Editor’s Note: This listicle is part of a weekly series by The Ball State Daily News summarizing five stories from around the world. All summaries are based on stories published by The Associated Press.
The former French president’s final service, Saudi crown prince’s denial of ordering Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, the Chinese president’s comments on Hong Kong amid ongoing protests, allegations against the U.K. prime minister as he pushes for Brexit and a review of less-discussed conflicts at the United Nations General Assembly make up this week’s five international stories.
Chirac gets full military honors as France bids him farewell
Former French President Jacques Chirac was given full military honors Monday as past and current world leaders gathered in Paris to attend his final service. Chirac died Sept. 26 at age 86. In a political career spanning 40 years, he served as mayor of Paris, a lawmaker, prime minister and president from 1995-2007. Despite his failures and a 2011 corruption conviction from actions during his time as mayor, Chirac was remembered fondly.
Read more: Jacques Chirac
Saudi crown prince denies ordering journalist’s murder
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an interview on “60 Minutes” which aired Sunday accepted “full responsibility” for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, but denied allegations that he ordered it. After Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate Oct. 2, 2018, in Turkey, Saudi government agents killed him and dismembered his body, which has never been found. Saudi Arabia has charged 11 people and put them on trial, but no one has been convicted as of yet.
Read more: Jamal Khashoggi
China’s Xi renews commitment to Hong Kong amid protests
China’s Communist Party leader and President Xi Jinping on Monday renewed his government’s commitment to allowing Hong Kong to manage its own affairs amid continuing anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Xi made his remarks at a reception on the eve of the People’s Republic’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Earlier in the day, Xi led other top officials in paying respects to the founder of the communist state Mao Zedong.
Read more: Hong Kong
UK’s Johnson denies wrongdoing as allegations mount
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced political opposition and personal allegations Monday as he tried to fulfill his pledge to lead Britain out of the European Union in just over a month. The prime minister’s office denied a journalist’s claim that Johnson grabbed her thigh at a private lunch two decades ago. He is also under scrutiny for claims that American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri received money and perks from London coffers while he was mayor of the city.
Read more: Boris Johnson
At UN, a world stage for disputes often out of the spotlight
While top international issues took centerstage at the U.N. General Assembly’s gathering this week, some leaders focused on some other less-talked-about conflicts like the standoff between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karobakh region, relations between Greece and the new Republic of North Macedonia, friction between Morocco and Algeria over the Western Sahara region and tension between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots in a divided Cyprus.
Read more: United Nations