THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA is back in Bangkok

In a world where oat milk has outlived common sense and lab-grown salmon is no longer the stuff of science fiction, it seems only fitting that the food world's most elaborate trade show is doubling down on reinvention.
There are trade shows, and then there's THAIFEX – ANUGA ASIA, bringing with it an unsettling number of buzzwords, ambitious chefs and alternative proteins. From May 27-31 at IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani, the region's most sprawling food and beverage gathering is set to occupy Bangkok's cavernous exhibition halls, with over 3,100 companies hawking everything from drinks, fine food, food technology, frozen food, fruits and vegetables, meat, rice, seafood and sweets and confectionery – and if you're wondering what that actually includes, you can check right here.
It's all orchestrated by Thailand's Department of International Trade Promotion, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and German events heavyweight Koelnmesse. Expect 90,000 industry visitors, 2,000 serious buyers, and a rotating cast of regional policymakers, trend forecasters and flavour evangelists.
This year's iteration casts its net wider, welcoming newcomers from Central Asia to Eastern Europe, with fresh national pavilions from Australia, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. The theme? 'Beyond Food Experience' – a catch-all phrase for the industry's growing obsession with functionality and virtue. Expect edible optimism in the form of gut-friendly sodas, brain-boosting snacks and plant-based proteins that swear they taste like the real thing. It's food reimagined not just to nourish, but to align with whatever lifestyle, identity or algorithm we're currently subscribing to.
Standouts include the Trend Zone, partnered with Innova Market Insights (a sort of crystal ball for supermarket shelves), THAIFEX – ANUGA Startup, which showcases next-gen kitchen disruptors, and the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge, judged by culinary powerhouses like Willment Leong and Aiden Jongsung Ahn. There's even an Alternative Protein Taste & Flavour Challenge where visitors get to crown the best faux-meat.

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Scottish Sun

9 hours ago

• Scottish Sun

Prince Harry ‘will invite King Charles & William to next Invictus Games' – but it clashes with key royal event

