Unfortunately for some drenched Halsey fans, the pop singer’s show was canceled due to extreme flooding at the venue.
At first, the scheduled 7 p.m. show was delayed but inevitably called off despite the sea of concert-goers waiting patiently in the Columbia, Maryland downpour Wednesday night.
Water surged down the bleachers and flooded the floor, as shown on Twitter by Halsey fans who can be heard screaming in videos.
“There’s no way this Halsey Maryland show is real like WHAT,” tweeted one person, who posted a clip in the front row of the venue as water poured — and rodents descended the stage. One video shows a security guard kicking a rat into the flooded area between the stage and crowd, who scream as the pest swims away turning the venue into a moat.
A Halsey show turned into a nightmare for fans with terrifying floods, screaming videos and rodents crawling all over.Twitter
Other clips showed a cascade of water flowing down the bleachers and off the roof, falling onto unsuspecting fans in the crowd. Yet, some people made the most of the unfortunate situation online.
“Halsey’s team went all out with the special effects for this tour,” joked another user, showing the rain-induced waterfall.
“Are y’all attending a Halsey concert or a pool party,” quipped someone else.
Halsey went live on Instagram to explain the situation and address the weather, stating she even travels with the help of weather experts who advised there was only going to be some rain that was “supposed to pass.” But, some “unpredictable” weather “immediately become dangerous.”
Local authorities advised a shelter in place and not to evacuate due to the possibility of stampedes and the uncertainty of how dangerous the weather could become.
In the clip, which a Halsey fan account recorded and posted to Twitter in two parts, the singer described that she “made the decision” to keep her fans safe.
“I just want everybody to be safe,” she said “I’m literally heartbroken.”
Maryland I don’t even know what to say. If you missed my live, I’ll post something soon explaining what happened. But right now I’m heartbroken and panicked and I just want to know when/that you all get home safely. I love you guys more than anything.
— h (@halsey) June 9, 2022
She promised a rescheduling of the show, then later tweeted an apology to her Maryland fans, saying she was “panicked” and that “I love you guys more than anything.”
“I really want to add that I am beyond disappointed with the way the venue handled everything tonight and my rescheduled date will be happening somewhere else,” the “Hurricane” singer tweeted next. “I hear you guys loud and clear I promise.”
June has a few special celestial events to add to your sky-gazing summer bucket list, including a quintet of planets to enjoy.
Throughout most of June, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will stretch across the sky like a string of pearls appearing in the dawn hours before sunrise.
Sky & Telescope Magazine is calling it a “planet parade” because the planets will also be in the correct order from the sun.
Mercury will be the hardest to spot as the last to appear in the lineup just before it’s swallowed by sunlight. However, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn should be easy to see all month.
As a quartet, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have appeared in conjunction over the past few months, but June is the last chance to see the group together before they begin to spread further out in the night sky.
Look for the planets in the sky before sunrise by gazing southeast.
This celestial event requires no special equipment, but the view will be even better if you have access to a telescope or a local observatory. Binoculars could also help improve your experience.
June is the last chance to see Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn together before they begin to spread further out in the sky.Getty Images
If you want to know which planet is which, know that they are arranged in their natural order from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. A sky-gazing app like Stellarium can also help you identify all the planets.
Early in June, Mercury and Saturn will be the smallest in the sky. As the month progresses, the planets will begin to appear further apart in the sky.
Mercury will be more illuminated and higher on the horizon by mid-June, making it easier to spot.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Venus and Saturn will bow out as morning objects for most observers by September. NASA/JPL-Caltech
Toward the end of the month, the five-planet alignment will add a sixth gem to the show. On June 24, Mercury will pup up above the horizon about an hour before sunrise. As a bonus, the crescent moon will appear between Venus and Mars.
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Venus and Saturn will bow out as morning objects for most observers by September.
Bonus: Ancient star cluster on display
Another treat for summer sky-gazing also happens this month. NASA astronomers say June is also an excellent month to view the globular star cluster known as Hercules Cluster M13. This globular star cluster is thought to be nearly 12 billion years old.
