Fire bomber planes battle Fointaineblue forest blaze near Paris

• Renewed hostilities between the US and Iran, alongside Israel's ongoing military campaigns, are increasing the risk of a wider Middle East conflict. • These geopolitical tensions are triggering global energy and food security crises, which threaten to cause drastic economic growth deceleration in the Philippines.

• US-Iran tensions have escalated following a ship attack in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the most significant military surge since the last ceasefire. • The conflict erupted shortly after Oman proposed a diplomatic solution to allow vessels to use both Omani and Iranian shipping lanes without additional approvals.

• Iran's state news agency, IRNA, reported that 10 to 11 enemy projectiles struck Qeshm Island on Sunday. • The attack targeted a strategic location within the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global artery for oil and shipping.

Josh Fawaz’s song, a cover of Like a Prayer, has raised questions over how generative AI is being used in music and whether it should be declaredAn Australian producer has gone from a little-known artist to a viral sensation in a matter of months, with his hit song catapulting onto global charts and receiving thousands of radio spins.There’s just one problem: music experts and other musicians are questioning whether he produced it. They claim Josh Fawaz’s most popular song, a cover of Madonna’s Like a Prayer which reached the #1 spot on the National Radio Airplay chart, could have been made using AI. Continue reading...

Alleged thieves in October 2025 robbery damaged a gem-encrusted crown worn in the 19th century by Empress EugénieTwo men suspected of making off with €88m (£75m) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris last October have reportedly told investigators that the alleged mastermind behind the heist was disappointed by the haul and thought “they could have taken more”.The French newspaper Le Monde cited transcripts of the alleged thieves’ questioning last month by two investigating judges in charge of the inquiry, offering detailed insights into the burglary that made global headlines and led the museum’s director to resign. Continue reading...

Premium cherry-on-the-vine are poised to take top spot in Britain’s £1bn-a-year tomato marketFor a long time the classic round, red tomato has dominated British salads and sandwiches, but its supremacy is coming under threat as sales of rainbow colours and the upmarket rival “cherry on the vine” take off.“Non-red tomatoes” sales are up 21% this year, a growth rate that far exceeds the overall market, according to Paul Faulkner, of Evesham Vale Growers. Continue reading...

Abir Al-Sahlani targeted on social media after condemning anti-immigration chants in European parliamentA Swedish MEP has filed a police complaint accusing a fellow MEP of racist hate speech after she was targeted on social media over her condemnation of far-right, anti-immigration chants in the European parliament.The complaint, which was filed last week with police in Sweden, relates to the aftermath last month of the decision by some rightwing MEPs to erupt in chants of “send them back” following a vote aimed at increasing deportations across the EU. Continue reading...

Dharminder Singh ‘asserts his innocence’, lawyer tells reporters, amid outpouring of grief for young mother in Queensland cityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former partner of a woman whose body was found near Toowoomba at the weekend has appeared in court for the first time after being charged with her murder.Dharminder Singh covered his face and appeared to sob as he appeared in Toowoomba magistrates court via video link, charged with the murder of 30-year-old Jana Armstrong. Continue reading...

American and Iranian forces exchange heavy missile and drone attacks over control of strait of Hormuz, increasing pressure on truceThe US military has launched a new wave of attacks against Iran amid the escalating standoff over the strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying the latest strikes had “rendered futile” all the diplomatic efforts of the past few months.The US military began launching more strikes against Iran at 9pm GMT on Sunday, US Central Command (Centcom) said on X, “to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz”. Continue reading...

Latest film in franchise takes just $43m in North America and $95m globally, against a $250m budgetThe Walt Disney Company’s live-action remake of Moana may be the No 1 movie at the North American box office but it did not make a big splash in its first weekend in theaters.The movie, which cost a reported $250m (£187m, A$360m) to produce, earned just $43m from ticket sales in the US and Canada, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Continue reading...

Iran has sought to establish a permanent system for collecting fees in the strait of Hormuz and warned vessels not to sail without its authorisationThe US and Iran have again exchanged heavy missile and drone assaults, with Tehran targeting US facilities in states across the Gulf and saying it had again closed the vital strait of Hormuz.The US military ⁠began launching more strikes against Iran at 5 pm ET on Sunday, US Central Command said in a statement, “to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the strait of Hormuz.” Continue reading...