Seized on Their Way to Gaza, Activists Tell of Abuse in Israeli Custody
In interviews, more than 20 people who tried to break an Israeli blockade described beatings, electric shocks and other abuse after being captured. Israel denied the accusations.
Foreigners Behaving Badly in Vietnam Challenge Its Communist Justice System
Vietnam is grappling with a surge in visitors, testing its Soviet-style criminal justice system as it tries to supercharge its economy through tourism.
Video Captures Chaos as Earthquake Strikes Japan Hospital Mid-Surgery
Footage shows doctors in Japan clinging to an operating table to protect a patient from the violent tremor. The surgery was completed successfully.
How Japan Reduced Deaths From a Major Quake
After deadly tremors a decade ago, Kumamoto built earthquake-resistant buildings and even trained locals in search and rescue.
Houthis Claim Attack on Yemeni Military Camp
Recent escalating tensions between the Iran-backed group and the Yemeni government have prompted fears that a truce in place since 2022 is nearing collapse.
Iranians Say Trump’s Promises Have Fallen by the Wayside as Iran War Drags On
As President Trump struggles to extricate the United States from the war in Iran, his promises to protesters in the country have fallen by the wayside.
After Trump Calls Canadians ‘Nasty,’ Mark Carney Says the Word Fits Trade Talks
Canada’s prime minister laughed off Trump’s description of Canada but suggested that trade talks between the two countries are acrimonious.
French Streamers Convicted in Case Related to Kick Livestream Death
The two men, users of the platform Kick, received suspended sentences and fines.
Israeli Settler Charged in Death of Activist Awdah Hathaleen
The indictment was a rare case in which the Israeli authorities pressed charges against an Israeli in the killing of a Palestinian.
Driver in Munich Car Ramming Attack Given Life in Prison
The attack, in 2025, was one of several carried out in Germany in recent years by men with migrant backgrounds, shaking the public’s sense of safety.
Fires Wrecked Their Village in France. Now They Want Answers.
After fleeing France’s worst wildfire in decades, residents of Le Porge, a village west of Bordeaux, returned home 13 days later. They found a town in ruins.
Wars, Wildfires and Migrants Leave Europe Straining for Control
A brutal summer has exposed how much pressure European countries are under from forces largely out of their grip: war in Iran and Ukraine, record heat and more.
Explosive Drone Found at German Airport Used by Ukrainian Carrier
A second drone may have collided with a plane in the air over the airport, damaging the aircraft slightly, the authorities say.
Musk, Money and Mars
SpaceX shares are down, but Elon Musk is still the richest man in the world. What’s next?
Climate Change Comes to Sesame Street
An episode this week focuses on the dangerous effects of warming, without mentioning climate change.
Pope Leo Will Visit Peru, Where He Lived for Years, in November
The trip, which will also include Uruguay and Argentina, will be a homecoming of sorts for the American pontiff.
Migrant Crisis Reveals Vast Differences Between Ceuta and Its Moroccan Neighbor
Ceuta, Spain, and Fnideq, Morocco, are physically separated by only a mile, but they are intertwined by family and trade. A recent border crisis is the latest chapter in their story.
Lobga Rangzen, the Tibetan Activist Who Set Himself on Fire in Manhattan
No one doubted the intensity of Lobga Rangzen’s commitment to a Tibet free of Chinese control. But they were not prepared for what he did next.
Russia’s Deadly Missile Attack on Kyiv Exploits Ukraine’s Depleted Air Defenses
At least 17 people were killed, officials said, as the country runs desperately low on interceptor missiles that could fend off Russian bombardments.
Boy Kills Grandparents and Then Five Teachers, Thai Authorities Say
A student killed his grandparents before opening fire at his high school and shooting himself, the authorities said. The episode revived a debate about gun laws.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Joint Defense Pact
The agreement treats an attack on any of the countries as an attack on all, but in a region of volatile rivalries, it was unclear how it would work in practice.
The State of Iran’s Three Key Nuclear Sites
The conflict may have slowed, but not stopped, Iran’s nuclear program, officials and experts said.
Residents of the Barbican in London Are Battling a New Tower
The Barbican, a once divisive housing complex in central London, is now considered an architectural masterpiece. Residents are fighting plans for a 20-story building next door.
Family of Former U.S. Marine Detained in Russia Says He Is in Serious Condition
Robert Gilman, 32, is in “dissociative stupor,” an advocacy group said, and his family members say they are afraid for his life. Mr. Gilman was arrested in Russia in 2022.
Parts of Eastern and Central Europe Broke Heat Records This Week
The hot weather has exacerbated dry conditions, creating conditions for wildfires and receding rivers.
A List of Good Things
For something different in August, we bring you ideas, rituals and activities to add joy to your days.
Capybaras Were the Newest Lobbyists in This Brazilian Legislature
In Mato Grosso, Brazil, capybaras wandered into the building, but they were polite during the incursion.
The ‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Hudson Williams Uplifts a Canadian Tire Bag
After the actor Hudson Williams was photographed carrying a plaid reusable shopping bag, priced under $2, the tote has become a viral fashion accessory.
