Tianjin Blast Erodes Faith in Leadership
Last week’s deadly explosion at a Tianjin warehouse has dashed the perception among upwardly mobile Chinese that they were exempt from the ill effects of the country’s runaway economic growth.
IMF Move Blunts Reform Push
Political support in China for economic reform, already weakened by slowing growth, may be further dented by the IMF’s indication that it won’t add the yuan to an international basket of reserve currencies for at least a year.
China’s Chief Stock Picker: Beijing
Stock investors try to choose winners. China’s government is minting them as it buys into selected companies in its effort to prop up the market.
Heard on the Street
The Battle at the Heart of Global Markets
The clash between developed-market growth and emerging-market turmoil means more volatility for investors.
Pakistan Warms Up to Russia With Helicopter Deal
Russia has agreed to sell military helicopters to Pakistan and is poised to build a natural-gas pipeline there, as Islamabad turns toward a former adversary and away from the U.S.
Samsung Makes First Foray Into U.S. Stock Market
Samsung will make its first entry into the U.S. stock markets with an anticipated $1 billion listing of its biotechnology affiliate.
Greek Premier Resigns, Clearing Way for Snap Elections
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned, clearing the way for early elections in a gamble aimed at bolstering his power and ability to implement the country’s bailout deal.
Personal Technology
Review: The OnePlus 2 Smartphone
The OnePlus 2 isn’t the “2016 flagship killer” it claims to be, but the Android smartphone is an exceptional value.
How Social Bias Creeps Into Web Technology
Biases can creep into complex computer code despite even the best efforts to keep it out. Computer scientists are just starting to study the problem and devise ways to guard against it.
Airbnb Jumps into Race for China’s Outbound Tourism Market
Flush with cash from its recent $1.5 billion funding round, Airbnb is now targeting Chinese travelers going abroad,
Authors Group Seeks DOJ Probe of Amazon
Hundreds of authors asked the Justice Department for an antitrust investigation of Amazon for having created a “monopoly” with “unprecedented power over America’s market for books.”
A Way of Life Drowned by the Greek Crisis
Greeks have earned a living from fish for eons, but six years of crisis has left this way of life in shambles. Few think the woes will end soon.
Islamic State Claims Cairo Bomb Attack Near Security Building
The Sunni Muslim extremist group said it carried out the bombing in a north Cairo neighborhood on Thursday morning that wounded 29 people, six of them police officers.
Jimmy Carter Has Melanoma in Brain, Liver
Former President Jimmy Carter said doctors found melanoma in his brain and his liver and he would cut back on his work as he undergoes radiation treatment. 116
Jean-Marie Le Pen Expelled From National Front
Jean-Marie Le Pen was expelled from the French far-right National Front after attending a disciplinary hearing of the party’s executive committee.
The mining site of Vale, the biggest Brazilian mining company, in Para state, Brazil.
Low Commodity Prices Force Shifts at Mining Companies
In a sign of desperation amid plunging commodity prices, mining companies are delving into low-margin businesses—traditionally the domain of the industry’s middlemen—for new sources of revenue.
A Sparse Year for Deals in Southeast Asia
Investment banks are riding out the roughest spell in Southeast Asia in six years as IPOs are scrapped, mergers falter and foreign investors shy away from local stocks and bonds.
Chinese Insurance Group in Talks Over Novo Banco Sale
Portugal’s central bank is in talks with China’s Anbang Insurance Group to sell Novo Banco, the Portuguese bank created out of failed lender Banco Espírito Santo last year.
Cost of Insuring Glencore’s Debt Rises
Poor results from Glencore have seen the cost of insurance against default on the commodity giant’s bonds balloon.
Arts
Film Review
‘Top Spin’ Review: A King Kong of Ping-Pong Movies
This documentary follows three young American table-tennis prodigies as they try to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
- Film Clip: ‘Top Spin’
- More Reviews: ‘She’s Funny That Way’ | ‘Learning to Drive’
Life
Eating & Drinking
No-Cook Recipes to Keep the Heat Out of the Kitchen
When the temperature rises, the last thing anyone wants to do is turn on the stove. But that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on flavor. Three recipes that prove that less can be infinitely more.
Gear & Gadgets
Vintage RVs Make a Comeback
For enthusiasts who have refurbished a ’60s or ’70 RV to its former unabashedly kitschy glory, a classic motor home is key to the ultimate road-trip.
Video
Terror Link Seen as Unlikely in Bangkok Bombing
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High-Tech Ways to Sleep Better
3:05
Bangkok Bombing: Sketch of Suspect Is Released
1:43Photos
Fête Accompli
A Mad-for-Plaid Rooftop Picnic With Adam Lippes
A style report from the scene atop Rockefeller Center where a chic crowd gathered to celebrate the designer’s collaboration with Target.
Book Review: Ashoka in Ancient India
Chandrahas Choudhury reviews “Ashoka in Ancient India” by Nayanjot Lahiri.
Barron’s
Making Sense of the Market’s Big Selloff
There are plenty of reasons for Thursday’s broad-based stock decline. Here’s a roundup of ideas.