As the month progresses, the planets will begin to appear further apart in the sky.Fox Weather
This collection of stars is best viewed with a telescope and will appear high in the eastern sky during the first hours of darkness all month.
No telescope? No problem, find public observing events near through NASA’s Night Sky Network.
The full moon in June is known as the strawberry moon.
The full lunar display falls on June 14 if you want to enjoy some outdoor time or maybe camp by moonlight. A new moon on June 28 will be the best time to head to a dark sky location away from city lights to look for your favorite constellations.
A friend of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has shared rare photos of Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the couple’s daughter, at her first birthday party in the United Kingdom, during a long weekend marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign.
Misan Harriman, a photographer and friend of Harry and Meghan, posted the photos, which were taken at Lilibet’s birthday party at Frogmore Cottage, the couple’s residence in Windsor, on social media Monday.
It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around ❤️🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/bg3RY6MOEu
— Misan Harriman (@misanharriman) June 6, 2022
Harry and Meghan, who announced they would take a step back from their official roles as working members of the royal family in 2020 and move to California, returned to the United Kingdom to take part in a four-day extravaganza marking the queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The couple mostly kept a low profile at the various parties, parades and events organized for the occasion.
Harry and Meghan make first public appearance at queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The queen reportedly met her great-granddaughter Lilibet — who is named after her and after Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales — for the first time last week.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attended the thanksgiving service on day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebration on June 3 in London. (Video: Reuters)
Royal commentator Omid Scobie, who co-wrote a book about the Sussexes’ exit from their official roles within the monarchy, tweeted that Harry and Meghan “invited close friends and family for an ‘intimate backyard picnic’ at Frogmore Cottage, Windsor on Saturday” to celebrate Lilibet, citing a spokesperson for the couple.
Royal wedding 2018: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle marry
Photos from the event shared by Harriman on Twitter and Instagram include a portrait of Lilibet, sitting on the grass and wearing a light blue dress and bow, as well as a black-and-white group shot of Meghan holding Lilibet as she stands next to Harriman’s wife, Camilla Holmstroem, and their two daughters.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said in a statement shared by Scobie that the couple were “incredibly touched by the countless birthday wishes for their daughter.” Party guests enjoyed baked goods by Claire Ptak, who made Harry and Meghan’s wedding cake, Scobie said.
The spokesperson added that the couple were “amazed” to learn that “people around the world” donated over $100,000 to World Central Kitchen in Lilibet’s honor. An online fundraiser organized by the couple’s supporters — who call themselves the “Sussex Squad” — had raised nearly $109,000 for the charity early Tuesday in honor of Lilibet and her brother, Archie, who celebrated his third birthday last month.
Several members of the royal family wished Lilibet a happy birthday Saturday — including Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who were in Wales that day to mark the jubilee.
Wishing a very happy birthday to Lilibet, turning one today! 🎈
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 4, 2022
The royal family’s official Twitter account also wished Lilibet “a very Happy 1st Birthday,” as did Harry’s father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camila, Duchess of Cornwall.
After surgery, some cancer patients can safely skip radiation or chemotherapy, according to two studies exploring shorter, gentler cancer care.
Researchers are looking for ways to precisely predict which cancer patients can avoid unneeded treatment to cut down on harmful side effects and unnecessary costs.
One new study used a blood test to determine which colon cancer patients could skip chemotherapy after surgery. Another suggests some low-risk breast cancer patients can omit radiation after lumpectomy.
The research was discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which wrapped up Tuesday in Chicago. The colon cancer study, funded by the Australian and U.S. governments and nonprofit groups, was published Saturday by the New England Journal of Medicine.
The findings could allow doctors to “focus on the patients we think would truly benefit from chemotherapy and avoid the side effects for patients for whom it’s likely unnecessary,” said Dr. Stacey Cohen of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, who reviewed the colon cancer findings and was not involved in the research.
COLON CANCER
Many colon cancer patients are given chemotherapy after surgery, even though they may be cured. The drugs can come with side effects such as nausea, anemia and memory problems.
