WORLD

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | Saudi Arabia warned Sunday it would retaliate against any sanctions imposed on the oil-rich kingdom over the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the Riyadh stock market plunged on growing investor jitters. From tech tycoons to media giants, a host of Western companies …

  Washington, United States | AFP | Melania Trump dismissed Friday the widespread talk about her husband President Donald Trump’s alleged affairs with a porn star and others, saying she has “more important things to think about.” In an interview with ABC News, excerpts of which were broadcast early Friday, …

San Francisco, United States | AFP | Facebook said Friday that hackers accessed personal data of 29 million users in a breach at the world’s leading social network disclosed late last month. The company had originally said up to 50 million accounts were affected in a cyberattack that exploited a …

Manila, Philippines | AFP | With Canada on the verge of becoming the world’s second nation to legalise recreational marijuana, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that countries should think twice before opening that door. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who was in the Philippines for a regional …

Sydney, Australia | AFP | Sprint superstar Usain Bolt looks set to make his first start as a professional footballer Friday, a challenge he said could determine if he has a future in the sport of his boyhood dreams. Bolt said the coach of his Central Coast Mariners, Mike Mulvey, had …

Paris, France | AFP | The French health watchdog Wednesday urged the government to outlaw sunlamps and sunbeds because of the “proven” risk of skin cancer, in line with similar bans already in place in Australia and Brazil. “We recommend banning all activities linked to artificial tanning, along with ultraviolet sunlamps …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Wednesday compared having an abortion to hiring a “contract killer”. “Interrupting a pregnancy is like eliminating someone,” Francis said in an address to worshippers in the Vatican. “Getting rid of a human being is like resorting to a contract killer …

Buenos Aires, Argentina | AFP | A team of refugees will again take part at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday, after 10 refugees competed at the Rio Games. The decision was approved at the 133rd IOC meeting in Buenos Aires. Deputy general director …

Washington, United States | AFP | Ivanka Trump on Tuesday tamped down the suggestion her father could be poised to tap her as UN envoy, after President Donald Trump said she would make a “dynamite” replacement — were it not for nepotism concerns. “It is an honor to serve in …

New York, United States | AFP | Risks to the global financial system have risen somewhat in recent months as some emerging markets have struggled and trade war tensions have persisted, the International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday. The IMF, in its twice annual assessment of global financial stability, said conditions …