World News at a Glance

Nuclear-Armed Islamic Republic Gets Unpredictable New Leader

Imran Khan, a charismatic cricket star who has fiercely criticized U.S. counterterrorism policy in a region plagued by extremism, appeared poised Thursday to become Pakistan’s next prime minister. After preliminary results showed his party decisively ahead in an election that critics say was marred, Khan addressed the nation on television, outlining what he would do as prime minister. He said he would fight corruption at the highest levels, improve relations with China, seek a “mutually beneficial” relationship with the United States and create a just welfare state along the lines of what the Prophet Muhammad did centuries ago.

Hundreds Died in Syrian Custody, Government Acknowledges

In recent weeks, hundreds of Syrian families have suddenly learned that their missing relatives have been registered as dead by the government. Government officials have not commented publicly on the new information, said how many people it applied to, or explained how they died. But the documents appear to be the first public acknowledgment by the government that hundreds if not thousands of prisoners died in state custody. Analysts believe the quiet changes in status show that President Bashar Assad is confident enough of remaining in power that he can make that admission without fear of repercussion.

Despite Egypt’s Dismal Human Rights Record, U.S. Restores Military Aid

This week, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted restrictions on $195 million in military aid that was frozen last year to protest Egypt’s dire human rights record and its relationship with North Korea, a State Department official said. The aid had been reinstated in response to steps taken by Egypt on specific U.S. concerns, the official said, without specifying what they were. Human rights groups slammed Pompeo’s decision, saying he had squandered valuable leverage over President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi at a time when his human rights record seems to be getting worse.

Trump Threatens Sanctions Against Turkey Over Detained Pastor

President Donald Trump abruptly announced on Thursday that the United States would impose “large sanctions” on Turkey for detaining a U.S. pastor accused of aiding a failed coup attempt there in 2016. The administration made no announcement of specific punitive measures against the Turkish government, and the White House declined to provide any details about the steps it was ready to take. It came one day after Andrew Brunson, 50, an evangelical pastor who has been imprisoned in Turkey for 21 months, was moved from jail to house arrest because of health concerns.

Iranian General Locks Horns With Trump, Escalating Threat-Filled Feud

A powerful commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps escalated the invective duel with President Donald Trump on Thursday, calling his threat against Iran’s president “cabaret-style rhetoric” in remarks that political analysts called worrisome. Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who wields enormous influence in Iran, may emerge as its future leader and is considered a terrorist mastermind by the United States. He said Trump should pick a fight directly with him and not Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani. While the possibility of a war between Iran and the United States is considered extremely low, political analysts worry that escalating threats could lead to something more serious.

A #MeToo Reckoning in China’s Workplace Amid Wave of Accusations

The women recount being forced into sex by bosses and trusted co-workers. They speak of being shunned by friends and discouraged by the authorities from seeking charges. In gripping open letters posted on social media sites, more than a dozen Chinese women have come forward in recent days with accusations of sexual assault and harassment against prominent Chinese journalists, intellectuals and charity leaders. The outpouring of allegations has been a focus of discussions on the internet in China and given momentum to the country’s fledgling #MeToo movement, which has struggled amid government censorship and a male-dominated society that often shames victims of sexual assault.

A Day Before Laos Dam Failed, Builders Saw Trouble

The day before this week’s catastrophic dam failure in Laos, the companies building the dam knew that it was deteriorating, and one of them saw a potential trouble sign three days in advance. Yet many people living downstream received no warning of the deadly flood that was about to sweep away villages, farms, livestock and people. The companies said they had warned Laotian officials of the danger, and some villages were evacuated, but the dam’s collapse killed at least 27 people — many more are still missing — and displaced at least 6,600 others in Laos.

New Zealand Grants Domestic Violence Victims Paid Leave

New Zealand will grant victims of domestic violence paid leave from work, in a move that activists say will give people the time to seek shelter for themselves and their children without losing their jobs. Members of Parliament approved a bill allowing the change by a vote of 63-57 on Wednesday night, giving domestic abuse survivors, as well as those caring for young victims, 10 days off from work in addition to their paid vacations. The measure will take effect in April, making New Zealand the second country to pass such legislation, after the Philippines.