Author: News Desk

Taiwan’s economy is experiencing rapid growth, with GDP rising 8.63% in 2025 and 13.69% in early 2026, driven largely by semiconductor exports. However, concerns are growing about wealth inequality, as many outside the tech sector feel overlooked amid the AI boom’s benefits.

Knifepoint robberies have decreased by 20% in hotspot areas across the UK, including London, compared to June 2024, according to Home Office data. This decline coincides with National Knife Crime Awareness week and the bi-annual Operation Sceptre, which has led to 243 arrests and the seizure of 159 knives this year.

A group of 19 women and children with alleged ISIL ties has returned to Australia from a Syrian refugee camp, arriving in Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian Federal Police reported no arrests, but investigations are ongoing. The government has stated that anyone involved in criminal activity will face prosecution.

Armenia has formalised a strategic partnership with the United States, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan prepares for parliamentary elections amid rising pro-Russia sentiment. The agreement, signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, includes a framework for critical minerals and a transit corridor.

Janice Nix, 67, has been convicted of manslaughter for scalding her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, in a hot bath at their Thornton Heath home in 1978. The case, reopened after testimony from Andrea’s brother in 2022, revealed a history of abuse and trauma. Nix will be sentenced later.

Israeli airstrikes on the village of Mashghara in the Bekaa Valley have resulted in at least 12 fatalities and additional injuries, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The attacks, described by the Israeli military as targeting over 100 Hezbollah sites, coincide with escalating tensions and a fragile ceasefire.

South Western Railway has cancelled several services due to smoke reported on tracks between London Waterloo and Vauxhall, with safety inspections prompting delays on other lines. Commuters face disruptions as temperatures rise to 34°C, marking an unprecedented heat for May.

Starbucks Korea has experienced a “very significant” decline in sales following backlash over its marketing campaign referencing the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. Shinsegae Group chairman Chung Yong-jin publicly apologised, emphasising accountability for the incident, as public calls for boycotts escalate in response to the controversy.

The World Health Organization has confirmed a 12th hantavirus case involving a Dutch crew member from the MV Hondius, now in isolation. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised countries to monitor passengers from the ship cautiously, as over 600 contacts are being followed across 30 nations.

West Ham United’s 14-year Premier League tenure ended following their 3-0 victory against Leeds, as Tottenham secured survival with a 1-0 win over Everton. The final day also marked the departures of Mohamed Salah from Liverpool and Pep Guardiola from Manchester City after record-setting tenures.