The clock is ticking down to the next pandemic, which could be deadlier than the last, as new zoonotic diseases emerge and global vaccine inequity persists. Five years since COVID-19, what lessons have we learned and what needs to change before it’s too late?

An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of eastern England setting both vessels on fire, with at least 32 casualties brought onshore in a major rescue operation. A spokesperson for the United Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency said on Monday that the crash had occurred off the coast of the county of East Yorkshire. US shipping firm Crowley says its tanker is spilling jet fuel and all its crew have abandoned ship after multiple explosions. Stavros Karam-peridis is the head of the Maritime Transport Research Group at University of Plymouth.

Mariia Zolkina, head of regional security and conflict studies at the Democratic Initiatives Foundation, told Al Jazeera that Ukraine's goals for the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia include easing US pressure after Washington’s direct negotiations with Moscow. She said Ukraine aims to counter claims that it opposes diplomacy. The delegation plans to propose a ceasefire at sea and a ban on long-range strikes. Zolkina added that Ukraine will continue to insist on security guarantees during its talks with the US on Tuesday to “prevent another Russian attack”.

The Japanese city of Kamaishi was almost entirely destroyed in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami of 2011. It was the biggest natural disaster to hit Japan, killing nearly 20,000 people. More than a decade later, local taxi drivers claim to frequently pick up "ghost fares" of the deceased. Passengers spot an increasing number of wild deer which some claim to be intermediaries between the physical and spiritual worlds. A night with Kamaishi’s taxi drivers reveals a community haunted by its loss while still struggling for closure.

Gen Z’s beauty obsession is surging, with skincare spending up 20% and teen cosmetic procedures rising 75% since 2019. Social media is accused of fueling aging anxiety through viral content warning against aging. We explore the societal, economic, and industry-driven forces behind this trend.

Israel has cut off electricity to a vital desalination plant - which provides drinking water to around half a million people in central and southern Gaza. Hamas has called the move “cheap and unacceptable blackmail”. The facility near Deir el-Balah is now relying on generators and solar panels, and is functioning at reduced capacity. There are fears the power cut could also affect water pumps and sanitation. It comes as Israel's blockade of food, medicine, fuel and shelter entering Gaza enters a second week.

A warning that some of the images in this report may be disturbing. Syria's president has announced that an independent committee will investigate escalating violence in the country's northwest. Hundreds of people have been killed in fighting between members of the security forces and fighters loyal to the ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen ordered a halt to electricity transmission to Gaza, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan. Cohen later confirmed the decision in a post on X, stating that he had signed an order to “cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip immediately.” This move came a week after Israel had cut off all supplies of goods to the more than two million people in Gaza, a decision that received widespread condemnation. Before this, Gaza already faced limited electricity, with only water desalination plants in the southern parts of the Strip receiving power. Palestinians in Gaza have been struggling with severe water shortages, as there is no fuel to run generators for water pumping, and no cooking gas cylinders as an alternative.

US President Donald Trump wants a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme. He has reached out for talks while also tightening sanctions on Iran's economy. For now, Tehran says it will not negotiate under pressure. It was Trump who pulled the U-S out of the previous nuclear deal, saying it did not go far enough. Is there now scope for a diplomatic solution, that is acceptable to both sides? And what will it take to get them to the negotiating table?

Syrian security sources say over 230 security personnel were killed in clashes with Assad loyalists in northwest Syria. Bodies were found in mass graves in the coastal city of Latakia. Security forces have been deployed, and reinforcements arrived after a curfew. Syria’s defence ministry claims control of northwest areas, but fighting continues. The crisis poses the biggest challenge to the transitional government. Labib Nahhas, a Syrian political analyst and the director of the Syrian Association for Citizen's Dignity, says Iran and Hezbollah back the attacks to gain leverage. He warns of external actors exploiting tensions for intervention. Calls grow for transitional justice and an inclusive government to stabilise Syria.