A Russian researcher, who died from an unknown illness, worked at a remote anti-plague facility. Few foreigners have visited these labs, which dot the former Soviet states, and are shrouded in secrecy.

© Irkutsk Antiplague Research Institute, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The new runway in Ban Keun is currently used by only small jets. Neighboring nations are watching warily to see if Beijing expands it for larger aircraft.

Companies continue to service a “dark fleet” of Iranian tankers in waters off Malaysia in spite of Washington’s threat to target them.

© Ore Huiying for The New York Times