South Korea Questions VW Unit Chief as Emissions Probe Widens

Here is the latest World News from The Wall Street Journal.

South Korea Questions VW Unit Chief as Emissions Probe Widens
Prosecutors’ questioning of the managing director of Volkswagen Korea comes as the Korean government widens its probe of emissions certifications to nearly two dozen foreign auto makers.

U.K. Retail Sales Up Despite Brexit as Weak Pound Lures Tourists
U.K. retail sales rose strongly in July, as warm weather boosted clothing sales and a weak pound lured overseas visitors to snap up watches and jewelry. The stronger-than-expected data gave sterling a boost.

Video of Dazed Aleppo Boy Reverberates Amid Horrors of Syria
Syrian opposition activists have released haunting footage showing a young boy rescued from the rubble in the aftermath of a devastating airstrike in Aleppo, Syria.

Hezbollah’s Conundrum: Fighting Other Jihadists, Not Israel
The Iranian-backed Shiite militia used to command widespread admiration in the region for confronting Israel, but its battle today is almost exclusively against fellow jihadists, albeit of a Sunni kind, writes Yaroslav Trofimov.

Philippine Senator Fires Back at President’s Attack
Sen. Leila De Lima accused President Rodrigo Duterte Thursday of an “abuse of power” for publicly attacking her on the eve of a senate inquiry into a violent antidrug campaign that has claimed over 600 lives.

Bank of Japan Likely to Take Bold Easing Action, Abe Adviser Says
Etsuro Honda said the central bank’s September policy review would support further stimulus to defeat deflation.

Two U.S. Olympic Swimmers Detained by Police at Rio Airport
Brazil authorities removed two American Olympic swimmers from their flights to the U.S. Late Wednesday, the United States Olympic Committee said, as an investigation into an armed robbery they and other swimmers were victims in escalated.

South Africa’s Ruling ANC Faces New Threats on Two Fronts
Two young leaders from opposing ends of the ideological spectrum are rising to reshape South African politics as the ruling party of Nelson Mandela reels from its worst election loss since apartheid collapsed.

Brazil Ruling Allows Bailout of Rio 2016
A Rio judge ruled Wednesday that the local Olympic organizing committee could be bailed out with public funds, a setback to prosecutors who had sought transparency in the committee’s budget first.

U.S. Held Cash Payment Until Iran Released Prisoners
An Iranian cargo plane left Geneva with $400 million in cash after a flight with Americans aboard took off from Tehran in January.

Brazil Finance Ministry Raises 2017 GDP Growth Forecast
The Brazilian government raised its forecast for economic growth next year because of various indicators that have improved since the lower forecast was first announced, a finance ministry official said Wednesday.

EU Official Calls Kremlin’s Claims of Ukrainian Attacks in Crimea ‘Unreliable’
One of the European Union’s top officials ratcheted up criticism Wednesday of Russia’s recent pressure on Ukraine, calling the Kremlin’s claims of Ukrainian attacks in Crimea “unreliable.”

German State Elections Pose Test for Merkel Amid Angst Over Migrants
Polls in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin next month will gauge how much her move to let in more than a million refugees since last year has alienated her core voters and weakened her party.

‘Burkini’ Goes Against French Values, Says French Prime Minister
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls waded into a debate about swimwear, saying the head-to-foot burkini suit worn by some Muslim women is against the values of the French Republic.

Pakistan Objects to Indian Premier’s Comments on Its Affairs
A top Pakistani diplomat said violence roiling the disputed region of Kashmir, and the Indian prime minister’s excoriating Islamabad, have strained ties between the neighbors.

South Korea Plans 50-Year Bonds
South Korea plans to issue 50-year treasury bonds, the longest maturity debt the country would ever have, to secure more stable government financing, as its economy keeps relying on fiscal and monetary support to spur anemic growth.

U.K. Accountants Face Fines for Helping Tax Avoidance
Accountants or financial advisers who help customers to bend the rules to avoid paying tax could face tough new fines. the U.K. government said.

Brazilian Judge Allows Probe of Rousseff
A judge authorized an investigation of suspended President Dilma Rousseff for alleged obstruction of justice in a corruption probe centered on the state oil company.

