The New York Times

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: In the Pacific, a ‘Dumping Ground’ for Priests Accused or Convicted of Abuse At least 10 priests and missionaries moved to Papua New Guinea after they had allegedly sexually abused children in the West, according to court records, government inquiries, survivor testimonies, news media reports and comments by church officials. Distracted and Divided, Russian Security Service Misses Threats Besides Russia's F.S.B., other agencies have intelligence resources that could have detected the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. However, the lack of coordination within the military and intelligence operations may have impeded a Russian response. U.N. Panel Calls for International Peacekeeping Force in Sudan A United Nations fact-finding mission called for an international peacekeeping force to protect civilians in Sudan, where a brutal civil war has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Putin Drives Home a Perilous Point: Ukraine’s East Is Russia’s Main Goal Dismissing Ukraine’s recent invasion of Kursk, Putin said Kyiv made a mistake in trying to force Moscow to divert its forces from the Donbas region. When a Nation Banned Female Genital Cutting, a 96-Year-Old Resisted A 96-year-old Gambian woman, who has performed female genital cutting for generations, is now passing the torch. After becoming the first practitioner to be convicted, her case has sparked a backlash and a popular campaign to reinstate the practice. Pope Finds Fervent Fans Among Indonesia’s Transgender Community "This is not the Pope but God himself visiting us." For many trans women living on the fringes of society in Indonesia, the Catholic Church is a haven, and Pope Francis, with his messages of tolerance toward the LGBTQ community, has become a personal hero. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Aftermath of Military Academy Strike Drains Ukraine’s Seasoned Rescuers A day after a devastating Russian missile killed more than 50 people in Poltava, Ukraine, bricks splayed out from the stricken military academy building as exhausted rescue workers searched for bodies in the rubble, stopping to listen for cries for help. With New Taliban Manifesto, Afghan Women Fear the Worst Women in Afghanistan live lives riddled with restrictions, and their voices are now outlawed in public. Three years into the Taliban's rule, the movement has codified its harsh Islamic decrees that ban the sound of a woman's voice outside the home. Hounded From a Beauty Pageant in South Africa, Then Crowned in Nigeria “I think I really do embody the spirit of perseverance and resilience,” said Chidimma Adetshina. The Miss Nigeria winner withdrew from the South African beauty pageant after disputes about her ethnicity fueled anti-immigrant sentiments. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Russia’s Attack on Poltava Comes After a Week of Strikes in Ukraine The Russian missile strike that killed more than 40 people in the eastern city of Poltava on Tuesday comes after a difficult few days for Ukraine, in which Moscow appears to have stepped up the tempo of its attacks, resulting in a wave of death and destruction. Christmas Starts in October, Venezuela’s Autocrat Declares With Venezuela’s democracy in shambles, President Nicolás Maduro tried to inject some holiday cheer: He decreed that Christmas, a beloved holiday in the South American nation, would begin in October. Dozens Die in Congo Jailbreak Attempt After Stampede and Gunfire More than 100 people died during an attempted jailbreak at the largest prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the latest incident to hit an overcrowded detention facility notorious for poor conditions. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: In a Kyiv Classroom, Cries for Help From Children Scarred by War “They are like a bleeding wound, and no one sees it”: A teacher in Kyiv said the children in her class had been scarred by two years of war in Ukraine. She has invited them to work through their emotions by collaborating on a mural for their school. France Confronts Horror of Rape and Drugging Case as 51 Men Go on Trial A man accused of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of men to rape her over a decade will go on trial. "It sends shivers down the spine regarding the state of affairs in French society," said the lawyer representing the family. The questions raised by the case have deeply unsettled France. Pope, 87, Embarks on ‘Physical Test’ in Grueling Asia Tour Pope Francis is heading to Southeast Asia and Oceania. The 11-day trip could be challenging for Francis, who has been battling health problems, but also signals that he does not intend to slow down. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Inmate Revolts Highlight Failings and Miseries of Russian Prisons In Russian prisons, staff shortages, beatings, corruption and harsh treatment of Muslim prisoners have all led to unrest among inmates — with recent uprisings turning deadly. After 11 Months of War, Gaza and the Region Face a New Threat: Polio Nearly 11 months into a devastating war, a serious new challenge has emerged in Gaza: polio. Now Israel, under a new round of international pressure to prevent an outbreak of the crippling childhood disease, has moved with relative speed to allow U.N. aid agencies to address it. In South Indian Cinema, a #MeToo Reckoning Comes Roaring Back Withheld since 2019, a report investigating sexual abuse in South India cinema has finally been released, reviving the #MeToo movement as the country is gripped by protests over the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Ukraine Says It Struck at 2 Oil Depots Inside Russia Ukraine’s military said on Thursday that it had struck two more Russian oil depots, pressing ahead with a campaign of attacks against a sector vital for Moscow’s war effort. Israel’s Hostage Rescue Highlights Challenge of Hamas Tunnels in Gaza Gaza’s vast and complex subterranean network of tunnels shelters many of Hamas’s remaining leaders, and is a key obstacle to eradicating the group. The Woman Shaking Up German Politics From the East Sahra Wagenknecht, a former Communist, is shaking up politics in Germany. She founded her own political party to respond to German grievances about migrants, crime and the dangers of the war in Ukraine. