Russians will head to polling stations throughout the country on Wednesday to cast their ballots in a referendum to determine whether President Vladimir Putin can remain in power for the next 16 years. Putin, 67, has been in power for two decades as president or prime minister and is currently the longest-serving Russian or Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin. The referendum seeks changes to the constitution that could enable Putin to run for re-election twice...

China’s top legislative body approved a national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday in a move expected to raise tensions between Beijing and foreign governments. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, confirmed the law’s passage in an interview broadcast by Hong Kong broadcaster RTHK. Tam said the law, which targets secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in Hong Kong, is not “too spicy” and that he believes...

The prominent Iranian dissident and blogger Ruhollah Zam was sentenced to death on Tuesday by a revolutionary court in Tehran. Court spokesperson Gholam-Hussein Ismaili said Zam can still appeal to the country’s highest court . Revolutionary courts in Iran preside over espionage cases and threats to national security. Zam stands accused of using his website, Amad News, to spread propaganda against Iran’s leadership and to provoke protests against the regime, some of which turned violent....