But pinpointing which patients might not need further treatment has been tricky. Scientists studied whether a blood test could help doctors make the call.
The study involved 455 patients who had surgery because cancer had spread into the colon wall. After surgery, one group received a blood test, customized to their tumor’s genetic profile, to detect any remaining bits of cancer DNA.
Their care was guided by the blood test: If it showed no signs of remaining cancer, the patients did not get chemotherapy. Meanwhile, doctors made chemo decisions for the rest of the patients in the usual way, guided by analysis of the tumor and nearby tissue.
Fewer patients in the blood test group got chemo — 15% vs. 28%. But about 93% of both groups were still free of cancer after two years. In other words, the blood test group fared equally well with less chemotherapy.
“In patients where cancer DNA is not detected after surgery, the chance of cancer relapse is very low, suggesting that chemotherapy is very unlikely to benefit these patients,” said Dr. Jeanne Tie of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, who led the research.
Skipping chemo makes “a big difference in a person’s quality of life if that can be done without having to put them at jeopardy for recurrence,” said ASCO president Dr. Everett Vokes, who specializes in head and neck and lung cancer at University of Chicago Medicine.
BREAST CANCER
The other study followed 500 older women with a common form of early-stage breast cancer and low levels of a protein known as Ki67, a marker for fast-growing cancer.
After surgery, the women took hormone-blocking pills, a standard treatment for this type of cancer, but they did not get radiation treatment.
After five years, 10 of the women saw cancer return in the same breast, and there was one breast cancer death. There was no comparison group, but researchers said the results compare favorably to historical data for similar patients who had radiation.
“We estimate the benefits of radiation would be very small in this population compared to the side effects,” said Dr. Timothy Whelan of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, who led the study, which was supported by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Radiation can cause skin problems, fatigue and, less commonly, long-term heart problems and second cancers.
The study is a “feel-good” message for patients with low-risk tumors and will help doctors understand which of their patients they “can comfortably, with confidence” omit radiation, said Dr. Deborah Axelrod of NYU Langone Health, who was not involved in the research.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Adam Sandler was excited to talk about his new film Hustle, while on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Monday. But before he could talk about anything, Fallon asked him about a visible bruise and scab under his eye.
“I had an accident, everybody,” Sandler said. “Everything’s all right, but I wish it was a good story — it’s pathetic.”
He explained how he got into bed and the sheets were tucked-in too tightly. When he tried to kick them loose with his feet, he forgot his iPhone was on his lap. The phone went flying in the air and ended up splitting the skin just beneath his eye. It occurred at 4 a.m. so instead of getting up to take care it, he just went to sleep.
“I was bleeding terribly,” Sandler explained. “I mean, I thought it was pitch black in the room, and I feel wetness and I tricked myself. I go, ‘This is probably just thick tears’… I didn’t want to get up, you know, because I was tired. And I was like, ‘Ah, we’ll fix that later.’
When he eventually woke up, he was shocked by how bad the injury really was.
“I woke up, it was horrible,” Sandler recalled, “It was bleeding all over it was gushing still and there was blood on the bed and all that stuff. So I said, ‘I’ve got to get this fixed.’ So I went to the Apple store.”
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonairs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. on NBC.
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Summary: Babies whose mothers contracted COVID-19 while pregnant had greater difficulties relaxing and adapting their bodies while being held than those whose mothers did not contract covid. Additionally, babies born to infected mothers had greater difficulty in controlling their head and shoulder movements. Findings suggest prenatal COVID-19 infection may impact motor function development in babies.
Source: European Psychiatric Association
Babies born to mothers who suffered COVID-19 disease during pregnancy seem to exhibit differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes at 6 weeks, according to a preliminary analysis presented in the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry.
Project Leader Dr Rosa Ayesa Arriola said: “Not all babies born to mothers infected with COVID show neurodevelopmental differences, but our data shows that their risk is increased in comparison to those not exposed to COVID in the womb. We need a bigger study to confirm the exact extent of the difference”.
