Peabo Bryson, R&B singer behind Beauty and the Beast, dies aged 75

R&B singer Peabo Bryson, best known for his voice on Disney classics like A Whole New World and Beauty and the Beast, has died aged 75.

Pakistan’s toxic rivers reveal deep governance failure

In parts of Lahore, dark water foams beneath bridges where the Ravi once flowed as a lifeline for agriculture and communities. In Sindh, the vast waters of Manchhar Lake have become increasingly unfit for drinking, fishing or irrigation.

At least 12 people killed, dozens wounded in Russian attacks on Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities say at least 12 people have been killed and dozens wounded in Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was preparing for a major offensive.

AirTrunk to invest $21 billion in India data centre

Australia’s AirTrunk has signed a letter of intent for land allotment in India’s western state of Maharashtra for a data centre where it will ‌invest $21.05 billion, ⁠the ⁠state’s chief minister said in a post on X.

Lebanon announces partial ceasefire between Israel, Hezbollah but attacks continue

Lebanon announced ​a partial ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel on Monday in what would amount to a limited de-escalation of a conflict that has ‌killed thousands of people and inflamed the broader U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Turning a drainage ditch into a $70,000 cash cow: How a village on Beijing’s outskirts reinvented itself

In a village 91 kilometers from downtown Beijing, a once-forgotten hamlet surrounded by over 30,000 acres of peach blossoms is reinventing itself. Cafés, glasshouse lounges, book bars, farmers’ markets, and pet-themed playgrounds now line the village lanes.

Sooryavanshi sweeps IPL awards -- but is too young to drive prize

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi swept the end-of-season IPL awards and in doing so won an SUV -- but the 15-year-old cricket prodigy will have to wait three years to drive it.

Pakistani traders warn of nationwide protests if business restrictions are reimposed

A prominent Pakistani traders’ union on Sunday warned of nationwide protests if the government reimposes its decision to close markets early, calling on authorities to permanently end lockdown measures intended to conserve energy.

Japan refutes ’new militarism’, accuses China of rapidly arming

Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi refuted accusations of ’’new militarism’’ by Beijing and criticised China for rapidly increasing military capabilities without transparency, underlining deepening tensions between the two nations.

Iran and US report new wave of air strikes in Gulf

Air strikes resumed between the US and Iran over the weekend as each side claimed to have hit military targets near the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices rise more than 2% as Israel steps up incursion into Lebanon

Oil prices rose more than 2% in early trading on Monday after Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon ​in the battle with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, despite a ceasefire announced more ‌than six weeks ago.

Israel seizes castle in Lebanon as it expands ground offensive

The Israeli military has increased the zone in southern Lebanon that it has warned residents to evacuate from, as it further expands its ground operations against Hezbollah.

Trump says Iran has agreed to no nuclear weapons

US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as reports emerged he had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Tehran.

India says signed BrahMos missile deal with Vietnam

India has signed a deal with Vietnam to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles jointly developed with Russia, while negotiations for a similar agreement with Indonesia are in the final stages, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Saturday.

Hundreds arrested in France after wild Champions League celebrations

Clashes between football fans and police across France have led to more than 400 arrests following the victory of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League final against Arsenal.

Former California mayor pleads guilty to secretly working as foreign agent of China

The former mayor of Arcadia pleaded guilty Friday to acting as an illegal agent of China.

Eleven confirmed dead in Washington state chemical accident, all bodies recovered

The death toll from a chemical tank rupture in the U.S. state of ​Washington climbed to 11 as crews ‌recovered the bodies of all nine missing people, authorities said on Saturday.

Ebola spread in DR Congo ’deeply alarming’, MSF warns

The rapid spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo has created a ’’deeply alarming’’ situation, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned.

Millions of breast cancer patients could safely avoid chemotherapy, study suggests

Millions of people with breast cancer could safely avoid chemotherapy as scientists have developed a DNA test that can distinguish between patients who are likely to benefit from the treatment and those who are not, according to the results of a trial.

No deal announced after Trump meeting to make ’final determination’ on Iran

US President Donald Trump had a meeting with top aides on Friday to make a ’’final determination’’ about a framework for extending the ceasefire with Iran, but it concluded without clarity on the next steps.

EU fines Temu €200M over unsafe toys, non-compliant products

The European Union has handed Chinese-owned online retailer Temu a €200 million ($232 million) fine on Thursday for noncompliance of the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a rule that compels the world’s most popular digital platforms to conduct risk assessments of potential dangers to consumers.

Kenya court halts opening of US Ebola quarantine facility in the country

A Kenyan court has suspended US plans to open an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens in the country that has sparked public concern about cross-border infection risks

Humanoid robots ’the future’ of car making, says BMW

For the first time, BMW will use humanoid robots for car manufacturing in Europe. Two robots, made by Hexagon Robotics, are planned to work in production from the summer.

Netanyahu says he directed Israeli military to take over 70% of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has directed Israel’s military to take over 70% of Gaza’s territory.

Australia considers India “top-tier security partner” as Defence Minister Marles heads for New Delhi

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will travel to Singapore this week to attend the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue before heading to India for high-level defence talks aimed at strengthening Australia’s security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Israel strikes Beirut and southern Lebanon after large-scale evacuation orders

Waves of Israeli strikes have hit southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, according to the Israeli military.

Iran says it targeted American base after fresh US strikes

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran.

Oil prices jump after US launches new attacks on Iran

Oil prices have jumped after the US carried out new attacks on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city.

EU to broaden import quotas and tariffs against China, official tells FT

European Union industry chief Stephane Sejourne ​said Brussels would broaden ‌import quotas and tariffs against China to shield ​certain industrial sectors ​from what the bloc sees ⁠as an ’’existential’’ threat ​from Chinese imports, in ​comments to the Financial Times published on Thursday.

Thai police dress in drag to catch drug dealer

A squad of Thai police went undercover in drag to arrest a suspected methamphetamine smuggler.