TOKYO -- Business sentiment among major manufacturers in Japan deteriorated for the first time in four quarters, reflecting a sharp drop in the auto sector caused by production cuts, the Bank of Japan (BOJ) Tankan survey showed Monday.

The key index measuring confidence among companies such as those in the auto and electronics sectors stood at plus 11, against plus 13 in the previous survey for December, according to the quarterly survey for March. The reading represented the percentage of companies reporting good business conditions minus those reporting the opposite. (Japan-Economy)

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RAMALLAH -- The Palestinian new government headed by Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa was sworn in here in the West Bank on Sunday.

The new government consists of 23 ministerial portfolios, including at least six ministers from the Gaza Strip. Mustafa will also take over the position of foreign minister from veteran diplomat Riyad Al-Maliki. (Palestine-New government)

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GENEVA -- Twenty-one patients have died since Israeli Defense Forces raided Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza, for a second time on March 18, head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.

"Hostilities continue around the hospital," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter, citing a health worker inside Al-Shifa. Over 100 patients, including four children and 28 critical patients, were stranded inside the hospital, lacking necessary means of care. "Many have infected wounds and are dehydrated," said Tedros. (WHO-Gaza-Toll)

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ANKARA -- Türkiye's main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), led in local elections in key cities, including the country's largest city Istanbul and the capital Ankara, on Sunday, with over 51 percent of the votes, local NTV broadcaster reported, citing initial results.

Turkish Supreme Election Council Chairman Ahmet Yener said 51.2 percent of the total votes were counted and the vote count is still ongoing. (Türkiye-Local elections) Enditem

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