N.Y. Doctor Sentenced in Japan for Vandalizing Ancient Religious Sites
Masahide Kanayama, a surgeon and an expert in endometriosis, received an 18-month suspended sentence after a court found him guilty of damaging the sites.
Budget Airline Jetstar to Charge Fees for Using the Overhead Bin
Jetstar, a budget carrier, will be the first in Australia to start making passengers pay for carry-on luggage that doesn’t fit under the seat.
Pakistan Starts Sweeping New Crackdown on Journalists
With a protest movement in Kashmir challenging its authority in the region, Pakistan restricts independent reporting by local and foreign media.
New Zealand is Racing to Vaccinate Its Endangered Birds Against Bird Flu
Conservation experts are trying to slow the march of the viral disease in a country that is home to rare and endangered bird species.
Pilot Smuggled 55 Pounds of Ecstasy Into Indonesia, Officials Say
The pilot, identified only by his initials, also tested positive for ecstasy and cocaine when he was arrested last week at the Jakarta airport, the Indonesian police said.
How China’s A.I. Is Surging Across Africa
In African tech hubs, developers are picking China’s cheap, freely available artificial intelligence models over more powerful U.S. ones.
Houthis Threaten to Expand Red Sea Attacks, and Claim Strikes on Saudi Tankers
Saudi Arabia has not commented on the claims by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran and have vowed to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.
How Being Cool Is Making The Hague a Vacation Hot Spot
Looking for respite from European heat waves, summer tourists are flocking to the diplomatic hub. But city leaders are wary of overcrowding.
Israeli Strikes May Undermine Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza
President Trump announced a proposal aimed at achieving the disarmament of Hamas and an Israeli withdrawal. Israel ramped up attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
Trump Administration Fast-Tracks Military Partnership With Colombia to Target Drug Traffickers
The country’s new Trump-endorsed president takes office on Friday. Sweeping plans to target drug traffickers with U.S. help are already underway.
Rescuers Battled Extreme Weather Conditions During Medevac Mission in Antarctica
An Australian flight crew faced subfreezing temperatures, changing weather conditions and almost constant darkness as they worked to rescue a U.S. national.
A Drying Danube River Reveals Nazi-Era Vessels, and Hazards of Heat
The river’s water levels have fallen as extreme heat has afflicted Europe, exposing sunken German vessels from World War II that are impeding navigation.
Venezuela’s Response to Earthquakes Exposes Government’s Shortcomings
The government turned to the world to respond to twin quakes. But years of shrinking budgets and political repression weakened its ability to rescue countless people trapped in rubble.
As Pressure Mounts, U.S. Hunts for Cuba’s Next Leader
Some officials warn that a more hard-line leader could emerge if the Trump administration moves forward with its plans.
Photos Show England Turning Brown in Drought
Beset by historically dry weather, much of the nation is losing its signature hue.
Birds Are Dying. Clues Point to El Niño.
A die-off of seabirds has some experts thinking an El Niño weather pattern is to blame, a look at data centers and pollution, and more climate news.
Houthi Attacks on Yemeni Military Threaten to Reignite Civil War
The Iranian-backed militia said it had targeted the armed forces in two resource-rich provinces, as escalating violence in Yemen imperils a fragile truce.
Can Robots Save Japan’s Aging Cherry Blossom Farmers?
Monster Wolf and Pochi are among the robots deployed to scare away bears and transport cherry blossoms in a northern region where many farmers are in their 70s or older.
Amid Intensifying Russian Strikes, Ukraine’s Pleas for Air Defenses Are Falling Flat
Western allies are more hesitant to give up interceptor missiles they may need for their own defense as war rages on multiple fronts.
Country Music Festival Lights Up Nairobi
Fans gathered in Kenya to celebrate a genre born far away but that more and more Africans are coming to appreciate.
C.I.A. Sets Up Secret Cuba Task Force as Trump Pressures Havana
The task force will allow the spy agency to quickly direct more financial, human and technical resources at the island, with the goal of creating fissures among the Cuban political elite.
Mexican Influencer César Gastélum Shot Dead During Livestream from Sinaloa
César Gastélum was streaming video from outside a KFC in Culiacán, a city in Sinaloa state, when he was gunned down on Tuesday.
Iran Says It Is Nearing Final Agreement With Oman on Strait of Hormuz
The agreement on an acceptable route for ships to pass through the strait would effectively ratify Tehran’s control over the crucial waterway.
Israel Strikes Lebanon After Accusing Hezbollah of Cease-Fire Violation
At the same time, Israeli and Lebanese negotiators were holding talks in Rome aimed at fostering a long-term diplomatic settlement.
Record-Breaking Heat Wave in South Korea Leads to Canceled Baseball Games
The country has been gripped by a record-setting heat wave that endangered both players and spectators.
Finland Tries to Protect Children Against Deepfakes, With Russia in Mind
Finland, wary of misinformation from Moscow and beyond, has a leg up on other nations in spotting fake news. But A.I. is a whole new challenge.
The War That’s Happening Above Russia and Ukraine
The combatants are producing ever larger numbers of innovative aerial weapons, hoping for a breakthrough as ground combat is largely frozen.