Monday, June 8, 2026

World

Iran breaks ceasefire with missile barrage at Israel

Iran has launched a wave of missiles at Israel, declaring it 'a full week' of strikes and breaking an April ceasefire, after Israel bombed Beirut and killed at least two people. Israel has responded with strikes on Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan, while Trump — who told the FT he 'calls the shots' — is pressing Netanyahu to accept a deal and not retaliate further. Oil prices jumped immediately as traders priced in the risk of a return to all-out Middle East conflict.

MarketIsrael x Iran permanent peace deal by June 30, 2026?4%

World

Major earthquake strikes Philippines, tsunami warnings issued

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake has struck southern Mindanao, collapsing buildings, killing at least one person, and triggering tsunami warnings for parts of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Authorities warned of waves up to three metres, sending coastal residents scrambling. General Santos City police confirmed rescues were still ongoing as of early Monday.

Politics

Xi visits North Korea for first trip in seven years

Xi Jinping has arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day visit — his first to North Korea since 2019 — to meet Kim Jong-un and reset a relationship strained by pandemic-era trade collapse and Pyongyang's deepening military ties with Russia. Beijing is looking to reassert influence over an ally it officially still holds by treaty but has watched drift closer to Moscow. The visit comes as Kim was recently photographed inspecting munitions at a weapons factory.

MarketXi Jinping out before 2027?7%

Economy

Tech sell-off widens as Asian markets tumble

Asian markets have opened sharply lower to start the week, extending Friday's Nasdaq sell-off in a broad tech-driven rout. South Korean markets have taken a particularly heavy hit, compounding investor anxiety already rattled by rising Middle East tensions and their effect on energy prices. The dual pressure of a tech correction and spiking oil is testing nerves across global trading floors.

MarketWill Crude Oil (CL) hit (LOW) $85 by end of June?46%

World

Mexican cartels set up meth labs on South African farms

Raids on rural South African farms have uncovered methamphetamine laboratories linked to Mexican cartel networks, marking a significant expansion of their operations onto the African continent. The discovery signals cartels are actively exporting not just product but production infrastructure, exploiting South Africa's agricultural hinterland as cover. The find represents a new phase in transnational drug trafficking that has alarmed regional law enforcement.