The church’s pastor, Ezra Jin Mingri, turned Zion Church into one of China’s largest unofficial congregations, even as government pressure on Christianity increased.

The unit appealed to security forces in this southern African nation to disobey their superiors and to refuse to shoot at demonstrators, who have rallied in the streets for more than two weeks.

“The entire nation holds its breath,” said the organizers of a weekly protest in Tel Aviv, as the cease-fire paved the way for the release of the remaining hostages.

Israel agreed to free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, many of whom will be sent into exile. For their families, it brought joy. But for those whose relatives were excluded, it was a crushing blow.

A directive, which Israeli officials believe was written by Yahya Sinwar, the powerful leader of Hamas in Gaza, and recordings called for fighters to target soldiers and civilian communities — and to broadcast the violent acts.

With the cease-fire holding overnight, many Palestinians continued to travel toward Gaza City on Saturday to learn what remains of their lives and homes there.

The People’s Daily newspaper put the star player’s name on an opinion article, an example of the political perils the N.B.A. could face in China.

Las Vegas Sands, owned by the Adelson family, was under pressure in Macau, with billions at stake. That created an opportunity.

After winning the Nobel Prize for her searing portraits of the Soviet world unraveling, Svetlana Alexievich worries about the revival of its violent, anti-democratic ways.

After appointing the same person prime minister for the second time in a week, President Emmanuel Macron is facing calls to explain his stubbornness or resign.