Top Asia Pacific Breaking News: Latest Updates

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – An unstable ice block dangerously hanging over the key trail on Mount Everest, high travel costs and increased permit fees haven’t deterred hundreds of climbers from attempting to scale the world’s highest mountain.

British voters cast ballots in local elections seen as a verdict on Keir Starmer

LONDON (AP) – British voters cast ballots Thursday in local and regional elections that could shake up the country’s politics and deliver a heavy blow to embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer’s center-left Labour Party is bracing for big losses in polls that will choose about 5,000 local councilors and a handful of mayors across England.

Editorials from The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Hamas says a son of its chief negotiator was killed in Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) – The son of Hamas’ lead negotiator died after being wounded by an Israeli strike on Gaza, the militant group said Thursday, as another Israeli strike killed three Hamas security forces, according to local officials.

UAE reports drone and missile attack as Iran war ceasefire is challenged

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defense announced that the country’s air defenses are “actively engaging” with a missile and drone attack early Friday as the Iran war’s shaky ceasefire was again challenged.

Today in History: May 7, RMS Lusitania torpedoed, sunk by German submarine

Today is Thursday, May 7, the 127th day of 2026. There are 238 days left in the year. Today in history: On May 7, 1915, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board.

France seek charges against Elon Musk and X over child sexual abuse images

French prosecutors are seeking charges against Elon Musk and his social platform X for child sexual abuse images on the platform, deepfakes, disinformation and complicity in denying crimes against humanity by the platform’s artificial intelligence system, Grok.

US launches a review of Mexican consulates that could lead to closures

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration is conducting a review of the 53 Mexican consulates in the United States, a move that could lead some of them to be closed, a State Department official said Thursday.

FIFA triples price to $32,970 for best available tickets to World Cup final

FIFA tripled the price of its best available tickets to the World Cup final, making $32,970 seats available Thursday for the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.