Billionaire Jared Isaacman, an Elon Musk ally, confirmed as Nasa chief

The US Senate has approved the appointment of billionaire investor Jared Isaacman to lead Nasa, capping an unusual nomination process where President Donald Trump put his name forward, withdrew it, and then renominated him for the post.

Indian scientists predict how bird flu could spread to humans

For years, scientists have warned that bird flu - better known as H5N1 - could one day make the dangerous leap from birds to humans and trigger a global health crisis.

Warner Bros favours Netflix offer over $108bn Paramount bid

Warner Bros Discovery has told its shareholders to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4bn (£80.75bn) takeover bid.

Hackers access Pornhub’s premium users’ viewing habits and search history

Hackers have accessed the search history and viewing habits of premium users of Pornhub, one of the world’s most popular pornography websites.

China, Quad and the rare earths mineral competition in Myanmar

As the US-China rivalry spirals, it is spilling over into new domains, particularly those involving rare earth minerals, regional supply chains, and emerging technologies. Countries with fragile political systems but high geoeconomic value are increasingly turning into theaters of this strategic competition.

AI romance blooms as Japanese woman weds virtual partner of her dream

Music played in a wedding hall in western Japan as Yurina Noguchi, wearing a white gown and tiara, dabbed away her tears, taking in the words of her husband-to-be: an AI-generated persona gazing out from a smartphone screen.

Shock as popular South African DJ shot dead in Johannesburg

A popular South African radio and club DJ has been shot dead in the country’s largest city, Johannesburg, sending shockwaves across the nation grappling with entrenched crime.

Elon Musk is now worth over $600 billion

Elon Musk has become the first person in history to reach a net worth of $600 billion, according to Forbes estimated published on Monday.

TikTok monitored Grindr activity through third-party tracker, privacy group alleges

A privacy advocacy group, noyb, filed complaints to Austria’s data protection authority on Wednesday against TikTok, Grindr (GRND.N), opens new tab and AppsFlyer, alleging these companies breached regional privacy laws, risking exposure of sensitive data.

Alleged Bondi gunman charged with 15 counts of murder

Naveed Akram, the surviving alleged suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act, according to the New South Wales Police.

PM Modi conferred country’s highest civilian award in Addis Ababa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Tuesday conferred with Ethiopia’s highest civilian honour, The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia, during his first bilateral visit to the country.

Fifa brings in new £45 ticket for 2026 World Cup

Fifa has introduced a small number of ’’more affordable’’ $60 (£45) tickets for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament.

Trump expands US travel ban to five more countries

President Donald Trump has expanded a US travel ban, barring nationals of five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the US.

'No abrupt conditions': Pakistan Finance ministry clarifies 'new IMF terms'

Denying rumours about new International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions, the Ministry of Finance on Sunday said that the lender’s structural benchmarks under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme aligned with its own reform agenda.

IMF tightens noose on Pakistan’s $7 Billion bailout, imposes new conditions

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has placed 11 new conditions on Pakistan under the second review of its $7 billion bailout programme, bringing the total to 64 within just 18 months. The newly released staff-level report outlines a series of governance, anti-corruption, fiscal and structural reforms aimed at addressing what the IMF calls “deep-rooted distortions” in Pakistan’s economy.

PSG ordered to pay Mbappe 60m euros

Paris St-Germain have been ordered to pay former striker Kylian Mbappe 60m euros (£52.5m) in unpaid salary and bonuses by a French court.

IMF flags systemic corruption and institutional decay in Pakistan

Pakistan’s latest encounter with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has laid bare uncomfortable truths the country has long chosen to sidestep.

Trump under fire for ‘loathsome’ post about death of Rob Reiner and wife

President Donald Trump is under fire over his comments on the deaths of legendary Hollywood director and actor Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, 68, who were found fatally stabbed at their Los Angeles home Sunday.

Trump files $5bn defamation lawsuit against BBC over Panorama speech edit

US President Donald Trump has filed a $5bn (£3.7bn) lawsuit against the BBC over an edit of his 6 January 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary.

India charges Pakistan-based militant groups, six men over Kashmir tourist attack

India’s anti-terrorism agency on Monday charged militant Islamist groups based in Pakistan and six individuals over an April attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 men, and triggered intense fighting between the two countries.

Rob Reiner’s son Nick arrested for murder after director and wife found dead

A son of film director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner has been arrested and booked on suspicion of murder after the couple were found dead in their Los Angeles home.

Trump urges Xi to free Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai

US President Donald Trump says he has asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping to ’’consider’’ releasing Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon who was earlier this week found guilty under the city’s controversial national security law.

Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted in high-profile national security trial

Hong Kong pro-democracy campaigner and media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s controversial national security law (NSL).

Donations cross $1.1 million for Bondi Beach ‘hero’ Ahmed al Ahmed who disarmed shooter

Donations have poured in from across Australia for a man who wrestled a gun from one of the alleged attackers during the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the total now crossing $1.1 million ($744,000), Reuters reported.

Flights disrupted and construction work banned after Delhi air pollution suddenly worsens

Construction work was halted and emergency pollution curbs reimposed across India’s capital on Monday after the air quality deteriorated sharply to some of the worst levels seen this winter, exposing millions to hazardous smog and disrupting flights.

Hollywood director Rob Reiner, wife Michele found dead in LA home

US director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife have been found dead at their home in Los Angeles.

UN expert raises concerns over Imran Khan’s inhumane conditions of confinement in Pakistan

The UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, on Friday urged Pakistani authorities to take immediate and effective action to address reports of inhumane and undignified detention conditions of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, warning that they could amount to torture and other cruel or degrading treatment.

At least 17 dead and 20 injured after school bus crashed off cliff in Colombia

At least 17 people were killed and 20 were injured after a school bus carrying children and adults crashed off a cliff in northern Colombia.

At least 15 killed in shooting at Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach

Two gunmen have attacked a Jewish festival at Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, according to Australian authorities.

Veteran journalist charged with ‘Picking Quarrels’

Chinese authorities have formally charged well-known journalist and author Du Bin (杜斌) with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” Human Rights Watch said today.