World briefs

PHILIPPINES The Philippine securities commission has revoked the registration of an online news outfit known for its critical reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte, a move media watchdogs said is an act to muzzle the free press.

INDONESIA A mezzanine floor inside the Jakarta Stock Exchange tower collapsed yesterday, injuring nearly 80 people and forcing a chaotic evacuation.

MYANMAR A top official said yesterday that a camp to house Rohingya Muslim and Hindu refugees who return from Bangladesh will be ready by its promised deadline next week.

IRAQ Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a busy street market in central Baghdad yesterday, in back-to-back explosions that killed at least 38 people, Iraqi health and police officials said — the deadliest attack since last month’s declaration of victory over the Islamic State group.

UAE An exiled Qatari ruling family member once promoted by Saudi Arabia amid its ongoing dispute with Doha has appeared in an online video claiming he’s being held against his will in the United Arab Emirates, an allegation denied by Abu Dhabi.

EGYPT’s president yesterday sought to defuse tensions with Ethiopia and Sudan, reassuring them that his country was not meddling in their internal affairs or planning to go to war against them.

TURKEY’s president yesterday denounced U.S. plans to form a 30,000-strong Kurdish-led border security force in Syria, vowing to “drown this army of terror before it is born,” as Russia and Syria also rejected the idea.

SWITZERLAND Authorities say a 19-year-old German skier has died near the resort of Grindelwald after falling some 30 meters off a ledge.

SPAIN Officials say the bodies of seven migrants have been found close to the coast of Lanzarote. Police later found 18 migrants who had made it to shore.

CHILE Pope Francis’ visit to Chile was always going to be fraught, but it has taken on an unprecedented degree of opposition with the firebombings of Catholic churches ahead of his arrival and protests by Chileans fed up with priest sex abuse and cover-up.