Australian Federal Police says it has arrested a 59-year-old man for allegedly acting as an economic agent for North Korea with the intent of raising revenue for the Pyongyang government. The suspect identified as Chan Han Choi, is a naturalized Australian citizen originally from South Korea but currently resides in Sydney.

Israel announced the closure of its Gaza border crossings on Thursday in response to daily rocket fire from the enclave over the past week after U.S. President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital stoked Palestinian anger. Israeli aircraft struck three facilities belonging to Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, before dawn on Thursday after the latest rocket attacks, Israel’s military said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took his case to Europe to ask allies to join the United States in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, but was met by a firm rebuff from EU foreign ministers who saw the move as a blow against the peace process. Making his first ever visit to EU headquarters in Brussels, Netanyahu said President Donald Trump’s move made peace in the Middle East possible “because recognizing reality is the substance of peace, the foundation of peace.”

Following North Korea’s defiant move towards the development of its nuclear programme, Japan’s Foreign Ministry says it has blocked the assets of 19 companies in an attempt to stop Pyongyang’s missile test. The latest string of sanctions handed down on Friday will affect companies dealing in finance, coal and minerals and transport.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday declared East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine after rejecting Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The group which described the move by the United States as 'dangerous' also called on the international community to follow in its footsteps by rejecting Trump's stance. The group made its position known in a statement issued at a summit held in Turkey. It called on all countries to "recognize the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital".

Saudi Arabia has announced it will lift a decades-long ban on cinemas as part of social reforms by the powerful crown prince that are shaking up the ultra-conservative kingdom.

“Commercial cinemas will be allowed to operate in the kingdom as of early 2018, for the first time in more than 35 years,” the culture and information ministry said in a statement on Monday, adding that the government would begin licensing venues immediately.