Researchers found that babies born to mothers who had been infected show greater difficulties in relaxing and adapting their bodies when they are being held, when compared to infants from non-infected mothers, especially when infection took place in late pregnancy.
Moreover, infants born from infected mothers tend to show greater difficulty in controlling head and shoulder movement. These alterations suggest a possible COVID-19 effect on motor function (movement control).
The results come from an initial evaluation of the Spanish COGESTCOV-19 project, which followed the course of pregnancy and baby development in mothers infected with COVID-19.
The researchers are presenting the data on pregnancy and post-natal assessment at 6 weeks after birth, but the project will continue to see if there are longer-term effects. The group will monitor infant language and motor development between 18 and 42 months old.
The initial evaluation compared babies born to 21 COVID-positive pregnant women and their babies, with 21 healthy controls attending the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital in Santander, Spain.
The mothers underwent a series of tests during and after pregnancy. These included hormonal and other biochemical tests (measuring such things as cortisol levels, immunological response, etc.) salivary tests, movement responses, and psychological questionnaires.
All analyses were adjusted for infant age, sex, and other factors.
The post-natal tests included the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), which measures the baby’s movement and behavior.
Researcher Ms. Águeda Castro Quintas (University of Barcelona, Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Mental Health), said:
“We found that certain elements of the NBAS measurement were changed in 6-week-old infants who had been exposed to the SARS-COV-2 virus. Effectively they react slightly differently to being held, or cuddled”.
“We have been especially sensitive in how we have conducted these tests. Each mother and baby was closely examined by clinicians with expert training in the field and in the tests.
“We need to note that these are preliminary result, but this is part of a project following a larger sample of 100 mothers and their babies. They have also been monitored during pregnancy, and after birth.
“We also plan to compare these mothers and babies with data from another similar project (the epi-project) which looks at the effect of stress and genetics on a child’s neurodevelopment”.
Águeda Castro Quintas continued:
“This is an ongoing project, and we are at an early stage. We found that babies whose mothers had been exposed to COVID did show neurological effects at 6 weeks, but we don’t know if these effects will result in any longer-term issues, longer-term observation may help us understand this.
Co-researcher Nerea San Martín González, added:
“Of course, in babies who are so young there are several things we just can’t measure, such as language skills or cognition. We also need to be aware that this is a comparatively small sample, so we are repeating the work, and we will follow this up over a longer period. We need a bigger sample to determine the role of infection on offspring’s neurodevelopmental alterations and the contribution of other environmental factors.
” In the meantime, we need to stress the importance of medical monitoring to facilitate a healthy pregnancy, discussing any concerns with your doctor wherever necessary”.
See also
Commenting, Project Leader Dr Rosa Ayesa Arriola said:
“This is the right moment to establish international collaborations that would permit us to assess long-term neurodevelopment in children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research in this field is vital in understanding and preventing possible neurological problems and mental health vulnerabilities in those children in the coming years”.
Researchers found that babies born to mothers who had been infected show greater difficulties in relaxing and adapting their bodies when they are being held, when compared to infants from non-infected mothers, especially when infection took place in late pregnancy. Image is in the public domain
In an independent comment, Dr Livio Provenzi (University of Pavia, Italy) said:
“There is a great need to study both direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of parents and infants. Pregnancy is a period of life which shapes much of our subsequent development, and exposure to adversity in pregnancy can leave long-lasting biological footprints.
“These findings from Dr Rosa Ayesa Arriola’s group reinforces evidence of epigenetic alterations in in infants born from mothers exposed to pandemic-related stress during pregnancy. It shows we need more large scale, international research to allow us to understand the developmental effects of this health emergency, and to deliver better quality of care to parents and infants”.
Dr Provenzi was not involved in this work.
Note: The epi-project is a multicentre project involving Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. It looks at the effects of genetics and stress on baby outcome. It is led by Prof. Dr. Lourdes Fañanás.
