- Wednesday, 20 August 2025
Reuters
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.
Fire on Philippine passenger ferry kills 28 people
At least 28 people have died including a 6-month-old baby after a fire broke out on an inter-island passenger ferry in the southern Philippines, the coast guard said on Thursday.
Largest strike in decades brings Germany to a standstill
Airports and bus and train stations across Germany were at a standstill on Monday morning, causing disruption for millions at the start of the working week during one of the largest walkouts in decades as Europe's biggest economy reels from inflation. The 24-hour strikes called by the Verdi trade union and railway and transport union EVG were the latest in months of industrial action which has hit major European economies as higher food and energy prices dent living standards.
Thailand dissolves parliament for election
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn has endorsed a decree to dissolve parliament, according to an announcement in the Royal Gazette on Monday, paving the way for elections in May.
Magnitude 6.8 earthquake shakes Ecuador, at least 14 deaths reported
At least 14 people were killed in a strong earthquake that shook a coastal region of Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, causing structural damage to multiple homes, schools and medical centres.
