WORLD

Paris, France | AFP |  Neymar’s decision to post a photo of himself in thoughtful contemplation sparked a fresh wave of speculation that he is on the verge of sealing a world record 222-million-euro ($256.8 million) move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain. The Instagram picture, even accompanied by a matching …

  Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP |  An Emirati state minister Friday welcomed changes to Qatar’s anti-terror legislation as a “positive” step in the crisis between Doha and four Arab neighbours which accuse it of backing extremists. Qatar announced a decree by Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani late …

On display at Buckingham Palace, is a portrait of Elizabeth, created by weaving dyed banana leaves together, from Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame in 2006. London, United Kingdom | AFP |  Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is putting gifts received from world leaders on display at Buckingham Palace, with the eclectic collection …

Paris, France | AFP |  From the start of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, here are 10 dates in the history of the disease. – 1981: First alert – On June 5, 1981, US epidemiologists report the first deaths among young homosexuals from a mysterious immune-wrecking disease later named acquired …

Paris, France | AFP |  Someone is infected with the AIDS virus every 17 seconds in the world, and the disease has killed the equivalent of the population of Canada, figures released Thursday by UNAIDS show. Here is a numerical snapshot of the disease. – 17 seconds – Roughly 1.8 …

Lisbon, Portugal | AFP | Portugal is to reduce the number of eucalyptus groves after the highly flammable plant was blamed for last month’s deadly forest fires. Parliament voted for the measure Wednesday as part of ongoing forest law reforms that started in April, before the blaze in the central Pedrogao …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Beleaguered British Prime Minister Theresa May batted off jokes about her weakened government Wednesday during her final parliamentary grilling before escaping for the summer recess. After a string of terror attacks and an electoral humiliation last month, the Conservative leader opened prime minister’s questions in …

Geneva, Switzerland | AFP | A couple that disappeared in the Alps 75 years ago has been found preserved in a receding glacier, ending decades of uncertainty for their seven children, Swiss media reported Tuesday. The bodies were found lying near each other in the Diablerets massif in southern Switzerland, …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP |  A trial against two former members of a Vatican foundation charged with embezzling charity money to refurbish the luxury apartment of a cardinal opened Tuesday. The former executives of the Vatican’s Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital are accused of diverting 422,000 euros ($485,000) in …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump blamed Democrats and a few holdouts in his own party Tuesday for the collapse of the latest Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare — one of Trump’s key campaign pledges. A Republican drive in the Senate to come up with a …