Key Takeaways
- The conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with medical sources reporting 98 people killed and 1,079 injured in the past 24 hours.
- Ukraine has launched significant retaliatory strikes against two Russian oil refineries and key infrastructure in response to recent attacks on Ukrainian civilians.
- Blackstone (BX) has executed Europe's largest sterling Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS) deal since 2008, selling over £1.5 billion of CMBS backed by Haven Holiday Parks.
- Hong Kong regulators have approved China Mobile's (0941.HK) acquisition of HKBN (1310.HK) after revised competition commitments were accepted.
- New Zealand is heavily investing in tourism, with a major marketing drive and regulatory reforms aimed at boosting economic growth.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has seen a severe escalation, with medical sources reporting a grim toll of 98 people killed and 1,079 injured in the last 24 hours. This includes 39 individuals killed while waiting for food aid, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation. The total death toll in Gaza since October 2023 has now reached 60,430, with 148,722 wounded.
In Eastern Europe, Ukraine has conducted significant retaliatory strikes, targeting two Russian oil refineries (Ryazan and Novokuibyshevsk plants) and other key infrastructure, including the Anna Neftoprodukt fuel and lubricants base in Voronezh and the Penza Production Association "Electropribor," a defense enterprise. These attacks are a direct response to recent Kremlin assaults on Ukrainian cities that resulted in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, US and European officials are reporting a drop in suspected Russian state-backed sabotage incidents in 2025, though concerns persist regarding the evolving nature of these threats and the involvement of criminal networks as proxies.
On the financial front, Blackstone (BX) has made a significant move in the European real estate market, completing the sale of over £1.5 billion of CMBS backed by Haven Holiday Parks. This transaction marks Europe's largest sterling deal of its kind since 2008, indicating a potential resurgence in the CMBS market.
In the telecommunications sector, the Hong Kong Communications Authority has officially approved China Mobile's (0941.HK) acquisition of HKBN (1310.HK). This approval follows China Mobile Hong Kong's acceptance of revised competition commitments, paving the way for the deal to proceed.
Economically, New Zealand is placing a strong emphasis on tourism as a key driver of growth. The government has unveiled a major marketing drive and regulatory reforms, including a $13.5 million investment in Tourism New Zealand, aimed at attracting more international visitors, particularly from markets like China, Australia, the United States, India, Germany, and South Korea. This initiative is projected to bring an additional 23,000 international visitors and $100 million by March 2026.
In other geopolitical news, China's state media, CCTV, has claimed that its J-20 stealth fighter flew near Japan undetected. These claims remain unverified by Japan, South Korea, or the US, raising questions about the aircraft's true stealth capabilities and the motivations behind such public pronouncements.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.