- Friday, 24 October 2025
Reuters
Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan arrested, aides call for nationwide protest
Pakistan's anti-graft watchdog arrested former Prime Minister Imran Khan at Islamabad High Court on Tuesday, in a dramatic move that threatens fresh turmoil in the nuclear-armed country. Footage of the arrest showed scores of security personnel in riot-control gear whisking Khan away in a van as Khan's party called for protests across the country.
Boat overturns in India's Kerala state, at least 21 die
At least 21 people drowned after a boat capsized off the coastal town of Tanur in the Malappuram district of India's southern state of Kerala, local authorities said on Monday.
King Charles III crowned at London's Westminster Abbey
By Michael Holden, Andrew Macaskill and Paul Sandle, LONDON, May 6: King Charles III was crowned on Saturday in Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1,000 years.In front of a congregation of about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown on Charles' head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey.The historic and solemn event dates back to the time of the 74-year-old's predecessor William the Conqueror in 1066.Charles' second wife Camilla, 75, will be crowned queen during the two-hour ceremony, which while rooted in history, is also an attempt to present a forward-looking monarchy, with those involved in the service reflecting a more diverse Britain and leaders from all faiths.For a nation struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its standing in a new world order, its supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of staying on the world stage."No other country could put on such a dazzling display - the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.Despite Sunak's enthusiasm, the coronation takes place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy.Saturday's event was on a smaller scale than that staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953 but still sought to be spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world's largest colourless cut diamond.Charles automatically succeeded his mother as king on her death last September, and the coronation is not essential but regarded as a means to legitimise the monarch in a public way.The king and queen left Buckingham Palace for the abbey in the modern, black Diamond State Jubilee Coach accompanied by cavalrymen wearing shining breastplates and plumed helmets.Hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall, the grand boulevard to Buckingham Palace. Tens of thousands ignored the light rain to mass in a crowd more than 20 deep in some places to watch what some saw as a moment of history."The split-second glance of seeing the king is really important but I think the whole day as well ... the idea of the nation coming together. You very much feel the pride in the nation," said Mark Strasshine after the royal coach went by.However, not all were there to cheer Charles, hundreds of republicans booed and waved banners reading "Not My King".More than 11,000 police were deployed to stamp out any attempted disruption, and the Republic campaign group said its leader Graham Smith had been arrested along with five other protesters."It is an unequal and out-of-date system because it has a hereditary billionaire individual born into wealth and privilege who basically symbolises the inequality of wealth and power in our society," said lawmaker Clive Lewis, who was among the anti-monarchy protesters.GREAT AND GOODInside the abbey, bedecked with flowers and flags, politicians and representatives from Commonwealth nations took their seats alongside charity workers and celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and U.S. singer Katy Perry.Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles' forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel's coronation anthem "Zadok The Priest" was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727.But there was also the new, including an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, and a gospel choir.Charles' grandson Prince George and the grandchildren of Camilla acted as pages, and although a Christian service, at the end there will be an "unprecedented" greeting from faith leaders.However, there was no formal role for either Charles' younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.They sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family.Charles looked serious as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England - of which he is the titular head - before the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem.After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward's Crown on his head and the congregation cried out "God save the King".After the service, Charles and Camilla will depart in the four-tonne Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain's American colonies, riding to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations.It will be the largest show of its kind in Britain since the coronation of Charles' mother."When you see everyone dressed up and taking part it is just fantastic. It makes you so proud," said teacher Andy Mitchell, 63, who left his house in the early hours to get into London."My big concern is that younger people are losing interest in all of this and it won't be the same in the future."
Jailed, deported and blacklisted: Qatar's outspoken World Cup guards
Qatar's international media office confirmed that approximately 200 employees of Stark Security, which hired Maganga, were involved in a protest in January. It also said Qatar does not "arrest or deport workers for seeking to resolve their employment disputes".
WHO experts weigh up whether world ready to end COVID emergency
A panel of global health experts will meet on Thursday to decide if COVID-19 is still an emergency under the World Health Organization's rules, a status that helps maintain international focus on the pandemic.
Malaysia to end 5G monopoly, allow second network from next year
Malaysia said on Wednesday it will adopt a dual network model for its 5G rollout next year following widespread concerns about pricing and competition over a single state-run network.
