- Saturday, 25 April 2026
BBC
Myanmar overtakes Afghanistan as top opium producer
Myanmar is now the world's largest producer of opium, overtaking Afghanistan, a UN report says. It estimates that this year Myanmar will have increased production by 36% to 1,080 tonnes of opium - the key ingredient for the hard drug heroin.
India court upholds repeal of Kashmir's special status
India's top court has upheld the stripping of special status from the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Australia to halve immigration, toughen English test
The Australian government says it will halve the migration intake within two years in a bid to fix the country's "broken" immigration system.
Half of Gaza's population is starving, warns UN
A senior UN aid official has warned that half of Gaza's population is starving, as fighting there continues. Carl Skau, deputy director of the UN World Food Programme, said only a fraction of supplies needed have been able to enter the Strip - and nine out of 10 people cannot eat every day.
Two arrested in France over alleged bedbug scam
Two men have been arrested in France after allegedly scamming elderly people into paying thousands of euros for bedbug treatment they did not need.
Heavy rains leave trail of destruction in Indian city
A cyclone which barrelled through India's southern coast earlier this week has left Chennai city flooded and struggling to return to normal.
Thai bus crash kills 14 and splits vehicle in half
Fourteen people have died in Thailand after a double-decker bus veered off the road and smashed into a tree. Photos online show the bus leaning on its side and its front split in half, with parts of the tree wedged in it.
Record number of fossil fuel delegates at COP28
The number of delegates at this year's UN climate talks who are also linked to fossil fuel producers has quadrupled since last year, campaigners say.
Deadly explosion rocks Mass at Philippines university
Four people have been killed in an explosion at a Catholic Mass in the southern Philippines on Sunday morning.
COP28 host UAE to ramp up national oil production
The country hosting COP28 climate talks aimed at cutting fossil fuel emissions is massively ramping up its own oil production, the BBC has learned.
Preventative HIV drug highly effective, study says
A drug which stops HIV infecting the body has proved to be a highly effective "real-world" preventative treatment, a study has confirmed. The results of the research on 24,000 people taking it across England, have been described as "reassuring".
Groundbreaking green-fuelled flight to take off
The first transatlantic flight by a large passenger plane powered only by alternative fuels will soon take off. Operated by Virgin Atlantic, it is expected to fly from London's Heathrow to New York's JFK airport at 11:52 GMT.
India actress urges women to speak up on deepfake
Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, who was recently targeted with a deepfake video, has urged people to not share such material. She particularly urged young women to speak up if somebody bullied them with such material.
Toxic gas putting millions at risk in Middle East
Toxic pollutants released during gas flaring are endangering millions more people than previously feared, a BBC investigation suggests. Flaring - the burning of waste gas during oil drilling - is taking place across the Gulf, including by COP28 hosts the United Arab Emirates.
Lightning and hailstorms kill 24 in western India
The weather damaged houses and killed livestock across western Gujarat state.
