NEWS A weakened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged Wednesday from Israel’s national election likely to serve a third term, according to preliminary results and political analysts, after voters on Tuesday gave a surprising second place to a new centrist party founded by a television celebrity who emphasized kitchen-table issues like class size and apartment prices. Jodi Rudoren reports from Jerusalem.
De Gaulle once described Europe as “a coach with horses, with Germany the horse and France the coachman.†Since he signed the treaty with the German chancellor Konrad Adenauer in 1963, successive governments in both countries have struggled to overcome, or overlook, what divides them. But the relationship has never been as close as some hoped. Melissa Eddy reports from Berlin and Steven Erlanger from Paris.
A fatal shooting in a central Philippine courtroom on Tuesday added impetus to a growing national debate over firearms regulation in a country with an enthusiastic gun culture much like America’s. Floyd Whaley reports from Manila.
After nearly two days of hiding from the hostage-takers, Liviu Floria and seven others decided their only chance at survival would come from climbing the fence and running away. They left around 2 a.m. for what became a harrowing desert trek, guided only by the flickering flame atop a gas well in the distance and a compass application on Mr. Floria’s iPhone. Nicholas Kulish reports from Bergen, Norway.
An Indonesian ! court sentenced a 56-year-old British woman to death on Tuesday for smuggling $2.5 million worth of cocaine onto the island of Bali, a decision that went far beyond the prosecutors’ recommendation of 15 years in prison. Sara Schonhardt reports from Jakarta.
Following the lead of their counterparts in the United States, Japan’s central bankers announced Tuesday what they called a groundbreaking effort to reinvigorate the country’s long-moribund economy and defeat deflation. Nelson D. Schwartz and Hiroko Tabuchi report.
In certain ways, the very setting of the World Economic Forum reflects the restless, challenged state of human affairs. Our footing is uncertain, as on this ski resort’s slithery streets, and we have steep slopes to climb, as th Magic Mountain will remind the global elite this week. Alison Smale reports from Davos, Switzerland.
ARTS Productions of Verdi in Venice and Handel in Vienna work hard to bring freshness to well-used material. George Loomis reviews from Venice.
FASHION The surreal walk through the woods â€" flat flowers glowing like fireflies and models’ shoulders framed as if in a portrait â€" was Chanel’s take on a springtime couture. Suzy Menkes reviews from Paris.
SPORTS What was supposed to be a learning experience against one of the greatest tennis players in history turned into one of the biggest upsets in tennis history on Wednesday, when the 19-year-old Sloane Stephens introduced herself to a global aud! ience by ! rallying to defeat her 31-year-old American elder Serena Williams, 3-6, 7-5, 6-4. Christopher Clarey reports from Melbourne, Australia.
Freddy Adu and Federico Macheda, apparently wonderfully prodigious soccer talents when they were in their teens, are finding it tough to make the grade in the men’s game. Rob Hughes reports from London.
