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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
Hamas Used Gaza Hospital as a Command Center, U.S. Intelligence Says
U.S. spy agencies believe that Hamas and another Palestinian group fighting Israel used Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza to command forces and hold some hostages, according to new American intelligence declassified on Tuesday.
Israeli officials said Hamas had built a vast complex under the hospital, making it a legitimate military target. But critics said the military operation effectively cut off and shut down a crucial part of Gaza’s medical network with little evidence that Hamas was using the hospital as a command post. Read more
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Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a law passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government to limit the judiciary’s powers. The ruling came as Israel signaled that it could be moving to a new phase of fighting in Gaza.
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Netanyahu remains dependent on far-right allies, analysts say.
The popularity of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is plummeting in Israel, according to recent surveys, and deep political divisions that had been set aside after the Hamas assault of Oct. 7 are resurfacing in the country.
But Mr. Netanyahu made it clear this weekend that he would not resign after the war in Gaza ends. Some analysts say he is determined to ensure his political survival and that of his governing coalition, Israel’s most right-wing and religiously conservative ever. Read more
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Russia Pounds Ukrainian Cities in One of the Largest Air Attacks of the War
Russia targeted Ukrainian cities with more than 150 missiles and drones on Friday morning, in what Ukrainian officials said was one of the largest air assaults of the war. At least 30 people were killed, and more than 160 were wounded, according to the Ukrainian government, and critical infrastructure was damaged.
China Appoints Naval Commander as Defense Minister
China on Friday appointed a naval commander with experience in the South China Sea as its minister of defense, filling a monthslong vacancy created by the unexplained disappearance of the previous minister, who appeared to have fallen in an investigation into possible corruption or other misdeeds.
How the Russian Government Silences Wartime Dissent
A law making it illegal to discredit Russia’s army has ensnared thousands of Russians for even mild acts or statements against the war.
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Ukraine’s Stolen Children
Thousands of young Ukrainians were separated from their parents by the Russian authorities in the early stages of the war. They are among the most forlorn victims of the invasion.
Indian Envoy Meets With Putin, Bypassing Western Pressure
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday met with the Indian foreign minister at the Kremlin, highlighting Russia’s attempts to break through its isolation from the West by pivoting to an increasingly powerful Asian nation.
Death by Doctor May Soon Be Available for the Mentally Ill in Canada
The country is divided over a law that would allow patients suffering from mental health illnesses to apply for assisted death.
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More Drones, Fewer Parks. Ukrainians Urge Spending Shift as War Drags On.
Protests have spread throughout Ukraine to demand that city councils devote more of their budget to the war effort. As the fighting against Russia drags on, more and more Ukrainians say wasteful spending is derailing the war effort.
Strike in Somalia Said to Kill Mastermind of Attacks on Americans and Kenyans
A senior leader of the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab, who was accused of planning multiple attacks that killed 148 Kenyans in a university town and three Americans on a military base, was killed in a U.S. military drone strike last Sunday, according to Somali and American officials.
North Korea’s New Reactor Raises Fears of Increased Plutonium Production
A new light-water reactor seems to have gone into operation in North Korea, says the U.N. nuclear watchdog. It could provide the country with more weapons-grade plutonium.
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15 Dead in Czech Republic After Shooting at Prague University
At least 15 people were killed during a shooting rampage in the Czech Republic on Thursday, including 14 people at Charles University in Prague and the suspect’s father, the authorities said. Twenty-four other people were wounded at the university.
War in Ukraine Has China Cashing In
Trade between China and Russia topped $200 billion this year, reflecting closer ties between the two economies since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Channel Tunnel Reopens After Surprise Strike by Railway Workers Ends
Rail traffic under the English Channel returned to normal on Thursday after the end of an unexpected walkout by railway workers that had blocked the Channel Tunnel, stranding passengers and causing several hours of travel chaos just days before Christmas.
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Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s top political leader, arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials about the war in Gaza, as the group said it was holding talks with several governments about the possibility of a new cease-fire with Israel.
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After Weeks of Warnings, Iceland Volcano Erupts in Plumes of Fire
A volcano in southwestern Iceland, the country’s most populated region, began erupting Monday with lava fountains reaching high in the air and the glow lighting up the sky miles away in the center of the capital, Reykjavik.
‘Where Is Navalny?’ A Search Is On for the Missing Russian Dissident.
After two weeks without word from Aleksei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent opposition figure, his lawyers and allies, fearing the worst, are running a frantic campaign to find him.
In Myanmar, Accounts of Disappearances Create a Climate of Fear
The ruling military, which is struggling with recruitment, denies abducting young men and boys to fill its ranks. But five men say it happened to them.
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In a Baltic Nation, Fear and Suspicion Stalk Russian Speakers
In response to the war in Ukraine, Latvia has targeted residents with Russian passports as part of efforts to combat Moscow’s influence.
