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Mojtaba Khamenei’s Rise Sparks Market Turmoil as Hardliners Mobilize

People attend a gathering to support Iran's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026.  Iran’s hardline factions mounted a powerful show of support for newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei , rallying across Tehran in a display that signaled a tightening of conservative control and diminished hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East.  The demonstrations, marked by mass gatherings and imagery linking Mojtaba to his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscored the regime’s consolidation at a moment of heightened regional conflict.  Analysts warn that the hardliners’ unified backing suggests Iran is unlikely to soften its stance amid ongoing tensions with the U.S. and Israel. Global markets reacted sharply. Fears that prolonged instability could further disrupt energy supplies sent oil prices soaring and triggered steep declines in major stock indices. With one of the most significan...

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Hong Kong Police Target Construction Firm After Deadly Wang Fuk Court Fire

Smoke rises from residential buildings as fires continue to burn at Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.

Hong Kong police have raided the offices of a construction company linked to the catastrophic blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which has become the city’s deadliest fire in decades. The inferno, which erupted on November 26, tore through multiple high-rise towers, killing at least 55 people and leaving nearly 300 residents missing.

Authorities revealed that the company under investigation had been conducting maintenance work at the housing estate, including the installation of bamboo scaffolding and foam materials that may have accelerated the spread of the flames. Police have already arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter, citing gross negligence in the use of unsafe construction materials.

The fire, which engulfed seven of the estate’s eight towers, displaced thousands of residents and overwhelmed emergency services. Survivors described chaotic evacuations, with many trapped on upper floors as thick smoke and intense heat blocked escape routes.

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee announced a HK$300 million relief fund to support victims and pledged a full investigation into construction safety standards across the city. Officials are also considering phasing out bamboo scaffolding in favor of metal alternatives to prevent similar tragedies.

The raid marks a critical step in holding those responsible accountable, as public anger mounts over the scale of the disaster and the apparent negligence that contributed to its deadly toll.

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