Blunt Criticism of Russian Army Signals New Challenge for Putin

An official in a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine suggested Russia’s defense minister should shoot himself because of his army’s failings, an unusually blunt and public rebuke of Kremlin leadership.

In Global Slowdown, China Holds Sway Over Countries’ Fates

The lender of choice for many nations over the past decade, Beijing now has the power to cut them off, lend more or forgive some of their debts.