China’s Mad at Japan, and Pop Stars Are Paying for It
Beijing is curbing Japanese movies, music and art as it seeks to punish Tokyo for its support of Taiwan.
Politics and Government
Germany Passes Controversial Law to Boost Soldier Numbers
Amid rising tensions with Russia, German lawmakers approved a military draft law aimed at increasing the number of soldiers. Those opposing the law worry it’s a step toward compulsory conscription.
Trump Wants Maduro to Go. Here’s Who Could Replace Him in Venezuela.
Several senior Venezuelan officials and opposition politicians would have a claim to power in a transition, but all would face difficulties.
Putin Basks in Praise From Modi on India Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, underlining the close personal relationship between the leaders and their countries’ longtime friendship.
Ruined Rice Fields and Broken Rail Lines: Sri Lanka Counts Cost of Cyclone
Officials estimate the damage runs into billions of dollars, a headache for the island nation just recovering from an economic crash.
Taiwan’s Opposition Leader, Once for Independence, Turns Toward China
She says Taiwan must embrace its Chinese heritage to avoid war. Her critics say she wants to steer the island into Beijing’s orbit.
In Yemen, Separatist Forces Backed by UAE March Into Oil-Rich Region
The separatists were battling to secure the region’s oil fields, residents and the group’s officials said. Their swift advance could be a turning point in Yemen’s decade-long civil war.
Yegor Ligachev, Gorbachev’s No. 2 Who Turned Foe, Is Dead at 100
As the Kremlin’s hard-line Communist ideologist, he initially embraced his boss’s modernizing reforms before turning against them as threats to the Soviet order.
Tunisia Arrests Opposition Figure in Widening Crackdown
The sentencing of Ayachi Hammami, a prominent human rights lawyer, was the latest sign of Tunisia’s backsliding into authoritarianism, say rights groups.
With Tensions Rising, Israel and Lebanon Expand Cease-Fire Talks
Diplomats from both countries joined a military-led committee overseeing a year-old truce as fears mounted of a renewed Israeli offensive against Hezbollah.