‘Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue It took plastic cocoons and anti-anxiety pills, bravery and providence to save the soccer team. “So many things could have gone wrong,” said one official. By HANNAH BEECH, RICHARD C. PADDOCK and MUKTITA SUHARTONO
Years After Retiring, Li Na Wields Major Influence in Tennis Li’s power as a symbol of success in China has not receded, on the court or off. By BEN ROTHENBERG
Thai Navy May Put Elon Musk’s Mini-Submarine to Use. One Day. The military may use the tiny submarine for future rescues, though it was deemed too large and impractical to save the soccer team in the cave. By MUKTITA SUHARTONO and JULIA JACOBS
Asia and Australia Edition NATO, Trade War, North Korea: Your Friday Briefing Here’s what you need to know to start your day. By CHARLES McDERMID
In North Korea, a Western Journalist Appears All but Invisible The studious lack of attention was the oddest part of an American delegation’s 28 hours in North Korea. By GARDINER HARRIS
Trump Cites ‘Great Progress’ in North Korea Nuclear Talks To buttress his claim, the president released a “very nice note” from Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader. The note said nothing about nuclear weapons. By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and RICK GLADSTONE
North Koreans Are No-Shows at Meeting to Discuss U.S. Soldiers’ Remains Talks on returning American troops killed in the Korean War did not take place as planned. But it was unclear whether U.S. officials had been deliberately stood up. By CHOE SANG-HUN
Chinese Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment Is Barred From Teaching A university in Guangzhou had received complaints about Zhang Peng, a primatologist, as early as April, but barred him from teaching only after his accusers went public.
The Thai Cave Rescue: How Divers Pulled It Off Divers played a crucial role to save the trapped members of the Wild Boars soccer team. Using the footage from inside the cave, The Times’s John Ismay, who is a former Navy diver, explains how the divers executed the mission. By JOHN ISMAY, CHRISTOPH KOETTL, BARBARA MARCOLINI and MAEA LENEI BUHRE
How Rare Earths (What?) Could Be Crucial in a U.S.-China Trade War Chinese companies dominate important parts of the global supply chain. The Australian C.E.O. of one alternative source of key minerals says her firm can’t fill the gap. By ALEXANDRA STEVENSON
Asia and Australia Edition World Cup, NATO, Trade War: Your Thursday Briefing Here’s what you need to know to start your day. By CHARLES McDERMID
Matter Archaeologists in China Discover the Oldest Stone Tools Outside Africa Chipped rocks found in western China indicate that human ancestors ventured from Africa earlier than previously believed. By CARL ZIMMER
How Germany Won Freedom for the Widow of China’s Most Famous Dissident The interest of Angela Merkel in China’s human rights record, and her personal touch, helped secure the release of Liu Xia, the widow of Liu Xiaobo. By JANE PERLEZ and IAN JOHNSON
Suicide Bombing on Afghan Education Department Kills 12 Suspicions quickly fell on the Islamic State, which has a foothold in the region and has threatened to attack schools in retaliation for military operations and airstrikes. By ZABIHULLAH GHAZI and MUJIB MASHAL
China Wants High-Tech Cars. German Automakers Are Eager to Help. Volkswagen and BMW are among those striking deals with Beijing to help them become a larger part of the world’s biggest car market. By JAMIE CONDLIFFE
Thai Soccer Team Recuperates After Rescue Mission Doctors said the 12 boys and their coach were healing well after spending several days trapped inside a cave. They will be monitored in a quarantine room for a week to prevent against infection. By MAEA LENEI BUHRE
In Beijing, Doors Shut on a Bastion of Independent Ideas The future of the Unirule Institute is in doubt after its headquarters were closed, the latest blow to intellectual life in China. By CHRIS BUCKLEY
Soccer Players and Their Coach Are on the Mend, Thailand Says “They took care of each other well in the cave,” a public health official said of the 12 boys and their coach, a day after the last of them were rescued. By NAVAON SIRADAPUVADOL and MIKE IVES
‘Fireflies’ and ‘Ghosts’ in Cambodia Prop Up Facade of Real Election Technically, Cambodia isn’t a one-party state. But Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party is the only one most voters in the July 29 vote will have heard of. By JULIA WALLACE
How Trump’s Trade War Went From 18 Products to 10,000 The battle began when the United States imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines. It has led to a global tit-for-tat targeting billions of dollars of goods. By KEITH COLLINS and JASMINE C. LEE
