World News at a Glance

U.S. to Impose New Sanctions Against Russia

The Trump administration said Wednesday that it would soon impose new sanctions against Russia in response to the attempted assassination in March of a former Russian spy living in England. The sanctions were imposed under the provisions of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, which mandates that once the government has determined that a country has used chemical or biological weapons in violation of international law, sanctions must be imposed. The announcement by the State Department came 3 1/2 weeks after President Donald Trump’s friendly meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Finland.

Putin’s Monolithic Party Shows Cracks Over Pension Cutbacks

A deeply unpopular government plan to raise retirement ages in Russia has created an unusual schism within President Vladimir Putin’s typically monolithic ruling party. The overhaul, which the government says is necessary to cope with a shrinking workforce and a growing retiree population, has touched off street protests in more than 150 cities and divided the party, United Russia. The turbulence poses no serious threat to Putin. Analysts say, however, that the plan tests how far Putin can go in tweaking the terms of an implicit bargain: a surrender of political freedoms in exchange for economic stability and national pride.

Left Homeless by Indonesia Quake, and Begging Passers-By for Help

When the earthquake struck off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, three days ago, Lala Intan Komala lost her mother, her home and her livelihood. The story is repeated across much of North Lombok, where the quake displaced about 156,000 people, officials said Wednesday. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for Indonesia’s disaster management agency, said 168 bodies had been recovered. Sutopo said in an interview that aid had been slow in reaching victims, especially those in far-flung areas. But, he said, the government had sent out 200 pickup trucks Wednesday to deliver rice, cooking oil, drinking water and food staples.

Malaysia’s Ex-Leader Najib Is Charged With Money Laundering

Malaysian authorities charged Najib Razak, the former prime minister, with three counts of money laundering Wednesday, the latest escalation in an inquiry involving billions of dollars diverted from a state investment fund. The charges came a day after Malaysia’s attorney general announced that a $250 million yacht, which prosecutors say was bought with money stolen from the fund, had been returned to Malaysia from Indonesia. The new charges are linked to three electronic transfers worth a total of $10 million from a onetime unit of the investment fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, that prosecutors say were made into Najib’s bank accounts.

Congo Strongman Will Step Down After 17 Years in Power

Joseph Kabila, who took over the Democratic Republic of Congo after the assassination of his father in 2001, announced Wednesday he would not stand for re-election, raising hopes the country might carry out a peaceful transition of power for the first time in its modern history. For two years, Congolese opposition groups, the African Union, the United States and the United Nations had all urged Kabila not to defy term limits and seek a third term. Opposition activists rejoiced at the president’s decision, but also cautioned that it was only a first step toward an orderly transition of power.

Saudi Arabia Escalates Feud With Canada Over Rights Criticism

Saudi Arabia took concrete steps to disengage economically from Canada on Wednesday, escalating the feud over Canadian criticism of Saudi rights abuses and demonstrating that its expulsion of the Canadian ambassador this week was more than a symbolic protest. The kingdom announced Wednesday that it would no longer send its citizens to Canadian hospitals and that it would withdraw resident physicians from Canadian hospitals. It earlier said it would suspend flights by Saudia, the national carrier, to Canadian airports starting Monday and informed traders that it would not buy Canadian barley or wheat.

Migrants Walk Off Italy’s Tomato Fields, and Into Its Immigration Debate

Hundreds of migrant farmworkers walked off tomato fields in southern Italy on Wednesday to protest their working conditions after two road accidents killed 16 African laborers in 48 hours, adding a volatile new element to Italy’s debate over illegal immigration. “We are not slaves,” the workers chanted as they marched in the red caps that have become a symbol of their battle against day-labor exploitation. The deaths dominated television this week and were quickly seized upon by the hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who promised to stop the exploitation by breaking up the ghettos where many migrants live.