Pope Francis Allows Priests to Bless Same-Sex Couples
The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis had allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, his most definitive step yet to make the Roman Catholic Church more welcoming to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics and more reflective of his vision of a more pastoral, and less rigid, church.
Irish Leader Condemns Fire at Hotel Preparing to Host Asylum Seekers
Ireland’s leader has condemned a suspected arson attack after a hotel that was set to become housing for asylum seekers was burned to the ground on Saturday, the latest incident to lay bare pockets of anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.
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Israel’s Allies Urge Restraint as Netanyahu Vows ‘Fight to the End’
The Israeli military bombarded dozens of sites in the Gaza Strip over the weekend as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep fighting in the territory, even as anguish over the Israeli military’s accidental killings of three hostages raised new questions about how his government is prosecuting the war.
The military said on Sunday that it had struck 200 locations in Gaza over the previous 24 hours amid a mounting outcry over the civilian toll there and calls for restraint by three of Israel’s most important allies. Read more
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Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, sought to play down differences between the U.S. and Israel over the war against Hamas in Gaza, emphasizing that both allies expected the pace of the fighting to ultimately slow down.
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Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, was set to arrive in Israel on Thursday as gaps between the U.S. and Israel have widened. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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U.N. General Assembly Votes for Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire, Countering U.S. Veto
The U.N. General Assembly demanded an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in an overwhelming vote on Tuesday that highlighted much of the world’s desire to bring the bloody conflict to an end.
About three-quarters of the body’s members voted in favor of the nonbinding resolution, underscoring the isolation of Israel and the United States, which last week blocked a cease-fire resolution in the Security Council. Read more
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A strike to demand a cease-fire closes businesses in the West Bank and beyond.
In cities across the West Bank, including Nablus and Hebron, typically bustling streets were deserted as Palestinian shoppers and shop owners alike stayed home in solidarity with the civilians of Gaza, where the number of those killed during the war between Israeli and Hamas has risen to a level with few precedents in this century. In Ramallah, children marching for an end to the war carried photographs of bloodied Palestinian babies. Read more
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Russia Hammers Kyiv With Missiles in Large-Scale Attack
Russian missiles and drones hammered Kyiv on Tuesday morning, officials said, in a large-scale attack on the Ukrainian capital and other cities that killed at least five people and injured nearly 130 others, a day after President Vladimir Putin of Russia promised to retaliate for a Ukrainian assault on a Russian city.
Plane Explodes in Flames While Landing at Airport in Tokyo
A Japan Airlines plane collided with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft while landing in Tokyo on Tuesday, causing the passenger jet to burst into flames and killing Coast Guard members on the other plane bound for earthquake relief efforts.
Spanish Soccer Star Testifies About Unwanted Kiss
Jennifer Hermoso, who was kissed on the mouth by Spain’s former soccer boss, Luis Rubiales, gave evidence at a hearing to determine whether Mr. Rubiales will be charged.
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Here is what Israel’s Supreme Court justices said in their landmark ruling.
The eight Israeli justices who struck down a key part of the judicial overhaul on Monday argued they had little choice given the law’s potential danger to Israeli democracy.
On the other side were seven dissenting justices who saw overreach in the decision to annul a law curbing the judges’ ability to use “reasonableness” as a legal standard. Read more
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Defying U.S. Pressure, Israel Deepens Gaza Assault
Israeli forces clashed with Hamas militants across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Israeli military said, deepening its engagement in the decimated enclave even as the Palestinian death toll from relentless airstrikes in 12 weeks of war soared higher.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported Saturday that 165 people had been killed in Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks in the previous 24 hours, adding to the toll of more than 20,000 people killed in Gaza since the war began with the Oct. 7 Hamas-led raids into Israel. Read more
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‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7
A Times investigation uncovered new details showing a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Russia Retakes Some Land Hard Won by Ukraine During Counteroffensive
Russian forces have recaptured land hard won by Ukrainian troops in their summer counteroffensive, just as Washington said it was releasing the last remaining Congress-approved package of military aid to Kyiv.
Death of ‘Parasite’ Star Highlights South Korea’s Crackdown on Drugs
Lee Sun-kyun, the “Parasite” actor who was found dead on Wednesday, was far from the only celebrity entangled in South Korea’s latest antidrug crackdown.
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Ukraine Hits Major Russian Warship, but Loses Ground in the East
A major military success at sea against Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was tempered by Ukraine’s acknowledgment that it had all but retreated from the city of Marinka.
Turkish Parliamentary Panel Approves Sweden’s NATO Bid
The foreign affairs committee of Turkey’s Parliament on Tuesday approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO, placing the Nordic country one step closer to joining the military alliance.
Over 50 French Figures Defend Depardieu After Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Over 50 actors, artists and other celebrities in France have issued a letter ardently defending Gérard Depardieu, the actor accused of sexual harassment and assault, calling him the victim of a “lynching” and arguing that he should be able to continue working despite a storm of criticism.
