Indonesia and Singapore jointly announced that the Malacca Strait will remain safe, open, and accessible for all nations. The declaration came after Iran’s move to impose fees on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement was made following a meeting in Jakarta between Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

President Subianto stated that both countries share a common interest in keeping the Malacca Strait an open maritime route and will continue coordination with Malaysia and Thailand. Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to China said ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz would be charged fees, though “friendly” nations would receive special treatment. The Hormuz Strait handles about one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making the Malacca Strait’s openness strategically significant.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel protects Christians and that some Christian villages in Lebanon have sought annexation for protection. He made the remarks during an interview on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing, asserting that Israel safeguards its friends, particularly Christians in the Middle East, from Hezbollah. His comments came amid reports of Israeli strikes on churches and Christian sites in Lebanon, sparking new controversy.

Analysts noted that Netanyahu’s statements contradict reports from international human rights groups and media outlets documenting Israeli attacks that damaged or destroyed churches, convents, and other Christian religious institutions in Lebanon. In May, a French organization reported that Israeli forces demolished a convent in Yaroun, while videos circulated in April showed Israeli soldiers desecrating Christian symbols. The destruction of a church in Deir Dghaya village last year was also cited.

The remarks followed a recent statement by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who wrote that all of Lebanon should burn. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

A massive funeral procession for Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began on Monday in Tehran, drawing millions of mourners from early morning. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, participants carried national flags and portraits of Khamenei, chanting slogans to pay tribute and express national unity. The event filled major streets, including Azadi Avenue, with men and women of all ages joining in prayer and mourning.

The procession included both civilians and military officials, creating an atmosphere of collective grief and reverence. Following the Tehran ceremony, the schedule announced that funeral and mourning events would continue Tuesday in the holy city of Qom. On Wednesday, special farewell and prayer gatherings are planned in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala, with final burial to take place Thursday at Imam Reza’s shrine in Mashhad.

The multi-day observances reflect the scale of national mourning and the significance of Khamenei’s leadership in Iran’s recent history.

China has announced the successful launch of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean. The test took place on Monday at 12:01 p.m. local time, when a strategic submarine of the People’s Liberation Army Navy fired a training missile carrying a simulated warhead toward a designated target area, hitting it accurately. The test followed earlier warnings from regional countries that China was planning an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

Beijing described the launch as part of its annual military training and said relevant countries had been notified in advance. The event is being viewed as a rare demonstration of China’s growing military capabilities in the strategically important South Pacific, where the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have long maintained security influence. Several regional nations, including Japan, criticized the launch, with Tokyo stating it had urged China to reconsider the test.

It remains unclear whether the missile test was linked to a scheduled China-Russia joint naval exercise near Qingdao on the same day. Reports also note China’s rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and defense spending in recent years.

Many in Israel now believe US President Donald Trump is reassessing Washington’s relationship with Tel Aviv. The shift follows growing friction between the two governments over Israel’s ongoing conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza, and over US efforts to reach a peace deal with Iran. A leaked phone call reportedly revealed Trump harshly criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for continuing attacks in Lebanon, calling him ungrateful and blaming him for Israel’s global unpopularity.

Trump’s remarks and the fallout have exposed deep divisions within both US and Israeli politics. Analysts note that despite being the head of the traditionally pro-Israel Republican Party, Trump retains flexibility due to his loyal base and growing bipartisan criticism of Israel. Israeli opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot, have accused Netanyahu of isolating Israel diplomatically and damaging its most vital alliance.

Experts cited in the report say there is no indication that Trump intends to cut ties with Israel entirely. However, they suggest any future pressure from Washington would likely be tied to a major diplomatic breakthrough that could bolster Trump’s global standing.

France is seeking to rebuild its long-strained relationship with Turkey as Europe’s security environment rapidly evolves. The two countries, historically divided over Syria, Armenia, and the Eastern Mediterranean, are now exploring cooperation. French officials view Turkey as a key pillar in Europe’s future security framework, particularly within the new ‘Coalition of the Willing,’ a non-NATO defense initiative led by France. Ankara’s participation is seen as strategically important for Paris.

Several factors have driven this policy shift. Turkey’s relations with Russia have cooled since 2023, with no bilateral visits between their leaders and Ankara refraining from renewing major gas contracts. Former French ambassador Gérard Araud noted that Turkey’s balanced stance during the Ukraine war impressed many in France. Both nations now share interests in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, while defense cooperation is expanding through potential arms deals and industrial partnerships.

Ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, discussions between French and Turkish defense officials have intensified, raising prospects for new agreements. However, mutual distrust and political sensitivities, including issues involving Armenia and Greece, continue to challenge full normalization.

Fifty Bangladeshi nationals, including 44 men and 6 women, returned home from India on Sunday night after completing their prison sentences. They were handed over by India’s Petrapole Immigration Police to Benapole Immigration Police around 10 p.m. The returnees are residents of several districts including Jessore, Narail, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Brahmanbaria, Dhaka, Tangail, Chandpur, and Madaripur.

According to one of the returnees, they had crossed into Tamil Nadu, India, in 2018 through brokers seeking better livelihoods and worked in garment factories, households, and brickfields before being detained by Indian police. They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to seven years for illegal entry. After completing their sentences, a human rights organization in India sheltered them until their repatriation was arranged through coordination between the Bangladeshi and Indian embassies and with special travel permits issued by the Indian government.

