WORLD

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP |  Pope Francis will visit Cairo on April 28-29 at the invitation of the Egyptian president and the grand imam of the capital’s famed Al-Azhar mosque, the Vatican said Saturday. The pontiff had hosted the grand imam, Ahmed al-Tayeb, at the Vatican last May, …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis on Friday advised priests who hear troubled confessions from parishioners to not hesitate to call on the services of an exorcist. A good confessor has to be very discerning, particularly when he has to deal with “real spiritual disorders,” the 80-year-old …

Washington, United States | AFP |  A laptop was stolen from a US Secret Service agent in New York and remains missing, the agency said in a statement Friday, amid reports that the device contained floor plans of Trump Tower. CNN — citing law enforcement sources in New York — …

Honolulu, United States | AFP |  Federal judges halted Donald Trump’s revised executive order to temporarily close US borders to refugees and nationals from six Muslim-majority countries, dealing the president a humiliating defeat. The rulings trigger a nationwide freeze on enforcement of a ban on entry by nationals of Iran, …

Washington, United States | AFP |  President Donald Trump will propose drastic cuts to America’s foreign aid and environmental programs in a security-heavy first budget blueprint to be released later Thursday. In a plan designed to translate bold campaign promises into dollar and cent commitments, the Republican leader will propose …

The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Millions of Dutch flocked to the polls Wednesday in a test of the “patriotic revolution” promised by far-right MP Geert Wilders, with Europe closely watching the outcome amid signs his support may be waning. Following last year’s shock Brexit referendum, and Donald Trump’s victory in …

A new and more realistic monetary paradigm would central banks more room to incorporate risks and costs By: Michael Heise How long will major central banks blindly rely on rigid rules to control inflation and stimulate growth? Given the clear benefits of nimble monetary policy, central bankers need to open …

Trump’s new travel ban faces day in court Washington, United States | AFP |  President Donald Trump insists his amended travel ban will survive any legal challenge and it’s time to see if he’s right, with the first court hearings on it scheduled for Wednesday. “SEE YOU IN COURT,” Trump …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP |  Saudi Arabia is committed to stabilising the global oil market, the energy ministry of the world’s biggest oil exporter said on Tuesday, as prices fell below $48 a barrel. OPEC and non-OPEC countries last year pledged to reduce output by around 1.8 million barrels …

United Nations, United States | AFP | Women’s rights are under fresh assault worldwide, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Monday as a two-week conference kicked off at the United Nations to take stock of the fight for gender equality. President Donald Trump’s “global gag rule” cutting US funding to groups that …