Malaysia Says Missing Tanker Taken by Own Crew
An Indonesian-flagged fuel tanker that disappeared from a Malaysian port was likely taken by its own crew in a dispute with their employer, authorities said.

U.K. Jobs Market Weathers Initial Brexit Storm
The number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in the U.K. fell in July, a sign that the labor market held up well in the immediate aftermath of the country’s vote to leave the EU.

Indonesia Sinks 60 Fishing Boats on Independence Day
Indonesia sank 60 fishing boats it impounded for illegally fishing in its waters, marking its independence day Wednesday with a message to other nations that it won’t tolerate incursions into its territory.

Biden Gets Japan’s Attention With Nuclear Remark
A remark by Vice President Joe Biden that the U.S. “wrote Japan’s constitution to say they could not be a nuclear power” is getting attention in Japan, where possible changes to that constitution are on the agenda.

North Korean U.K.-Based Diplomat Defects to South Korea
North Korea’s deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom defected with his family to South Korea, saying he was “sick and tired” of the Kim Jong Un regime, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.

Turkey Releases Prisoners to Make Room After Coup
Turkey plans a widespread early parole of some 38,000 convicts in a move that will free up space in its overcrowded prisons for tens of thousands of people accused of plotting a failed coup.

Russia Again Launches Syria Airstrikes from Iran
For the second consecutive day, Russian bombers target Islamic State militants, this time in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzour.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s Diplomacy Skills to Be Tested During China Trip
Myanmar’s leader arrives in China Wednesday for talks, including discussions on the fate of a contentious Chinese-backed dam project.

Rio’s Latest Headache: Loads of Empty Seats
Not even Usain Bolt is a guarantee of strong turnout at the Rio Games, which have been plagued by lackluster ticket sales.

Son of ‘El Chapo’ Among Men Abducted in Mexico
A son of jailed Mexican narcotics kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán presumably is among six men abducted from an upscale restaurant in the Pacific Coast resort of Puerto Vallarta, the prosecutor of Jalisco state said Tuesday.

Germany Accuses Mosques of Playing Turkish Politics
Authorities worry that an Ankara-run religious institution isn’t just providing spiritual guidance for Turks in Germany but rousing support for Turkish President Erdogan in the aftermath of the failed coup.

Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff Likens Ouster Bid to Coup D’État
Brazil’s suspended President Dilma Rousseff promised to keep defending herself against accusations of fiscal crimes that may cost her job.

Amnesty International India Denies Sedition Allegations
Human-rights group says charges related to Kashmir event are ‘without merit’; student union called weekend gathering ‘antinational.’

Europe Calls for Better Pilot Medical Checks After Germanwings Crash
Europe’s top air-safety body proposed a new set of medical checks for pilots and stronger medical oversight to address shortfalls highlighted by last year’s crash of a Germanwings jetliner at the hands of its suicidal co-pilot.

The Specter of an Accidental China-U.S. War
As China flexes its muscles in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the risks of an inadvertent clash on the water or in the air are growing by the day.

British Preacher Convicted of Inviting Support for ISIS
Anjem Choudary, one of the U.K.’s most controversial radical Islamic preachers, was convicted of inviting support for Islamic State.

Former FIFA President João Havelange Dies
João Havelange, who as FIFA’s longest-serving president transformed soccer’s governing body into a multibillion-dollar business and a hotbed for subsequent corruption, has died at the age of 100.

Peru Earthquake Damage Being Assessed; Aid Flowing to Region
Aid was flowing into a mountainous Peruvian region rattled by an earthquake as authorities continued to assess damage Tuesday.

U.K. Prime Minister Seeks to Reassure Beijing After Deal Delay
British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reassure the Chinese leadership that London is committed to strengthening relations with Beijing, after delaying a final decision on a major deal last month that strained relations between the two countries.

Thailand Eyes Muslim Separatists in Deadly String of Bombings
Thai authorities investigating a wave of bombings that killed four people and injured dozens last week in popular tourist spots are now looking at the possible involvement of Muslim separatists in the south of the country.

The World Is Ready for the Fed to Raise Rates, RBA’s Stevens Says
The global economy is ready to absorb a rise in U.S. interest rates, Reserve Bank of Australia Gov. Glenn Stevens says, despite the Federal Reserve’s calls for patience as it weighs an uncertain growth outlook and recent market convulsions.

