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Travellers enjoy the sunshine at Appleby Horse Fair as police seize 99 dangerous ‘pyramid rings’ destined for Europe’s biggest gathering of gypsies
Read more: Travellers enjoy the sunshine at Appleby Horse Fair as police seize 99 dangerous ‘pyramid rings’ destined for Europe’s biggest gathering of gypsiesOfficers stopped the vehicle near the Cumbrian market town around 1am on Friday as it travelled towards the fair’s trade fields.
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Iran-US war latest: American forces down Iranian drones as tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz
Read more: Iran-US war latest: American forces down Iranian drones as tensions rise in Strait of HormuzThe US military said the drones ‘posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic’
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Minnesota GOP held moment of silence for Derek Chauvin days after anniversary of George Floyd murder: report
Read more: Minnesota GOP held moment of silence for Derek Chauvin days after anniversary of George Floyd murder: reportThe decision to hold a moment of silence for Chauvin was branded ‘disgusting’ by a state lawmaker
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NHS patient record change will slash A&E visits by 20,000, government says
Read more: NHS patient record change will slash A&E visits by 20,000, government saysWhile DHSC said the reforms would give patients more control over their care, the BMA raised fears that the new law will open up the possibility that patient data is used inappropriately
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Man who quit delivery job after £5.2 million lottery win returns to former workplace
Read more: Man who quit delivery job after £5.2 million lottery win returns to former workplaceGary MacDonald delivered parcels to stores across Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex for more than 30 years
Asia
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Taiwan’s parliament approves US$25 billion defence spending bill
Read more: Taiwan’s parliament approves US$25 billion defence spending billThe result was announced by the parliamentary speaker after a final vote on the bill, which falls well short of the government’s proposed budget of nearly US$40 billion.
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‘No room for illegal activities’: Malaysia stresses security, efficiency for JB-Singapore RTS Link
Read more: ‘No room for illegal activities’: Malaysia stresses security, efficiency for JB-Singapore RTS LinkSpeaking to reporters on Friday (May 8), Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also pledged that Malaysia will adopt a more “proactive approach” to ensure immigration glitches do not recur ahead of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) launch.
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Australia, Japan ink multibillion dollar warship deal
Read more: Australia, Japan ink multibillion dollar warship dealJapan agreed on Saturday (Apr 18) on a deal to provide Australia’s navy with the first of almost a dozen stealth frigates.
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‘Cruelly hot’: Japan devises new term for heatwave days
Read more: ‘Cruelly hot’: Japan devises new term for heatwave daysDays with temperatures of 40°C and above will now be branded “kokusho-bi”.
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From soju to craft brews, South Korean alcohol’s growing popularity in Singapore
Read more: From soju to craft brews, South Korean alcohol’s growing popularity in SingaporeSouth Korean alcohol exports to Singapore reached US$6.1 million in 2024, making it the eighth-largest global market for South Korean spirits by value.
Thailand
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Thaksin granted royal-birthday pardon
Read more: Thaksin granted royal-birthday pardonFormer prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been named among those granted a royal pardon in celebration of Her Majesty the Queen’s 4th cycle birthday anniversary, Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat said on Wednesday.
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Chinese student rescued from ‘virtual kidnapping’
Read more: Chinese student rescued from ‘virtual kidnapping’Thai police have rescued a 21-year-old Chinese student from a “virtual kidnapping” orchestrated by a transnational criminal network that attempted to extort 12.5 million baht from her family.
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Tourism authorities plan shake-up of short-haul markets
Read more: Tourism authorities plan shake-up of short-haul marketsAmid intense competition among Asian countries to attract the Chinese market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out its “NEXT” marketing strategies for fiscal 2027 to reduce dependence on certain short-haul markets.
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5 of 7 people trapped in Laos cave found alive
Read more: 5 of 7 people trapped in Laos cave found aliveFive of the seven people trapped in a flooded cave for a week in Laos were found alive on Wednesday afternoon, Lao and Thai rescuers said.
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Samsung union approves deal for massive bonuses
Read more: Samsung union approves deal for massive bonusesSEOUL – Samsung Electronics union members on Wednesday approved a deal with management securing massive annual bonuses after threatening a major strike, as the global artificial intelligence boom causes the South Korean chip giant’s profits to soar.
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Taiwan’s parliament approves US$25 billion defence spending bill
Read more: Taiwan’s parliament approves US$25 billion defence spending billThe result was announced by the parliamentary speaker after a final vote on the bill, which falls well short of the government’s proposed budget of nearly US$40 billion.
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‘No room for illegal activities’: Malaysia stresses security, efficiency for JB-Singapore RTS Link
Read more: ‘No room for illegal activities’: Malaysia stresses security, efficiency for JB-Singapore RTS LinkSpeaking to reporters on Friday (May 8), Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also pledged that Malaysia will adopt a more “proactive approach” to ensure immigration glitches do not recur ahead of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) launch.
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Electronics drive export upgrade
Read more: Electronics drive export upgradeEconomists recently upgraded Thailand’s export growth outlook for 2026, projecting shipments of electronic components will continue to expand amid improving global trade, while elevated oil prices will drive imports to grow at a faster rate.
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Monthly borrowing for stimulus
Read more: Monthly borrowing for stimulusThe Finance Ministry is preparing to gradually borrow funds for the “Thais Help Thais Plus” programme, says finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.
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Former FI driver says Bangkok injury ‘an accident, not assault’
Read more: Former FI driver says Bangkok injury ‘an accident, not assault’The saga of former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo’s leg injury has taken a dramatic turn after the Finnish racing coach told Bangkok police the incident was an accident and not an assault.