NEWS Despite intensive airstrikes by French warplanes, Islamist fighters overran a strategic village and military post in central Mali on Monday, indicating that the war against extremists who have carved out a jihadist state in the nation’s north could be a long and difficult one. Steven Erlanger, Alan Cowell and Adam Nossiter report.
President Barack Obama and Republican Congressional leaders dug in Monday on their conflicting positions over raising the U.S. debt limit, indicating that the president’s second term will open with a potentially perilous budget showdown. Jackie Calmes and Jonathan Weisman report from Washington.
The chief human rights official at the United Nations, Navi Pillay, called on Monday for an international inquiry into human rights offenses committed by the North Korean government over many decades. Nick Cumming-Bruce reports from Geneva.
The Chinese state news media on Monday published aggressive reports on what they described as the dangerous air pollution in Beijing and other parts of northern China, indicating that popular anger over air quality had reached a level where propaganda officials felt they had to let the officially sanctioned press address the issue. Edward Wong reports from Beijing.
Unidentified gunmen on Monday sprayed bullets into the headquarters of Greece’s governing New Democracy party in Athens, adding to a wave of politically motivated violence. Liz Alderman reports from Athens.
ARTS When “Kung Fu Panda 3” kicks its way into China’s theaters in 2016, the country’s vigilant film censors will find no nasty surprises — after all, they have already dropped in to monitor the movie at the DreamWorks Animation campus in Los Angeles. The lure of access to China’s fast-growing film market is entangling studios and moviemakers with the state censors of a country in which American notions of free expression simply do not apply. Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes report from Los Angeles.
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Quebec-born music director, is what the orchestra world is desperate for: a young, charismatic maestro who can win the respect of grizzled orchestra veterans, the enthusiasm of audiences and the praise of critics. Daniel J. Wakin reports from Montreal.
FASHION Something in the dank winter air or the chily economy is bringing out the tough side of the alpha male. Boots elevated on rubber soles and leather jackets padded with nylon and neoprene make men’s wear for winter 2013 look like it is designed to handle a hurricane. Suzy Menkes writes from Milan.
SPORTS Caroline Wozniacki, long No. 1 in women’s tennis, is now No. 10. Her plan for 2013 is to minimize the pain and the confusion; to restore clarity to her game and stability to her off-court structure. Christopher Clarey reports from Melbourne.
IHT Rendezvous: IHT Quick Read: Jan. 15
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