World News at a Glance

U.S. Reneging on Deal, North Korean Envoy Says

North Korea’s top diplomat accused the United States of failing to live up to President Donald Trump’s agreement with its leader, Kim Jong Un, warning Saturday that the country would not start denuclearizing unless Washington took reciprocal actions. Speaking at a regional security forum in Singapore, Ri Yong Ho, North Korea’s foreign minister, said his country had taken actions toward denuclearization, such as halting nuclear and missile tests, demolishing an underground nuclear test site and dismantling a missile engine test site. But Ri said Washington was dragging its feet in taking corresponding measures to build mutual confidence and improve ties with Pyongyang.

Erdogan Orders Retaliatory Sanctions as Clash Escalates Over U.S. Pastor

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said Saturday that he was ordering reciprocal sanctions against two American officials in retaliation for U.S. measures against two of his government ministers, escalating a diplomatic wrangle between the NATO allies. The Turkish action came after the White House announced sanctions freezing the assets of the Turkish interior and justice ministers this past week, in protest against Turkey’s detention of an American pastor, Andrew Brunson. Erdogan said he would order his government to “freeze the assets” in Turkey of the U.S. counterparts of the targeted Turkish officials. It’s unclear whether the U.S. officials would have assets in Turkey.

Scorching Summer in Europe Signals Long-Term Climate Changes

In Northern Europe, this summer feels like a modern-day version of the biblical plagues. Cows are dying of thirst in Switzerland, fires are gobbling up timber in Sweden, the majestic Dachstein glacier is melting in Austria. Southern Europe is even hotter: Temperatures in Spain and Portugal are expected to reach 105-110 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend. Over the past week, two people have died in Spain from the high temperatures, and a third in Portugal. But in the northernmost latitudes, where the climate is warming faster than the global average, temperatures have been the most extreme, according to a study by researchers at Oxford University and the World Weather Attribution network.

Protests Pop Up Across Iran, Fueled by Daily Dissatisfaction

Across Iran’s heartland, from the sweltering heat of its southern cities to the bustling capital, protesters have taken to the streets with increasing intensity in recent months, much to the satisfaction of the Trump administration, which is hoping the civil unrest will put pressure on Iranian leaders. Some demonstrations — about the weak economy, strict Islamic rules, water shortages, religious disputes, local grievances — have turned deadly. The protesters have shouted harsh slogans against clerical leaders and their policies. On Thursday, protests were held in the cities of Arak, Isfahan, Karaj and Shiraz, as people took to the streets, chanting slogans like “Death to high prices” but also criticizing top officials.

First Task for New Leader of Pakistan: Rescuing Its Distressed Economy

The economic mess awaiting Pakistan’s new leader could take the thrill out of his election victory: The imbalance between imports and exports has soared to an alarming $18 billion; the rupee is shaky; tax collection is scandalously low (last year, in a country of 200 million, fewer than 1 million people paid any taxes) and Pakistan was recently returned to an international “gray list” for failing to curb terrorism financing. Imran Khan, the new prime minister, vowed to tackle the problems the moment he ascends to the premiership. China, from which Pakistan has borrowed heavily, and the Western-dominated International Monetary Fund will be watching.