Funding: This research has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Instituto de Salud Carlos III through the University of Barcelona multicenter project – Intramural Grants (SAM15-20PI12 & SAM18PI01)-PI L. Fañanas and the Government of Cantabria (INNVAL20/02)-PI R. Ayesa. Authors do not have any conflict of interest regarding the development of this study and the publication of the results.
About this COVID-19 and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Tom Parkhill Source: European Psychiatric Association Contact: Tom Parkhill – European Psychiatric Association Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: The findings will be presented at the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry.
The Queen may have decided to skip the music concert held as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but that didn’t stop her stealing the show with a surprise cameo role in a sketch to kick off the event.
Viewers and the live audience watched in delight as Paddington Bear found his way into the corridors of Buckingham Palace where he soon sat down for tea with Her Majesty. Within five minutes, he was pouring her a cup of tea and they were comparing marmalade sandwiches.
Later in the evening, two royal princes took to the stage to express their personal affection during the Platinum Party at the Palace, on the third evening of the UK’s Jubilee Weekend celebrations.
Princes Charles and William took turns speaking to the crowd, including 22,000 frontline workers who had tickets for the concert which took place in front of Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official London home.
Charles, the monarch’s eldest son, stood on stage alongside his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, made a personal tribute to his mother. “Thankyou from your family, the country, the Commonwealth, in fact the whole world. On behalf of us all, I wanted to pay my own tribute to your lifetime of selfless service, in pictures, in words, and in light.” (Cue lights swirling spectacularly around the palace)
“Your family now stands four generations. You are our head of state and you are also our mother. Your strength and stay (the late Duke of Edinburgh) is much missed this eveningbut I’m sure he’s here in spirit. My papa would have enjoyed the show, and would have joined us wholeheartedly in celebrating all that you continue to do for your country and your people.
“We think of all you have done to make the Commonwealth such a force for good. You continue to make history.
“I know what gets my mother up in the morning is all of you, ladies and gentlemen. All of you watching at home… Your Majesty, you have been with us in our difficult times and bring us together to celebrate moments of pride, joy and happiness.
“You have met us and talked with us, laughed and cried with us, and most importantly, you have been there for us these 70 years. You pledged to serve your whole life. You continue to deliver. That is why we are here. That is what we celebrate tonight… That is why we all say thank you.”
His elder son William paid tribute to the royal family’s efforts particularly in wildlife conservation and protection of the earth.
“While no one’s grandmother thanks them for talking about their age, my own grandmother has been alive for nearly a century…
“The pressing need to protect our planet has never been more urgent. Like her, I’m an optimist.”
Diana Ross, Nile Rodgers and Alicia Keys joined home-grown British household names like Queen, Sir Rod Stewart and Sir Elton John for the concert.
How many buildings have been obliterated in Ukraine? How many limbs lost, children brutalized, refugees put to flight? How many mothers and fathers, sons and daughters killed in 100 days?
How many dreams have been destroyed?
There is no accounting of a war that launched in late winter, continued through spring and is likely to drag on for seasons to come. The conflict unleashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin defies statistics. It is a story best told in unsparing images of human suffering and resilience.
In the war’s 100 days, Associated Press photographers have captured the terror — people diving to the floor of a Mariupol hospital as bombs fall around them; a mob of refugees, huddled under a bridge. They have captured the tears of grieving survivors, and of families separated by the war.
Full Coverage: Photography
They have shown us the playfulness of a soldier, lightheartedly kicking a ball amid the carnage; of another soldier, leading an impromptu chorale. They have shown us a chilling view of a car driving down a highway, through the sight of a Ukrainian sniper. They have shown us a landscape littered with buildings in ruins and the carcasses of Russian tanks.
And so many bodies. Bodies in trenches and half-buried in hillsides and arrayed on pavements and lying in pools of blood and carried in coffins. A soldier spread out like a statue in a Christ-like pose on a metal barrier. An arm extended in the dirt.
This is a country that has been transformed in the blink of an eye. A hundred days ago, a bathtub was for bathing; now, it is a place where a little girl and her dog hide from bombs.
European Union leaders reached an agreement this week to ban the majority of Russian crude oil and petroleum product imports, but nations were already shunning the country’s oil, altering global flows for the commodity that powers the world.
