China denounces Taiwan foreign minister's Geneva visit amid WHO assembly

BEIJING/TAIPEI, May 18 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it opposed countries providing platforms for "Taiwan independence separatist" activities, after Taiwan's foreign minister arrived in Switzerland for events on ‌the sidelines of a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting.

China said last week it would once again ‌not allow Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, to take part in the WHO's annual World Health ​Assembly (WHA), which takes place this week.

But as in previous years, Taiwan has sent a delegation to hold its own meetings and this year Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has also gone, joining Health Minister Shih Chung-liang.

"The Taiwan authorities' practice of sending people around the world to wedge into conferences to grab attention ‌is nothing more than the behaviour ⁠of petty clowns," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

"It will only bring humiliation on themselves and is doomed to fail," Guo ⁠said.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says China has no right to represent or speak for the island internationally.

Lin announced his arrival in Geneva on Facebook on Sunday, and on Monday President Lai Ching-te ​sent ​a video message to a forum Taiwan is holding ​in Geneva.

"By joining the WHO, Taiwan could ‌better ensure the right to health for all our people, and do even more to support the rest of the world," Lai said.

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PARTICIPATION BLOCKED SINCE 2017

In his current capacity Lin is not known to have previously visited non-EU member Switzerland, which like most countries maintains formal diplomatic ties with Beijing rather than Taipei and has a free trade agreement with China.

However, since becoming foreign minister ‌in 2024, Lin has made several trips to other ​European countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, the ​Netherlands and Italy, drawing anger in Beijing.

Taiwan ​attended the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016 under the administration ‌of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark ​trade and tourism pacts ​with China.

But Beijing began blocking Taiwan's participation in 2017, after then-President Tsai Ing-wen won office, for her refusal to agree to its position that both China and Taiwan were part ​of "one China".

Lai has continued Tsai's ‌policy.

"International organisations, including the WHO, must handle Taiwan-related issues in accordance with the one-China ​principle," Guo said.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing ​by Christian Schmollinger, Kate Mayberry and Thomas Derpinghaus)

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May 18, 2026

China denounces Taiwan foreign minister's Geneva visit amid WHO assembly

BEIJING/TAIPEI, May 18 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it opposed countries providing platforms for "Taiwan independence separati...

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Rui Hachimura credits Phil Handy for helping him improve his shooting

When theLos Angeles Lakerstraded for Rui Hachimura in January 2023, he was a young player still looking to establish an identity. The Lakers saw him as a player they could mold into someone who would help them establish an identity and become a winning team.

He played well for the rest of the season and stepped up during the playoffs to help them reach the Western Conference finals. At the time, the scouting report on him was that he was a one-on-one player who was very consistent from the mid-range area. But as time went on, he added a new weapon: the 3-point shot.

In each of the next three seasons, he made over 41% of his 3-point shots. In this year's postseason, he made a stunning 56.9% of his 3-point tries, which gave him the NBA's record for the highest career playoff 3-point accuracy — at least for now — at 51.6%.

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After the Lakers were swept in the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hachimurawas askedhow he felt he had changed the most since coming to Los Angeles, and he gave former Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy credit for helping him expand his game beyond the arc.

“Shout out to coach Phil [Handy],” Hachimura said. “Phil Handy, he was the one that talked me through a lot of stuff, what I can do to stay in this league. Not only this team, but stay in this league. I can make an impact on this team, especially.

“The first thing that he talked about is (3-pointers). I think that was the biggest thing for me because, honestly, I don’t like shooting threes. That’s not my thing for me. For me, I don’t really like it. But with the team situation, how (head coach) JJ [Redick] coaches, he wants me to shoot a lot of threes. It was a different game for me, but I had to do it. That was the biggest thing that I think changed.”

Handy, who was on the Lakers' coaching staff from 2019 to 2024, is regarded as arguably the best player development coach in the NBA. Not only did he help Hachimura become the player he is today, but so did LeBron James, whoworked with and mentoredHachimura during the 2023 offseason.

The forward is about to become a free agent this summer after making $18.26 million this season. He recently said that heloves the Lakers, but keeping him may not be easy, as James, Austin Reaves and multiple other Lakers players can or will be free agents as well. Making the math work, not to mention also bringing in at least one outside free agent who can make a difference, will likely be complicated.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire:Rui Hachimura credits Phil Handy for helping him improve his shooting

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May 18, 2026

Rui Hachimura credits Phil Handy for helping him improve his shooting

When theLos Angeles Lakerstraded for Rui Hachimura in January 2023, he was a young player still looking to establish an identity. The L...

