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New York Times coverage from around the world, including the Russia-Ukraine war. Get the latest at https://www.nytimes.com/world
Talks in Cairo Aim for a Deal to Halt Gaza War and Free Hostages
Negotiators from multiple countries met in Cairo on Tuesday, struggling to reach an agreement to temporarily stop the war in the Gaza Strip, as international concern mounted over Israel’s plan to press its ground offensive into the city of Rafah, where more than half of the territory’s population has sought refuge.
Talks involving lower-level officials will continue for another three days, according to an Egyptian and an American official briefed on the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. They described the negotiations on Tuesday as promising, but Israel and Hamas were still not close to a deal. Read more
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A Tunnel Offers Clues to How Hamas Uses Gaza’s Hospitals
Gaza’s hospitals have emerged as a focal point in Israel’s war with Hamas, with each side citing how the other has pulled the facilities into the conflict as proof of the enemy’s disregard for the safety of civilians.
In four months of war, Israeli troops have entered several hospitals, including the Qatari Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Rantisi Specialized Hospital for Children, to search for weapons and fighters. But Al-Shifa Hospital has taken on particular significance because it is Gaza’s largest medical facility, and because of Israel’s high-profile claims that Hamas leaders operated a command-and-control center beneath it. Hamas and the hospital’s staff, meanwhile, insisted it was only a medical center. Read more
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Israel said it had launched airstrikes on the Gazan city of Rafah to provide cover for a rare hostage rescue. Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the city overnight, according to the Gazan health ministry.
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Ukraine Has a New Military Commander but the Problems Haven’t Changed
As Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky assumes his role, he must reckon with a grim calculus: When does the cost of defending ground outweigh any benefit gained by inflicting pain on the enemy?
Demolition of Muslim Properties Sets Off Deadly Violence in India
The demolition of a mosque and a Muslim seminary has led to deadly clashes and an internet shutdown in northern India. The flare-up is the latest bout of sectarian tensions as Muslim sites have become a broader target of the Hindu right wing after the opening of a major temple last month.
Prince Harry Gets Damages in Hacking Case and Calls Out Piers Morgan
Prince Harry has settled his privacy claims against a British tabloid publisher, his lawyer told a London court on Friday, two months after a judge found the publisher guilty of “widespread and habitual” hacking of the prince’s cellphone.
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Zelensky Removes His Top General, in Major Shake-Up of Ukraine Military
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he had removed his top general in the most significant leadership shake-up since Russia invaded Ukraine almost two years ago.
Pakistan Election Highlights Military’s Sway Over Stormy Politics
As voters cast ballots on Thursday, the influence of Pakistan’s powerful military and the turbulent state of its politics were on full display. Few doubted which party would come out on top, a reflection of the generals’ ultimate hold on Pakistan’s troubled democracy.
Bolsonaro and Allies Planned a Coup, Brazil Police Say
Former President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil oversaw a broad conspiracy to hold on to power regardless of the results of the 2022 election, including personally editing a proposed order to arrest a Supreme Court justice, according to accusations unveiled by the Brazilian federal police.
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Russian Strikes Hit Ukrainian Cities at a Tense Time for Kyiv
Missiles streaked into Kyiv early Wednesday in a Russian attack that killed at least five people, according to local officials, jolted residents awake with air alarms and explosions, and ignited a fire that sent plumes of smoke billowing over the Ukrainian capital.
Terrorized by Gangs, Ecuador Embraces the Hard-Line ‘Noboa Way’
President Daniel Noboa’s new war on gangs has widespread support in a nation overwhelmed by violence. But experts warn it could endanger civil liberties.
Election Office Blasts in Pakistan Kill at Least 22 a Day Before Vote
Two separate explosions outside election offices in an insurgency-hit area of Pakistan killed at least 22 people and wounded several others, officials said, a deadly reminder of the deteriorating security situation in the country as it heads into national elections on Thursday.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was meeting with leaders in Egypt and Qatar on Tuesday, the second day of a Middle East tour aimed at avoiding a broader regional war and rallying allies around a cease-fire agreement for Gaza.
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Senators Release Border Deal to Unlock Ukraine Aid, but Fate Remains Uncertain
Senate Republicans and Democrats on Sunday unveiled a $118.3 billion compromise bill to crack down on unlawful migration across the U.S. border with Mexico and speed critical security aid to Ukraine, but the deal faces long odds in a Congress deeply divided over both issues. Read more
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U.N. Court to Rule on Whether Ukraine Committed Genocide
The top court of the United Nations ruled on Friday that it would take up the question of whether Ukraine committed genocide in its Donetsk and Luhansk regions, an accusation at the heart of Russia’s argument for its 2022 full-scale invasion.
El Salvador’s Strongman Is Set to Ride a Landslide Past Checks and Balances
El Salvador's millennial president, Nayib Bukele, and his party are likely to win resoundingly in elections Sunday. His running mate says they are “replacing” democracy.
Pigeon Collared as a Possible Chinese Spy Is Freed After 8 Months
Animal rights activists in Mumbai celebrated an end to the “wrongful imprisonment” of a mystery bird that a detective concluded was probably a lost racer from Taiwan.
