WORLD

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP |  The world’s most expensive footballer Paul Pogba has posted pictures of himself at the holiest site of Islam, days after helping Manchester United to victory in the Europa League final. He also issued greetings for the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, which began …

New Delhi, India | AFP |  A southern Indian state announced Sunday it would go to the supreme court to challenge a federal ban on the sale of cows for slaughter, stepping up a showdown with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Cows are considered sacred by Hindus and the Hindu nationalist …

  Washington, United States | AFP |  The probe into Russia’s role in the US election pierced the innermost circle of the White House Saturday, with reports that Donald Trump’s son-in-law sought a secret communications line with Moscow — the most damning allegation yet from the scandal. With the president …

Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, made a pre-inauguration proposal to the Russian ambassador to set up a secret, bug-proof communications line with the Kremlin, the Washington Post reported Friday evening. Kushner, then and now a close adviser to Trump, went so far as to …

Beijing, China | AFP | A former regional police chief in China was executed for murder, state media said Friday, after reports described his victim as a lover more than three decades his junior. Zhao Liping, 65, was found guilty of murder, bribery and possession of firearms and explosives by …

Brussels, Belgium | AFP |  Diplomacy can be a white-knuckle ride at times, but French President Emmanuel Macron refused to be shaken when he found himself in an unexpected standoff with US counterpart Donald Trump Thursday. Former reality TV star Trump is known to make visitors flinch with a strong …

Sao Paulo, Brazil | AFP | A group of 91 prisoners escaped a jail in northeastern Brazil on Thursday by fleeing through a 30-meter (100-foot) tunnel, Brazilian media said. Nine of the inmates have been found, while police are attempting to catch the remaining 82 who disappeared from the prison …

  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | The Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan is due to begin Saturday in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, religious authorities in both countries announced. Ugandan religious leaders at the Muslim Supreme Council also announced fasting would start on Saturday. The announcements came …

Stagnant wages cause household demand to remain depressed, thereby deterring investments  By Bill Emmott If all else fails, try the previously unthinkable. It is not a bad principle for economic policy in the best of times. Today, it may be just what is needed: many Western countries – certainly the …

Tripoli, Libya | AFP |  Libya has arrested a brother and the father of the man suspected of carrying out the bombing in the British city of Manchester, a relative and security sources said Wednesday. The family source, asking not to be identified, said intelligence services had arrested Hashem Abedi, …