WORLD

Damascus, Syria | AFP | Syrian student Nour wistfully examines her bare ring finger, then scans fellow classmates around her at Damascus University. Amid the sea of women, there’s no eligible single man in sight. At 30, Nour says she is eager to get married — but Syria’s protracted conflict …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The former Oxfam country director at the centre of a prostitution scandal admitted to paying for sex at his charity-funded residence during an internal inquiry into the allegations, a report released Monday by the British organisation said. Roland van Hauwermeiren, who led Oxfam’s team …

Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | The campaign for Mexico’s July 1 presidential election began in earnest Sunday as the country’s top parties officially nominated their candidates, with all three front-runners trying to sell a message of change. It is still a wide-open race to succeed President Enrique Pena Nieto, …

Washington, United States | AFP | Students who survived a mass shooting at their Florida school on Sunday announced plans to march on Washington in a bid to “shame” politicians into reforming laws that make firearms readily available. The “March for our Lives” will take place on March 24, with …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Five women were shot dead in an apparent radical Islamist attack on an Orthodox church in the North Caucasus region of Dagestan on Sunday, officials and local media said. According to local press reports an unidentified gunman fired at worshippers at an Orthodox church in …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump, hitting out at the probes and congressional hearings into Russian election meddling, said Sunday Moscow is succeeding beyond its “wildest dreams” if its intention is to sow discord within the United States. “They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Church spires across Britain will be used to boost broadband, mobile phone and WiFi connectivity in rural areas, under a deal struck between the government and the Church of England, it was announced Sunday. “This agreement with the Church of England will mean that …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Actress and activist Emma Watson has donated £1 million to kickstart a new British fund to help women facing harassment and abuse at work, launched ahead of Sunday’s Baftas and backed by hundreds of female entertainment stars. The justice and equality fund was announced …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Women in Saudi Arabia can now open their own businesses without the consent of a husband or male relative, as the kingdom pushes to expand a fast-growing private sector. The policy change, announced by the Saudi government on Thursday, also marks a major step …

Tehran, Iran | AFP | An Iranian passenger plane on a domestic flight crashed on Sunday into the country’s Zagros mountains, with all 66 people on board feared dead. Here is a recap of the deadliest plane crashes in Iran since 2003. – 2014 – On August 10, an Antonov …