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European shares fall as inflation worries grip markets

May 18 (Reuters) - European shares sank on Monday, with oil prices rising and bonds extending ‌their sell-off, as inflation worries continued with ‌no signs of a deal between the U.S. and Iran.

German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt

The pan-European ​STOXX 600 fell 0.7% to 602.52 points, as of 0703 GMT, after ending the previous week lower. Germany's DAX and France's CAC 40 were off 0.5% ‌and 1%, respectively.

A drone ⁠strike caused a fire at a nuclear power plant in the UAE, while ⁠Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three drones, with U.S. President Donald Trump warning that Iran must act "fast".

The U.S.-Israel ​war on ​Iran is in its ​third month, with Tehran ‌and Washington unable to come to a resolution as the vital Strait of Hormuz remains shuttered. Rising energy prices have fanned inflation fears and led to expectations of rate hikes from global central banks.

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European ‌equities, with the region's dependence ​on oil imports, have been ​unable to catch up ​to pre-war levels while global indexes ‌have rebounded on AI-led optimism.

In ​early trading, ​AstraZeneca dipped 0.8%. The drugmaker's hypertension pill was approved in the U.S.

Sonova gained 4.1% after the ​world's biggest hearing ‌aid maker forecast higher sales and earnings ​for the 2026/27 financial year.

(Reporting by Twesha Dikshit; ​Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

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May 18, 2026

European shares fall as inflation worries grip markets

May 18 (Reuters) - European shares sank on Monday, with oil prices rising and bonds extending ‌their sell-off, as inflation worries con...

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Rangers to 'try everything' for Moore return

Danny Rohl has confirmed that Rangers will work on re-signing Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.(talkSPORT)

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The Rangers manager also insists striker Youssef Chermiti will be a key player next season after reports linking the 21-year-old to Porto.(Daily Record - subscription required)

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May 17, 2026

Rangers to 'try everything' for Moore return

Danny Rohl has confirmed that Rangers will work on re-signing Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur this summer.(talkSPORT) Advertis...

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Best price boost offers for World Cup 2026

The2026 World Cupwill be the biggest betting event of the year, and one of the biggest battles betweenbetting sitesduring the tournament will be over who has the best and most frequent price boosts.

Price boosts are enhanced odds on selected outcomes, offered bybookmakersas a daily or event-led promotion, and a huge event such as the World Cup is likely to lead tofootball bookmakersboosting the odds on more matches and markets than at any other time.

We’ve produced this guide to the best World Cup price boost offers, and this page will be updated regularly with the live price boosts being offered by several regulated online bookmakers.

Today’s best World Cup price boosts

UK betting site

World Cup price boost

Scott McTominay to score at the World Cup - 66/1 from 1/2

Max bet £1, new customers only

Harry Kane top goalscorer - 8/1 from 7/1

New and existing customers eligible

BOYLE Sports

South Africa to beat Mexico in opening game - 6/1 from 11/2

Acca boost & early payout offers don’t apply

McTominay to be Scotland’s top scorer - 11/4 from 5/2

New and existing customers eligible

England to win the World Cup - 7/1 from 6/1

New and existing customers eligible

Top 5 bookmakers for regular World Cup price boosts

In the section below, we’ve provided a list of our top five bookmakers for World Cup price boost offers. The fiveWorld Cup betting sitesbelow were selected for the frequency, quality and size of their regular price boost programmes.

Bet365 World Cup price boosts

Bet365 runs daily enhanced odds across every game at the tournament, covering multiple markets and bet types. Punters can expect odds boosts on singles and pre-built bet builders for every match, and each day of the 2026 World Cup will feature a market-busting super boost.

Bet365 have some of the sharpestWorld Cup oddsamong UK bookmakers, and enhancing those odds even further on ante-post and market markets makes them one of the top bookies for the tournament.

Consistent daily boosts across a wide range of markets

Maximum stake on boosted odds is typically capped

Daily Super Boost offer

Sign up offer not as good as some rivals

Boosts available bet builders and accumulators

Sky Bet World Cup price boosts

Sky Bet will offer price boosts on all World Cup games, with some doubling the original starting price. Sky Bet specialise in player-centric boosts, offering enhanced odds on goals and shots markets.

Backing any boosted bets can be used in conjunction with the Sky Bet Club, where punters can claim a free bet each week of the tournament when they wager a minimum of £30.

