World Briefs

Pope says resigning just ‘a distant hypothesis

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has no intention of resigning as he feels that his health is…

Navalny died a natural death, Russian spy chief says

MOSCOW—Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died his own death, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief, Sergei…

Global tobacco use tumbles despite lobbyingːWHO

GENEVA—Global tobacco use has tumbled in a generation with one in five people smoking versus…

US decries Nauru’s ‘unfortunate’ ditching of Taiwan

TAIPEI—The US official who heads the body that handles unofficial ties with Taiwan on Tuesday…

Italy withdraws from China’s Belt and Road project

ROME—Italy has withdrawn from China’s vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, more than four years…

‘Oppenheimer’ to screen in Japan amid controversy

TOKYO—Universal Pictures’ “Oppenheimer” will screen in Japan next year, a local distributor said on Thursday—a…

Indonesia suspends antigraft chief amid probe

JAKARTA—President Joko Widodo has suspended the chief of Indonesia’s antigraft agency, his aide said on…