WORLD

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Saudi Arabia on Monday lifted a decades-old ban on cinemas, part of powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s far-reaching liberalisation drive that is shaking up the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom. The government said it would begin licensing cinemas immediately and the first movie theatres are expected …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Monday denied a New York Times story on his daily White House life that says he watches up to eight hours of cable TV news a day. “Another false story, this time in the Failing @nytimes, that I watch 4-8 hours …

New Delhi, India | AFP | Rahul Gandhi, the scion of India’s Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, was Monday named as the new leader of the main opposition Congress party, which has ruled the country for much of its independent history. Here are five key things to know about India’s most famous political …

Washington, United States | AFP | The US Supreme Court on Monday let stand a Louisiana sheriff’s firing of two of his deputies for swapping wives and families, refusing to review lower court rulings in a case that raised eyebrows. Brandon Coker and Michael Golden, who worked in the southern state’s …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The criminal investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire in London in which 71 people were killed is “unprecedented”, a police spokesman said on Monday at the opening of a public inquiry into the blaze. “Outside certain counter-terrorism inquiries, the investigation is unprecedented in terms …

Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin called Monday for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks to resume, including on Jerusalem, following the controversial US decision to recognise the city as Israel’s capital. Speaking on state television during a visit to Egypt, Putin stressed the importance of “the immediate resumption of …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Uber’s appeal against losing its licence in London will be heard in May or June next year, a court determined Monday. London’s transport authority said in September that it would not renew the ride-hailing company’s licence to operate in the British capital owing to public …

New York, United States | AFP | Bitcoin surged past $18,000 after it began trading on its first major global exchange Sunday, the latest in a series of highs that have excited some investors while leaving others nervous of a bubble. Trading of the controversial digital currency on a futures contract …

Doha, Qatar | AFP | Qatar signed a multi-billion-dollar deal Sunday to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from Britain, its second major defence agreement this week, which comes during the worst political crisis in the region for years. The $8-billion (6.8-billion-euro) deal was signed in Doha by Qatar’s Defence Minister Khalid …

Washington, United States | AFP | The United States accused the Palestinian Authority Sunday of “walking away” from a chance to discuss peace in the Middle East by snubbing Vice President Mike Pence on an upcoming visit. A top official in Pence’s office said the vice president was looking forward to …