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCE Harry is set to invite King Charles and William to the next Invictus games, insiders claim. The Duke of Sussex, 40, could extend the olive branch to his estranged family at the 2027 event, although it clashes with a key royal bash. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 It is understood Prince Harry has extended Invictus Games invitations to King Charles and William Credit: AFP 6 It could mark the biggest steps towards reconciliation so far Credit: Getty 6 The trio at the first ever Invictus Games in 2014 Credit: Getty As reported by the Mail on Sunday, Harry has drawn up the invitations three years in advance to give the King as much time as possible to fit it into his busy schedule. A source claimed: "Harry has agreed that Invictus should extend an invitation to his family. "Invictus hopes the Royal Family will come along to support the wounded veterans taking part. Harry is hopeful his father will set aside their differences to attend the Invictus Games and support veterans. "The Royals have always been hugely supportive of Invictus and proud of what Harry has achieved in that arena. This is one olive branch from him which might be reciprocated." If the Monarch and his eldest son were to attend it could mark the biggest step towards reconciliation so far. It comes after the Duke revealed in his bombshell BBC interview last month that "life is precious" and "I would like to get my father and brother back". Royal expert Ingrid Seward said: "The King might attend to show support for the Armed Forces and congratulate Harry on the most significant success in his life. "The only reason the King is wary of associating with his son is that he no longer trusts him not to repeat their private conversations as he has done in the past. "This goes for all the working members of the family." It is understood the invitations to Charles and Wills have already been approved by Harry and sent. Prince Harry practices his German as he shares video message to mark country's first Veteran's Day But, despite three years notice, the Invictus invite is still set to clash with a major royal event. The ceremony will kick off at Birmingham's NEC on July 12, 2027, and will conclude on July 17. This falls on the same day as Queen Camilla's 80th birthday, an occasion sure to be celebrated by the royals. A spokesman for Invictus said: "No formal invitations have been issued as preparations are in the early stages." It is not known whether Harry's wife Meghan Markle would also be in attendance after the Duke lost his security bid last month. He begged "my life is stake" as he appealed against the withdrawal of his publicly-funded security while in the UK. This comes after Harry said a reconciliation with his family lay in Charles' hands. Speaking to the BBC, the Duke said there is no reason to keep fighting - but that the King won't speak to him over his security row. Harry said Charles "won't speak to me because of this security stuff", after loosing an appeal battle to keep his privately-funded security. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious", Harry continued. Harry also sensationally blamed the King for his woes and claimed "this whole thing could be resolved through him". The Duke moaned it was "impossible" to bring his family to the UK and that it is "sad" that he won't be able to show his children his homeland. Harry's row started after he stopped being a working royal in 2020, moved with wife Meghan to California, and wrote his bombshell book Spare. He added in the interview: "Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. "Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things. "But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family. "I've always, there's no point in continuing to fight anymore. "And I said, life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has he, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile." There was hope for reconciliation last year when Harry travelled to the UK to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his Invictus Games. However, the King and Harry failed to meet due to the Monarch's "full programme". And the Duke was offered to spend his time at one of the royal apartments - however he turned it down in what was branded a snub to his father. Meanwhile, Princes William and Harry have not been in direct communication since the release of Harry's controversial memoir, Spare, in January 2023. Their last reported interaction was during the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, but conversations were said to be brief. ​ The feuding brothers reportedly did not speak to each other despite standing 'virtually back to back' among mourners at their uncle's memorial service last year. The brothers have been at loggerheads since Harry and wife Meghan quit royal duty in 2020 for a new life in the US, where they have launched a succession of barbs at the Royal Family. Growing up, Wills and Harry shared many of the same friends who were part of their close, tight-knit circle. But their relationship took a sour turn after Harry lobbed vile allegations against the Prince of Wales in his memoir Spare. In the book, he claimed William had physically attacked him and knocked him to the floor in 2019 and made insulting comments about Meghan. The Sussexes had also targeted Princess Kate, when Meghan claimed the royal made her cry. The bitter feud was ignited with full force when the Sussexes told Oprah, in their 2021 sit down interview, that certain members of the Royal Family had speculated about Prince Archie's skin colour. It was later claimed the royals were Princess Kate and King Charles, after Harry and Meghan's former pal Omid Scobie published his hatchet-job book Endgame. During the infamous Oprah interview, the duchess also made stinging comments about the Firm and how they handled her mental health struggles. Prince William and Harry's bond then worsened after the Sussexes made a number of accusations against the Royal Family in their 2022 Netflix docuseries. The duke has given subsequent interviews, such as his most recent BBC chat, that have only propelled bad blood. A timeline of Prince Harry's family feud IN 2018, the Sun told how "simmering tension The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace. Once she'd returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat. He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly. The younger prince reportedly didn't take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he "went mental". Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate. The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours. Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced. The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign. The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure - but added both couples will continue to work together in the future. Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born. The move further increased rumours of a fallout. Harry also hinted in his ITV documentary "Harry and Meghan, An African Journey" that he and his brother had grown apart. In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially. Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But sources claimed William didn't want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift. In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a "peacemaker" between the brothers. Harry claimed his brother "knocked him to the floor" during an argument about Meghan, in his memoir. In Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan "rude" and "difficult" during a row. Harry alleged William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor". He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time. In January 2024, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch's shock cancer diagnosis. Harry flew back to the US the following day - without seeing Wills. 6 It is not known whether Meghan would be in attendance at the Invictus Games too Credit: instagram 6 The brothers used to share a close bond together, with their father

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Pop icon crying as crazed fan grabs her and tries to pull off stage

