Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, has died at age of 88, casting uncertainty over the Southeast Asian state’s political future. “His Majesty has passed away at Siriraj Hospital peacefully,” the Royal Household Bureau said in a statement on Thursday, adding that he died at 15:52 local time.

The palace did not reveal the reason for the king’s death, but it had warned days ago that his health was “not stable.” Thailand’s parliament is to hold a special session at 21:00 local time to discuss the new development.

The monarch’s demise has plunged the political future of Thailand in doubt as his presumed successor, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 63, lacks the widespread popularity his father enjoyed during his 77-year reign.

The transition of power following the king’s death could become an important juncture in a country ruled by a military junta and long divided by rival political parties.

The former general, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has been at the helm of the county since the last democratic government of Yingluck Shinawatra was toppled after years of political turmoil in a 2014 coup d’etat.

The king, who essentially had a symbolic role, had been in poor health for some time, and spent most of the past six years in Bangkok’s Siriraj hospital.

The king had been receiving treatment for a respiratory infection, a buildup of fluid surrounding the brain and a swollen lung in the past few months.

King Bhumibol was re-admitted in Siriraj hospital in May 2015 and was last seen in public in January, when he spent several hours visiting his Bangkok palace.

The majority of the country’s 68 million population viewed the monarch as a traditional pillar of Thailand’s unity as well as stability in rapidly-changing times.

King Bhumibol ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and his reign witnessed 10 military coups, the most recent in May 2014 led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon was quick to offer condolences to Thailand on the king’s passing, expressing hope that the country would honor his legacy of commitment to universal values and respect for human rights.

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US presidential nominee Donald Trump has again come under pressure as more women claim to have been sexually abused by the billionaire businessman from New York. The allegations were reported on Wednesday by The New York Times,The Palm Beach Post and Yahoo News. This comes after the release of a 2005 tape in which Trump is heard making vulgar comments about women and having a conversation about trying to have sex with a married woman.

One woman told the Times she was seated next to the Republican nominee during a flight to New York some three decades ago, and Trump started groping her suddenly.    “He was like an octopus,” Jessica Leeds, now 74, told the paper. “His hands were everywhere. It was an assault.” Another woman, Rachel Crooks, also told the Times that he kissed her without her permission. “I was so upset that he thought I was so insignificant that he could do that,” she said.

The Trump campaign has denied many of the allegations made against him, and called the Times article “a completely false, coordinated character assassination.” “It is absurd to think that one of the most recognizable business leaders on the planet with a strong record of empowering women in his companies would do the things alleged in this story, and for this to only become public decades later in the final month of a campaign for president should say it all,” Trump spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement.

“To reach back decades in an attempt to smear Mr. Trump trivializes sexual assault, and it sets a new low for where the media is willing to go in its efforts to determine this election,” the statement added. “None of this ever took place,” Trump told the Times on Tuesday night, and threatened to sue the publication if the paper went ahead to run the story. “You are a disgusting human being,” he told the reporter, who contacted him before publishing the story. “I don’t do it. I don’t do it,” he said.

And in a letter to New York Times editor Dean Baquet on Wednesday night, Trump’s lawyer said the article is an attempt to damage Trump’s presidential campaign. “Your article is reckless, defamatory and constitutes libel per se. It is apparent from, among other things, the timing of the article, that it is nothing more than a politically-motivated effort to defeat Mr. Trump’s candidacy,” Marc E. Kasowitz wrote.

After The Washington Post released a recording last week that shows Trump making vulgar remarks about women, Republican officials, including governors, senators and congressmen across the US have disavowed the billionaire. Trump’s apology for the remarks also failed to quell the unprecedented controversy over his comments, prompting growing demands by Republicans for him to quit the race.

Even Trump’s vice presidential candidate Mike Pence refused to defend the billionaire politician on Saturday, saying that he was “offended” by the obscene comments. On Monday, however, Pence reiterated his support for Trump, saying he expressed remorse for his controversial comments.

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