Italian President Sergio Mattarella approved the return of Giuseppe Conte as prime minister to lead a new coalition government (FT) anchored by the country’s center-left Democrats and antiestablishment Five Star Movement.
 
The new alliance sidelines Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of the far-right League party, which had been in a coalition with Five Star. Salvini had called for a confidence vote against Conte, prompting Conte’s resignation last week. Five Star and the Democrats have opposed each other in the past, and they still face the obstacles (Guardian) of drafting an agenda and choosing a cabinet. Five Star also plans to hold an online vote (Economist) for its members to approve the new coalition. Conte called on Thursday (CNN) for Italy’s return to being an advocate for Europe and “a country which is open to everyone.”

The government has created a task force (FT) to investigate possible interference by foreign governments at Australian universities. The move follows clashes between student protesters supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and pro-Beijing students.
 
China: A Catholic bishop was ordained in the country (BBC) for the first time with the Pope’s approval after a 2018 agreement signaled warming relations between Beijing and the Vatican.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at Christianity in China.

A court in India’s southern state of Kerala sentenced ten men (Guardian) to life in prison for killing a man from the Dalit caste who registered to marry a woman from another caste. The judges said the murder was a clear case of a so-called honor killing.
 
Afghanistan: Taliban fighters killed fourteen members (Al Jazeera) of a pro-government militia in the western province of Herat, Afghan officials said.
 
In Foreign Affairs, Barnett R. Rubin discusses how to bring stability to Afghanistan amid the current power struggles.

Government forces have retaken control of the airport (Reuters) in the port city of Aden from separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, Yemeni officials said. Air strikes killed thirty government forces (AP) who were en route to Aden this morning, according to a commander. Emirati officials declined to immediately comment.
 
See how much you know about Yemen’s history and ongoing civil war with this CFR quiz.
 
Lebanon: The Lebanese military fired at two Israeli drones (AP) it said were in violation of the country’s airspace, according to state media and security officials. The incident comes days after two Israeli drones crashed south of Beirut.

Scientists have discovered a 3.8-million-year-old skull (Guardian) in northern Ethiopia they say belonged to the direct ancestor of the well-known “Lucy” species, according to a new study in Nature. The researchers believe the species coexisted with the Lucy group, challenging the idea of linear evolution.
 
Nigeria: More than fifty people in a village in the northern state of Katsina were abducted late Tuesday (Reuters), according to residents. Local police gave a conflicting report, saying fifteen people, all women, were abducted, and that ten have been freed.

The government has set a goal (Bloomberg) of reducing its net carbon emissions to zero by 2050, a more ambitious target than its commitment under the Paris Agreement on climate. 
 
UK: Demonstrators across the United Kingdom voiced opposition (BBC) to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to limit Parliament’s time to prevent a no-deal Brexit. An online petition (CNN) opposing the measure received more than 1.3 million signatures, far exceeding the threshold for Parliament to consider holding a debate on the issue.
 
CFR lays out what a no-deal Brexit would look like.

Argentina is seeking to postpone (FT) repayments on $44 billion in loans from the International Monetary Fund, $50 billion in longer-term debt mostly held by foreign investors, and $7 billion in short-term local debt, the finance minister announced. The Argentine peso’s value dropped after President Mauricio Macri’s defeat in a primary election earlier this month.
 
Venezuela: The U.S. State Department announced it is opening an office in its embassy in Colombia that will focus on the crisis in Venezuela, signaling support for a diplomatic solution (FT) to the political impasse in the country.

The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose easing regulations (NYT) on methane emissions at wells, pipelines, and storage facilities. Methane accounts for close to 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.