EXCLUSIVE: Suzi Quatro has just turned 75, but she's got the energy and enthusiasm of a twenty-something and tells us about the secret to her three-decade long marriage — and a terrifying encounter with an overzealous fan She's the original queen of rock and roll — a legend who many female stars credit for opening doors to women in music. Suzi Quatro has just turned 75, but she's got the energy and enthusiasm of a twenty-something — and she can still rock a tight leather jumpsuit while wielding her trusty bass guitar. Deliciously straight-talking, the star is as passionate about performing as when she first stepped onto the stage, aged just 14, playing the bongos with her sisters in the trio The Pleasure Seekers. ‌ Here, the Detroit native, who has been married to German concert promoter Rainer Haas since 1993, tells us about her 2026 UK tour, the secret to her three-decade long marriage — and a terrifying encounter with an overzealous fan. ‌ You turned 75 recently — you look amazing! Ha ha, thank you. I'm still convinced they got the date wrong on my birth certificate. I'm proud to be 75, but I'm young at heart. I had a party but I don't drink much any more. Eventually you get to a point where you say, I've been there, had the monster hangover, and the thrill's gone. Do you ever feel bored not drinking at parties? No, because I'm a people person. I find my way into the conversation. I'm a Gemini. Geminis are ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, which says it all. And there's no middle ground with me — I'm either crazy up and excited, or I'm down. I never have an even keel. We keep people on their toes. Don't ever second-guess a Gemini, because you won't win. You've been married to husband Rainer for 32 years. What's your secret? ‌ We live in separate countries! That is definitely a factor. I was 24/7 with my first husband, who was also my guitar player. Nice as that was, sometimes it wasn't. The main ingredient is trust and respect. We're soulmates, basically. I'm an optimist and he's a pessimist. We balance each other out. You and Rainer work together, too. How do you find that? Yes, he's my manager but I refuse to use the 'M' word in front of him! We enjoy missing each other, then getting together. Some people ask how we make that work, but it works for us. But the main ingredient to any successful relationship is not to expect the other person to 'complete' you. You have to be whole yourself. ‌ Tell us about your tour next year. What can fans expect? I'm celebrating 62 years in the business next year. It's a big tour across the UK — an entertaining two-hour rock and roll show with all the hits and a few surprises. I play the piano, drums and a seven-minute bass solo... I take you on a journey through my life. I talk a little, but I don't do Adele. She talks more than she sings, and she's very good at it. ‌ You must need to be in peak fitness for a big tour… I'm the rehearsal queen. I rehearse as if it was a live show, running around. If I'm not working, then I make sure I'm going to the gym. It means on stage, I still have that energy. Is life on the road a bit more sedate these days? ‌ I've partied, had the odd room wreck — but I was never a sex, drugs and rock and roll girl. I was brought up in a musical family. My dad told me aged 15, 'Suzi, you've found what you want to do in life. This is a profession. If there's 10 people or 10,000 in the audience, everyone's paid to see you, and you owe them.' That's always been embedded in me. You're also working on a new album… I am. Alice Cooper agreed to do a track on it. We recorded it in Detroit last year. I've known him since I was a teenager and he's so different from his stage persona that I can't watch him live. That's not the guy I know! We're close friends, he's a lovely guy. ‌ Is there anyone else you'd love to collaborate with? Rod Stewart. He's headed to Glastonbury this summer. They've asked me a couple of times, but the offer was silly. I'm better than that. It's not even about the money — after 61 years, I want the respect that I deserve, but I'd be happy to do it. What are your most memorable concerts? ‌ The first gig I did in Germany in 1973 — the first big show where thousands of people had paid to see me and were screaming, going nuts. My 50th birthday at a gig in Berlin was cool — when you hear Happy Birthday sung by 22,000 people, you hear it! That feeling never gets old. It's a legal high. ‌ What's a wild fan memory? In Germany recently I had taken my bass off towards the end of a show. Walking along the front, people were high-fiving me — but one girl grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go and tried to pull me off the stage. And she was strong. I was really scared — I was crying. What did you do? ‌ I backed up and sat down on the flight case I use, so nobody saw anything. I sang my final song and, as soon as I finished, a sound engineer came on, wrapped a towel around me and walked me offstage. But I was thinking, what kind of person thinks that's OK? I could have broken my neck. Has being a woman in a male-dominated industry changed over the years? I'll take to my grave that I was the first female rock musician to have worldwide success. There are many more female musicians today, but they tend to be too influenced by male opinion. Sometimes, women go out there in outfits close to soft porn. I wore a jumpsuit, but I showed no flesh. You don't have to strip off to be sexy. Work for it, buddy! ‌ Your seventh book, Grave Undertakings, came out in April. Can you tell us more about it? It did, and people are going crazy! It's caused so much discussion. I was a graveyard dweller as a kid through to adulthood. It's fascinating, reading tombstones. In my twenties I came up with the title and started collecting tombstone inscriptions, and did it for 35 years to assemble a book. Then I realised this would work as a novel. Can you fill us in on the book's plot? ‌ I've had a love of psychology my entire life. If you're mad at me, I want to know why. So I came up with a plot about six psychology students. It takes you through their lives, you get 20 lessons in psychology, and the pay-off is the tombstone inscriptions. That's all I can say. So, what would your own tombstone inscription say, Suzi? One side would say, 'Now I get it!' and the other, 'Too many dreams, too little time'. I've certainly thought about my life more over the last few years. I'm not going anywhere yet, though. Do you have any burning ambitions left? I would love my latest book to be made into a movie or a musical. Strictly would be fun — and I can dance! They've asked me before but the time was never right. I wouldn't do the jungle — it feels degrading. I'll watch it, though. I've realised so many dreams and I've still got so much to say. I'm happy as long as there's fire in my belly — and there's still plenty.

