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Daily Briefing

Israeli forces bombard areas around two hospitals in Khan Younis, Trump seeks advice from friends and allies on his vice presidential pick, and bruised by the stock market, more and more Chinese investors rush into banned bitcoin.

Plus, the world's first white rhino IVF pregnancy may offer a way to save a critically endangered subspecies.

By Edson Caldas

Today's Top News

Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis. REUTERS/Bassam Masoud

ISRAEL AND HAMAS AT WAR

Israeli forces relentlessly bombarded areas around two hospitals in Gaza's main southern city Khan Younis, pinning down large numbers of displaced people, residents said, in an offensive to take Hamas' main stronghold in the enclave's south. Follow the latest on the conflict.
The United Nations said that Israeli tanks struck a huge U.N. compound in Gaza sheltering displaced Palestinians, causing "mass casualties." Israel denied its forces were responsible and suggested Hamas may have launched the shelling. The attack prompted rare outright condemnation from the United States.

US ELECTIONS

Americans are unhappy about a looming election rematch between Democratic President Joe Biden and his Republican predecessor Donald Trump, but that won't stop them from voting, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found. Just 18% said they would not vote if Biden and Trump were their choice.
Trump is calling friends, allies and donors to seek advice on who he should pick as a vice presidential running mate, according to five close allies. Correspondent Tim Reid has the lowdown on some of the most likely names - listen to today's Reuters World News podcast. And follow our election coverage here.

IN OTHER NEWS

The US ambassador to Turkey said he anticipates that President Tayyip Erdogan will give a final sign-off on Sweden's NATO membership within days, triggering rapid steps toward the US Congress endorsing a sale of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara. Biden urged Congress to approve the sale Turkey "without delay."
Ukraine will do everything possible to secure an international investigation into the downing of a Russian military transport plane, the country's ombudsman said. Moscow accused Kyiv of deliberately shooting down the plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange.
The first batch of new recruits just began serving their one-year compulsory military service in Taiwan after the conscription period was extended from four months. President Tsai Ing-wen has described the previous military system as inefficient and insufficient to cope with China's rising military threat.

Business & Markets

The FAA will not allow Boeing to expand 737 MAX production. REUTERS/Jason Redmond

The aerospace industry faces widening disruption from the blowout of a panel on a Boeing jet after US regulators froze increases in production of the 737 MAX, raising concerns over growth plans of airlines and suppliers. The Federal Aviation Administration offered no estimate of how long the limitation would last.
The European Central Bank will keep interest rates unchanged at a record high and is likely to keep pushing back on investor bets for aggressive policy easing this spring. The ECB ended its quickest rate hiking cycle in September but has been adamant that even discussing a reversal would be premature.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that Chinese automakers will "demolish" global rivals without trade barriers, underscoring the heat the US electric vehicle market leader faces from the likes of BYD, who are racing to expand worldwide. For more on the industry, sign up to the Auto File newsletter.
The Pokemon Company will investigate and take action over any infringement of its intellectual property rights, after a viral game from a Japanese developer became dubbed "Pokemon with guns". Survival adventure game "Palworld" has sold more than 8 million copies since its release.
Saudi Arabia is preparing to open its first alcohol store which will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats, according to a source familiar with the plans and a document. Customers will have to register via an app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases.

Bruised by stock market, Chinese rush into banned bitcoin

A Crypto HK office in Hong Kong. REUTERS/Summer Zhen

More and more Chinese investors are using creative ways to own crypto assets that they believe are safer than investing in stock and property markets. They operate in a grey area. While cryptocurrency is banned in mainland China, people are still able to trade tokens on crypto exchanges or through other over-the-counter channels.

Read the full report here.

And Finally...

A 3D model of a 70-day-old white rhinoceros fetus. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Scientists in Berlin announced the first successful embryo transfer in a white rhinoceros using a method that offers hope for saving the critically endangered northern white rhino subspecies from extinction. The international BioRescue team confirmed that the procedure had produced a successful pregnancy of 70 days.

Read more: White rhino IVF pregnancy may offer way to save subspecies

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