WORLD

New York, United States | AFP | Iranian President Hassan Rouhani challenged the US and others Thursday to provide evidence to back up their accusations that Tehran carried out this month’s attack on a Saudi oil facility. “Those who make the allegations must provide the needed proof. What is your evidence?” …

Washington, United States | AFP |  The Pentagon announced Thursday the deployment of 200 troops with Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia to help with the country’s defense in the wake of last months attacks on oil installations blamed on Iran. “This deployment will augment the kingdom’s air and missile defense …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Shares in British tobacco giant Imperial Brands slumped Thursday after it issued a profit-warning linked to a backlash against vaping in the United States. Imperial, whose e-cigarette brand is blu and traditional tobacco brands include Davidoff and Gauloises, expects annual revenue to grow 2.0 percent, …

New York, United States | AFP | A whistleblower report that has prompted an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump contains “very troubling” allegations, US lawmakers have said, after the president dismissed the case against him as a “joke.” Democrats have accused Trump of a “mafia-style shakedown” of his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr …

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Berlin boxer Zeina Nassar’s fighting spirit has won her plenty of titles, but her battle to wear the hijab in the ring has also made her an equal opportunity champion. Today, the 21-year-old, who discovered female boxing by watching online videos as a teenager, is a …

New York, United States | AFP |  A downbeat Donald Trump on Wednesday dismissed as a “joke” the grounds laid out for the impeachment inquiry into him, as Democrats stood firm in accusing the US president of a “mafia-style shakedown” of his Ukrainian counterpart. Trump denied claims he abused his …

United Nations, United States | AFP | Iran’s president on Wednesday closed the door on meeting Donald Trump despite last-minute European efforts to ease tensions as the United States again ramped up punishing sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron had shuttled between his US and Iranian counterparts over two days at the …

  London, United Kingdom | AFP |  A transgender man who gave birth but did not want to be registered as the child’s mother on the birth certificate lost a legal battle at England’s High Court on Wednesday. Freddy McConnell, 32, was born as a woman but has lived as …

New York, United States | AFP | Boeing has reached settlements with 11 families of victims from October’s Lion Air crash, the first agreements following two deadly crashes that killed 346 people, a plaintiffs attorney said Wednesday. The Wisner Law Firm, which specializes in aviation cases, is also “optimistic” about reaching …

  Transcript confirms Trump asked Ukraine leader to investigate Biden Washington, United States | AFP |  The White House released a call transcript Wednesday confirming Donald Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to probe his political rival Joe Biden — a day after Democrats seized on the explosive allegation to launch an …