Multiple enhanced odds options for every game

Customers cannot request boosts on specific outcomes

Player-centric price boosts

Maximum bet on boosted odds is typically £5

Price boosts can be combined with Sky Bets Club

Paddy Power World Cup price boosts

Paddy Power's "Power Prices" promotions and daily enhanced odds have made them a reliable destination for boosted markets on big football occasions.

They offer boosted odds on pre-match multiples and specials, as well as enhanced prices on specific markets, will odds boost tokens can be earned. For sheer volume of price boosts, Paddy Power are tough to beat but the size of the boost isn’t always as large as some competitors.

Multiple boosts available simultaneously

Boost sizes can be modest compared to competitors

Power price promotions often cover niche markets

Some boosts may not appear in all customer accounts

Highly-rated app on iOS and Android

Maximum return on boosted odds applies

BetVictor World Cup price boosts

BetVictor tends to focus on boosting the odds for pre-built accumulators and bet builders for the World Cup, resulting in some potentially big returns. Bettors can also find price boosts for the World Cup via the Lucky Dip tool, which enhances the odds on a random selection from the market of a punter’s choosing.

BetVictor’s odds for the World Cup are slightly above average to begin with, meaning the price boosts only improve the value of any bets. It would be nice to see more single bets boosted to take BetVictor to the next level.

Boosts often available on the most-watched fixtures

Less frequent than daily-boost operators

Competitive odds even before the boost

Fewer ongoing promotions than some rivals

Boosts available both pre-match and in-play

Lack of price boosts on single bets

Betfred World Cup price boosts

Betfred offers World Cup enhanced odds on both singles and accumulators, with acca boosts being a particular strength. The ‘Acca Flex’ promo includes enhanced payouts for winning accumulators, or you can get your stake back as aWorld Cup free betif one leg of the multiple doesn’t win.

Betfred’s price boost activity tends to increase around major sporting events, and the World Cup is likely to trigger daily boosted markets for every game.

Acca-specific boosts can substantially increase returns

Acca Flex requires a minimum number of selections

Boost programme extends to both singles and multis

Price boosts on singles are less frequent

Huge brand recognition from high-street presence

How to use price boost offers during the World Cup

It is highly likely that you’ll come across price boost offers at some point if you’re regularly betting during the World Cup, so it can pay to know how to use these World Cup enhanced odds.

Anyone hoping to make use of football price boosts throughout the tournament should make sure they do the following:

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Make regular checks:On your chosen betting site, check the promotions tab daily or before each match day to see if there are any new World Cup odds boosts. Some price boosts will only appear for a limited time, so keep your eyes peeled.

Compare boost prices:Compare the boosted price against the standard market odds to assess whether the boost is much better than the base price at a competing bookmaker.

Consider restrictions:Be aware of the maximum stake restrictions before betting. Most bookies will limit stakes on enhanced odds markets.

Responsible gambling

When having a bet and taking advantage of price boost offers or enhanced odds World Cup 2026 promos, it’s vital to practice responsible gambling.

Betting can be addictive and it’s important to stay in control of your betting. Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop.

Gambling sitesoffer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help them stay in control.

But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don’t hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.

• NHS Help

• GambleAware

• Gamblers Anonymous

Price Boost FAQs

What are price boost offers?

Price boost offers are promotions where a bookmaker temporarily enhances the odds on a specific outcome above its standard market price. For example, a team priced at 2/1 might be boosted to 3/1 for a limited window. They are typically available for a set time before a match and are subject to maximum stake limits.

Which bookmaker has the best World Cup price boosts?

Bet365’s Super Boosts are among the most generous World Cup price boost offers in terms of headline odds increases, often pushing prices significantly above the standard market. Paddy Power offers more variety with multiple football price boosts per match day. The best choice depends on whether you prioritise boost size or frequency of availability.

Do price boosts apply to accumulators?

Some bookmakers, notably Betfred, run specific acca boost products that enhance returns on multi-selection bets. Standard price boost offers typically apply to single markets only. Always check the terms of a specific promotion before placing an accumulator, as mixing a boosted leg with standard selections may not be possible.

Can I use price boosts as a new customer?

Most World Cup odds boosts are available to both new and existing customers, though some targeted promotions may only appear in specific accounts. New customers should check whether any sign-up offer conditions affect their eligibility for ongoing price boost promotions before opting in to a welcome bonus.

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

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May 17, 2026

Best price boost offers for World Cup 2026

The2026 World Cupwill be the biggest betting event of the year, and one of the biggest battles betweenbetting sitesduring the tournamen...

