South Korean former President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the eighth hearing of his insurrection trial on Monday, but was tight-lipped on a new investigation by independent counsels over his failed martial law bid.

Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court around 10 am to attend the eight hearing of his insurrection trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his December 3 imposition of martial law.

It was Yoon's first trial after his case was transferred to the special counsel team, led by Cho Eun-suk, last week.

Yoon also did not respond to questions about corruption allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

A suicide bombing at a Damascus church killed at least 22 people and wounded 63 others, marking the deadliest and first attack of its kind on a Christian place of worship in the Syrian capital in several years, officials said.

According to Syrian authorities, two attackers stormed Mar Elias (St. Elias) Orthodox Church in the predominantly Christian Dweilaa neighbourhood during Sunday evening Mass, opened fire on worshippers, and detonated explosive belts near the entrance.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the death toll and reported that women and children were among the victims.

"This was a condemned terrorist act. We first heard gunfire in the courtyard, then two men entered, fired on the congregation, and blew themselves up. Such a crime violates every religion and every shred of humanity," said parish priest Melatios Shtah.

The US and Iran exchanged sharp accusations at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday (Indian time), following US military strikes on three of Iran's major nuclear facilities, an operation that has drawn global attention and concern over the potential for broader conflict.

Addressing the Council a day after US President Donald Trump confirmed American forces struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Camille Shea, said that the strikes were aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and ending the nuclear threat posed by what she called the "world's foremost state sponsor of terror".

"This operation sought to eliminate a longstanding but rapidly escalating source of global insecurity and to aid our ally Israel in our inherent right of collective self-defence consistent with the UN Charter," she added.

Shea accused Iran of long obstructing transparency in its nuclear activities, saying it has "stonewalled good-faith efforts" in recent negotiations.

Protests rage across several major US cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington and Los Angeles against the airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

The demonstrations on Sunday came after US President Donald Trump announced that America had bombed three nuclear sites in Iran and warned Tehran of further military action unless it ended its confrontation with Israel.

The targeted locations reportedly include the highly fortified Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities.

Over 200 protestors, including some war veterans, gathered outside the gates of the White House in Washington, holding banners that read "No War with Iran" against the Trump administration's air strikes.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday, in his first reaction following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, said that the punishment for Israel, referred to as the "Zionist enemy," will continue.

Calling the attacks "a big crime," Khamenei warned of retaliation.

Talking to X, he stated, "The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished, and it is being punished; it is being punished right now."

The US strikes followed Israeli attacks launched on June 13 on various targets in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing several senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, news agency reported.

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. As of Saturday, more than 400 people have been killed and over 3,500 wounded in Iran, according to the Iranian Health Ministry. In Israel, authorities reported 24 fatalities.

The United States' military involvement in the Middle East has heightened market uncertainties, the South Korean central bank said on Monday, vowing to take "appropriate market stabilisation measures" in a timely manner, if necessary.

The assessment came as U.S. President Donald Trump said his country's military conducted precision strikes on three key nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend, exacerbating the crisis in the Middle East and sparking concerns about its impact on the global markets, reports news agency.

"Given that U.S. military involvement has significantly heightened uncertainty in the Middle East, we will maintain a high level of vigilance and closely monitor developments in the situation and their impact on domestic and global financial and economic conditions through a 24-hour monitoring system," Bank of Korea (BOK) Deputy Gov. Yoo Sang-dai said during an emergency task force meeting on the matter.

Several European nations - including France, Germany, and Spain - celebrated the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Saturday, promoting the spirit of harmony, sustainability, and holistic health in the contemporary global context.

In France, a large number of yoga enthusiasts gathered on the banks of the Seine River near the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris.

"A yogic morning on the banks of the Seine as yoga enthusiasts gathered in large numbers to celebrate the International Day of Yoga near the iconic Eiffel Tower - organised by Embassy of India, Paris From deep breaths to sun salutations, the spirit of yoga lit up Paris — uniting hearts, minds, and cultures in a shared celebration of health and harmony. A special thanks to all who joined us in making this a vibrant, joyful tribute to yoga for One Earth, One Health," the Indian Embassy in Paris posted on X.

Israeli attacks on Iran over the past nine days have killed over 400 Iranians and left 3,056 others wounded, Hossein Kermanpour, head of the Iranian Health Ministry's public relations, said on Saturday.

"Among the injured, 2,220 have been treated and discharged from Ministry of Health hospitals, while 232 received outpatient care at the scene of the attacks," Kermanpour said in a post on social media platform X.

According to the health official, the majority of the casualties have been civilians, with 54 women and children among those killed in the Israeli strikes.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in statements on Saturday that it had killed three senior commanders in Iran overnight.

One of them was Saeed Izadi, the commander of the Palestine Corps in the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the IDF.

Izadi, a key coordinator between Iran and Hamas, was killed in an air strike in Iran's Qom province, the IDF said.

Ten drones were launched from Iran throughout Saturday into several areas in Israel, according to statements by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

One of the drones hit a two-story residential building in the northern Israeli city of Beit Shean, causing heavy damage but no casualties, Israel's national emergency service reported.

Another drone fell in an open area in the Negev desert in southern Israel, resulting in no casualties or damage. The remaining eight drones were intercepted by the Israeli air defence system, according to the IDF.

Earlier, on Saturday pre-dawn, five missiles were fired from Iran towards central Israel.