About this report

Times staff writer in Cairo wrote this article with files from staff writers in Tokyo; in Yiwu, China; in Noida, India; Sergei L. Loiko in Kogalym, Russia; Noha El-Hennawy in Cairo; a Times staff writer in Harare, Zimbabwe; Achrene Sicakyuz in Cherbourg, France; Geraldine Baum in Paris; Louise Roug in New York; in Havana; Deedee Correll in Bennett, Colo.; and Teresa Watanabe in Los Angeles.