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After last-minute negotiations, the U.S. ambassador to the UN said on Thursday that the U.S. was ready to support a Security Council resolution that would call for more aid to enter Gaza.
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Israel said it had uncovered more evidence about the three hostages mistakenly killed in Gaza last week by Israeli troops and promised to soon release the results of its investigation into the episode, which has roiled the country.
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Netanyahu Meets With Families of Israeli Hostages
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel met on Tuesday with families of hostages captured on Oct. 7, as pressure mounted over his government’s plans to bring them home.
The meeting came days after the Israeli military admitted to mistakenly killing three hostages that it thought were Hamas militants. The men — Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalka — were shirtless, unarmed and bearing a makeshift white flag, the military said, and shooting at them violated its rules of engagement. Read more
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U.S. Urges Israel to Do More to Spare Civilians in Gaza and Pushes Hostage Talks
Top United States officials prodded Israel on Monday to do more to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip and sought to restart talks aimed at releasing hostages as international pressure mounted on Israel to scale back its war against Hamas.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, making his second trip to Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, declared that U.S. support for Israeli security “remains unshakable.” But he also said that “democracies are stronger and more secure when we uphold the law of war.” Read more
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Israel released more information about the killing of three hostages by its troops, as more Israelis and international allies called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curtail the war in Gaza, which has left nearly 20,000 people dead.
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‘People Snatchers’: Ukraine’s Recruiters Use Harsh Tactics to Fill Ranks
Ukrainian men are reporting incidents of wrongful draft notices, unprofessional medical commissions and coercive mobilization tactics.
Prince Harry’s Phone Was Hacked by U.K. Tabloid, Judge Rules in Landmark Case
A London court ruled in favor of Prince Harry on Friday in a phone-hacking lawsuit that he had brought against a British tabloid publisher, a striking victory in his bitter, long-running battle with the news media over its intrusion into his private life.
U.S. Officials and Mexican Ex-Lawman Convicted of Corruption Met Often, Records Show
Genaro García Luna filed a new trial bid saying the former Mexican official met with U.S. officials more than 180 times and was also “extensively vetted” by the C.I.A. and D.E.A.
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E.U. Leaders Agree to Open Membership Negotiations With Ukraine
European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to officially open accession negotiations for Ukraine to join the bloc, an important breakthrough for Kyiv as it tries to bolster support from its allies.
A British Boy, Missing for 6 Years, Turns Up in France
A British boy who disappeared at age 11 while on vacation six years ago in Spain has turned up in France, prosecutors there said. A delivery driver found the boy, who is now a teenager, walking in the rain early Wednesday carrying a skateboard and a flashlight.
Confident Putin Suggests He Has Winning Hand in Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday cast himself as a wartime leader in full control of his invasion and his nation, his confidence on display in a stage-managed, four-hour news conference that underscored the Russian leader’s apparent determination to outlast Ukraine and the West.
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Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv Injures Dozens
Russia launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Kyiv before dawn on Wednesday, injuring more than 50 people and damaging several apartment buildings in the third attack on Ukraine’s capital in the past week.
How Africans Are Changing French — One Joke, Rap and Book at a Time
More than 60 percent of those who speak French daily now live in Africa,. Through social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube, they are literally spreading the word, reshaping the French language from African countries that were once colonized by France.
With a New Leader, Poland Prepares for a Course Change in Europe
Just hours after being sworn in, Poland’s new prime minister, Donald Tusk, left for a trip to Brussels on Wednesday to try to invigorate flagging European support for Ukraine and push for “full mobilization” against Russia’s military assault.
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Huge Cyberattack Knocks Ukraine’s Largest Mobile Operator Offline
Ukraine’s largest mobile operator said it had come under a powerful cyberattack on Tuesday morning that knocked out service to millions of people.
Attack on Pakistani Security Post Near Afghanistan Kills 23 Soldiers
Twenty-three soldiers were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday when heavily armed militants attacked a security post in one of the deadliest assaults on the country’s security forces in recent years, officials said.
Donald Tusk, a Man of Eclectic Identities, Returns to Power in Poland
The opposition leader was endorsed by Parliament as the country’s next prime minister, unseating the right-wing Law and Justice party that had long denounced him as unfit to rule.
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As Zelensky Heads to Washington, Russia Targets Kyiv With Missiles
As President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine heads to Washington on an urgent mission to rally flagging Western support for his nation, the Russian military on Monday targeted the Ukrainian capital with the most intense salvo of ballistic missiles in months.
Despite Wars, Earthquakes and Hurricanes, U.N. Cuts Appeal for Aid
The United Nations has cut its appeal for humanitarian aid in the coming year by nearly 20 percent, saying that it has to focus on only the most urgent cases, even as the number of people facing conflict and climate emergencies grows sharply.
Iran Puts E.U. Official From Sweden on Trial
Iran has put a European Union official from Sweden on trial for allegations that include spying for Israel and a charge that could carry the death penalty, according to Iranian state media, prompting renewed calls for his release.
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