Iran Arrests Dual National on Security-Related Charges
Tehran’s top prosecutor said that the authorities had arrested a dual citizen who had been in contact with British intelligence services, the latest in a string of such detentions this year.

British Researchers Are Squeezed by Brexit Vote
Some of the country’s top scientists are stepping aside from leading projects funded by the EU, or being asked by partners to reconsider participating over concerns review panels won’t approve funding requests.

Top U.S. General Seeks to Assure China on Missile Defense System
The U.S. Army’s top general sought to assure the Chinese military that a deployment of a controversial missile defense system in South Korea didn’t amount to a threat to China.

The Specter of an Accidental China-U. S. War
As China flexes its muscles in the South China Sea, the risks of an inadvertent clash with the U.S. on the water or in the air are growing by the day.

Russia Launches Syrian Airstrikes From Iran
The extremist groups Islamic State and Nusra Front are targeted in attacks by long-range and tactical bombers, Russia’s defense ministry says.

Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Avoid Jail Time
Two Hong Kong student activists were ordered to complete community service and a third was handed a suspended prison sentence, as all three avoided jail time over the city’s 2014 pro-democracy protests.

India’s Modi Criticizes Pakistan in Independence Day Address
In a speech usually used to outline the government’s achievements, the prime minister said that India had “cried” when children were killed in a Taliban attack on a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar in 2014.

FAA Clears Indonesian Carriers for Takeoff to the U.S.
The FAA has upgraded Indonesia’s aviation safety ranking, lifting a nine-year-old bar on Indonesian airlines initiating flights to the U.S.

Ryan Lochte Didn’t Report Robbery
Local police investigating the armed robbery of four U.S. Olympic swimmers, including star Ryan Lochte, learned about the high-profile crime from media reports the same time the rest of the world did.

Peaceful Protest Emerges Amid Congo’s Violence
Election delays and deadly clashes threaten to plunge this resource-rich country the size of Western Europe back into civil war, but have also given rise to peaceful activism in the country’s most violent region.

Airstrikes Hit Hospital in Yemen
Airstrikes hit a hospital in Yemen run by Doctors Without Borders, the medical aid group said, killing more than a dozen people according to local officials and leaving the health center heavily damaged.

Gunmen Grab Men in Mexican Resort
Suspected gangland gunmen burst into a restaurant on the hotel strip in Mexico’s Pacific resort of Puerto Vallarta and abducted as many as dozen men from a celebratory meal, the Jalisco state prosecutor said.

Hungary’s Fence Turns Trek Into Waiting Game
Along Europe’s longest border fence, a summer encampment of migrants is attempting to wait its way into Hungary.

U.S.-Backed Forces Aim at Another Syrian Town
Fresh from capturing Manbij from Islamic State militants, the Syrian Democratic Forces are turning attention to the strategically important town of Al-Bab

Peru Earthquake Kills At Least Nine
An earthquake in southern Peru has left at least nine people dead, including a U.S. citizen, as buildings collapsed in a remote region that is popular with tourists, the government said Monday.

Indonesia Replaces Energy Minister
Indonesia removed energy and mining minister Arcandra Tahar amid reports that he has dual U.S. and Indonesian citizenship, creating uncertainty around a key ministerial post after President Joko Widodo reshuffled his cabinet.

Forget Soccer, Brazil Is a Water-Polo Country Now
Fans are obsessed with their upstart water-polo team, which is led by one of the sport’s legends, and it’s easing the pain being inflicted on the soccer pitch.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Says No Plan to Break Ties With Ukraine
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia had no intention of breaking diplomatic ties with Kiev and was discussing the possibility of organizing joint talks aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

German Plea for Aleppo Aid Access
Germany called on Russia and the Syrian government to allow food, water and medical supplies into the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo under the monitoring of the United Nations.

Incumbent Wins Zambia Vote as Opposition Claims Fraud
Incumbent Edgar Lungu was declared the winner of Zambia’s unusually turbulent presidential election on Monday, in a result his main rival rejected as fraudulent.

China’s Latest Leap Forward Isn’t Just Great—It’s Quantum
A rocket scheduled to take flight from the Gobi Desert within days is likely to propel China to the forefront of one of science’s most challenging fields.

