WORLD

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Toyota announced on Tuesday it was creating a joint venture with Panasonic to develop batteries for electric cars, as the Japanese auto giant ramps up its ambitions for electric-powered vehicles. The firm will be set up by 2020 and controlled 51-49 percent by Toyota, the Prius …

Bruxelles, Belgium | AFP | Divisions between EU countries could delay or derail plans to overhaul copyright law, an ambition that has set up a battle pitting media firms against internet giants like Facebook and Google. The European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission had planned to meet …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Keeping the Irish border free-flowing has proved to be the toughest issue to resolve in negotiating Britain’s exit from the European Union. The Brexit deal between London and Brussels — overwhelmingly rejected last week by British MPs — contains a so-called backstop provision ensuring …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May presents her new approach to Brexit on Monday, following MPs’ crushing rejection of the divorce deal agreed with the EU. Lawmakers have their chance to submit amendments, which could indicate whether opinion in parliament is shifting towards alternative routes. Here …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s drawn-out drama around Brexit has featured a colourful cast of characters — crashing or catapulting their careers. Here are some of the public figures who have played pivotal roles in events: – Nigel Farage – A eurosceptic member of the European Parliament and former …

Shanghai, China | AFP | After remarkable growth and change for decades, most economists believe China’s economy is entering a period of slower, steadier growth. The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.6 percent last year, government figures showed on Monday, the slowest rate since 1990. Here is a brief look at China’s …

Beijing, China | AFP | China’s economy grew at its slowest pace in almost three decades in 2018, losing more steam in the last quarter as it battles to quell massive debt and a US trade war, official data showed Monday. The 6.6 percent growth comes in above the official …

Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The planned second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un needs to make tangible progress on Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons if it is to avoid being dismissed as “reality TV”, analysts say. Their summit in Singapore in June was undoubtedly …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s lack of an upper age limit for driving was in the spotlight on Friday as 97-year-old Prince Philip recovered after being involved in an accident that flipped his car. An experienced pilot and carriage racer, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband has never been one for …

Mission, United States | AFP | In Mission, Texas, the construction of part of a long-promised wall on the border with Mexico to stem the tide of undocumented migrants is already in progress. Among the many who will be affected? Butterflies. Mission, located in the lower Rio Grande Valley, is …