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Global Markets Reel as Wall Street Suffers Sharpest Fall Since Iran Conflict Began

Wall Street endured its steepest decline since the outbreak of the Iran war, as renewed uncertainty over diplomatic progress sent shockwaves through global markets. The S&P 500 plunged 1.7% , marking its worst day since January and extending a five‑week losing streak , the longest in nearly four years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 469 points , while the Nasdaq dropped 2.4% , slipping more than 10% below its record high — a threshold investors label a correction .  The downturn followed conflicting signals about potential ceasefire negotiations. While U.S. officials suggested Iran was open to talks, Tehran publicly denied direct engagement and dismissed a U.S. proposal delivered via Pakistan. The resulting uncertainty pushed oil prices sharply higher , with Brent crude rising 4.8% to $101.89 , up from roughly $70 before the conflict. Global markets echoed the volatility, with major indexes across Asia and Europe also tumbling. Analysts warn that Iran’s tightening con...
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Gaza faces famine amid aid chaos and Israeli fire


The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point, as hundreds of thousands of people face acute hunger and malnutrition, while aid deliveries are hampered by Israeli attacks and civil disorder.

On Thursday, a tragic incident highlighted the desperation of the people living in northern Gaza, where the World Food Program (WFP) warned of an imminent famine. A group of about 30 trucks carrying food aid was met by a massive crowd of hungry Palestinians, who tried to grab whatever they could. Israeli troops stationed nearby opened fire on the crowd, killing 115 people and wounding many more, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel claimed it fired warning shots and that most of the deaths were caused by a stampede.

The WFP said it had to suspend its aid operations in the north due to the breakdown of civil order and the danger to its staff. The agency said that one in six children under the age of two in the area suffers from severe malnutrition and wasting, calling it “the worst level of child malnutrition anywhere in the world.”

The situation in Gaza has deteriorated since October, when Hamas launched an attack into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel responded with a massive air, sea and ground offensive that destroyed much of the densely populated territory, especially the north. The Israeli military told Palestinians to move south, but many stayed behind, either unable or unwilling to leave their homes.

Residents say they have resorted to eating tree leaves, animal food, and rotten bread to survive. Many families have not received any aid for more than four weeks. Some people have been killed or wounded by Israeli fire while trying to fish or search for food in the rubble.

U.S. President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. would soon begin airdropping assistance to Gaza and look for other ways to get aid in, such as a marine corridor. He also said the deaths at the aid convoy would complicate the ceasefire talks, which are set to resume on Sunday in Cairo. International mediators hope to reach an agreement on a six-week pause in fighting and an exchange of some Israeli hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

Meanwhile, the fighting continued, with the Palestinian death toll rising to 30,320, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.

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