Russian oil exports had already been hurt by some EU members acting preemptively in anticipation of potential measures, in addition to bans from countries including the United States, according to commodity data firm Kpler.
The amount of Russian crude oil that’s “on the water” surged to nearly 80 million barrels this month, the firm noted, up from less than 30 million barrels prior to the Ukraine invasion.
“The rise in the volume of crude on the water is because more barrels are heading further afield —specifically to India and China,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst for the Americas at Kpler.
“Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, a lot more Russian crude was moving to nearby destinations in Northwest Europe instead,” he added.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February has sent energy markets reeling. Russia is the largest oil and products exporter in the world, and Europe is especially dependent on Russian fuel.
EU leaders had been debating a sixth round of sanctions for weeks, but a possible oil embargo became a sticking point. Hungary was among the nations that did not agree to a blanket ban. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said a ban on Russian energy would be an “atomic bomb” for Hungary’s economy.
Monday’s agreement among the bloc’s leaders targets Russian seaborne crude, leaving room for countries, including Hungary, to continue importing supplies via pipeline.
In March, oil prices surged to the highest level since 2008 as buyers fretted over energy availability, given the market’s already tight conditions. Demand has rebounded in the wake of the pandemic, while producers have kept output in check, meaning prices were already rising prior to the invasion.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked an unraveling of how the global market historically sourced barrels,” RBC said Tuesday in a note to clients.
The International Energy Agency said in March that three million barrels per day of Russian oil output was at risk. Those estimates have since been revised lower, but data collected prior to the EU agreeing to ban Russian oil show that exports of Russian fuel into Northwest Europe had already fallen off a cliff.
But Russian oil is still finding a buyer, at least for now, as the country’s Urals crude trades at a discount to international benchmark Brent crude.
More oil than ever is heading to India and China, according to data from Kpler.
Wolfe Research echoed this point, saying that while Russian oil production has declined since the start of the war, exports have remained “surprisingly resilient.”
The firm said that Russia has re-routed exports to places including India, which shows up in vessel traffic through the Suez Canal. Analysts led by Sam Margolin noted that traffic through the key waterway is up 47% in May compared to this time last year.
“Re-routing Black Sea tankers down Suez as opposed to Europe is a longer route and therefore inflationary to oil prices, and these ‘last resort’ trade patterns can portend bigger supply problems in the future because the market is clearly down to its last options to clear,” the firm said.
SINGAPORE — Shares in Asia-Pacific were mixed in Tuesday trade as investors watched for market reaction to the release of official Chinese factory activity data for May. Oil prices rose after EU leaders agreed to ban 90% of Russian crude.
The Shanghai Composite in mainland China was close to flat while the Shenzhen Component dipped 0.196%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index traded 0.18% higher.
China’s official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for May came in at 49.6, an improvement over April’s reading of 47.4.
The May reading was above the 48.6 level expected from a Reuters poll but still below the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction. PMI readings are sequential and represent month-on-month expansion or contraction.
The Nikkei 225 in Japan hovered close to the flatline while the Topix index declined 0.09%. Over in South Korea, the Kospi climbed 0.1%.
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Australian stocks were lower as the S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.23%.
MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan traded little changed.
Markets in the U.S. were closed on Monday for a holiday.
Oil prices rise after EU agrees on Russia sanctions
Oil prices traded higher in the morning of Asia hours, after European Union leaders agreed to ban most Russian oil for its invasion of Ukraine by the end of 2022.
The agreement would “effectively cut around 90% of oil imports from Russia to the EU by the end of the year,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet.
International benchmark Brent crude futures gained 0.62% to $122.43 per barrel. U.S. crude futures jumped 2.41% to $117.84 per barrel.
Currencies
The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 101.616 — still off levels above 102 seen last week.
The Japanese yen traded at 128.08 per dollar following yesterday’s weakening from levels below 127.2 against the greenback. The Australian dollar was at $0.7184, against an earlier high of $0.7203.
