What’s News
State Spending Keeps China’s Industrial Sector Humming
Activity in China’s industrial sector appeared to stabilize last month, with an official index on manufacturing holding steady, buoyed by state spending on infrastructure.
Yuan Marks Milestone With Entry Into IMF Reserve Basket
The yuan officially enters the International Monetary Fund’s official basket of reserve currencies Saturday, a trophy for China in the transformation of the communist nation’s geopolitical status.
U.S. Stocks End Quarter on a High Note
Gains in bank shares helped lift the S&P 500 by 3.3% in the third period, as investors regained confidence in the economy and embraced riskier assets.
Wang Jianlin Moves on Hollywood
Dalian Wanda’s Wang Jianlin is on a push to extend Chinese cultural influence through movie production, cinemas and theme parks. Through a global shopping spree, China’s richest man is positioning Dalian Wanda in every stage of the entertainment life cycle. 117
Deutsche Bank Takes a Lashing From the Public
German citizens and lawmakers across the political spectrum see any state aid as unacceptable for a bank that is being openly derided as a national embarrassment.
India’s Army on Alert at Border in Wake of Kashmir Strikes
India’s army guarding its de facto border with Pakistan was on alert amid concerns of military escalation after India carried out strikes against militants in Pakistan-controlled territory a day earlier.
Volkswagen Agrees to $1.2 Billion Compensation for U.S. Dealers
Volkswagen will pay up to $1.2 billion to its 652 U.S. dealers as compensation for its emissions-cheating scheme, deepening penalties facing the German auto maker.
The Saturday Essay
Europe Needs Its Realist Past
Heard on the Street
Japan’s Long and Winding Detour to Inflation
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Essay
The Benefits of a Little Small Talk
With everyone’s eyes glued to their digital devices, fewer people engage in idle chitchat anymore. But research suggests that making small talk has surprising benefits.
Life
Adventure & Travel
Tel Aviv: A Beach-to-Market Food Tour
Israeli food is having its global moment, spurring ever more inventive cooking in trendsetting Tel Aviv. Here’s how to find the city’s most exciting restaurants, food stalls—and the king of all pita sandwiches.
Food & Drink
Twilight of the Goudas: The Best American-Made Cheeses
Once one had to look to Europe to satisfy a serious cheese habit. Now American cheesemakers are producing wheels as luscious, pungent and downright delicious as anything on the market. Here’s a tip sheet.
The Intelligent Investor
Death of the Stock Split: It’s Value, Not Price, That Matters
This year is on track to be the third-lowest for stock splits in modern history, behind only 2009 and 2010, when companies were too traumatized by the financial crisis to dare lowering their share prices.
FTSE Russell Opts Not to Add China’s Local Currency Shares to Indexes
The FTSE Russell index group has decided against adding China’s local-currency shares to its global benchmarks, reflecting investor concern over the openness and transparency of China’s stock markets.
Iraq Quarrel on Production Number Could Sink OPEC Deal
A crack is already evident in OPEC’s deal to cut oil production: Resurgent producer Iraq is disputing the output numbers that underpin the accord.
Retail’s Biggest Debate: Should You Pay More to Use a Credit Card?
The Supreme Court’s decision to take up the question of whether retailers can charge more when shoppers use credit cards has put it in the middle of a growing international debate. 208
Politics
Election 2016
Trump Renews Attack Against Beauty Queen
In a sharp escalation of his attacks on the 1996 Miss Universe winner, Donald Trump kept alive a controversy over a beauty queen’s weight that could cause further damage to his standing among women voters. 2396
Tech
SoftBank Plans $4.5 Billion Investment in South Korean Tech Sector
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said he intends to invest around $4.5 billion in South Korea’s technology sector over the next decade, with money going to fields including smart robots, the “Internet of Things” and artificial intelligence.
Uber to Rev Up in Japan
Uber plans to ramp up its business in Japan, a wealthy country full of potential customers, even though its core ride-hailing service is barred from the country.
Fears of Violence Unsettle Brazil Vote
Brazil’s armed forces are descending onto the streets of Rio de Janeiro and other cities as concerns about violence and criminal interference dominate the run-up to Sunday’s first round of local elections.
Iran Says It Built Drone Based on Captured U.S. Craft
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has built a new attack drone that is similar to a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle captured five years ago, Iranian media reported Saturday.
Hurricane Matthew Heads for Jamaica, Cuba
One of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent history roared across the Caribbean Saturday on a course that puts Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba in the path of potentially devastating winds and rain.
Kerry Presses Russia Over Syria Attacks
The U.S. is still pursuing talks with Moscow on the Syria crisis, officials said, days after Secretary of State John Kerry threatened to shut them down over a massive Syrian and Russian military offensive in Aleppo.
Germany Sees Surge in Number of Refugees Receiving Benefits
About half a million refugees in Germany received social security benefits in June, almost twice as many as a year earlier, potentially fueling tension among voters over the recent influx of refugees.
Video
Uber Starts Food Delivery Service to Crack Japan's Market
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Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler
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Skydivers Swing From Hot-Air Balloons to Set World Record
1:11Photos
Vote for House of the Week
Will it be a French villa, a Manhattan loft, an Australian home or a Cape Cod retreat?
Travel
The Four October Film Festivals Movie-Lovers Should Know (Sundance Isn’t One)
Far better than a movie night? A movie getaway. Boutique film festivals in Savannah, Austin, Marin County and Woodstock are runaway hits.