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Why Hasn’t Russia Kicked Out Ukrainian Invaders? Its Own Invaders Are Busy. Precisely why Russia has so far failed to repel the biggest foreign incursion into its country since World War II appears to be not just a matter of personnel and lack of battlefield intelligence, but also of priorities. With Hezbollah-Israel Conflict Contained, Iran’s Next Move May Be Modest After weeks of regional fears about a broader war, Hezbollah’s limited attack on Israel suggests that Iran, like its ally, wants to hem in the risk of escalation. Shelling Kills 6 in Ukraine as Russia Pushes Ahead in East The eastern region of Donetsk, which has seen some of the fiercest fighting this year, was not spared from Russian aerial bombardment on Wednesday. A Russian attack killed four members of a family in the tiny community of Izmailivka. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: In Eastern Ukraine, Terrifying Bombardment and Near Total Destruction Powerful guided glide bombs have helped Russia raze entire towns in Ukraine with ever greater speed. “When you drive into a ruined town, it’s like hopelessness,” one soldier said. Mexico Pauses Relations With U.S. Embassy Amid Clash Over Judicial Overhaul AMLO said that his government was “pausing” diplomatic relations with the United States in response to criticism by the U.S. ambassador over his sweeping plans to overhaul the judiciary. The World’s Largest Wetland Is Burning, and Rare Animals Are Dying “We’re watching the biodiversity of the Pantanal disappear into ash,” a biologist said of the world’s largest tropical wetland. “It’s being burned to a crisp.” In Brazil, wildfires have roared across the Pantanal, a maze of rivers, forests and marshlands that sprawl over an area 20 times the size of the Everglades. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Russia Pounds Ukraine With ‘One of the Largest Strikes’ of the War Moscow launched more than 200 missiles and drones across a wide swath of Ukraine on Monday, damaging energy facilities and sending residents of Kyiv into basements and subways to seek shelter. Captain of Sunken Yacht Under Investigation in Deaths on Ship Italian authorities have opened a formal investigation into the actions of James Cutfield, the captain of the superyacht that sunk last Monday off the coast of Sicily, killing seven of the 22 people on board, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch. In a First, a Chinese Military Plane Breaches Japan’s Territorial Airspace A Chinese military surveillance plane breached Japanese airspace off the country’s southwestern coast on Monday, marking what Japan’s defense ministry described as the first known incursion by China’s military into its territorial airspace. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Ukraine Steps Up Strikes Into Russia as Moscow Pushes Ahead in the East In a new series of strikes, Ukraine struck Russia's Kavkaz port, one of the country's largest passenger ports and the main ferry terminal connecting Russia with Crimea. But Kyiv’s forces continued to struggle in the east under Russian assault. Families of Dead Hostages Vent Anger at Israeli Leaders Over War "They could have been saved, and they should have been saved." After Israel recovered the bodies of six men who died in Hamas captivity in Gaza, survivors accused the government of sinking the chances of hostages returning alive through a cease-fire deal. How to Be Truly Free: Lessons From a Philosopher President “There is only one life and it ends. You have to give meaning to it. Fight for happiness, not just for wealth.” Pepe Mujica, Uruguay’s spartan former president and plain-spoken philosopher, offers wisdom from a rich life as he battles cancer. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: A Combat Medic’s Quest to Change Tributes to Fallen Soldiers Iryna Tsybukh, a combat medic who was killed on the front line in Ukraine, wanted to humanize the way Kyiv commemorated the war dead. She also left notes for her own funeral. Thailand Confirms Its First Case of New, Deadlier Mpox Version A case of the new and deadlier version of mpox has been confirmed in Thailand, health officials said Thursday. It's the second time this version of the mpox virus, known as Clade lb, has been found outside Africa. Is India a Safe Place for Women? Another Brutal Killing Raises the Question. The rape and murder of a trainee doctor at her own hospital in India has brought up an uncomfortable truth about a country that wants to be a global leader: India remains one of the world’s most unsafe places for women. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Russia Seeks to Turn Humbling Incursion Into Military Gains Two weeks after Ukraine launched its surprise attack, Russian forces have recovered from the initial shock and are now trying to exploit the expansion of the war to their battlefield advantage. They Spouted Hate Online. Then They Were Arrested. As hundreds of people appear in court for their role in recent anti-immigrant riots in Britain, several are accused of fueling disorder through online posts, raising questions about the limits of free speech. China’s ‘Road Trip Auntie’ Is Ready for a New Milestone: Divorce Su Min became an internet sensation for leaving behind an abusive husband to drive across China alone. Now she’s ending the marriage, but there will be a price. Her experience shows the many barriers to independence that Chinese women still face. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: War Is Draining Ukraine’s Male-Dominated Work Force. Enter the Women. In Ukraine, women are increasingly stepping into jobs long dominated by men as the widespread mobilization of soldiers depletes the male-dominated work force. Search Resumes for U.K. Mogul and 5 Others After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily On Tuesday, deep-sea divers with Italy’s firefighter corps resumed their search for six missing passengers of a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily the previous day. Among the missing passengers are a British software mogul and his daughter. Kenyan Accused of Serial Killings Escapes From Police Custody A man who the Kenyan authorities said had confessed to killing 42 women over the past two years escaped from custody at a police station in Nairobi, along with 12 other people. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Ukraine Strikes Bridges in Russia, Aiming to Entrap Troops Russian troops defending a pocket of territory wedged between a river and the border with Ukraine were at risk of becoming encircled, military analysts said, after Ukraine bombed bridges that are the only routes for resupply or retreat. Survivors of Doomsday Starvation Cult Testify Against Pastor and 93 Associates “The children were not supposed to eat, so they could die,” a 9-year-old testified in a manslaughter trial involving an evangelical pastor in Kenya who allegedly ordered his congregation to shun education, medicine and starve their children to death in order to meet Jesus. A Deadly Fire Exposes the Plight of Low-Paid Migrants in Wealthy Kuwait After a blaze in Kuwait killed 49 migrant workers, a government crackdown focused on building violations — bypassing deeper problems that leave migrants with low wages and unsafe housing across the oil-rich Gulf. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Hezbollah Weighs Risks of Backlash at Home in War With Israel Iran-backed Hezbollah spent decades consolidating its military and political power in Lebanon to become the country’s dominant faction. If it drags the nation into another war with Israel amid a political and economic crisis, it risks a domestic backlash. Flying Kenya’s Flag Can Be a Crime. Protesters Now Wave It Proudly. Kenya has strict rules about how and where its flag can be displayed. But anti-government protesters have been wearing it as scarves, waving it at concerts and draping it on caskets as a symbol of resistance. Thailand Has a New Prime Minister, but the Same Old Power Brokers The abrupt rise of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the scion of a powerful and polarizing political family, is widely seen as a continuation of the meddling that has undermined Thai democracy. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Ukraine Captures Russian Town, Zelensky Says Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack on military airfields in Russia, hitting and damaging at least two. The attacks come as the country continues a ground assault that has rattled the Kremlin and altered the narrative of the war. A Mob Attack on a Toppled Party Shows Bangladesh’s Dangerous Vacuum In Bangladesh, a cycle of vengeance is playing out even as the interim government tries to keep order. Mobs wielding bamboo sticks and pipes thrashed supporters of Bangladesh’s toppled ruling party in Dhaka on Thursday, preventing them from gathering for their first rally since their leader, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, fled the country. 37 Square Feet That Show Brazil’s Racist Past In Brazil, rooms for maids, a vestige of the country’s history of slavery, are disappearing or being transformed as the country confronts deeply ingrained inequities. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Ukraine’s Surprise Attack Has Forced Russia to Change Plans Moscow has begun withdrawing some troops from Ukraine in an effort to repel Kyiv’s recent offensive into western Russia, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials. It remains unclear what impact, if any, that might have on the overall battlefield. Portraits of Survival: The Israeli Hostages Who Made It Home Photographer Avishag Shaar-Yashuv captures the lives of released Israeli hostages trying to rebuild their lives, campaigning for the return of those still in Gaza and mourning for those who were killed. As Famine Deepens in Sudan, U.S. Leads New Push for Cease-Fire The U.S. is initiating new peace talks on Wednesday aimed at stopping Sudan’s catastrophic civil war, a dialogue driven by growing alarm that the conflict is sending Sudan deeper into a famine that experts warn could become the world’s worst in decades. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Deception and a Gamble: How Ukrainian Troops Invaded Russia Planned in secrecy, the Ukrainian incursion into Russian territory was a bold move to upend the war’s dynamics and put Moscow on the defensive — a gambit that could also leave Ukraine exposed. Fires Near Athens Leave a Path of Destruction Greek authorities said the threat to Athens posed by major wildfires in its northern suburbs had diminished. But the country’s fire service spokesman said the damage caused had been “massive.” Tanzania Arrests 520 People in Mass Opposition Crackdown The Tanzanian police arrested 520 people, including top opposition leaders, as they planned to attend a youth rally, a stunning development in the East African nation where a pathbreaking female president had once promised to restore political freedoms. @nytimes

Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world: Facing a Ukrainian Incursion, Putin Directs His Rage at the West Russian forces, even as they scramble to respond to a surprise incursion from northern Ukraine into Russia, are pummeling Ukrainian forces along the front lines in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian military officials say. Britain’s Anti-Immigrant Riots Pose Critical Test for Starmer Even after restoring order after the riots, Britain’s new prime minister faces a bigger challenge: defusing the issues of fraying public services and a cost-of-living crisis that underlie the unrest. The Filipinos Living in the Shadow of China’s Military Might Thitu, one of the Spratly Islands—a chain of about 100 reefs and cays in the South China Sea contested by six different countries—is home to a few hundred Filipinos, who are increasingly finding themselves in the middle of a tense geopolitical dispute. @nytimes