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Trump vows to hit back 'hard' after

Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran "hard" after the two foes traded fire for the first time in over a month, while Iran's president warned that more fighting with the US was not in his country's interest. After six months of war, the foes remain at an impasse, with Iran keeping the strategic Strait of Hormuz closed and the US persisting with a naval counter-blockade of Iran.

Late Sunday, the United States said it had carried out strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran quickly retaliating by attacking US military targets in the Middle East, with the exchange raising fears of a return to major hostilities, with the US president vowing to respond. "We're going to hit them hard," Trump said, adding "There will be a response."

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian later on Monday called for dialogue. "We continue to strive for a path of agreement and understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is neither in our interest, nor in the interest of the region," he said at a summit in Kyrgyzstan, adding "the solution to the existing problems is dialogue and cooperation".

Also today

• Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel gives wide-ranging interview with RTL addressing EU enlargement, Israel's settlement policy, the war involving Iran, and the rise of far-right parties across Europe
• Nepal has begun burying hundreds of victims of catastrophic Himalayan flood as rescue teams continue searching for more than 4,500 people still missing
• One person hospitalised after fight between two inmates at Sanem prison
• Lionel Messi retires from international football, saying he has "nothing left to give"
• Vote for your favourite stories from RTL's 2026 Young Authors contest, with 10 finalists to choose from

On air

Some more Chiz the Quiz action, as he posed Tom these brainteasers: What's heavier: 20 King Charles Spaniel dogs, or one King Charles III? A female great white shark, or a male pacific walrus? 40 domestic guinea pigs, or 1 capybara?:

Figure of the day

$26.3 billion - fast fashion giant Shein's valuation in Hong Kong market debut

• Fast-fashion giant Shein raised $1.7 billion in its long-awaited Hong Kong initial public offering, valuing the online retailer at around $26.3 billion
• Known for its ultra-low prices and rapidly produced clothes, the Chinese-founded behemoth's stock sale in the Asian financial hub comes after IPO plans for New York and London were derailed under regulatory scrutiny
• The platform surged in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, conquering the global fast-fashion market by catering to young customers through social media
• But the company now faces slowing growth and increasing regulatory pressure in Europe and the United States, its largest markets

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