Photos: Day 9 of the Rio Olympics
Track, volleyball, gymnastics, synchronized swimming and more were featured over the weekend at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Abe Avoids Tokyo Shrine on War Anniversary
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refrained from visiting a Tokyo war shrine on the 71st anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II.

A Gift for Music Lovers Who Have It All: A Personal Utility Pole
Japan’s extreme audiophiles install private power sources for ‘pure’ electricity.

Japan’s Economic Growth Nearly Stalls
Japanese growth was almost flat in the April-June quarter, despite massive government spending and easy central bank policy.

Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte, 3 Other U.S. Swimmers Robbed at Gunpoint
The armed robbery of U.S. swimming star Ryan Lochte and three teammates shows that extensive security warnings, detailed protocols and a massive show of force have often failed to spare athletes and spectators from the criminal downside of this city.

Jordan Struggles With Islamic Extremism at Home
Jordanian jihadists are speaking out more openly these days in support of Islamic State across the border in Syria and Iraq, despite government efforts to combat extremist ideology.

Big Ships Pile Up on Scrap Heaps
The economic slowdown is putting shipping through its most bruising period since the 2008 financial crisis. This year, orders of new vessels are at a record low and companies can’t get rid of ships fast enough.

Three Questions to Determine Fate of Post-Brexit Britain
Even if the short-term damage of leaving the EU is muted, there is little that monetary or fiscal policy can do to offset the long-term hit to British growth that most economists agree is inevitable, Simon Nixon writes.

Islamic State Fighters in Libya Flee South as Stronghold Falls
Islamic State fighters fleeing their Libyan stronghold of Sirte are seeking to cross the border into neighboring countries or possibly regroup in southern towns to fight again, Western and local officials say.

Woman Dies After Attack on Swiss Train
Swiss police said that a 34-year-old woman has died as a result of injuries from an attack a day earlier on a train in eastern Switzerland that also wounded five others.

Boko Haram Says Some Abducted Girls Killed in Nigerian Airstrikes
Some of the Chibok schoolgirls, abducted in 2014, have been killed in Nigerian military airstrikes, according to a new video which appears to have come from Boko Haram Islamic extremists.

More Explosions Rattle Southern Thailand
Three fresh explosions struck southern Thailand on Sunday evening, bringing a violent end to a long holiday weekend that opened with a string of bomb blasts that hit popular holiday destinations days earlier.

Taliban Splinter Faction Pledges Allegiance to Main Group
Top members of the main Taliban splinter group that broke away last year have reversed course and pledged allegiance to the main group, despite the efforts of the Afghan government to exploit divisions in the insurgency.

U.S.-Backed Force Steps Up Effort to Secure Syria’s Manbij
U.S.-backed Arab and Kurdish forces buttressed defenses in the outlying neighborhoods of the Syrian city of Manbij after driving out Islamic State fighters and cutting one of its key supply routes.

Airstrike on Yemen School Kills 10 Children, Wounds Dozens
The attack was purportedly carried out by the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels.

Venezuelans Travel Miles to Shop in Colombia After Border Opens
Facing biting shortages at home, Venezuelans swarmed on foot into Colombia to stock up on sorely needed goods, as the neighboring countries re-opened a border that Caracas closed a year ago.

France Charges Third Man in Priest Murder Case
Prosecutors filed terrorism charges against a third man detained on suspicion of collaborating in last month’s killing of a French priest, suggesting the slaying was the work of a broader group of Islamic State followers.

Six Injured in Stabbing, Fire on Swiss Train
A Swiss man set a fire and stabbed people on a train in the country’s northeast, wounding six people as well as himself. The 27-year-old suspect had at least one knife and poured out a flammable liquid, which caught fire.

Malaysian Police Arrest Nine Over Links to Islamic State
Nine people with suspected links to Islamic State have been arrested by Malaysian police, including two believed to be involved in a bombing at a nightclub in June that injured eight people.

U.K. Vows to Match EU Subsidies for Farmers Post-Brexit
The U.K. Treasury said it will match European Union subsidies for British farmers through 2020 if the country has left the bloc, marking Philip Hammond’s first major spending commitment since taking office last month.

