Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world:

Venezuela’s Capital, Laid Low by Misrule, Is Stirring Back to Life

New restaurants are popping up in Caracas. Nightclubs are bursting at the seams. The streets are eerily safe — with big exceptions. Could a revival be on the horizon?

Israeli Intelligence Agent Charged in Smuggling Goods Into Gaza

Israel has indicted an intelligence agent on charges that he profiteered from the smuggling of goods into the Gaza Strip during the two-year war in the territory, Israeli prosecutors said Thursday.

A Japanese City Received 21 Gold Bars With Instructions: Fix Your Water Pipes

Osaka’s water pipes are some of the oldest in Japan. An anonymous donation of $3.6 million worth of gold to fix the pipes illustrates mounting frustration with the city's aging water system.

@nytimes