BUSINESS

Vietnam just abandoned its policy limiting families to two children. China now says, “Three is best.” The Russian government is targeting child-free lifestyles. And the White House is mulling baby bonuses. Many countries are trying to reverse record low birthrates, but a new report from the United Nations Population Fund contends that governments are operating … Read more

It was established by Syria’s fledgling government to restore calm in a country fractured by roughly 14 years of civil war. Instead, the Committee for Civil Peace has become a source of national strife. Discontent is simmering among some Syrians who supported the uprising against the country’s ousted dictator, Bashar al-Assad. They now accuse the … Read more

At a recent ceremony in Vichy, France, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, a small, dapper man stepped forward from the crowd to place a wreath at the foot of a monument to the dead. He listened to students speak of endangered peace, the defense of French values … Read more

More than 1.5 million people traveled to Saudi Arabia this year for the hajj. Only three of them rode on horseback all the way from Spain, recreating the pilgrimage of Andalusian Muslims centuries ago and sharing their travels in the most modern way with big followings on social media. In Bosnia, they lost days looking … Read more

An overnight Russian drone barrage that targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday killed three people, set cars and buildings on fire and sent exhausted residents running to bomb shelters, according to the local authorities. Russia has been increasing the scale of missile and drone attacks for months, with nightly attacks on various regions and cities in … Read more

It was well past midnight in Mukachevo, a city of cobblestone streets tucked into Ukraine’s western tip, and a group of students lingered by the river, debating what to grab from a nearby 24/7 supermarket. A van pulled up, and out spilled a rowdier crowd of young men — loud, tipsy and visibly thirsty for … Read more

Some of the most popular chat threads on an online forum for weapons enthusiasts in Austria dissect the latest releases in firearms accessories, like silencers and targeting sights, or review the country’s shooting ranges. On Tuesday afternoon, a relatively sleepy discussion on “Gun law/reform attempts” stirred to life. “A new era regarding gun ownership is … Read more

A second night of rioting struck the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, as anti-immigrant protests spread to several other areas and the police warned of “hate-fueled acts.” Homes, businesses and vehicles were again attacked in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena, where several properties were set on fire on Monday night following … Read more