U.S.-Backed Coalition Takes Syrian City From Islamic State
A U.S.-backed force said it had wrested control of the Syrian city of Manbij from Islamic State, cutting off a key lifeline to the nearby Turkish border that the extremist group had used to smuggle goods and fighters.

Plan for Joint Venture to Build Gas Pipeline From Russia to Germany Falters
A plan has collapsed for multiple large European energy companies to team up to build a controversial natural-gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Brazil Mourns Olympics Guardsman Shot in Ambush
Brazil’s interim president declared a national day of mourning Friday and top security officials called an emergency meeting after a national guardsman on patrol for the Olympics was declared brian dead from a gunshot wound.

U.K. Schoolgirl’s Death Shows Difficulty in Leaving Islamic State
The purported death of a British schoolgirl who ran away to marry an ISIS fighter is refocusing attention on Western women who go to Syria to join the militants and the difficulties of leaving for those with second thoughts.

Senior Justice Official Raised Objections to Iran Cash Payment
John Carlin, head of the national security division at the Justice Department, was among the agency’s senior officials who objected to making a $400 million cash payment to Iran at the same time that Tehran was releasing American prisoners.

The Kidnapped Boys of Boko Haram
The militant group Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of boys and forced them to become child jihadists. As many escape, Nigeria wonders what to do with them.

Putin Fires Top Aide in Highest-Profile Dismissal in Years
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed his top aide, a surprise move for a leader who rarely parts with longtime allies.

Belgium Arrests Three New Terror Suspects
Belgian authorities arrested three new terror suspects during multiple raids in Brussels and named a Belgian man they believe was one of the suicide bombers in a recent attack in Iraq.

Aung San Suu Kyi Pressured Over Slow Pace of Change in Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi’s government is facing a barrage of criticism at home and abroad over everything from the slow pace of change in the country to the democracy icon’s handling of Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts.

Cancellations Cast Shadow Over French Summer
French security officials are canceling public gatherings around the country, stretched by the need to police a persistent terrorist threat. The decision to call off Europe’s largest flea market has left merchants and a city in the lurch.

IMF Warns China of Reliance on Credit, Other Imbalances
China needs to reduce its reliance on credit-fueled investment and deal with rising corporate debt and other imbalances while those problems are still manageable, the International Monetary Fund urged.

Flap May Help Unravel Flight 370’s Final Moments
Australian investigators believe a Boeing 777 flap found off Tanzania in June—which experts say is “highly likely” to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370—offers the best new clue to the missing jet’s final moments.

German GDP Beats Expectations but Remains Subdued
Germany’s economy grew at a faster pace than expected in the second quarter but stagnation in Italy’s economy showed the eurozone is still struggling to build the necessary momentum to lift its feeble recovery.

Bomb Blasts Hit Southern Thailand, Killing at Least Four
A string of bomb blasts rocked southern Thailand, killing at least four people and injuring more than 30, including foreign tourists.

U.K. Teen Who Joined Islamic State Said to Have Died in Syria
Kadiza Sultana, a British schoolgirl who ran away to Syria with two of her friends in the spring of 2015, was killed by a Russian airstrike in Raqqa, the family’s lawyer says.

Venezuela to Reopen Colombia Border
President Nicolás Maduro reverses earlier decision after promised benefits fail to materialize.

Mexico’s President Faces New Scrutiny
President Enrique Peña Nieto, whose past two years in office have been shadowed by a conflict-of-interest scandal linked to a Mexico City mansion, is facing new scrutiny linked to the first family’s use of a luxury apartment in Miami.

U.S. Considers Sanctions Against Russia in Response to Hacks of Democratic Groups
U.S. officials are discussing whether to respond to computer breaches of Democratic Party organizations with economic sanctions against Russia, but they haven’t reached a decision about how to proceed.

Bombings Rattle Beach Resort in Thailand
One person was killed and at least 10 people injured after two bombs exploded in the Thai beach resort of Hua Hin late Thursday, police said, rattling nerves after a contentious referendum and a spate of other attacks in Thailand’s southern provinces.

Brazilian Forces Clash With Gangs in Rio Slums as Olympics Continue
Clashes between criminal gangs and security forces continued to simmer in pockets of Rio on Thursday, as the Olympic Games continued here.