Ben Pauling and Grey Dawning will be taking on Mullins in the 625,000 pound Gold Cup along with Harry Redknapp's King George VI Chase champion The Jukebox Man.
The battle lines will be drawn first in the opening race of Tuesday's Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle when Mullins' Mighty Park faces British hope Old Park Star, a three-time winner and 2/1 favourite, trained by Henderson.
Henderson has not hidden the fact that a Seven Barrows win on Tuesday will be a huge boost to the team, and set a positive tone for the rest of the week after Constitution Hill was ruled out. Henderson also runs the highly-anticipated Lulamba for the Arkle Novices Chase and Jangobaie for the Gold Cup.
BULLISH BRITISH
If Britain also won Tuesday's main race, the?450,000-pound Champion Hurdle, in which Mullins prolific mare Lossiemouth battles with Skelton’s The New Lion in a two-horse contest, Irish nerves could start to jangle.
Skelton is sending his biggest team ever to Cheltenham. He has lined up 30-35 horses. Skelton is confident about some of the biggest British winners but he said his chances to win the top trainer award at the festival were "a possibility...not a probability."
"I thought about it, because I am a competitive bugger. But the reality is that Willie will lead trainer,"? he said to the Racing Post Sunday. "With some luck, we could be behind him with a few other trainers."
Ireland has been the winner of the Cheltenham Prestbury Cup, which is awarded to the nation with the most champions, in nine out of the last ten years.
Cheltenham’s opening day is also important for British racing. It's in the spotlight because of governance issues with its regulator and recent moves made by gaming companies to cut sponsorship due to higher taxes.
Cheltenham also wants to recover from the lower ticket sales of recent years. CEO Guy Lavender has tried to remedy this by lowering Guinness prices to 2022 levels, reducing restrictions in drinking areas, and reintroducing Ladies Day every Wednesday.
Lavender said that "there is no doubt" that all businesses in the leisure sector are working harder to differentiate their products and services from those of competitors.
The British racing industry continues to offer a great day out, and last year we saw the total attendance at all 60 racecourses surpass 5 million for the first time in 2019.
Lavender said he is "very optimistic" about the ticket sales, which are up from last year. He said, "We're definitely going in the right directions."
(source: Reuters)