Natural disaster losses worldwide dropped sharply to $224 billion in 2025, reinsurer Munich Re said Tuesday, but warned of a still “alarming” picture of extreme weather events likely driven by climate change.

The figure was down nearly 40% from a year earlier, in part because no hurricane struck the US mainland for the first time in several years.

Nevertheless, “the big picture was alarming with regard to floods, severe… storms and wildfires in 2025”, said Munich Re, a Germany-based provider of insurance for the insurance industry.

The costliest disaster of the year came in the form of Los Angeles wildfires in January, with total losses of $53 billion and insured losses of around $40 billion, Munich Re said in its annual disaster report.

It was striking how many extreme events were likely influenced by climate change in 2025 and it was just chance that the world was spared potentially higher losses, according to the group.

“The planet has a fever, and as a result we are seeing a cluster of severe and intense weather events,” Tobias Grimm, Munich Re’s chief climate scientist, told AFP.

Last month Swiss Re, another top player in the reinsurance industry, also reported a hefty drop for 2025, putting total losses at $220 billion.

According to Munich Re’s report, insured losses for 2025 came in at $108 billion, also sharply down on last year.

Around 17,200 lives were lost in natural disasters worldwide, significantly higher than about 11,000 in 2024, but below the 10-year average of of 17,800, it said.

Grimm said 2025 was a year with “two faces”.

“The first half of the year was the costliest loss period the insurance industry has ever experienced,” he said — but the second half saw the lowest losses in a decade.

LA wildfires, Myanmar quake

It is now the cumulative costs of smaller-scale disasters — like local floods and forest fires — that are having the greatest impact.

Losses from these events amounted to $166 billion last year, according to Munich Re.

After the LA wildfires, the costliest disaster of the year was a devastating earthquake that hit Myanmar in March, which is estimated to have caused $12 billion in losses, only a small share of which was insured.

Tropical cyclones caused around $37 billion in losses.

Jamaica was battered by Hurricane Melissa, one of the strongest hurricanes ever to make landfall, generating losses of around $9.8 billion.

By region, the United States’ total losses amounted to $118 billion, $88 billion of which was insured — around the same as an estimate of $115 billion total losses from US nonprofit Climate Central.

The Asia-Pacific region had losses of about $73 billion — but only $9 billion was insured, according to the report.

Australia had its second most expensive year in terms of overall losses from natural disasters since 1980 due to a series of severe storms and flooding.

Europe saw losses of $11 billion. Natural disasters in Africa led to losses of $3 billion, less than a fifth of which was insured.

The report comes at a time when scepticism towards green policies is growing, particularly since the return to power of US President Donald Trump, who derides climate science as a “hoax”.

But Grimm warned that the Earth “continues to warm”.

“More heat means more humidity, stronger rainfall, and higher wind speeds — climate change is already contributing to extreme weather,” he said.

Prince Harry appears fully ready to take on the Invictus Games at Birmingham in 2027as it sets the stage for friends and families to support a meaningful cause.

The Duke of Sussex, who founded the supporting event for the injured and sick veterans in 2014, seemingly planned to extend an olive branch to his father King Charles to open the Games. Reports suggested that it would fulfil a “dream” of Harry to have his father by his side for the event that means so much to him.

There is also the matter of Harry’s UK police protection verdict, which is pending, but sources believe that this time it would tip in his favour.

While there is confirmation pending on the matter, the Invictus Games shared an exiting update for the upcoming event, as they set the “finest stage” in UK in a special video. It revealed that there is an “exclusive” chance to experience the possible reunion of father and son on stage.

“Join our community for official news and an exclusive chance to win two tickets to the Opening Ceremony at the NEC on Saturday 10 July 2027.”

While there is confirmation pending on the matter, the Invictus Games shared an exiting update for the upcoming event, as they set the “finest stage” in UK in a special video. It revealed that there is an “exclusive” chance to experience the possible reunion of father and son on stage.

“Join our community for official news and an exclusive chance to win two tickets to the Opening Ceremony at the NEC on Saturday 10 July 2027.”

In the video clip, the presenter and competitor at the Games, JJ Chalmers, shared that this event “feels very special”. He noted that there are “people who want to share their stories and they have got the finest stage in Birmingham for 2027”.

Jonny Ball, a competitor from 2023, shared that the Games are “the soul of our recovery”. It could possibly also serve as a means of recovering a bond that was once broken by a years-long rift.

A previous report in The Sun noted that Harry “desperately wants Charles at Invictus — and he wants him to open the games alongside him”. Moreover, the Games always invites Heads of State but “Harry wants to go further with Charles involved in the opening ceremony”.

The source noted that Charles is the Head of the Armed Forces and the games “represent a cause close to both’s hearts”.

Meanwhile, a friend of the King told Daily Beast that the “he loves both his sons and of course he wants to be reconciled with Harry.” They added, “It would be a source of great joy to him if trust could improve sufficiently to normalise the relationship.”

If that reconciliation happens on stage, it would not only fulfil the dream of Harry’s but also win hearts of the public in the moanrchy’s favour, something that the royals are keen on.

Jennifer Lawrence is opening up about how marriage and motherhood have reshaped her daily life, revealing how her relationship with husband Cooke Maroney has helped bring balance after what she describes as a chaotic upbringing. 

Speaking candidly on the Jan. 12 episode of the SmartLess podcast, the Oscar winner reflected on adapting to a very different lifestyle since tying the knot and starting a family.

“I married somebody who is the opposite of me,” Lawrence, 35, shared. “He is so organized. He’s an anchor.” 

She explained that Maroney’s calm, structured nature has influenced how she manages her home and time. 

“Everything is ordered,” she said, noting that she has learned to adjust by keeping certain spaces closed off and assigning herself small responsibilities she works hard to maintain.

That structure became especially important after welcoming children.

Lawrence and Maroney share a son, Cy, 3, and welcomed their second baby in 2025. While strict schedules didn’t come naturally to her, Lawrence admitted she now understands why they matter. 

“I get it now, I get it,” she said, explaining that their kids follow a very precise routine. She credited her husband with maintaining it, adding, “He’s good at keeping it.”

Still, the actress acknowledged that compromise is key. 

“But we’ve learned, to keep our marriage alive, I have a 15 minute wiggle room,” she said, a sentiment host Jason Bateman supported by joking that rigid timing can put strain on a relationship. 

Lawrence later noted that tight schedules can be especially challenging for her, adding with humour that she might need occupational therapy to help manage her ADD.

Beyond schedules, Lawrence has previously shared how becoming a mother shifted her entire perspective. 

In a November interview with W Magazine, she spoke about the emotional intensity of early motherhood. 

“When I had my first child, I felt completely connected to my baby,” she said, while also realizing how difficult it was to re-enter a world not built around that bond. “Everything looks different after that.”

Through marriage, motherhood, and mutual understanding, Lawrence says she’s found stability in a life that once felt overwhelming, crediting both her partner and her community for helping her navigate it all.