Hail

• Malvika Bansod is doorgegaan naar de volgende ronde van de Thailand Open ondanks een zware beproeving, waarmee ze veerkracht toonde in haar campagne tijdens het Super 500-toernooi. • Anmol Kharb strandde in de openingsronden en slaagde er niet in om zijn positie op de BWF World Rankings om te zetten in prestaties op het veld. • Hoewel Bansod en Kharb slechts twee plaatsen van elkaar gescheiden werden in de BWF-ranglijst, lieten zij contrastrerende resultaten zien, wat de onvoorspelbaarheid van badminton-toernooien benadrukt.

• PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen en het dubbelpaar Satwik-Chirag zijn op 14 mei doorgegaan naar de kwartfinales van het Thailand Open Super 500 badmintontoernooi, waarmee de sterke prestaties van India tijdens het evenement worden voortgezet. • De voortgang van de Indiase delegatie markeert een significante aanwezigheid in de latere rondes van deze Super 500-competitie, met meerdere kanshebbers op een medaille in de strijd. • De Thailand Open dient als een belangrijk toernooi op de BWF World Tour-kalender en biedt waardevolle rankingpunten in de aanloop naar grote internationale competities.

• Noord-Korea verpletterde Thailand met 6-0 in de kwartfinales op 11 mei in het Taihu Football Sports Center in Suzhou, China, waarmee ze een perfect record behouden van 4 wedstrijden, 27 gescoorde doelpunten en 0 tegengoals. • De regerend kampioen Noord-Korea neemt nu op 14 mei de wedstrijd op tegen China in de halve finales; de winnaar trekt door naar de finale op 17 mei in het Suzhou Sports Center Stadium. • Hun dominante reeks, door waarnemers als 'beangstigend' bestempeld, positioneert hen als favoriet voor een plek op het Wereldkampioenschap en bewijst de aanvallende kracht van hun jeugdteam.

• Niveaus van PFAS in eieren van noordse jan-van-masten in Canada zijn met maximaal 74% gedaald gedurende een onderzoeksperiode van 55 jaar • De concentraties van enkele van de gevaarlijkste PFAS-verbindingen zijn drastisch gedaald in Canadese zeevogel-eieren, wat volgens de auteurs van een nieuwe peer-reviewed studie illustreert hoe effectief regelgeving is. • Onderzoekers bekeken de PFAS-niveaus in de eieren van noordse jan-van-masten in het St Lawrence Seaway-bekken over een periode van 55 jaar. PFAS-niveaus schoten omhoog vanaf de jaren 60 tot aan de piek van het gebruik van de chemicaliën eind jaren 90 en begin jaren 2000, om daarna te dalen. Lees verder...

Party has success in Labour and Tory heartland areas but one pollster says results suggest Reform may have peakedNigel Farage hailed sweeping election wins for Reform UK as a “historic shift in British politics” on a day when the populist party made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives.Reform made advances in heartland areas of both parties, clocking up substantial early results in the English local elections by taking control of Essex county council, Havering, its first London local authority, and Sunderland city council. Continue reading...

Plaid Cymru set to take power in Wales and SNP to retain it in Scotland, but Reform made big gains in both nationsElection 2026 live: latest news updatesFull results from England, Scotland and WalesThe polls had been terrible, the predictions dire and even one of his predecessors as Labour leader, Ed Miliband, had reportedly told Keir Starmer he should set a timetable for his resignation if the results were as bad as they looked.But for the prime minister, as polling stations closed in Wales, Scotland and many parts of England, there would be no consideration of such a course. “To all the Labour members and volunteers who have supported local campaigns across the country: thank you,” he posted on X late on Thursday. “Together we will build a stronger and fairer Britain.” Continue reading...

• TikTok has received approval from Thailand’s Board of Investment for three data centres in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao provinces valued at $25 billion or 842 billion THB. • The facilities will serve as regional hubs to store and process data, supporting TikTok's expanding user base across Southeast Asia. • This massive investment underscores TikTok's commitment to infrastructure growth amid rising demand, alongside other approvals like DAMAC Group's $1.4 billion and Bridge Data Centres' $746 million projects.

Janine Roebuck, from London, says she no longer considers herself deaf after double cochlear implants restored hearingAn opera singer who hid her deafness for more than 30 years has described “life-changing” surgery that has the potential to become the norm for thousands of NHS patients.Janine Roebuck, 72, from London, had double cochlear implants fitted to restore her hearing, a method now being trialled nationwide to see whether it can transform the lives of thousands more people. Continue reading...

