*) US Congress approves China forced labour bill

US senators have approved a bill barring imports from China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region.

The bill is effective unless Chinese businesses can prove goods were produced without forced labour.

The measure is the latest in a series of intensifying US penalties over China's alleged abuse of ethnic and religious minorities, especially the Muslim Uighurs.

*) Dozens feared dead in blaze at clinic in Japan

At least 27 people are feared dead after a fire broke out at a psychiatric clinic in Japan's Osaka city.

TV footage showed dozens of firefighters working inside and outside the narrow office building after the blaze was extinguished.

Local media reported that police were investigating suspected arson.

*) Typhoon Rai forces tens of thousands to seek shelter in Philippines

Super Typhoon Rai has made landfall in the Philippines, bringing torrential rain and extremely high winds.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, with warnings of life-threatening flooding in coastal areas.

Across the entire planet, there are usually only about five such powerful storms a year. This is the second to hit the Philippines in four months.

*) 'Mercenary' spy firms busted in Facebook probe

Facebook owner Meta has named half a dozen private surveillance companies, mostly Israeli, for hacking or other abuses.

Meta's report accused them of collectively targeting some 48,000 people in more than 100 countries across its platforms.

The report said it was suspending roughly 1,500 mostly fake accounts run by seven organisations across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

And finally …

*) Bruce Springsteen sells song catalogue for $500 million

Bruce Springsteen has sold his music rights to Sony in an estimated $500 million deal.

The sale includes the singer's recorded music catalogue as well as his body of work as a songwriter, including classic hits such as "Born in the USA".

It is the latest in a string of deals that have seen older musicians including Paul Simon, Stevie Nicks and Neil Young reap the benefits of their catalogues towards the end of their careers.