Seoul Gazette - News from Seoul, the Dongan District, Manan District, Buk District, Busanjin District, South Korea and the world

The Six Nations trophy will be "retired from ceremonial use" and replaced after suffering fire damage in an accident during transit, tournament organisers said on Monday.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran spread across the Middle East on Monday, threatening to plunge the global economy into chaos, with Lebanon and Gulf energy exporters dragged into the conflict.

President Donald Trump on Monday refused to rule out sending ground troops into Iran, as he warned that the spreading Middle East war unleashed by US-Israeli strikes could last more than a month.

The outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East has seen maritime insurers cancel coverage, adding to the risk shipping companies face.

Qatar downed two Iranian bombers and halted LNG production on Monday, as Tehran widened its attacks to hit oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE in a sharply escalating Gulf crisis that has sent prices soaring.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday British military bases in Cyprus will not be used by the US in its ongoing war with Iran.

In an unprecedented dispute between the US government and a private business, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has declared AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk -- a measure usually reserved for companies from adversary nations, like China's Huawei.

France captain Kylian Mbappe was in Paris Monday for treatment on a knee injury but no surgery is planned, the Real Madrid superstar's entourage told AFP.

An extended conflict in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran could trigger global stagflation -- a troublesome blend of high inflation and anaemic growth -- due to spiking oil and gas prices, economists warned.

On Dubai's artificial island, empty beaches stand in stark contrast to frantic hotel lobbies, where stranded tourists have taken shelter as they wait for a way home.

Air routes closed, airports damaged and hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded: the new war in the Middle East has again highlighted the global aviation sector's vulnerability to geopolitical upheaval.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he is not ruling out sending US troops into Iran, while threatening a new, "big wave" of attacks.

After years of US planning and weeks of military buildup, President Donald Trump gave the order for American forces to strike Iran: "Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck."

Liam Rosenior on Monday demanded an improvement in discipline from his Chelsea players after Pedro Neto became their ninth player to be sent off this season, threatening to drop players who do not show greater control.

Oil and gas prices soared, stock markets slid and the dollar firmed on Monday as the widening Iran war shook financial markets across the globe.

The US defense secretary on Monday declined to rule out putting troops on the ground in Iran and indicated the war launched over the weekend could go on for as long as six weeks.

Saudi Arabia's military raised its readiness levels after multiple attacks by Iran, a source close to the army told AFP on Monday, while another warned of a possible military response if its oil infrastructure is targeted.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran spread across the Middle East and beyond on Monday with Lebanon's Hezbollah entering the fray and a British air base in Cyprus targeted.

Israel traded fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday and pressed its attacks on Iran as the fallout from two days of US-Israeli strikes widened, with Iranian counterattacks hitting Gulf states and a British base in Cyprus.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick insisted Monday his team could turn around a 4-0 deficit in the Copa del Rey semi-final tie against Atletico Madrid.

As the attention of the world's fashionistas moves from Milan to Paris on the final day of the Italian city's Fashion Week Monday, a roundup of Italy's runway style is due.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam said Monday it had uncovered a new painting by Rembrandt, using advanced scanning technology and stylistic analysis to confirm it was crafted by the Dutch master.

Italian ski great Federica Brignone, who came back from injury to win two gold medals at last month's Winter Olympics, announced on Monday she had ended her campaign for this season.

Thriving thanks to their strategic geographical position, strong state backing and leading carriers, huge air hubs in the Gulf oil kingdoms have been shaken by the conflict over Iran.

Fighting over Iran impacted the start on Monday of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) telecoms trade fair thousands of miles away in Barcelona, with Israeli firms absent and activists demonstrating for a boycott of the country's pavilion.

South Korea went to the top of Pool A in the Women's Asian Cup after overcoming a dogged Iran 3-0 in their tournament opener on Queensland's Gold Coast on Monday.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot said Monday that the growing reliance on set pieces in the Premier League has sucked some of the joy out of football but accepts it is the new reality.

Israel traded fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon on Monday and continued attacks on Iran as the fallout from two days of US-Israeli strikes widened, with Iranian counterattacks hitting Gulf states and a British base in Cyprus.

The death toll from Pakistan's violent weekend protests over the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes has reached at least 25, according to an AFP tally on Monday.

Oil and gas prices soared, stock markets slid and the dollar firmed on Monday as the widening Iran war shook financial markets across the globe.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said on Monday his agency has "no indication" that any nuclear installations have been damaged or hit in Iran following US and Israeli strikes on the country.

An industrial relations showdown looms this week as Germany's powerful IG Metall union is seeking to gain control of the works council at US billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla plant outside Berlin.