Latest News
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Israeli attacks kill 23 people in Gaza including a rescue official and a journalist
Local health officials reported that Israeli military strikes on Gaza Strip killed 23 Palestinians, including a journalist from the area and a senior official of the rescue services. Medical experts said that the latest deaths in Israel's campaign were caused by separate Israeli strikes at Khan Younis, Jabalia, and Nuseirat, in central Gaza Strip. According to reports, an airstrike on Hassan Majdi Abu Warda's house in Jabalia earlier Sunday killed several members of his family and local journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda. A second airstrike on Nuseirat has killed Ashraf Ab Nar, a senior civil emergency service official, and his spouse in their home, according to medics. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. Hamas' Gaza Government Media Office said that Abu Warda’s death brought the total number of Palestinian journalists who have been killed in Gaza since 10/7/2023 to 220. The media office released a statement saying that Israeli forces controlled 77% of Gaza Strip either by ground forces, evacuation orders, or bombardment which keeps residents from returning to their homes. In separate statements issued on Sunday, the armed wings of Hamas (Hamas' wing) and Islamic Jihad (Islamic Jihad's wing) said that their fighters had carried out ambushes and attacks against Israeli forces in various areas in Gaza using anti-tank missiles and bombs. The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had carried out more strikes overnight in Gaza, including 75 targets such as weapons storage and rocket launchers. Israel began an air and land war in Gaza following the Hamas militants’ cross-border attack of October 7, 2023. The Israeli counted 1,200 dead, with 251 hostages taken into Gaza. Gaza's health authorities report that the conflict has caused more than 53,900 Palestinian deaths and has devastated coastal areas. Aid groups report widespread signs of severe malnutrition.
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Israeli attacks kill 20 people in Gaza including a rescue official and a journalist
Local health officials reported that Israeli military strikes on Gaza Strip killed at least twenty Palestinians, including a journalist from the area and a senior official of the rescue services. Medical experts said that the latest deaths in Israel's campaign were caused by separate Israeli strikes at Khan Younis, Jabalia, and Nuseirat, in central Gaza Strip. According to reports, an airstrike on Hassan Majdi Abu Warda's house in Jabalia earlier Sunday killed several members of his family and local journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda. A second airstrike on Nuseirat has killed Ashraf Ab Nar, a senior civil emergency service official, and his spouse in their home, according to medics. The Israeli military did not immediately comment. Hamas' Gaza Government Media Office said that Abu Warda’s death brought the total number of Palestinian journalists who have been killed in Gaza since 10/7/2023 to 220. In separate statements issued on Sunday, the armed wings of Hamas (Hamas' wing) and Islamic Jihad (Islamic Jihad's wing) said that their fighters had carried out ambushes and attacks against Israeli forces in various areas in Gaza using anti-tank missiles and bombs. The Israeli military announced on Friday that it had carried out more strikes overnight in Gaza, including 75 targets such as weapons storage and rocket launchers. Israel began an air and land war in Gaza following the Hamas militants’ cross-border attack of October 7, 2023. The Israeli counted 1,200 dead, with 251 hostages taken into Gaza. Gaza's health authorities report that the conflict has caused more than 53,900 Palestinian deaths and has devastated coastal areas. Aid groups report widespread signs of severe malnutrition.
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Congo to sign US mineral deal by June end, reports FT
The Financial Times reported that officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo were optimistic about a deal they could reach with Washington in order to secure U.S. investment in vital minerals and support for ending a Rwandan-backed rebellion in the east of the country. According to a report last week, Congolese minerals, such as tungsten tantalum, and tin that Kinshasa accuses neighbouring Rwanda of exploiting illegally, could be legitimately exported to Rwanda for processing, under the terms of the peace deal being negotiated between the U.S. The newspaper cited two sources close to the talks as saying that an investment deal with the U.S., and a separate peace agreement with Rwanda could be reached "by the end June". The FT reported that there are still many potential stumbling stones. The FT reported that Congo's Mines minister Kizito Pakaabomba stated an agreement with the U.S. will help "diversify partnerships" and reduce the country's dependency on China for exploitation of the vast mineral wealth. Kinshasa sees the pillage of its mineral wealth in eastern Congo as the key driver for the conflict between their forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebellions that has intensified ever since January. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of smuggling minerals worth tens or millions of dollars over the border every month to be sold by Rwanda. Massad Boulos is the senior adviser to President Donald Trump for Africa. He says that Washington wants a peace deal between the two parties to be signed by the end of the summer. This agreement will include mineral deals that are expected to bring Western investment worth billions of dollars to the area. Earlier this month, According to the Financial Times, Yolande Makolo, a Rwandan spokesperson, said that defensive measures are needed along the border as long as the DRC is plagued by threats and insecurity. The U.S. State Department didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger in Bengaluru, Mrinmay dey from Bengaluru)
