Rat poison watermelon deaths puzzle Indian investigators

Nearly three weeks after an Indian family of four were found dead in their home, investigators tell the BBC they are no closer to knowing what actually happened.

ROP foils attempt to transfer $6.6 million linked to cyber fraud

The General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Research at the Royal Oman Police, in cooperation with the National Central Bureaus of the Interpol, has foiled an attempt to transfer approximately $6.6 million through a local bank in Oman after investigations revealed the funds were linked to electronic fraud operations originating from an Asian country.

US citizen convicted of running secret Chinese ’police station’ in NYC

A US citizen has been convicted of helping run what has been described as the first known secret police station in the US on behalf of the Chinese government.

US drops $15,000 visa deposit for foreign fans with World Cup tickets

The Trump administration will exempt football fans from 50 countries subject to a $15,000 (£11,000) visa deposit requirement, provided they are travelling to the US for the World Cup with valid match tickets.

More than 70 million warnings sent to people seeking child abuse material

More than 70 million warning messages have been sent to people attempting to access child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online over the past two years, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation says.

India, Russia in advanced talks on critical minerals pact, Reuters

India and Russia are in advanced talks to sign a preliminary agreement on ‌critical minerals covering exploration, processing and technological collaboration, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Google says criminal hackers used A.I. to find a major software flaw

A criminal hacking group recently attempted to launch a widespread cyberattack that appeared to rely on artificial intelligence to detect a previously unknown bug, Google said in research published Monday, highlighting the potential threat that A.I. poses to digital security.

eBay rejects $55.5bn offer from GameStop

Online marketplace eBay has rejected a $55.5bn (£40.9bn) takeover offer from video game retailer GameStop, calling it ’’unsolicited’’ and ’’neither credible nor attractive’’.

Air India crisis deepens ahead of final Ahmedabad crash report

In under a month from now, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected to release its final report on the crash of London-bound Air India flight AI‑171 that went down seconds after take‑off from Ahmedabad in western India on 12 June 2025.

India raises gold and silver tariffs to 15% to curb imports, support rupee

India has raised import tariffs on gold and silver to 15% from 6%, government orders ​said on Wednesday, as part of efforts to curb overseas purchases of the ‌metals and ease pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

Chinese FM asks Pakistan to step up Iran-US mediation efforts

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Islamabad, via his Pakistani counterpart, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, to step up mediation efforts to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Trump says he doesn’t need Xi’s help on Iran war as he heads to China

United States President Donald Trump has said he does not need China’s assistance in ending the war on Iran as he departed Washington, DC, for Beijing, where he is set to hold a state visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Australia to join 40 nations for planned post-war Hormuz Strait mission

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has spoken to counterparts from more than 40 countries, reaffirming collective diplomatic, economic and military support for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

US offers $15m reward for tips on ‘illicit’ IRGC oil shipments

The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $15m for details regarding oil deliveries connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its facilitators.

How Sharif and Munir’s foreign tours are burdening Pakistan’s fragile economy

Many things are not alright with Pakistan’s economy: the deepening foreign exchange crisis, prolonged border skirmishes with Afghanistan, rising oil prices and commodity shortages due to the West Asian crisis, and structural issues of rising poverty and unemployment.

India’s Modi to begin five-nation tour, including UAE, amid Middle East crisis

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-nation tour ​taking in the United Arab Emirates and Europe from May ‌15-20, India’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday, as the Middle East crisis drives up global oil prices and ​strains India’s foreign currency reserves.

Uganda’s president sworn in for record seventh term

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, 81, has been sworn in for a record seventh consecutive term following his landslide victory in disputed elections in January, extending his tenure as one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.

Southern California mayor resigns, will plead guilty to acting as agent for Chinese government

A Southern California mayor has agreed to plead guilty to acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, and has resigned from her city position, officials said Monday.

At least nine people killed in explosion at Pakistan market

An explosion in a busy market in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least nine people and wounded 30, according to emergency workers and a medical official.

Vijay’s personal astrologer gets a post in Tamil Nadu government

TVK chief Vijay’s astrologer Thiru Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel has been appointed Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

China should stop hoarding food and fertiliser, says former World Bank chief

China should stop hoarding food and fertiliser to ease a global supply crisis caused by the Iran war, a former World Bank president has told the BBC.

US issues new sanctions over Iran’s oil shipments to China

The U.S. government on Monday announced sanctions against three people and ​nine companies, including four based in Hong Kong and four in the United Arab Emirates, for ‌aiding Iran’s shipment of oil to China. The ninth company is based in Oman.

Oil prices edge higher as fragile US-Iran diplomacy fuels supply fears

Crude oil prices climbed in early Asian trading on Tuesday as the outlook for a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran war remained uncertain, with Washington and Tehran trading threats after Trump derided Iran’s latest peace proposal.

Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ’massive life support’

US President Donald Trump has said the month-long ceasefire between the US and Iran is on ’’massive life support’’.

Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump pleads not guilty

The man accused ‌of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump at a White House reporters’ gala last month pleaded not guilty to all charges on Monday.

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay meets former CM MK Stalin day after oath-taking

Tamil Nadu’s new Chief Minister Vijay on Monday met his predecessor and DMK chief MK Stalin, a day after the actor-turned-politician was sworn in following a landmark election victory.

Dua Lipa sues Samsung for $15m over use of her image on TV boxes

Pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15m (£11m) lawsuit against Samsung, alleging it used her image on packaging for its televisions without permission.

Rights on paper, reality in doubt: World Bank report reveals Pakistan’s deep gender equality deficit

In an era when governments increasingly proclaim commitments to gender equality, a new global assessment paints a starkly different picture. Across the world, legislative frameworks may appear progressive, yet their implementation often tells another story.

US and French nationals test positive for hantavirus after leaving ship

An American and a French national who have returned to their home countries having left a cruise ship hit by a deadly outbreak of hantavirus have tested positive, authorities say.

India successfully tests advanced Agni MIRV missile

India on Friday successfully conducted the flight trial of an advanced Agni missile equipped with a Multiple Independently Targeted Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) system from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.