US president pauses ‘Project Freedom’ to work on ‘final agreement’ with Tehran; stocks also ride high on AI euphoriaGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.Asian stock markets hit record highs, following in Wall Street’s footsteps, and oil prices retreated after Donald Trump hailed “great progress” towards a “final agreement” with Tehran.on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran”.Investors bought and continue to add to positioning in the 2026 winners. There has been some buying in S&P 500 materials stocks, but it’s tech that continues to attract the bulk of flows, notably in Apple and the memory plays.9am BST: Eurozone services and composite PMIs for April9.30am BST: UK services and composite PMIs for April1.15pm BST: US ADP employment change for April Continue reading...

• Singapore and Thailand topped rankings as the world's 'least miserable' economies in the 2026 HAMI index by Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke, due to low inflation, steady employment, manageable borrowing costs, and income growth.• Southeast Asia identified as one of the 'healthiest economic neighbourhoods' globally, with households experiencing minimal economic strain amid positive indicators.• The index highlights regional resilience, contrasting with higher misery levels elsewhere, boosting consumer confidence and investment appeal.• Future editions may track if these trends persist amid global uncertainties.

Strongest tornado hits Mineral Wells, Texas, where disaster was declared. Elsewhere, extreme rain inundates ChinaSpring is the season for severe thunderstorms across the central US, and the start of this week was a particularly active period for the region. A favourable weather pattern fuelled intense thunderstorms on Monday through Wednesday, bringing strong winds, very large hail and strong tornadoes.Eight tornadoes were reported on Monday, including an EF2 tornado that ripped through the town of Sycamore, Kansas. On Tuesday, a more widespread event tore across the mid-west, most notably as a severe hailstorm moved through Springfield, Missouri. Continue reading...

Advertised prices for new rental listings rising at fastest pace since October 2024. Follow updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s housing market is at its slowest for almost 18 months as buyers stick to cheaper properties and abandon interest in the top end of the market.Figures today from the data firm Cotality show Melbourne and Sydney house prices fell 0.6% in April. Melbourne’s home values have now fallen 1.9% since November, with Sydney’s down 1%. Continue reading...

US president says Americans ‘have had no closer friends than the British’ amid recent tensions between both nationsDonald Trump has praised the “special relationship” between the US and the UK, as he hosted a ceremonial military welcome for Charles and Camilla at the White House.Against a backdrop of recent tensions between London and Washington, the US president, speaking on the second day of King Charles’s state visit, said: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.” Continue reading...

Severe storms put nearly 50 million at risk and follow a deadly weekend after tornado killed two people in TexasSevere storms are expected to sweep across the mid-Mississippi valley and midwest regions of the US on Monday, putting nearly 50 million people at risk.The storm prediction center has issued a level 4 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms across south-west Illinois and south-east Missouri, including major cities such as St Louis. Forecasters warned of “multiple strong to intense tornadoes, widespread severe/damaging wind gusts and scattered large to very large hail”, with some hail potentially reaching baseball size. Continue reading...

Men’s and women’s-only world records fall, along with fastest knightOrganisers hopeful record number will finish course by midnight deadlineThe London Marathon’s organisers have hailed the “greatest day” in the event’s 45-year history after huge crowds watched Sabastian Sawe become the first man to shatter the two-hour barrier in an official race, and a world record tally of more than 60,000 runners started the event.By 6.30pm on Sunday evening, organisers were also hopeful of breaking the record number of 59,226 finishers, set by the New York Marathon last year, although they said it could go right down to the deadline of 11:59pm. Continue reading...

Judge’s repeal of Trump ban on gender-affirming care for children ‘a meaningful win for patients’, experts sayA federal judge overturned the Trump administration’s ban on gender-affirming care for children on Saturday, decrying Robert F Kennedy Jr’s “wanton disregard” for the law that “causes very real harm to very real people”.It’s another loss for Kennedy’s agenda as secretary for the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the second Trump administration – an agenda that has focused on restricting healthcare, including vaccines, abortion and gender-affirming care. Continue reading...

Accumulations of up to 3cm deep reported as severe thunderstorms also bring heavy downpours to central Italy This week has seen severe thunderstorms affect the Mediterranean. On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean in conjunction with an upper air cut-off low, lead to thunderstorms over north Africa. Their intensity was aided by the hot precursor conditions.Algeria and Tunisia were notably affected by the thunderstorms, with some hail accumulation layers as a result. When so much hail forms, it starts to lay down sheets of hail, covering the ground like snow. Hail accumulations of up to 3cm were reported in Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, and there were hailstones of up to 3cm in diameter fell in Makthar, Tunisia. Thunderstorms continued in the region through the following day, with further hail accumulations, notably in Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, where there was a layer of about deep. Continue reading...