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WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda an emergency of international concern

By Disha Mishra and Akanksha Khushi

Ebola fears grow in eastern Congo as Bunia hospital receives suspected cases

May 17 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a "public health emergency of international ‌concern", posing risks to neighbouring countries.

The WHO said the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does ‌not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency but that countries sharing land borders with the DRC are at high risk for further ​spread.

The U.N. health agency said in a statement that 80 suspected deaths, eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases had been reported as of Saturday in the DRC's Ituri province across at least three health zones, including Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.

INTERNATIONAL SPREAD DOCUMENTED, WHO SAYS

The DRC health ministry had said on Friday that 80 people had died in ‌the new outbreak in the eastern province.

The ⁠17th outbreak in the country, where Ebola was first identified in 1976, could in fact be much larger, given the high positivity rate of the initial samples and increasing ⁠number of suspected cases being reported, the WHO said.

The outbreak is "extraordinary" as there are no approved Bundibugyo virus-specific therapeutics or vaccines, unlike for Ebola-Zaire strains, it said. All but one of the country's previous outbreaks were caused by the Zaire ​strain.

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The ​DRC-Uganda outbreak poses a public health risk to other countries, ​with some cases of an international spread ‌already documented, the agency said, advising countries to activate their national disaster and emergency-management mechanisms and undertake cross-border screening and screening at main internal roads.

In Uganda's capital, Kampala, two apparently unrelated laboratory-confirmed cases, including one death, were reported on Friday and Saturday, from people travelling from the DRC, the WHO said.

A laboratory-confirmed case was also reported in the DRC capital, Kinshasa, from a person returning from Ituri, the WHO said.

Bundibugyo virus-disease contacts or cases should ‌not travel internationally, unless as part of a medical evacuation, ​the WHO said.

The agency advised immediately isolating confirmed cases and monitoring ​contacts daily, with restricted national travel and no ​international travel until 21 days after exposure.

At the same time, the WHO urged countries ‌not to close their borders or restrict travel ​and trade out of fear, ​as this could lead to people and goods making informal border crossings that are not monitored.

The DRC's dense tropical forests are a natural reservoir for the Ebola virus.

The often-fatal virus, which causes fever, body ​aches, vomiting and diarrhoea, spreads through ‌direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons, contaminated materials or persons who have died ​from the disease, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Reporting by Disha Mishra ​and Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)

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May 17, 2026

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda an emergency of international concern

By Disha Mishra and Akanksha Khushi Ebola fears grow in eastern Congo as Bunia hospital receives suspected cases May 17 (Reu...

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Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 32nd time

By Gopal Sharma

KATHMANDU, May 17 (Reuters) - A renowned Nepali Sherpa guide scaled Mount Everest for the 32nd time on Sunday, an official ‌said, smashing his own record set last year.

Kami Rita Sherpa, 56, ‌reached the 8,849-metre (29,032 foot) peak - the highest in the world - while guiding clients from the ​14 Peaks Expedition company.

Nepal's Department of Tourism congratulated the Sherpa for achieving the “historic milestone” and for his contributions to promoting mountain tourism.

He reached the summit at 10:12 a.m. (0427 GMT) on Sunday, it said in a statement adding that a ‌Sherpa woman, Lakhpa, 52, had ⁠made her 11th ascent to the peak, the most by a woman. Details of the climbs were not available.

Kami Rita ⁠was born in the same Thame village in Solukhumbu district as Tenzing Norgay. Norgay and New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary were the first to climb Everest ​in 1953.

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Kami ​Rita climbed the peak for the first ​time in 1994 and has ‌repeated the feat every year except in 2014, 2015 and 2020 when expeditions to Everest were closed for different reasons. He reached the summit twice in some years.

More than 8,000 people have climbed Mount Everest, many of them several times, since it was first scaled by Norgay and Hillary.

Among non-Sherpa climbers, ‌the record is held by British guide ​Kenton Cool who has accomplished the feat ​19 times followed by American ​climbers Dave Hahn and Garrett Madison with 15 climbs each. ‌Cool and Madison are currently on ​Everest to improve their ​records.

Guiding foreign climbers to Everest and other peaks provides crucial family income to many Sherpas, natives of the Solukhumbu district where Everest is ​located.

Authorities have issued 492 ‌permits to climbers for Everest for this March-May climbing season, while ​three Nepali climbers have died on the mountain this month.

(Reporting by ​Gopal Sharma; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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May 17, 2026

Nepali Sherpa scales Mount Everest for a record 32nd time

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU, May 17 (Reuters) - A renowned Nepali Sherpa guide scaled Mount Everest for the 32nd time on Sunday, an...

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