Israel bombs Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire began

Today’s headlines: War, energy, and Myanmar take center stage at the 48th ASEAN summit opening today in Cebu. Three Iranian Christians arrested for promoting an “evangelical network.” Beijing harshly criticizes Eswatini for meeting with Taiwan’s president. Jakarta plans to ban e-commerce for those under 16. Four people killed in post-election unrest in West Bengal.

LEBANON - ISRAEL

Israel struck Beirut yesterday for the first time since the ceasefire with Hezbollah began last month, targeting a commander of an elite force of the pro-Iranian Party of God in the city’s southern suburbs. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the action in a joint statement. Israeli media reported that the commander was killed in the attack, but there is no confirmation. Meanwhile, Israeli raids continue in southern Lebanon: the latest this morning in Saksakieh, in the Sidon district, leaving at least four dead and 33 wounded.

PHILIPPINES - ASEAN

Global tensions and their repercussions on Southeast Asia, the energy crisis linked to the Gulf War, and the situation in Myanmar—particularly the fate of Aung San Suu Kyi—are the key topics at the 48th ASEAN Summit, which opened today in Cebu, Philippines, the current chair of the association. Representatives from the 11 member countries will spend two days discussing energy security and food supply—a sensitive issue for a region home to nearly 700 million people and particularly vulnerable to the conflict’s consequences. Among the key topics is the Myanmar issue, which has been a source of internal divisions within the bloc in recent years.

IRAN

Iranian authorities recently announced the arrest of three Christians accused of promoting an “evangelical network” in the central province of Yazd. According to Yazd prosecutor Mehdi Hassanpour, three of the “key members” of the “sect” have been “identified and arrested.” According to prosecutors, the trio—whose identities are unknown—allegedly “established a house church and converted” a significant number of their family members and friends to “Zionist Christianity.”

CHINA - TAIWAN - ESWATINI

China has branded Eswatini’s leaders as “kept and fed” by Taipei, using unusually strong language to condemn the small southern African kingdom for hosting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. China and Taiwan have long accused each other of promoting “dollar diplomacy” to secure the support of developing countries. The president returned in recent days from a surprise trip to the former Swaziland, one of the 12 nations worldwide with formal diplomatic ties to the island claimed by Beijing.

INDONESIA

Jakarta wants to introduce a ban on e-commerce for minors under 16, as part of a broader crackdown by the government on the use of social media and the internet by teenagers in the Asian country. In March, Indonesia—which is heavily reliant on apps—began enforcing a social media ban for those under 16 in an effort to protect some 70 million children from threats related to online pornography, cyberbullying, and internet addiction.

INDIA

Four people were killed in the unrest that erupted after the election in West Bengal, which sealed the victory of the Hindu nationalist BJP linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Previously, the position of governor was held by Mamata Banerjee, an opponent and critic of the prime minister, whose party won 206 of the 294 seats in the assembly. Banerjee, leader of the Regional All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), also lost her seat and rejected the results.

RUSSIA - ASIA

In the first four months of 2026, the top destination for Russians on overseas vacations was Vietnam, with a 777% increase following the launch of direct flights and the expansion of travel packages. Searches also increased for China (+118%), Indonesia (+121%), and the Maldives (+136%), while requests for Sri Lanka (-46%) and India (-37%) declined. The average cost of a ticket to Asian countries is 334,000 rubles, just over 3,000 euros.

TURKMENISTAN - PAKISTAN

Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister Batyr Annajev announced the possibility of establishing a direct air route to Pakistan, thereby connecting it to the rest of Central Asia via land through Turkmenistan. The news has been met with skepticism among observers due to the stagnation of long-awaited air links with the capitals of neighboring countries, as well as with Ankara, Moscow, Tbilisi, Warsaw, and, above all, with domestic destinations within the country.

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