At least 55 killed in heavy rains in Rwanda: Official
Around 55 people have been killed in western Rwanda after heavy rains triggered flooding, with others wounded and trapped in their houses, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
King Charles settles into life as monarch, after long wait
By Michael Holden and Sarah Mills, LONDON, May 1: After waiting longer than any British heir to become monarch, King Charles has quietly settled into his new role with little of the drama some commentators had expected, but with family divisions and some fundamental issues still looming.The 74-year-old Charles, who will be formally crowned on Saturday, was the oldest sovereign to take the throne in a lineage that dates back 1,000 years when he succeeded his hugely popular mother Queen Elizabeth after her death last September. She had reigned for 70 years.Since then, while the new king has given glimpses of future changes to the institution, the man who was known for his forthright defence of the environment while Prince of Wales has not continued to voice the strong views that some critics believed would damage the institution."I think we are all quite surprised at how well King Charles has begun," royal author Tina Brown told Reuters.In recent years Charles had said he well understood that when he became head of state he could no longer engage in some of the campaigning he had done as heir, and as promised, there have been no fireworks.Charles does not enjoy the same support as his widely admired mother, but his public approval ratings are generally positive. An opinion poll last week showed many more people holding favourable views of him than negative, although there also appeared to be a wide segment of indifference - people who didn't hold a view either way."I think he has struck the right notes," Harshan Kumarasingham, senior lecturer in British politics at the University of Edinburgh, told Reuters."He hasn't completely jettisoned all the things of his mother's reign but he has tried to put his own stamp on the monarchy and on Britain."However, some dark clouds remain for Charles.Republican sentiment - almost entirely publicly absent during Elizabeth's reign - has become visible, with eggs thrown at the king and his wife Camilla on one trip, and small groups of protesters voicing opposition at others.Buckingham Palace has backed research into the monarchy's links to slavery amid growing calls, not least from some of the 14 realms where Charles is also king, for apologies and reparations.The Guardian newspaper has run a series of articles raising questions about the opaque nature of the wealth and finances of the institution and the family, an issue that resonates at a time when Britons are facing a cost of living crisis.Charles told the British government in January he would like an expected surge in profit from a 900 million pound ($1.1 billion)-a-year wind farm deal for the Crown Estate to go to the "wider public good" rather than to the royal family.PROBLEMS FROM WITHINAs often is the case for the House of Windsor, its greatest problems come from within. The issue of how to treat his younger brother Prince Andrew is still unresolved after Andrew settled a U.S. lawsuit in which a woman accused him of sexual assault.Andrew has not been charged with any criminal offence and has always denied any wrongdoing.Last month his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York with whom he remains close, said in a TV interview Andrew was a good man who should be allowed to rebuild his life.For Charles, the most prominent issue remains the ongoing conflict with his younger son Prince Harry.From his memoir "Spare" to a Netflix documentary and TV interviews, Harry has lambasted Buckingham Palace and his family for failing to protect him and his wife Meghan from tabloid press intrusion and has even accused some of them - notably his stepmother Camilla - of being in cahoots with the papers.Harry's presence at the coronation and Meghan's decision to stay at home in California with their two children have dominated much of the news coverage ahead of the May 6 event, along with his ongoing court battles with newspaper publishers."I think that the Prince Harry revelations are very personally shattering for the new king because it's his son, someone he was actually very devoted to and I think still is. And so he feels very wounded," Tina Brown said.However, other royal commentators believe the furore around Harry will blow over as the royals simply get on with their jobs attending official engagements and supporting charities."Whenever a Harry outburst takes place, at the time everyone is open-jawed and goes 'oh my gosh this is extraordinary how can the monarchy get over this' but a few days later it just passes by," said Robert Hardman, a long-time royal correspondent and author of "Queen of our Times".He said the royal family's tactic of 'don't apologise, don't explain' - exemplified by Buckingham Palace's silence over Harry's claims - was "holding good"."This constant hurling of accusations and complaints, it's starting to wear a bit thin," Hardman said. "I think the public is thinking we've kind of heard all that, but normal life continues."
Biden, 80, makes 2024 presidential run official: "Let's finish this job"
President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he will seek a second White House term in 2024, a decision that will test whether Americans are ready to give the 80-year-old Democrat, already the oldest U.S. president ever, another four years in office.
Indonesians told to stay alert after magnitude 7.3 earthquake
Indonesian authorities urged caution on Tuesday as residents returned gradually to their homes in western Sumatra after being rattled by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake and several aftershocks.
Over 18,000 cows die in Texas dairy farm blaze
More than 18,000 cows died after an explosion and fire at a family dairy farm in west Texas, marking the deadliest such barn blaze on record in the United States.
At least 30 killed as Myanmar military attacks rebel group event: Media
Media outlets on Tuesday reported at least 30 people had been killed in a central area of the country after the army launched an attack on an event being held by opponents of military rule. Citing residents in the Sagaing area, BBC Burmese, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Irrawaddy news portal reported up to 50 people, including civilians, had died in the attack.
Israel-Palestinian tensions high after deadly attacks
The tensions threatened to spiral into a wider conflict overnight as Israel responded to a barrage of rockets by hitting targets linked to the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza and southern Lebanon, but the fighting entered a lull on Friday. However, the two attacks underlined how volatile the situation remains after successive nights of trouble that have drawn worldwide alarm and calls for calm.
Malaysia scraps mandatory death penalty, natural-life prison terms
Malaysia's parliament on Monday passed sweeping legal reforms to remove the mandatory death penalty, trim the number of offences punishable by death, and abolish natural-life prison sentences, a move cautiously welcomed by rights groups.
Trump criminally charged in New York, a first for a US ex-president
Donald Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a probe into hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels, becoming the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges even as he makes another run for the White House.
