[Australian Air Force Base In UAE Attacked By Projectile] Australian Prime Minister Barnes Said On The 18th That The Country's Minhad Air Base In The UAE Was Attacked By An Iranian Projectile That Day, With No Casualties Reported. There Is No Indication That Iran Deliberately Targeted Australia. Barnes Told The Media, "The Projectile Hit A Road Leading To The Base, Causing A Small Fire And Minor Damage To A Dormitory Building And A Medical Facility."

Former USA Representative Melissa Bean Wins Democratic Primary For Illinois' 8Th Congressional District, Ap News Projects

UBS Has Moved Its Forecast For The Reserve Bank Of Australia's (RBA) Next Rate Hike Forward To May, From August. UBS Chief Economist George Tharenou Stated That Although This Week's Rate Hike Was Based On A 5-4 Vote, They Are Still Moving Forward Their Timing Forecast. Governor Bullock's Hawkish Comments After The Rate Decision Suggest That RBA Staff Are Expected To Recommend A Rate Hike At The Next Meeting In May. A Similar Divided Vote Is Likely At The Next Meeting

Nikkei Jumps Nearly 2% As Ai, Chip Stocks Rally

Malaysia February New Vehicle Sales Fell 18.5% On Month, Better Sales Likely In March

[Japanese Prime Minister: No Plans To Deploy Self-Defense Forces To The Strait Of Hormuz] On The 18th Local Time, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Stated At The House Of Councillors Budget Committee That There Are Currently No Plans To Deploy Self-Defense Forces To The Strait Of Hormuz. Since The US And Israel Launched Military Strikes Against Iran, Shipping In The Strait Of Hormuz Has Been Almost Completely Disrupted. US President Trump Recently Pressured NATO Members And Allies Such As South Korea And Japan To Send Warships To The Strait Of Hormuz For Escort Missions, But Few Have Responded

[Iraqi Militia Claims 454 Attacks On US Units] On The Evening Of The 17th Local Time, The Iraqi Militia Group "Islamic Resistance Organization" Issued A Statement Claiming That It Had Launched 47 Attacks That Day Using Drones And Rockets Against US Units In And Around Iraq. Since February 28th, The Group Has Claimed To Have Launched 454 Attacks On US Units. On The Evening Of The 17th, The US Embassy In Baghdad's Green Zone Was Attacked Multiple Times. Following The Attacks, The Iraqi Shiite Militia Group "Kata'ib Hezbollah" Issued A Statement Demanding The Withdrawal Of All Foreign Troops From Iraq. In Addition, The Iraqi Armed Forces Issued A Statement That Evening Condemning The Attacks On The US Embassy In Iraq