Sinosphere Blog: Hong Kong Lawmakers Begin Debate Over Election Plan

Sinosphere Blog: Hong Kong Lawmakers Begin Debate Over Election Plan
The New Girl in School: Transgender Surgery at 18
Suleyman Demirel, Former Prime Minister of Turkey, Dies at 90
United States 1, Nigeria 0: U.S. Women Advance to Round of 16 on Abby Wambach’s Goal
Suleyman Demirel, Former Prime Minister of Turkey, Dies at 88
Pope’s Views on Climate Change Add Pressure to Catholic Candidates
In Turnabout, Disney Cancels Tech Worker Layoffs
U.S. Could Lift Sanctions Before Iran Accounting
House Moves to Delay Action on Trade Bill for 6 Weeks
For U.S., Killing Terrorists Is a Means to an Elusive End
Upsides for Steel Industry in a Russian Downturn, Despite Sanctions
As Putin Talks More Missiles and Might, Cost Tells Another Story
Six Deaths in Berkeley Cast Pall on Program
As Stress Drives Off Drone Operators, Air Force Must Cut Flights
As Tensions With U.S. Grow, Beijing Says It Will Stop Building Artificial Islands in South China Sea
During Ramadan, Dates Are a Unifying Staple
Far-Right Parties Form Coalition in European Parliament
Migrant’s Funeral in Berlin Highlights Europe’s Refugee Crisis
Leak of Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change Hints at Tensions in Vatican
Hong Kong Election Plan Appears Unlikely to Win Lawmakers’ Approval

Posted: 17 Jun 2015 12:56 AM PDT

The security presence in and around the Legislative Council is high after heated protests over the plan, which would allow a direct vote for the next leader.

The New Girl in School: Transgender Surgery at 18

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:51 PM PDT

It was not an easy transition for Katherine Boone, but the question is no longer whether gender reassignment is an option, but instead how soon it should start.

Suleyman Demirel, Former Prime Minister of Turkey, Dies at 90

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:46 PM PDT

Mr. Demirel served as premier seven times in a political career that stretched over nearly half a century.

United States 1, Nigeria 0: U.S. Women Advance to Round of 16 on Abby Wambach’s Goal

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:05 PM PDT

Wambach scored on a corner kick in the 45th minute, and the United States won Group D.

Suleyman Demirel, Former Prime Minister of Turkey, Dies at 88

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:40 PM PDT

Mr. Demirel served as premier seven times in a political career that stretched over nearly half a century.

Pope’s Views on Climate Change Add Pressure to Catholic Candidates

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:19 PM PDT

A Florida archbishop will press the pope's climate change message in the hope that it will resonate in particular with Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush.

In Turnabout, Disney Cancels Tech Worker Layoffs

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 06:06 PM PDT

Employees who were previously laid off and had to train their foreign replacements have had their jobs restored with no explanation.

U.S. Could Lift Sanctions Before Iran Accounting

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 05:56 PM PDT

John Kerry suggested that major sanctions might be lifted before international inspectors get answers to questions about Iranian experiments and work that appeared aimed at developing a bomb.

House Moves to Delay Action on Trade Bill for 6 Weeks

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 05:27 PM PDT

The effort would give the House until the end of July to try and line up votes needed to give President Obama fast-track trade negotiating authority.

For U.S., Killing Terrorists Is a Means to an Elusive End

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 05:15 PM PDT

Killing terrorist leaders may be a victory for drone strikes, but it has not helped the Obama administration and its Western allies stem the chaos in Yemen and Libya.

Upsides for Steel Industry in a Russian Downturn, Despite Sanctions

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 05:08 PM PDT

At Severstal and other companies in industries like steel and chemicals, workers and investors are benefiting from a weak ruble and strong dollar.

As Putin Talks More Missiles and Might, Cost Tells Another Story

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 03:56 PM PDT

With the relationship between the Kremlin and the West growing more confrontational, a new arms race proceeds, though with less than Cold War vigor.

Six Deaths in Berkeley Cast Pall on Program

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 03:26 PM PDT

Six people were killed and seven others injured in a balcony collapse near the University of California, Berkeley, the police said, most of them young Irish students here on a visa program.

As Stress Drives Off Drone Operators, Air Force Must Cut Flights

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 02:33 PM PDT

Long hours and the psychological toll of the work have forced the Pentagon to abandon its goal of increasing the flights and to instead reduce the number.

As Tensions With U.S. Grow, Beijing Says It Will Stop Building Artificial Islands in South China Sea

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 02:18 PM PDT

Experts said construction of the islands was all but complete and China will continue to build military installations on them.

During Ramadan, Dates Are a Unifying Staple

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 01:55 PM PDT

Out of respect for tradition, Muslim communities of the world break their fasts with the fruit, which is always available.

Far-Right Parties Form Coalition in European Parliament

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 01:50 PM PDT

The new bloc, which opposes immigration and big government, will be led by Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's National Front.

Migrant’s Funeral in Berlin Highlights Europe’s Refugee Crisis

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 01:37 PM PDT

As part of demonstrations happening across the Continent, a reburial was staged for a Syrian woman who died at sea in March.

Leak of Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change Hints at Tensions in Vatican

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 12:40 PM PDT

The unexpected leak has raised questions about who caused it, whether they meant to embarrass the pope and if it portends larger fights to come.

Hong Kong Election Plan Appears Unlikely to Win Lawmakers’ Approval

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 10:35 AM PDT

Lawmakers are set to decide that, rather than accept an election plan in which all candidates must effectively be approved by Beijing, they would rather have no direct election at all.