WORLD

Singapore, Singapore | AFP |  Singapore got its first female president Wednesday, but the milestone was overshadowed by criticism that her selection was undemocratic after she was handed the job without a vote. Halimah Yacob, a former speaker of parliament from the Muslim Malay minority, did not have to face …

Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU ministers will on Thursday debate a proposal to allow countries in Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone to reintroduce internal border checks for longer periods to tackle terror threats, diplomats said. The proposal for countries to reinstate border controls — including for up to four years in …

New York, United States | AFP | The Trump administration released new guidelines on Tuesday designed to promote the development of self-driving cars. “Our country is on the verge of one of the most exciting and important innovations in transportation history,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said at a press conference at …

Washington, United States | AFP | Republican lawmakers on Tuesday proposed making it easier to buy silencers for firearms, scandalizing Democrats. The proposed legislation aims mainly to benefit hunters or owners of firing ranges and contains several provisions, including the one on silencers. Since 1934, a government permit has been required …

Cupertino, United States | AFP |  Apple unveiled an updated version of its smartwatch Monday, as it claimed the device had become the top-selling watch in the world ahead of rivals such as Rolex and Fossil. The Apple Watch Series 3 has its own mobile connectivity which allows the user …

Washington, United States | AFP | Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke can change lung cells over time, making them more vulnerable to disease and priming them to develop cancer, US researchers said Monday. The report in the journal Cancer Cell is based on lab experiments on lung cells that were …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The price of electricity from offshore wind in Britain has dipped below the level guaranteed to Hinkley Point, raising questions about the construction of the vast nuclear power station. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy disclosed Monday the results of auctions for state …

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | The $680 million Venice development four kilometres (2.5 miles) off Dubai will have capacity of 3,000 visitors. Real estate is a mainstay in Dubai which has the most diversified economy in the oil-rich Gulf, with oil sales bringing in under 10 percent of state …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP |  Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied on Monday to demand their region’s secession from Spain, in a show of strength three weeks ahead of an independence referendum which has been banned by Madrid. Draped in red, yellow and blue separatist flags — with one banner …

Chicago, United States | AFP | Jury selection began Monday in the trial of one of two US teens accused of stabbing a friend to appease a fictitious internet character, in a case that sparked a TV documentary. Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser — now 15, but 12 years old …