A father and his son were recovered alive from the rubble of a collapsed building on Sunday, four days after deadly earthquakes hit Venezuela.

It was a ‌scene that brought hope to the French and US rescue workers working in the area as they battle against time to find more survivors.

The two, who looked frail and both wore masks, were hoisted by rescue workers on makeshift fabric stretchers across streets strewn with debris to an ambulance waiting in La Guaira as a crowd formed around the emergency vehicles.

The coastal state was the worst impacted by Wednesday’s tremors that left over 1,500 dead and others missing.

They were rescued after 12 hours of laborious work by crews using specialised search cameras, who worked painstakingly through unstable rubble to reach the trapped victims.“They are very weak, as anyone would be after being under rubble for four days, so we are doing everything possible to rehydrate them and give them various drugs as they are extracted, which is moving very slowly,” said a member of the French Civil Security.

The rescue squad in that region includes personnel of the French Civil Security and American responders from the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue squad in Virginia, who on the previous day rescued a mother and her 9-month-old infant.

Rescuers set up IVs, cleared rubble, and then pulled out the family members. Others waited beside the ruins, searching for signs of life, speaking with their colleagues amid the debris.

Over the weekend, at least 33 people were rescued, but tens of thousands are still missing, sparking worries that time is running out to find survivors.

But experts say that 72 hours after an earthquake the chances of discovering victims alive under the wreckage are quite slim.

The U.S. dollar was on the defensive on Monday, but still set for its greatest monthly gain in almost a year as tension in the Gulf and ahead of jobs data that might affect the Federal Reserve’s rate path.

The U.S. and Iran hurled additional insults over the weekend before agreeing to suspend tit-for-tat attacks and meet in Qatar on Tuesday, leaving investors anxious about a fragile ceasefire.

Oil prices increased on Monday as strikes again disrupted petroleum shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, underpinning safe-haven demand for the dollar.

The euro was unchanged at $1.1387 after hitting a 13-month low versus the dollar last week and was set for a 2.3% monthly drop. Sterling fell 0.1% to $1.3198 and was down 2% on the month.

The risk-sensitive Aussie was at $0.6885, down 0.1% in early trade and on track for a 4.1% fall this month. The New Zealand dollar was steady at $0.5635, down 5.9% on the month.

The Japanese yen was last quoted at 161.75, staying at a 40-year low.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, was a little higher at 101.36.
It is currently on course for a 2.5% gain in June, the highest monthly gain since July last year.

The spat with Iran has kept inflation pressures at bay, while a surprisingly hawkish debut by Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh earlier this month has overturned market expectations for U.S. rate reduction this year.

Flows into the dollar are also being driven by a tech-led global market selloff as investors seek refuge.

Investors will be looking the US non-farm payroll (USNFAR=ECI) and unemployment rates (USUNR=ECI) expected this week for fresh signals on the strength of the labour market and the outlook for Fed policy.We see the USD grinding higher in the coming weeks on the story of ‘US exceptionalism,’” said Joseph Capurso, head of foreign exchange at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, in a note.

“Labour markets are strong and getting stronger, so it’s a recipe for higher interest rates and a stronger dollar in the U.S.,” he added.

Investors are also monitoring closely the European Central Bank’s annual forum this week as they keep tabs on developing ⁠central bank ​policies amid reduced oil prices and stock market volatility.

ECB President ​Christine Lagarde kicks off the forum Monday before a major policy panel Wednesday with Fed Chair Warsh, with markets seeking for ​a clearer read on the next Fed leader.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Monday expressed deep grief over the unfortunate helicopter crash in Ras Tanura, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which took priceless lives of 14 Saudi nationals.

“On behalf of the people and Government of Pakistan, I express our profound condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the bereaved families and the fraternal people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the prime minister wrote on his X timeline.

He emphasised Pakistan’s complete sympathy with Saudi brothers and sisters in this hour of sadness.

Earlier on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar had a telephonic call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to express condolences.

Prince Faisal bin Farhan thanked DPM Dar and expressed his great appreciation for the fraternal gesture.

During the meeting, the two presidents also had an in-depth exchange of views on recent developments in the region and voiced great worry at the deteriorating situation.