South Korean former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok have been banned from leaving the country as suspects in the alleged insurrection case related to former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law attempt, police said on Tuesday.

The exit ban was reportedly imposed on Han and Choi around the middle of this month.

The police's special investigation unit handling the high-profile case called in Han, Choi and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Monday for questioning for about 10 hours about their alleged involvement in Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3 last year. Lee was slapped with the exit ban earlier in December.

South Korean Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's lawyer on Tuesday denied all charges related to allegations that Lee misused public funds for personal purposes during his term as the governor of Gyeonggi province.

The attorney's denial came during the third preparatory hearing of Lee's trial at the Suwon District Court, which the candidate did not attend.

Lee is accused of using 106.5 million won ($77,800) from his corporate card and provincial government funds to pay for food and other goods while serving as governor from 2018 to 2021.

"The defendant has not colluded in the crime, nor did he give orders (to do so)," Lee's lawyer said, claiming the indictment was "illegal" as the police had previously decided to not transfer the case to the prosecution.

Banks' loan rates fell for the fifth straight month in April, data showed on Tuesday, as the central bank has been on a monetary easing cycle.

The average lending rate of banks applied to new loans came to 4.19 percent last month, down 0.17 percentage point from a month earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

The rate has been on a constant decline since December 2024, reports news agency.

In detail, banks' average lending rate for corporate loans shed 0.18 percentage point to 4.14 percent, while their lending rate on household loans lost 0.15 percentage point to 4.36 percent.

Israel has rejected a new proposal aimed at halting its offensive in Gaza and securing the release of 10 more hostages, Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday.

A senior Israeli official from the country's negotiation team told Kan TV that US mediators presented the proposal overnight. It included the release of five living hostages and five deceased, the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, a 70-day ceasefire, and negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire, according to the official.

The official said Israel rejected the deal, describing it as a "surrender to Hamas."

Israel has insisted on the so-called Witkoff framework, a deal proposal presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in early March, which calls for the release of additional Israeli hostages in return for a 50-day truce, and a promise to engage in talks on a longer truce. It doesn't mention a withdrawal of Israeli forces or the release of Palestinian prisoners, two of Hamas's key demands.

Two teenagers have been charged over a brawl that forced a Melbourne shopping centre into lockdown on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to the Northland shopping centre, 10 km northeast of central Melbourne, shortly after 2:30 pm on Sunday following reports of a fight between around 10 people, some of whom were armed with machetes, that triggered a lockdown.

Two people were arrested at the scene by police and a 20-year-old male was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police in the state of Victoria said on Monday that the people who were arrested, two males aged 15 and 16, have been charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, possessing a controlled weapon and using a controlled weapon.

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday exchanged 307 prisoners each under an agreement reached during recent talks in Istanbul, said the Russian Defence Ministry.

The ministry said 307 Russian servicemen have "returned from Kyiv-controlled territory," while the equivalent number of Ukrainian prisoners was freed as well.

"The large-scale exchange initiated by the Russian side will continue," the ministry said.

The swap followed the exchange of 270 servicemen and 120 civilians from each side announced on Friday.

US drone strikes overnight targetted a suspected al-Qaeda hideout in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, killing at least six people, a Yemeni military official told news agency on Saturday.

The strikes hit the mountainous Marakisha area in eastern Abyan late Friday, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. All those killed were believed to be members of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemen-based branch of the militant network.

The operation was carried out in coordination with Yemeni government forces, the official added.

In growing political turmoil in Bangladesh, the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday demanded that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus announce a clear roadmap for upcoming national elections. Additionally, the party called for the immediate declaration of the July manifesto and the trial of the July mass killing, local media reported.

“A clear roadmap on justice, reforms, and elections is essential. That way, the uncertainties and confusions in the minds of the people and political parties will be dispelled,” NCP Convenor Nahid Islam said addressing a press conference in Dhaka.

“The Chief Advisor had promised fundamental reforms and justice before holding elections. However, he expressed dissatisfaction with movements like the one at Jamuna and stated he did not want to remain in his position unless a controlled election could be ensured," he added.

Emergency service authority of Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Saturday that early estimates suggest more than 10,000 properties have been damaged in floodwaters in the state's eastern regions.

The State Emergency Service (SES) Chief Superintendent Paul McQueen told reporters on Saturday morning that crews would be "out in force" to start the damage assessment process.

"I reiterate this is still a dangerous situation where significant impacts to infrastructure and properties are likely to have occurred," he said.

"Unfortunately, it is not possible to let people return to their homes until water further subsides and we're sure they can access their homes and communities safely."

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to conduct the next funding review for Pakistan in the second half of 2025.

According to an official IMF statement, it would maintain ongoing discussions with Pakistani authorities to reach an agreement on the 2026 fiscal year budget terms.

"The next mission associated with the next Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) reviews is expected in the second half of 2025," according to the IMF.

An IMF mission, led by Nathan Porter, has concluded its staff visit, which focused on recent economic developments, programme implementation, and the budget strategy for fiscal year (FY) 2026.

"We held constructive discussions with the authorities on their FY2026 budget proposals and broader economic policy, and reform agenda supported by the 2024 EFF and the 2025 RSF," said Porter.