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Three dead after Russian drones strike Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities
Officials said that Russian forces attacked Kyiv early Sunday morning, killing at least three people and injuring 11 others in the capital. They also damaged buildings and homes in surrounding towns. Three people were killed in two small towns near the capital, according to officials in the Kyiv area. The attacks were also carried out in a number of regional cities, including Kharkiv (Ukraine's second largest city), Mykolaiv (in the south) and Ternopil (in the west). Timur Tkachenko of Kyiv's Military Administration said that 11 people had been injured by drone strikes. In the Holosiivskyi District, just outside of the city center, a five-storey building was struck by fire. The exterior of the building was damaged. Strikes in other districts damaged a private home and an office centre. This was the second night in a row that a massive attack occurred. Overnight, on Friday evening, Russia launched drones and missiles against Kyiv in the largest combined aerial attack of the war's three years. The attack damaged several apartment buildings and injured 15 people. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov confirmed that drones had struck three districts in the northeastern Ukraine and injured three individuals. Blasts have shattered the windows of high-rise apartment buildings. The regional governor reported that drone strikes had injured two people, in a residential neighborhood of Mykolaiv. A missile strike on Ternopil, in western Ukraine, smashed windows and started a small fire. Local officials reported that a drone attack was also carried out in Konotop to the north of Kyiv. The Russian Defence Ministry announced that their air defence units intercepted 95 Ukrainian drones in a period of four hours. Sergei Sobyanin said that 12 Ukrainian drones were intercepted as they approached the capital. Reporting by Gleb Garanich and Oleksandr Kozohukhar; Editing and review by Cynthia Osterman, Christopher Cushing and Christopher Cushing
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Corriere CEO: Pirelli is in a risky situation if Sinochem does not sign a deal.
The CEO of the Pirelli group told Corriere della sera that the Italian tyre manufacturer is in a dangerous situation because its Chinese major shareholder Sinochem has rejected the company's proposal to resolve governance issues which could hamper its expansion in the United States. Pirelli, and its second largest shareholder, Italy's Camfin have stated that Sinochem's stake in the company poses a risk to Pirelli's ambitions of expanding into the U.S. where some legislators are against approving projects supported by Chinese companies. Pirelli's Chinese shareholders rejected the company's proposal earlier this month, despite it not being detailed. In an interview published Saturday, Pirelli CEO Andrea Casaluci stated that the goal was to find solutions to guarantee Pirelli's ability to operate on all markets in the world, especially the U.S. without restrictions and constraints, while thinking only about the company's development. Pirelli generates over 20% of revenue in North America, and 40% of that is from sales of high-value goods. Casaluci added that without a solution the development of Pirelli’s relevant technologies will be compromised, and the future growth in Italy and other markets is also at risk. Casaluci said that Sinochem had also presented its own proposal to the Italian government, which has the so-called golden power to limit or block foreign influence on domestic strategic groups without consulting the group. Sinochem and Pirelli were not available to comment on the interview when contacted.
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Navantia Seanergies Delivers Second Substation Jacket for French OW Farm
Navantia Seanergies, Spanish shipbuilder Navantia’s green energies division, has delivered its second substation jacket for Ocean Winds for the offshore wind farm at Dieppe Le Tréport in France.The jacket departed from the south basin of the Puerto Real shipyard, bound for its destination on France’s Atlantic coast.The structure – almost 54 metres tall and weighing approximately 1,900 tonnes – was fully fabricated at the Puerto Real facility and was loaded out on May 13, 2025. Since, adjustment and mooring operations have been carried out to prepare it for transport.A year ago, Navantia Seanergies delivered to Ocean Winds a jacket with similar characteristics, also built at Puerto Real, which is now installed at the Îles d’Yeu et Noirmoutier offshore wind farm in France.The jackets, constructed in Puerto Real, form part of the collaboration between Navantia Seanergies and Ocean Winds, a Madrid-based offshore wind company established as a joint venture between EDPR and ENGIE.Under this partnership, a capacity-reservation agreement was signed for the manufacture of components destined for future international offshore wind farms, including floating structures for forthcoming projects in Spain, Portugal and elsewhere in Europe.The 496 MW Dieppe Le Tréport offshore wind farm will feature 62 wind turbines will supply 850,000 people with electricity each year.
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Bloomberg News reports that the US is planning to grant Chevron a license in Venezuela for minimal maintenance.
Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump is about to issue Chevron a license which will allow it to maintain essential operations in Venezuela with minimal effort. According to the report, which cited people with knowledge of the issue, the U.S. Treasury Department intends to grant the waiver, allowing Chevron only to perform safety and maintenance functions in Venezuela. Chevron and the U.S. State Department as well as Treasury Department have not responded to immediate requests for comments. The U.S. business license in South America is due to be renewed. Expiration Date Most partners of Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, which is sanctioned by the United States, have asked for extensions. Treasury and State Departments in the United States would have to approve any extension. The State Department gives Treasury guidance on changes to sanctions regimes. Venezuela is home to some of the largest oil reserves in the world, but it's crude production remains a fraction of its previous level after a decade of mismanagement, lack of investment and U.S. sanctions against Venezuela's energy sector since 2019. Since 2023, the licenses granted to Chevron as well as other foreign companies have helped Venzuelan oil exports and production recover. Reporting by Gursimran K. Kaur, Bengaluru. Editing by Kate Mayberry
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Australia begins cleaning up after floods that killed 5, damaged 10,000 properties
Australian authorities began cleaning up efforts Saturday, after flooding in Australia's southeast claimed five lives and flooded more than 10,000 homes. New South Wales' emergency services agency has said that damage assessments are being conducted in the state, for the mid-northcoast region following the flooding this week which cut off towns and destroyed homes. In a press release, the agency stated that "early estimates suggest at least 10,000 homes may have been affected by record flooding." It said that conditions had improved in the affected areas of Australia's largest state since Friday. State Emergency Services Commissioner Mike Wassing told a Sydney media conference that hundreds of residents who were affected by the floods are still in evacuation centers, despite 52 flood rescues occurring overnight. Police said that the latest death linked to flooding was a man aged 80, whose body had been found in a flooded house about 50 km from Taree. Taree is one of Australia's worst-hit cities. The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to cancel his trip to Taree on Friday due to flooding. He said that it was "disgusting" to hear of any more deaths. Albanese issued a statement saying, "All our thoughts are now with his family and community." After days of non-stop rain, the floods submerged street signs and intersections in towns along the mid-northern coast. They also covered cars to their windshields. The floods, at their height, isolated 50,000 people. Climate change, according to some experts, is the cause of more extreme weather in Australia. Since early 2021, after devastating bushfires and droughts at the end last decade, floods have caused havoc. (Reporting from Sydney by Sam McKeith and Canberra by Peter Hobson; editing by Tom Hogue.)
Asia shares remain steady; gold reaches record levels as trade war escalates
Asia shares rose and global markets tried to rebound after a brutal saleoff. Gold reached a new record as an increase in global trade tensions made investors nervous, causing them to flee into safe-haven assets. Stocks in early Asian trading rose as investors were relieved that a U.S. shutdown was unlikely. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer had said he'd vote to advance a Republican short-term funding bill and signaled his party's support.
U.S. futures for stocks rose in response. The Nasdaq futures were up 0.87%, and the S&P 500 futures were up 0.7%.
The FTSE Futures also gained 0.1% and the EuroStoxx 50 futures rose 0.04%.
Alvin Tan is the head of Asia FX Strategy at RBC Capital Markets. He said that this news, for today at least, was positive for market sentiment.
MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific index outside Japan, which measures the performance of stocks in that region, traded 0.2% higher. However, it was still on track to drop more than 2% this week as global trade conflicts impacted global stock markets. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that he will impose a 200% tariff on imports of European spirits and wine if the EU does not remove the retaliatory duties on American whiskeys and other products which come into effect in the next month.
Vishnu Varathan is the head of Asia ex-Japan macro research at Mizuho. He said that Trump is making it clear that, if someone were to retaliate against him, his counter-escalation would be even more sharp. The latest developments were the catalyst for the steep selloffs on Wall Street, and confirmed that the S&P 500 is in a correction. This comes just one week after Nasdaq also confirmed this.
"I don't think Trump 2.0 is the same as Trump 1.0. Michael Strobaek is the global chief investment officer of Lombard Odier. He said that this time the president appears to be willing to let U.S. stocks and the economy suffer as he implements his "America first" goals.
Gold, a traditional safe-haven asset, has benefited from the trade war. The yellow metal hit a record of $2,990.09 per ounce last Friday. The yellow metal was expected to rise 2.6% this week.
Japan's Nikkei recovered from early losses and rose 0.12%.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index gained 1% as well, but was on track for a weekly decline of 2.3%. China's CSI300 index of blue-chip stocks advanced by 1.4%, and is expected to increase 0.6% this week.
Dollar Trouble The dollar recovered some lost ground thanks to safe-haven flows on Friday, but it was still not far from recent lows due to fears of an imminent U.S. economic recession.
The euro traded at $1.0841 last, down 0.1%. Sterling fell by 0.05% to reach $1.2944. The fiscal reset plan of Germany, which includes a 500-billion-euro fund for infrastructure as well as sweeping changes in borrowing rules and growth boosters to boost military spending and revive the largest economy in Europe, has given additional support to the euro. The outgoing lower chamber of the German parliament will vote on these measures on 18 March before the formation a new Parliament on 25 March.
Investors will be waiting for further information on the rate outlook, amid the uncertainty surrounding Trump's policies on trade and the impact they have on U.S. inflation and growth.
"Our assessment shows that the rate trend is constant, and will continue to be lower." Varathan from Mizuho said that it's a matter of timing.
"I believe that the tariffs won't be a hindrance to the Fed cuts because, even if prices increase, it will still result in a negative shock of demand and the people will not benefit." The dollar last gained 0.3% against yen, at 148.25. However, it was on track for a small weekly loss versus the Japanese currency due to bets that more Bank of Japan rate hikes will occur. Next week, the BOJ will also meet.
Oil prices rose after falling the previous session.
Brent futures increased 0.54%, to $70.26 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 0.6% to $66.66 per barrel.
(source: Reuters)