South Korea GDP misses estimates as weak consumption, construction sector drive growth to 6-quarter low

At least 27 Palestinians, including children, were killed in an Israeli air strike on a school in Gaza City serving as a shelter for displaced families. The Israeli military stated they targeted Hamas fighters in a command center, not mentioning the school, as part of their expanded ground offensive, leading to a total of 1,163 deaths in recent weeks. Hamas rejected Israel's new ceasefire proposal, pushing for a plan involving hostage releases, prisoner exchanges, aid...

Small-cap stocks, once expected to benefit from President Donald Trump's policies, entered bear market territory after a steep stock market decline following the administration's aggressive tariff rollout. The Russell 2000 Index plummeted around 6% on Thursday, marking a 22% loss from its November record close. With the economy softening and high debt interest payments squeezing profits, small caps have seen a sharp reversal from their post-election gains as they struggle to navigate challenging market conditions....

In response to a surge in gang violence in Haiti, the leader of the transitional presidential council, Fritz Alphonse Jean, announced measures to address the crisis, acknowledging the country's dire situation. Protesters clashed with police demanding an end to gang violence, leading to the biggest protest since the council's installation a year ago. More than 4,200 people have been killed, 1,356 injured, and over 60,000 left homeless due to recent gang violence, prompting the council...

Syria has accused Israel of destabilizing the country through attacks on airbases and a ground incursion, leading to casualties and destruction. Israel justified the actions as responses to threats, with the Israeli army seizing weapons and destroying terrorist infrastructure. The United Nations envoy for Syria condemned the escalations, urging Israel to cease the attacks to avoid violations of international law. Full Article

Tom Cruise paid tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon while presenting footage from "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning." Cruise honored Kilmer's work and expressed gratitude for their collaboration in "Top Gun: Maverick," before asking for a moment of silence for the late actor. Kilmer, known for roles in "Batman Forever" and "Tombstone," died at 65 from pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy of impactful performances and a lasting friendship with Cruise. Full Article

A 13-year-old schoolgirl named Layla died in a house fire in Prescot, while five other children, a woman, and a man escaped unharmed after firefighters were called to the scene in Kingsway. Neighbours heard screams and a man urging individuals to jump out of the window to safety as the fire engulfed the home, leading to a joint investigation by Merseyside Police and the Fire and Rescue Service to determine the cause of the fatal...