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Renewed tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran over the weekend have heightened Middle East tensions, despite US President Donald Trump's calls for restraint. Analysts suggest the escalation underscores Trump's limited control over Israeli actions and may strengthen Iran's hand in ongoing negotiations with Washington.
Iran and Israel have paused tit-for-tat attacks following a brief escalation, marking the first exchange of fire since a US-brokered ceasefire two months ago. Both sides have warned of retaliation if provoked, while international leaders urge restraint. The conflict has already impacted global energy prices and raised fears of a wider war.
Russia's Foreign Ministry reiterated support for direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, proposing an international conference on the Middle East. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also criticized Western-backed plans to associate Palestinian lands with Arab states as neo-colonial and doomed to fail.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had a 'positive' conversation with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, praising their readiness to work on a settlement. The remarks come amid reports that Trump's foreign policy focus has shifted to the Middle East, and following European leaders' support for a potential Zelensky-Putin meeting.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has sharply criticized the Israeli government's handling of the conflict with Iran, stating that recent strikes serve no strategic objective. His remarks come amid a nationwide school shutdown and as the Home Front Command adjusts restrictions, with other opposition figures also voicing concerns about the government's approach.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad urged all sides to exercise restraint in the Middle East conflict after renewed US-Iran hostilities. Pakistan's calls come as Washington and Tehran exchanged attacks, with a fragile Pakistan-brokered ceasefire under strain.
Yemen's Houthis have declared a ban on Israeli maritime navigation in the Red Sea and claimed a missile attack on Israel, amid escalating exchanges between Israel and Iran. The moves threaten to disrupt key shipping routes and strain a fragile ceasefire.
Iran has warned it will strike US and Israeli oil and gas facilities if its energy infrastructure is attacked again, following Israeli strikes on an Iranian petrochemical complex. The IRGC also claimed missile strikes on targets in Haifa, raising regional tensions.
Russian officials project mutual tourist flow between Russia and China will grow by 60% in 2026, reaching 4-4.5 million trips, with a further rise to 6 million by 2027. The growth is attributed to expanded air connectivity and the extension of a visa-free regime. Meanwhile, Russian officials say foreign tourist arrivals to Russia overall could rise by 20% to 7 million trips this year.
South Korean stocks crashed more than 8% on Monday, triggering a circuit breaker, as investors fled tech shares amid U.S. inflation fears and AI profitability concerns. The won initially hit a 17-year low before rebounding after financial authorities' verbal intervention.
Trade officials from South Korea and Kazakhstan met to explore expanding cooperation in energy, supply chains, and other areas, discussing a potential comprehensive economic partnership agreement. The talks also covered Korean firms' participation in Kazakhstan's urban development projects and cooperation in digital and eco-friendly industries.
Israel launched airstrikes on military targets in western and central Iran, hours after President Trump urged restraint. The exchange marks the first direct attacks between the two countries since a ceasefire two months ago, raising fears of a broader regional war.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said migration levels were reducing, responding to a poll showing the populist One Nation party ahead of Labor. The surge, amid cost-of-living pressures and a controversial budget, reflects growing voter frustration with the major parties.
Iranian officials warned that US naval blockade and Israeli strikes on Lebanon could lead to attacks on American bases, while expressing distrust of Washington's commitments. The Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control, they added.
Human rights groups report a sharp increase in executions in Iran since the start of the current conflict, with at least 2,159 people executed in 2025 and a political execution every two days in recent weeks. Experts warn of crimes against humanity and say the war has lowered the political cost of repression.
Argentina awards a 25-year, $10 billion contract to deepen the Paraná River to a Belgian-Argentine consortium with ties to China, sparking criticism from US-backed rivals and highlighting geopolitical tensions in Latin America.
US media report that the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency has upgraded its counterintelligence threat assessment for Israel to 'critical', citing concerns over Israeli spying on US officials amid US-Israeli tensions over the Iran war. The Israeli Embassy denies the allegations, calling them 'completely false'.
South Korea's top financial policymakers have vowed to take stern action against speculative trading amid the won's sharp decline to its weakest level since 2009. The government is launching inspections into possible illegal foreign exchange activities, while the customs agency has uncovered hundreds of billions of won in illegal trading this year.
Iran has denounced a confidential IAEA report citing restricted access to its nuclear sites as a tool of political pressure, while denying any pursuit of nuclear weapons. The agency has warned that the lack of inspections poses a proliferation concern and urged restoration of verification activities. Differing accounts from regional outlets highlight competing views on the impact of past strikes and ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The UN Security Council's annual report for 2025 has reaffirmed the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Palestinian question as long-standing issues on its agenda. The development sparked exchanges between Pakistan and India at the UN, with Pakistan welcoming the references and India accusing Islamabad of misusing UN platforms.