‘Still Can’t Believe It Worked’: The Story of the Thailand Cave Rescue It took plastic cocoons and anti-anxiety pills, bravery and providence to save the soccer team. “So many things could have gone wrong,” said one official. By HANNAH BEECH, RICHARD C. PADDOCK and MUKTITA SUHARTONO
Years After Retiring, Li Na Wields Major Influence in Tennis Li’s power as a symbol of success in China has not receded, on the court or off. By BEN ROTHENBERG
Thai Navy May Put Elon Musk’s Mini-Submarine to Use. One Day. The military may use the tiny submarine for future rescues, though it was deemed too large and impractical to save the soccer team in the cave. By MUKTITA SUHARTONO and JULIA JACOBS
Asia and Australia Edition NATO, Trade War, North Korea: Your Friday Briefing Here’s what you need to know to start your day. By CHARLES McDERMID
In North Korea, a Western Journalist Appears All but Invisible The studious lack of attention was the oddest part of an American delegation’s 28 hours in North Korea. By GARDINER HARRIS
Trump Cites ‘Great Progress’ in North Korea Nuclear Talks To buttress his claim, the president released a “very nice note” from Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader. The note said nothing about nuclear weapons. By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS and RICK GLADSTONE
North Koreans Are No-Shows at Meeting to Discuss U.S. Soldiers’ Remains Talks on returning American troops killed in the Korean War did not take place as planned. But it was unclear whether U.S. officials had been deliberately stood up. By CHOE SANG-HUN
Chinese Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment Is Barred From Teaching A university in Guangzhou had received complaints about Zhang Peng, a primatologist, as early as April, but barred him from teaching only after his accusers went public.
The Thai Cave Rescue: How Divers Pulled It Off Divers played a crucial role to save the trapped members of the Wild Boars soccer team. Using the footage from inside the cave, The Times’s John Ismay, who is a former Navy diver, explains how the divers executed the mission. By JOHN ISMAY, CHRISTOPH KOETTL, BARBARA MARCOLINI and MAEA LENEI BUHRE
How Rare Earths (What?) Could Be Crucial in a U.S.-China Trade War Chinese companies dominate important parts of the global supply chain. The Australian C.E.O. of one alternative source of key minerals says her firm can’t fill the gap. By ALEXANDRA STEVENSON
Asia and Australia Edition World Cup, NATO, Trade War: Your Thursday Briefing Here’s what you need to know to start your day. By CHARLES McDERMID
Matter Archaeologists in China Discover the Oldest Stone Tools Outside Africa Chipped rocks found in western China indicate that human ancestors ventured from Africa earlier than previously believed. By CARL ZIMMER
How Germany Won Freedom for the Widow of China’s Most Famous Dissident The interest of Angela Merkel in China’s human rights record, and her personal touch, helped secure the release of Liu Xia, the widow of Liu Xiaobo. By JANE PERLEZ and IAN JOHNSON
Suicide Bombing on Afghan Education Department Kills 12 Suspicions quickly fell on the Islamic State, which has a foothold in the region and has threatened to attack schools in retaliation for military operations and airstrikes. By ZABIHULLAH GHAZI and MUJIB MASHAL
China Wants High-Tech Cars. German Automakers Are Eager to Help. Volkswagen and BMW are among those striking deals with Beijing to help them become a larger part of the world’s biggest car market. By JAMIE CONDLIFFE
Thai Soccer Team Recuperates After Rescue Mission Doctors said the 12 boys and their coach were healing well after spending several days trapped inside a cave. They will be monitored in a quarantine room for a week to prevent against infection. By MAEA LENEI BUHRE
In Beijing, Doors Shut on a Bastion of Independent Ideas The future of the Unirule Institute is in doubt after its headquarters were closed, the latest blow to intellectual life in China. By CHRIS BUCKLEY
Soccer Players and Their Coach Are on the Mend, Thailand Says “They took care of each other well in the cave,” a public health official said of the 12 boys and their coach, a day after the last of them were rescued. By NAVAON SIRADAPUVADOL and MIKE IVES
‘Fireflies’ and ‘Ghosts’ in Cambodia Prop Up Facade of Real Election Technically, Cambodia isn’t a one-party state. But Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party is the only one most voters in the July 29 vote will have heard of. By JULIA WALLACE
How Trump’s Trade War Went From 18 Products to 10,000 The battle began when the United States imposed tariffs on solar panels and washing machines. It has led to a global tit-for-tat targeting billions of dollars of goods. By KEITH COLLINS and JASMINE C. LEE