Millions of people in the UK and around the world are preparing for a rare weekend indeed, with the king to be crowned.
On May 6, the coronation of King Charles III will be held at Westminster Abbey, marking his accession to the throne.
Huge crowds, parades and shows in the street are planned. From around the world, people are heading to London to get a live view of this historic moment. The king served the longest apprenticeship of anyone waiting in the wings to become British ruler.
At 74, he will embark on his reign hoping to connect with people and provide a unifying force for the public after the bitter divisions that have rocked British politics. In this week’s Beyond the Headlines, host Damien McElroy looks at the coronation of King Charles and what we should we expect from the event — and the king himself.
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New process leads to panic among jobseekers
As a UAE-based travel agent who processes tourist visas from the Philippines, Jennifer Pacia Gado is fielding a lot of calls from concerned travellers just now. And they are all asking the same question.
“My clients are mostly Filipinos, and they [all want to know] about good conduct certificates,” says the 34-year-old Filipina, who has lived in the UAE for five years.
Ms Gado contacted the Philippines Embassy to get more information on the certificate so she can share it with her clients. She says many are worried about the process and associated costs – which could be as high as Dh500 to obtain and attest a good conduct certificate from the Philippines for jobseekers already living in the UAE.
“They are worried about this because when they arrive here without the NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] clearance, it is a hassle because it takes time,” she says.
“They need to go first to the embassy to apply for the application of the NBI clearance. After that they have go to the police station [in the UAE] for the fingerprints. And then they will apply for the special power of attorney so that someone can finish the process in the Philippines. So it is a long process and more expensive if you are doing it from here.”