Benapole Immigration Police completed formalities before transferring the group to Benapole Port Police Station. Human rights groups Justice and Care and Rights Jessore received 25 returnees each and will assist them before reuniting them with their families.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to eliminate any Iranian leaders who move forward with plans to destroy Israel. Katz made the remarks in response to the funeral procession of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claiming that Khamenei had been killed because he was leading efforts to annihilate Israel. Katz also stated that Israel is ready at any time to defend itself against any threat.

Earlier, Katz had said that Khamenei’s son and successor, Mojtaba, had been ‘marked for assassination,’ a statement that sparked strong protests in Tehran. In reaction, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any threat against Iran’s people or leadership would be met with a swift and powerful response.

The exchange of threats underscores the heightened tension between Israel and Iran following Khamenei’s death and the political uncertainty surrounding his succession.

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, early Saturday, killing at least ten people and injuring 46, according to Ukrainian authorities. Another person was reported dead and ten injured in surrounding areas. The Ukrainian military said Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones during the night. Explosions were heard from 1:40 a.m. to 3:15 a.m., prompting thousands of residents to take shelter in underground bunkers.

At least 15 buildings were damaged in Kyiv, including four in the historic Podilskyi district. Rescue operations were still underway, and city military chief Timur Tkachenko warned that the death toll could rise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Sunday night address, cautioned that Russia might launch further large-scale attacks before the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

The report noted that a similar Russian strike last week killed 31 people in Kyiv, marking the deadliest attack on the city this year.

Sixteen soldiers from Yemen’s government forces were killed and sixteen others injured in clashes with Houthi rebels in the western province of Hodeidah, according to officials and medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. The fighting occurred in the Jabal Dabbas area and was described as one of the deadliest confrontations in recent years. Government-aligned minister Walid al-Qudaimi said the soldiers died defending their land and dignity.

Medical sources reported that sixteen bodies and twenty-two wounded soldiers were taken to a local hospital. A government military official stated that the Houthis launched an attack on Friday night, seizing several government positions, but government forces regained control of those areas early Saturday morning.

The conflict between Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognized government has continued since 2015. The Houthis currently control the capital Sanaa, much of northern Yemen, and the strategic port city of Hodeidah.

Millions of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Monday for the funeral and mourning rally of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on February 28. The procession began early in the morning at the Grand Mosalla religious complex, where Khamenei’s body had been kept for two days for public tribute. His coffin was later brought to Freedom Square as mourners, dressed in black and carrying red flags symbolizing revenge, vowed to avenge his death.

State media IRIB described the gathering as one of the largest in modern history, with streets of Tehran overflowing with mourners. The funeral followed days of national mourning that began on Friday, attended by foreign dignitaries. Security was tightened across the capital amid warnings of overcrowding. Khamenei’s son and current Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei did not attend due to security threats from Israel.

The funeral procession will continue through Qom and Iraq before Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad on Thursday. Iranian authorities view the massive turnout as a message of strength and resistance following the recent war with the United States and Israel.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). As Pakistan seeks to raise the issue internationally, Chinese political analyst Victor Gao stated at a seminar in Islamabad that if India uses water as a weapon against Pakistan, China could influence the flow of rivers originating from Tibet. Gao highlighted China’s strategic position along transboundary Himalayan rivers, emphasizing its geographical significance.

The comment comes as Pakistan continues efforts to draw global attention to India’s suspension of the treaty. Meanwhile, India reaffirmed on Thursday that the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended and that its stance has not changed. New Delhi maintains that the suspension is a response to Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism.

India further stated that its current position will remain unchanged until terrorism ceases, signaling a prolonged diplomatic standoff over water-sharing and regional security concerns.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has rejected claims that Italy played a major role in the United States’ military operation against Iran. She stated that Italy did not participate in the conflict and that its military bases were only used for logistical purposes. Her remarks came after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told Fox News that nearly 500 US aircraft had flown from Italian bases as part of the ‘Epic Fury’ operation.

Speaking to reporters during a France-Italy summit in southern France, Meloni described Rutte’s comments as exaggerated and oversimplified, saying he had failed to distinguish between different types of authorized flights. She added that if Italy had truly joined the war, US President Donald Trump would not have repeatedly expressed frustration over Italy’s lack of support.

The exchange comes amid diplomatic tension between Italy and the United States over the Iran issue. Earlier, Trump accused Italy of insufficient support for the operation, prompting Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned visit to Washington after calling Trump’s remarks serious and offensive.

China and Russia have announced plans to conduct joint maritime patrols across parts of the Pacific Ocean following their annual naval exercise this month. According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Defense, the exercise, named 'Joint Sea-2026', will take place in the coastal waters and airspace near Qingdao, a key naval base in eastern China. The ministry said the patrols aim to address security challenges jointly and maintain regional peace and stability.

The announcement comes about two months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China, during which he described bilateral relations as reaching an 'unprecedented height'. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the partnership 'unbreakable'. China and Russia have held regular 'Joint Sea' exercises since 2012, with last year’s drill taking place near Vladivostok, followed by joint patrols in the Pacific.

No details were provided on the number of warships, aircraft, or personnel involved in this year’s exercise. The statement underscores continued military cooperation between Beijing and Moscow amid ongoing global tensions.

Iran has reopened Bandar Abbas International Airport in the country’s south after a four-month closure caused by damage from a joint US-Israel airstrike. According to Fars News Agency, commercial flights resumed on Saturday afternoon when a passenger aircraft from Mashhad landed at the airport, marking the restart of operations.

Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, lies on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, about one thousand kilometers south of Tehran. The airport had been closed for repairs and reconstruction following the bombing that left it damaged.

Iranian authorities said that regular flights connecting Tehran, Shiraz, and Yazd will gradually resume over the coming days, restoring full domestic connectivity through the southern hub.