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

• Daily Mirror

Prince William's 'awful' gift to Kate that didn't go down to well

Prince William once recalled the very unusual present he bought for his now wife in the early days of their relationship, admitting that the bizarre gift 'didn't go down well' It's no doubt that buying gifts for a princess would be hard work, knowing she has a wardrobe and jewellery box filled with the works of the world 's best designers. The same can be said for Prince William, who has previously admitted that buying gifts for his wife hasn't always been an easy task. William has looked back on the 'awful' gift he gave to his now wife Princess Kate in the early days of their relationship, as he even admitted he didn't know why he bought it for his then girlfriend, who has 'never let him forget' the very odd choice in gift. ‌ ‌ The Prince of Wales revealed the bizarre present during an appearance on former England striker Peter Crouch's podcast on BBC Radio Five Live in 2020, during which Crouch admitted that he had once bought his wife, model Abbey Clancy, a raincoat for her birthday three years in a row. After his frank confession, William then admitted: "I did get my wife a pair of binoculars once for Christmas - she's never let me forget that. I wrapped them. They were really nice. I was trying to convince myself about it. I was like, 'But these are really amazing, look how far you can see!' She was looking at me, going, 'They're binoculars. What's going on?'' 'That was early on in the courtship that was - I think that sealed the deal. It didn't go well. Honestly, I have no idea why I bought her a pair of binoculars, it seemed like a good idea at the time." It's a well-known fact that the royal family tend not to spoil each other with lavish gifts to celebrate birthdays and Christmases, instead opting for light-hearted and silly presents. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry revealed he once received a fish ballpoint pen from Princess Margaret, while also admitting he once gifted his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth a bath mat that read 'Ain't life a b*tch'. ‌ Kate has also previously shared that she once gifted Harry a grow-your-own-girlfriend kit, after his many years in the spotlight as an eligible bachelor before he met Meghan. The royals follow unique Christmas traditions rooted in their German heritage. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, with family members placing their presents in specific piles in the afternoon before gathering at 6pm to begin the unwrapping. ‌ The Prince and Princess of Wales celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on April 29, and are believed to have first become a couple sometime in early 2002. The pair first met during the autumn of 2001 at the University of St Andrew's in Scotland. With Prince William celebrating his 43rd birthday today, let's hope that Princess Kate has something a bit more special than binoculars to surprise him with.