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Iran Tries to Avoid War With U.S. After Stoking Mideast Conflicts
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting this week, deeply worried that the United States would retaliate after an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq killed three American soldiers and wounded more than 40 others in Jordan.
Russia’s New Threats to Exiles: Seized Assets and Forced Returns
The Kremlin is sending a chilly message to antiwar Russians abroad: A new law will allow their property back home to be seized, and other countries are being pressured to crack down on them.
Bullfighting Returns to Its Largest Arena. A Fight Over Its Future Goes On.
After a nearly two-year ban, a legal ruling brought bullfights back to La Plaza México in Mexico City. But the fight continues after a federal judge again stopped the events.
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A federal judge dismisses a suit to block U.S. support of Israel — but urges Biden to re-examine his approach.
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit by Palestinian Americans who sought to force the White House to withdraw support for Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, as was widely expected based on constitutional precedent that only the political branches of U.S. government could determine foreign policy. Read more
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An Iran-linked militia in Iraq that the Pentagon said was likely responsible for a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan announced on Tuesday that it was suspending military operations in Iraq.
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Ukraine’s Latest Challenge: Festering Tension Among Top Leaders
As Ukraine fights against a fierce Russian offensive and its leaders wait to see whether their Western allies will approve more than $100 billion in much-needed assistance, the government in Kyiv is dealing with a festering distraction: tumult centered on the fate of the top military commander.
‘A Long Time Coming’: Northern Ireland Deal Receives Broad Welcome
Britain, Ireland and the United States welcomed a deal to end almost two years of political deadlock in Northern Ireland that will, for the first time, hand the territory’s top leadership role to Sinn Fein, a party committed to a united Ireland.
Imran Khan Sentenced to 10 Years Ahead of Pakistan’s Elections
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan was sentenced to 10 years in prison, the latest twist in what is widely seen as a campaign by the military to sideline one of its leading critics.
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U.N. to Study Reports of Sexual Violence in Israel During Oct. 7 Attack
A United Nations team has arrived in Israel to examine reports of sexual violence during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 even as Hamas and some critics of Israel continue to reject evidence that such assaults occurred.
African National Congress Suspends Former President Jacob Zuma
South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress, in a remarkable rebuke, suspended its former president, Jacob Zuma, on Monday, for launching “vitriolic attacks” against the organization after throwing his support behind a rival political party.
French Farmers Lay ‘Siege’ to Paris in Growing Standoff
Irate farmers deployed tractors to block the main roads in and out of Paris on Monday in an intensifying standoff that has left the capital girding for disruptions and become the first major test for France’s newly appointed prime minister, Gabriel Attal.
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Details Emerge on U.N. Workers Accused of Aiding Hamas Raid
One is accused of kidnapping a woman. Another is said to have handed out ammunition. A third was described as taking part in the massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people died. And all were said to be employees of the United Nations aid agency that schools, shelters and feeds hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Read more
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As U.S. Weighs Aid, Ukraine Turns to European Allies for Support
President Volodymyr Zelensky is redoubling his diplomatic outreach to Europe in the hopes of starting to fill the void left by months of American indecision, as the debate over providing renewed military assistance for Ukraine continues to play out in Washington.
Deadliest Cholera Outbreak in Past Decade Hits Southern Africa
The waterborne disease has killed more than 4,000 people in seven countries over the past two years. Experts blame severe storms, a lack of vaccines, and poor water and sewer systems.
Its Forces Depleted, Myanmar Junta Says It Will Enforce a Military Draft
Over the weekend, Myanmar said that it was invoking a decades-old law to start drafting young men and women into the army, setting off widespread alarm across the country.
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Short on Soldiers, Ukraine Debates How to Find the Next Wave of Troops
A potential expansion of the nation’s military draft to replenish the exhausted, battered army has become an emotional, politically charged issue.
Finland’s New President Faces Unexpected First Test: Not Russia, but Trump
Alexander Stubb was elected vowing to bolster Finland’s new role in NATO, just as Trump’s threats have thrown the future of the alliance into doubt.
Pope and Argentine President Appear to Find Some Common Ground
President Javier Milei of Argentina, who before taking office ridiculed Pope Francis as an “imbecile” and accused him of violating the Ten Commandments, met with the pontiff on Monday for an hourlong conversation that the Vatican described as “cordial.”
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Israel Says It Rescued 2 Hostages From Rafah
Israeli security forces said early Monday that they had rescued two hostages who were being held in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, in one of the few examples of a successful hostage rescue in Gaza since the start of the war. Read more
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Biden Sharpens Criticism of Israel, Calling Gaza Response ‘Over the Top’
President Biden sharply escalated his criticism of Israel’s approach to the war against Hamas on Thursday, calling military operations in Gaza “over the top” and saying that the suffering of innocent people has “got to stop.”