Citi analysts upgrade profit forecast by 20% to $2.6bn for January to March despite flat oil and gas productionBusiness live – latest updatesBP expects to post “exceptional” earnings from its oil trading desk, reaping a windfall from choppy energy markets triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran.Energy traders are navigating significant market volatility after Tehran’s effective closure of the key strait of Hormuz shipping route. Continue reading...

Golfer puts spotlight on Rosie and Gerry McIlroy’s sacrifices to support his dream in emotional victory speechIn a sport filled with pushy parents the McIlroys do things differently: Rory McIlroy had to push his parents to attend the scene of his greatest triumph.Rosie and Gerry McIlroy feared their presence might jinx their son’s defence of the Masters, so they planned to steer clear of Augusta National. Continue reading...

Zegler won the Olivier award for best actress in a musical for her role in Jamie Lloyd’s ‘genius’ productionOlivier awards 2026: full list of winners‘I want to thank my amazing husband, who doesn’t exist!’ – Olivier awards’ best quotesIt was the most talked about theatre scene of the year: Rachel Zegler performing Don’t Cry for Me Argentina from the balcony at the London Palladium to crowds gathered on the street below. At the Olivier awards on Sunday night, Zegler delivered the song from Evita again – this time on the stage of the Royal Albert Hall – and took home the award for best actress in a musical.Host Nick Mohammed said that Zegler had become “a new landmark for London sightseers” during Evita’s run last summer. “People who hadn’t bought a ticket could effectively watch it live for free whereas everyone inside had to pay to watch it on a giant screen,” he explained, jokingly calling it “a business model that I’m sure could really catch on”. Continue reading...

Anutin Charnvirakul warns country is vulnerable over reliance on oil imports as countries across Asia introduce conservation measuresThailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has called on the public to conserve energy, urging work-from-home measures and carpooling, as he warned of the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.In a statement posted on social media, Anutin said Thailand was exposed to the crisis because of its reliance on imported oil and gas, and the country could not be complacent. Continue reading...

Astronaut calls fellow Canadian Ryan Gosling’s movie ‘extraordinary’ ahead of Artemis II crew’s lunar fly-aroundThe new space movie Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling has gotten a rave review from more than halfway to the moon.Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said on Saturday that he and his Artemis II crewmates got to watch the film with their families before launching on the lunar fly-around. He said it was “a real treat” to view the movie while getting ready for his own space adventure. Continue reading...

‘Bear slayer’ Honey injured during confrontation to protect family and animals from ursine home invader A half-blind, 12-year-old New Mexico dog is being called “bear slayer” after she fended off an ursine intruder at her family’s home, protecting dozens of chickens and other animals but only narrowly surviving the violent encounter.As told by her caretakers, the story of Honey demonstrates the extreme loyalty of dogs to their owners. Continue reading...

• The sci-fi adventure "Project Hail Mary," starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, earned $54.5 million in its second weekend, holding strongly with only a 32% dip from its opening. • The film has grossed $300.8 million worldwide in two weeks and marks the biggest hit of 2026 thus far, achieving the best non-franchise opening weekend since "Oppenheimer" in 2023. • Horror films are reaching saturation in the market, with "They Will Kill You" debuting as a disappointing new release with only $5 million for Warner Bros.

• Project Hail Mary debuted with $80.6 million at the US box office this weekend, marking the biggest opening of 2026 so far. • Starring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, the film achieved the largest opening ever for distributor Amazon MGM Studios. • The sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir's novel highlights strong audience interest in major studio releases amid competitive weekend performance.

• The sci-fi epic 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling earned $80.5 million in its opening weekend, representing approximately 5 million ticket buyers across North America and marking Amazon MGM Studios' largest opening ever. • The film's performance puts it in 'rarefied air' alongside 'Oppenheimer,' achieving success for a non-franchise film that the industry hasn't seen since that blockbuster, with strong overindexing in markets like Salt Lake City, Denver, and Portland. • 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' opened in fourth place with $9.1 million, while Disney's 'Hoppers' earned $18 million and the Bollywood sequel 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' made $9.6 million in their respective positions.

• Amazon MGM's 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling, debuted at number one with $80.5 million in North American ticket sales, marking the best opening for a non-franchise film since 'Oppenheimer.' • The sci-fi epic, centered on Gosling's amnesiac astronaut racing to save the sun, drew about 5 million ticket buyers, with premium large format screens accounting for 56% of the gross and IMAX at 24%. • Amazon MGM Studios head Kevin Wilson stated, 'What we’re seeing in theaters — the energy, the exit scores, the word-of-mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.'