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QUEEN Elizabeth 2nd bids a final farewell to her late husband, Prince Philip, on Saturday, at a funeral restricted by coronavirus rules but reflecting his long life of military and public service. The ceremony from behind the stately walls of Windsor Castle, west of London, will be watched by an expected television audience of millions, with the public urged to stay away because of the global pandemic. The Duke of Edinburgh — described by royals as “the grandfather of the nation” — died on April 9, aged 99, just weeks after spending more than a month in hospital for treatment of a heart condition and an infection. Britain’s longest-serving royal consort was an almost constant presence at the Queen’s side during her record-breaking reign that began in 1952, as Britain rebuilt from World War 2 and as its global empire began to unravel. His death, after 73 years of marriage, has left a “huge void” in her life, the couple’s second son, Prince Andrew, said last weekend. At the ... » Learn More about Queen Elizabeth 2nd to lead burial rites for Prince Philip

ZAMBOANGA CITY: A wooden boat loaded with 200 barrels of gasoline exploded late Friday at a wharf in the southern Philippine port of Zamboanga. At least one person was wounded in the blast, but other reports said as many as 12 people were in the area when the explosion occurred around 10.20 p.m. near a seaside depot in Baliwasan village. One person said the boat was loaded with fuel and scheduled to sail for Sulu province when the blast occurred just as the engine was started. It was unclear whether the engine or the boat’s generator sparked a fire that led to the explosion. Firemen rushed to the area to extinguish the blaze as a thick, huge black smoke could be seen billowing from the burning boat. At least 2 ambulances were also seen rushing to the wharf. Village officials were not immediately available to give their statement. The powerful blast could be heard as far as the village of Tetuan, about 4 kilometers away from the wharf. “We thought it was a bomb blast. The ... » Learn More about Boat carrying fuel explodes in Zamboanga

LUND, Sweden: One of the most striking things about the COVID-19 pandemic is just how dramatically different the responses have been from country to country. In early 2020, when little was known about the virus, this difference was unsurprising. Today, with tens of thousands of research articles and cases of best practice to learn from, one would expect to see more convergence. And yet some countries continue to resist popular strategies, such as lockdowns, and insist on going their own way – with varying degrees of success. Two such countries are Sweden and Japan, which in 2020 have forged a different path to their neighbours on coronavirus and attributed their early successes to the assumed advantages of an inherent national character. But today, both seem to be paying the price. LANDS WITH NO LOCKDOWN One factor that features in both the Japanese and Swedish responses is that of national exceptionalism. By exceptionalism I mean the understanding among a population ... » Learn More about Commentary: Sweden and Japan are paying the price for thinking they had COVID-19 exceptionalism

Charges of attempted sexual assault and indecent exposure against Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor have been dropped because of a lack of evidence, a court in the Corsican city of Bastia announced Thursday. "We had no material evidence to corroborate the complainant's statements, including after the scientific expert input that had been ordered," Bastia prosecutor Arnaud Viornery told AFP. McGregor's lawayer, Emmanuelle Ramond, said: "We welcome this decision because it is in line with what we expected." The accusations against McGregor, known as 'Notorious', came when the Irish fighter was on the French island of Corsica last September preparing for a charity 180km water-bike relay race from Calvi to Monaco. The prosecutor's office in Bastia received a complaint "denouncing acts that could be described as attempted sexual assault and sexual exhibition". McGregor at the time "vigorously denied any accusation of bad behaviour". McGregor is no stranger to ... » Learn More about Sexual assault charges against McGregor in Corsica dropped

MILAN: The great-grandchildren of Guccio Gucci, who founded the luxury fashion house that bears his name a century ago in Florence, are appealing to filmmaker Ridley Scott to respect their family’s legacy in a new film that focuses on a sensational murder. “The House of Gucci,” starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver, is based on a book about the 1995 murder-for-hire of one of Gucci’s grandchildren, Maurizio, and the subsequent trial and conviction of his ex-wife. Patrizia Reggiani, portrayed by Lady Gaga, served 16 years in prison for contracting the murder. One of Maurizio’s second cousins, Patrizia Gucci, is worried that the film goes beyond the headline-grabbing true-crime story and pries into the private lives of the Guccio Gucci heirs. “We are truly disappointed. I speak on behalf of the family,” Gucci told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “They are stealing the identity of a family to make a profit, to increase the income of the Hollywood system . . . . Our family has an ... » Learn More about Lady Gaga’s movie worries Gucci heirs