Mr. Biden, who has strongly supported Israel’s right to retaliate for the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas that killed an estimated 1,200 people, exhibited growing impatience with the scale and duration of Israel’s response during a nighttime meeting with reporters at the White House. Read more
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Netanyahu Spurns Hamas Offer for Gaza Cease-Fire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, dashing hopes that a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip might be close, on Wednesday spurned a proposal from Hamas and said that Israel had directed its forces to prepare to operate in a Gazan city that has become a refuge for more than one million Palestinians. Read more
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A Russian Bank Account May Offer Clues to a North Korean Arms Deal
Russia has allowed the release of millions of dollars in frozen North Korean assets and may be helping its isolated ally with access to international banking networks, according to American-allied intelligence officials.
Kenyan Cult Leader Is Charged in the Deaths of 191 Children
A doomsday cult leader whom the Kenyan authorities say ordered his congregants to starve themselves to death was charged on Tuesday, along with 29 others, with the murder of 191 children — in a case that has drawn global attention and brought widespread scrutiny over religious freedoms in the East African nation.
A Year After a Devastating Quake: Container Cities, Trials and Grief
On the anniversary of a catastrophic earthquake, Turkey is still struggling to rebuild, help survivors and hold people responsible for shoddy construction.
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Zelensky Hints at Major Shake-Up of Ukraine’s Government
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that a broad overhaul of the country’s military and civilian leadership was needed to reboot the war effort against Russia, suggesting that a major shake-up of his government was imminent.
King Charles Is Diagnosed With Cancer
King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is suspending his public engagements to undergo treatment, casting a shadow over a busy reign that began barely 18 months ago.
El Salvador’s President Claims Election Victory in a Landslide
Nayib Bukele, the millennial president who reshaped his country by cracking down on both gangs and civil liberties, claimed a resounding victory in El Salvador’s election on Sunday that would extend his dominion over every lever of government for years.
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U.S. and U.K. Launch Heavy Strikes on Houthi Sites in Yemen
The United States and Britain carried out large-scale military strikes on Saturday against multiple sites in Yemen controlled by Houthi militants, according to a statement from the two countries and six allies, as the Biden administration continued its reprisal campaign in the Middle East targeting Iran-backed militias.
The attacks against 36 Houthi targets at 13 sites in northern Yemen came barely 24 hours after the United States carried out a series of military strikes against Iranian forces and the militias they support at seven sites in Syria and Iraq. Read more
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Who are the four Israelis placed under U.S. sanctions over West Bank violence?
The United States issued financial sanctions on Thursday against four Israelis accused of escalating violence against civilians, intimidating civilians or destroying property in the West Bank.
Here’s what we know about the four, all men ranging in age from 21 to 32. Read more
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Breaking News: EU leaders agreed on a 50 billion euro fund for Ukraine, bringing on board Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, the main obstacle.
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Ukraine and Russia Exchange Hundreds of Prisoners of War
Russia and Ukraine announced the exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war on Wednesday, resuming the carefully choreographed trading of captives only a week after Moscow accused Kyiv of shooting down a Russian military transport plane that it said was carrying dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war on their way to be exchanged.
Thai Court Rules Progressive Party’s Reform Push Violated Constitution
The most popular political party in Thailand won its following last year, and the ire of the conservative establishment, by campaigning to end military rule and to weaken the draconian law that prohibits criticism of the country’s monarchy.
What Is Going on at Machu Picchu?
Protesters blocked access to the Incan site in Peru over a new ticketing system. Tourists have been evacuated, but there could be more unrest. Here’s what to know.
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The Iraq-based militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah, hints at pressure from Iran and Iraq.
In a surprise move, an Iran-linked militia in Iraq that the Pentagon said was likely responsible for a lethal drone attack on an U.S. base in Jordan over the weekend announced on Tuesday that it was suspending military operations in Iraq under pressure from the Iraqi government and from Iran.
The announcement came shortly after President Biden said that he had decided how to respond to the attack in Jordan on Sunday that left three U.S. soldiers dead, though he did not say what that response would be. His comment raised fears in Iraq about a possibly retaliatory U.S. attack on its territory. Read more
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The talks on a deal are at an early stage, and many details would need to be worked out if Hamas agrees.
Representatives from four nations have agreed to have Qatar present a nascent framework to Hamas that proposes a six-week pause in the war in Gaza for Hamas to exchange some hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, officials say.
The talks are at an early stage, and many details would need to be worked out if Hamas agrees to start building on the framework, they said. Qatar is presenting the proposal to the political leaders of Hamas, who would convey it to the group’s military leaders, who would then send a response. That process could take days or even longer, because the military leaders are in hiding in tunnels deep beneath Gaza. Read more
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Three U.S. service members were killed in Jordan on Sunday and at least 34 others were injured in what the Biden administration said was a drone attack from an Iran-backed militia.
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Negotiators Close In on Hostage Deal That Would Halt Fighting in Gaza for Weeks
American-led negotiators are edging closer to an agreement in which Israel would suspend its war in Gaza for about two months in exchange for the release of more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas, a deal that could be sealed in the next two weeks and would transform the conflict consuming the region. Read more
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