WORLD

Beijing, China | AFP |  China’s imports rose 1.5 percent year-on-year in August, figures showed Thursday, the first increase in nearly two years, in a positive sign for the world’s second-largest economy. Exports dropped 2.8 percent on-year to $190.6 billion, a smaller fall than the median forecast in a survey …

San Francisco, United States | AFP |  Apple is out to make a splash with new waterproof iPhones, a smartphone game starring Nintendo’s beloved “Mario” and a push on wireless headphones. The iPhone 7 and larger iPhone 7 Plus, with sophisticated camera technology, improved water resistance and other features, were …

Copenhagen, Denmark | AFP | The Danish government said on Wednesday it would pay an anonymous source for leaked data from the Panama Papers on hundreds of Danish taxpayers. “We must use the necessary measures to catch the tax evaders hiding fortunes in for example Panama with the aim to …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | The World Health Organization on Tuesday toughened its advice on preventing the spread of Zika, saying anyone returning from areas hit by the virus should practise safe sex for six months afterwards. The updated guidelines mean the UN health body’s recommendations regarding sexual transmission are …

Norristown, United States | AFP | Disgraced US megastar Bill Cosby is due to stand trial for sexual assault on June 5, 2017 in what could see up to 13 other alleged victims testify against the award-winning comedian turned pariah. Judge Steven O’Neill set the date after the 79-year-old pioneering …

Hangzhou, China | AFP |  This year’s most exclusive and closely-watched diplomatic party –- the G20 summit –- saw presidents and prime ministers from countries representing 85 percent of the global economy gather in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. How did the first China-hosted G20 go? While analysts correctly foresaw …

Vienna, Austria | AFP | Alternative for Germany is not the only populist party enjoying electoral success. Across Europe, these are fertile times for protest movements tapping into unease about immigration to attack a long-cosy political establishment. The anti-immigration AfD scored a major symbolic victory on Sunday by relegating German …

New York, United States | AFP | Hillary Clinton embarks Monday on a campaign swing across battleground states, bringing traveling press aboard her plane for the first time as she seeks to regain momentum against her White House rival Donald Trump. Clinton, the Democratic nominee, will attend events with working …

Schwerin, Germany | AFP | Germany’s anti-migrant populists made a strong showing at Sunday’s state polls, scoring ahead of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party as voters punished the German leader over her liberal refugee policy. The xenophobic Alternative for Germany (AfD) clinched around 21 percent in its first bid for seats …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Mother Teresa, the celebrated nun whose work with the poor of Kolkata made her an instantly recognisable global figure, will be proclaimed a saint on Sunday. Pope Francis will preside over a solemn canonisation mass in the presence of 100,000 pilgrims and with …