Breakfast News Recap: Japan quake death toll rises as Middle East tensions flare and markets turn risk off
Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture is dealing with the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that has killed at least 13 people, with rescuers still searching for those trapped in a collapsed shopping mall and other damaged buildings. Officials said the quake was followed by an aftershock and an explosion at the mall, adding to the scale of the emergency. 🔗
Sponsored
In the Middle East, the United States and Saudi Arabia carried out strikes in Iraq against Iran backed groups after Washington said it intercepted an Iranian missile barrage aimed at US personnel. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also said it fired ballistic missiles at a US base and a Central Command centre in Jordan, underlining the widening confrontation. 🔗 🔗
Tensions around the Gulf and Red Sea also intensified as India condemned attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while the Houthis claimed a missile attack on the Saudi oil tanker NCC GHAZAL in the Red Sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported an explosion in the area, and the incidents add to fears over shipping security. 🔗 🔗
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump at the White House for talks dominated by Iran, Gaza and Israel’s military posture, after Trump had publicly voiced frustration with Netanyahu ahead of the meeting. Trump and Netanyahu later described the talks as positive, even as Israeli strikes hit a mosque and displacement tents in Gaza, killing at least one Palestinian. 🔗 🔗 🔗
Sponsored
There was also fresh friction in the occupied West Bank, where settlers, soldiers and border police clashed with residents in the village of al Mughayyir. Separately, Ukraine and Iran held a diplomatic call after Tehran said a Ukrainian strike in the Caspian Sea hit a commercial vessel and killed one sailor. 🔗 🔗
China increased maritime patrols east of Taiwan, prompting concern in Taipei that the activity could be a rehearsal for blockade tactics. In a separate security move, the Trump administration banned new foreign made humanoid robot imports to the United States, citing national security risks. 🔗 🔗
In the Americas, Peru’s Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as president after a narrow runoff win, promising a military led crackdown on crime, drug trafficking and illegal mining. In the United States, the Senate cleared a Russia sanctions bill that would impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five buyers of Russian oil and energy products. 🔗 🔗
Elsewhere, Russia charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism and placed him on an international wanted list. In Latin America, a Colombian man was sentenced to 150 months in prison for cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and the ex wife of a Mexican cartel leader pleaded guilty to violating narcotics sanctions rules. 🔗 🔗 🔗
Sponsored
Australia said its temporary fuel excise relief will end at midnight on Sunday, with motorists set to lose the discount from Monday as oil price pressure persists. 🔗
Financial glimpse
Wall Street finished mixed, with the Nasdaq Composite down 3.7 percent and the S and P 500 off 1.1 percent, while the Dow Jones rose 1.0 percent as investors rotated out of technology and AI linked stocks. 🔗
Asia Pacific trading was sharply split, with Japan and South Korea hit hard, the Nikkei 225 down 7.5 percent and the Kospi off 16.7 percent, while Hong Kong and Australia rallied. 🔗
Europe opened higher, with the CAC 40, FTSE 100, DAX and Euro Stoxx 50 all firmer, while Brent crude and natural gas weakened. 🔗
Sources in this recap
- 🔗 US and Saudi carry out strikes in Iraq after Iranian missile attack, with casualties reported
- 🔗 Japan earthquake death toll rises to 13 in Kumamoto as rescuers search for missing
- 🔗 At least 13 killed as earthquake leaves dozens trapped in Kumamoto shopping mall
- 🔗 China expands maritime patrols east of Taiwan, raising blockade fears
- 🔗 US intercepts Iranian missiles and expands strikes in Iraq as tensions rise
- 🔗 Japan Kumamoto earthquake as USGS revises magnitude and aftershock hits Kyushu
- 🔗 India condemns attacks on vessels in Strait of Hormuz as casualties reported
- 🔗 Netanyahu meets Trump at the White House amid tensions over Gaza, Iran and Israeli military presence
- 🔗 Israeli strikes hit Gaza mosque and displacement tents, killing at least one
- 🔗 Ukraine and Iran hold call after Caspian Sea strike kills sailor
- 🔗 Iran says it fired ballistic missiles at US base in Jordan as CENTCOM reports interceptions
- 🔗 Japan earthquake and mall explosion in Kumamoto leave 13 dead as rescue efforts continue
- 🔗 US Senate clears Russia sanctions bill targeting oil buyers with tariffs
- 🔗 Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi oil tanker in Red Sea as UKMTO reports explosion
- 🔗 Turkiye and Iraq announce new energy cooperation tied to Kirkuk oilfield stake
- 🔗 Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with aiding terrorism
- 🔗 Peru's Fujimori takes office promising military-led crackdown on crime
- 🔗 Trump voices frustration with Netanyahu before White House talks over Iran strategy
- 🔗 Trump administration bans new Chinese humanoid robot imports as security concerns widen
- 🔗 Trump and Netanyahu hold positive White House talks on Iran
- 🔗 Keiko Fujimori sworn in as Peru president after narrow election win
- 🔗 Settlers and Israeli forces clash in West Bank village of al-Mughayyir
- 🔗 Australia confirms fuel excise relief will end at midnight Sunday amid oil-price pressure
- 🔗 Trump says a heroic young man will receive a High Civilian Honor at the White House
- 🔗 Colombian man sentenced to 150 months for cocaine trafficking conspiracy
- 🔗 Ex-wife of cartel leader pleads guilty to narcotics sanctions violation
#Japanearthquake #MiddleEasttensions #WallStreet #AsiaPacificmarkets #oil #breakingrecap #recapbreakfast
Sponsored
