Iran vows 'decisive' response to Hamas leader's assassination as Israel braces for retaliation

Iran vowed on Monday to take "decisive" action against the "aggressor" behind the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, accusing Israel of carrying out a "cowardly" attack.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the killing of Haniyeh, who was in Iran for the swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkian, was a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Iran will take its serious and deterrent action with "strength and decisiveness" to punish the "aggressor" based on its inherent right and the international law principles, Kanaani said at a weekly press conference.

He added that Tehran would pursue the matter through the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which will hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers on Wednesday.

The same day, Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, when meeting with foreign diplomats in Tehran, called Haniyeh's assassination was against international law as well as regional and international security and stability, and violated Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He vowed that Iran will make a clear and decisive response to the Israeli actions.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said Iran will teach Israel and its supporter, the United States, a "historic lesson."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Hossein Salami has also warned that Israel is "digging its own grave" with its actions in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip and will get their response.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday Israel was "prepared very strongly" and ready to respond quickly to a potential Iranian retaliatory attack, adding that Israel will exact a price from the enemy.

According to U.S. and Israeli media reports, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) commander General Michael Kurilla had arrived in Israel amid the soaring tensions between Iran and Israel.

According to the Lebanese military, Israel launched airstrikes and artillery attacks on several locations in southern Lebanon Sunday, killing two Hezbollah members, while Hezbollah said Monday it used multiple drones to attack Israeli military targets in the northern. According to the Israeli military, the attack wounded two Israeli soldiers.

France, Italy, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia warned their citizens not to travel to Lebanon and urged those already in the country to leave as soon as possible due to the risk of military escalation in the Middle East.

Iran vows 'decisive' response to Hamas leader's assassination as Israel braces for retaliation

Hong Kong’s stock market saw a sharp rise in both the number of newly listed companies and the total funds raised in the first quarter of the year, the latest data from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) showed.

The number of newly listed companies on the HKEX reached 16 in the first quarter, up 33 percent year on year, mainly covering such sectors as consumer goods, new energy vehicles, and medical and health care.

The funds raised by the listed companies on the HKEX also saw a significant increase. IPO fundraising in the first quarter reached about 18.214 billion Hong Kong dollars (2.34 billion U.S. dollars), surging 281 percent compared to the same period of last year.

"In the first quarter, Hong Kong's stock market saw rapid growth in the number of new IPOs and the funds raised, placing it among the global leaders. Companies in sectors such as consumer goods, new energy, and artificial intelligence have increasingly chosen to list on the Hong Kong exchange. This surge makes more investors to feel confident in the future growth of Hong Kong-listed companies and recognize the market's investment potential. The trend will further solidify Hong Kong's status as an international financial center," said Wang Kai, chief strategy analyst at Guosen Securities.

At the same time, an increasing number of listed companies on Chinese mainland’s A-share market are exploring dual listings in Hong Kong, aiming to expand their global presence and attract international investors.

Among the 16 newly listed companies in Hong Kong during the first quarter, one was already listed on the A-share market. Additionally, 33 more listed companies on the A-share market have announced plans to list on the HKEX this year. Many other such companies have chosen the global financial hub as the listing destination for their subsidiaries.

"Recently, more listed companies on the A-share market have shown the intention for dual listings in Hong Kong. Many of them are leaders in promising sectors. Listing in Hong Kong will help them accelerate their global expansion and tap into international markets. The dual listing will also enable them to leverage resources from both markets, facilitating easier fundraising and faster growth. Meanwhile, more international investors can get the opportunities to invest in and benefit from China's economic growth," said Yang Chao, chief strategy analyst at China Galaxy Securities.

Hong Kong’s stock market sees surge in new listings and fundraising in Q1