
A Search for Ways Around Blocked Strait Leads to Syria
The latest war in the Middle East has created new economic opportunities for Syria thanks to its geography.By Raja Abdulrahim
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldmiddleeast
Baniyas (Syria)Damascus (Syria)Syria

In Closed-Door Talks, U.S. Demands a Major Role in Greenland
Greenlandic officials worry about the direction of the negotiations aimed at defusing President Trump’s threats to seize their island. But they have little leverage.By Jeffrey Gettleman, Maya Tekeli, Anton Troianovski and Eric Schmitt
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldeurope
GreenlandNorth Atlantic Treaty OrganizationLynge, PipalukNielsen, Jens-FrederikTrump, Donald J

A French Soccer Star Faces Off Against a Surging Foe: The Far Right
Kylian Mbappé, the captain of France’s national team, set off a storm a month before the World Cup by suggesting that the National Rally party was a threat to France.By Mark Landler
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldeurope
National Rally (France)Mbappe, Kylian (1998- )Le Pen, MarineBardella, Jordan (1995- )

He Shut Liquor Stores and Banned Abortion, All for the Glory of Russia
A firebrand governor aims to transform his region into a laboratory for the Kremlin’s reactionary ideals.By Ivan Nechepurenko and Mary Gelman
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldeurope
RussiaVologda (Russia)Putin, Vladimir VGeorgy Y. Filimonov

Actually, Democracy Dies in H.R.
New research sheds light on how mediocre employees help would-be authoritarians maintain power.By Amanda Taub
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldamericas
ArgentinaHungaryRussiaVenezuelaUnited StatesImmigration and Customs Enforcement (US)Orban, ViktorGood, Renee Nicole (1988-2026)Maduro, NicolasPutin, Vladimir V

Erdogan Wants Turkey to Have More Babies. Few Parents Are Listening.
Using cash grants and subsidized loans, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government is trying to increase the birthrate. It’s not working.By Ben Hubbard and Safak Timur
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldeurope
TurkeyErdogan, Recep Tayyip

Runoff in Peru Offers Two Starkly Differing Visions for the Nation
The presidential election pits Keiko Fujimori, a conservative, against Roberto Sánchez, a leftist, after a crisis marked by delays and protests.By Mitra Taj and Genevieve Glatsky
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldamericas
PeruLima (Peru)Fujimori, KeikoSanchez, Roberto

App-Driven Birding Attracts Flocks of Enthusiasts to Colombia
Colombia is home to the most species of birds known to ornithologists. Merlin, an app, is helping to build an “avian tourism” industry there.By Max Bearak and Esteban Vanegas
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldamericas
ColombiaCornell University

In Iraqi Desert, Two Israeli Outposts Were Kept Secret for Months
Israel spent over a year preparing a covert site in Iraq for its operations against Iran, regional officials say. Iraqi officials later confirmed the existence of a second base.By Erika Solomon and Falih Hassan
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldeurope
Baghdad (Iraq)IranIraqIsraelUnited StatesZamir, Eyal

W.H.O. Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency
The agency made the declaration just a day after Africa’s top public health agency first announced the outbreak. There is no approved vaccine for this species of Ebola.By Yan Zhuang, Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Apoorva Mandavilli
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldafrica
Congo, Democratic Republic of (Congo-Kinshasa)UgandaAfricaIturi Province (Congo, Democratic Republic of)Kampala (Uganda)Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo)Africa Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWorld Health Organization

Wave of Ukrainian Strikes Kills at Least 4, Russia Says
More than 550 drones were intercepted or shot down in more than a dozen regions, including Moscow, in one of largest attacks of the war.By Valerie Hopkins and Cassandra Vinograd
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldeurope
RussiaMoscow (Russia)UkraineKyiv (Ukraine)Zelensky, VolodymyrSobyanin, Sergei S

A North Korean Soccer Team Makes a Rare Visit to South Korea
The team’s trip, for a women’s soccer tournament, is unlikely to catalyze a diplomatic thaw between the two Koreas, although some sports events have.By Choe Sang-Hun
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldasia
South KoreaNorth KoreaAsian Football ConfederationKim Jong-unLee Jae-myung

Venezuela Extradites Billionaire Tycoon to the U.S.
The extradition of Alex Saab, who is tied to a huge graft scheme, is part of a purge of powerful figures who helped the deposed president, Nicolás Maduro, stay in power.By Simon Romero
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
worldamericas
VenezuelaUnited StatesColombiaMaduro, NicolasBiden, Joseph R JrRodriguez, Delcy (1969- )Saab, Alex

How a Nature Cruise Turned Into a Nightmare
The hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius set off alarms for a world still traumatized by Covid. For those on board, the danger was much closer.By Jason Horowitz, Claire Moses, Amelia Nierenberg and Samuel Granados
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
Andes MountainsCanary IslandsCape VerdeJohannesburg (South Africa)Tristan da CunhaOceanwide Expeditions BVWorld Health Organization

Trump’s Taiwan Gambit is Already a Gift to China
President Trump’s open willingness to hold up a $14 billion Taiwan arms package is a win for Beijing. Now China could be weighing how to keep the weapons on ice for as long as it can.By Chris Buckley and Amy Chang Chien
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldasia
Boeing CompanyChinese Nationalist Party (Taiwan)Democratic Progressive Party (Taiwan)Greer, Jamieson LLai Ching-tePei, MinxinTrump, Donald JXi Jinping

Two Americans Detained in Japan After Entering Punch the Monkey’s Enclosure
The men were charged with obstructing operations at a zoo, apparently as a stunt connected to a cryptocurrency. They denied the charges.By Javier C. Hernández and Hisako Ueno
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldasia
JapanIchikawa City Zoo

Bodies of Four Italian Divers Found in Maldives Cave
The discovery comes after days of searching by an international team of rescue divers. A fifth body was recovered last week.By Ali Watkins and Maahil Mohamed
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldasia
MaldivesIndian Ocean

Trump Threatens Iran as Tensions Surge Again in Middle East
The president has sought to force Iran to accept his terms on its nuclear program or else face renewed war. An emboldened Iran has rebuffed Trump’s demands.By Aaron Boxerman
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldmiddleeast
IranStrait of HormuzTrump, Donald J

Louvre Announces Architects for Expansion That Will Include New Mona Lisa Space
A team of French and German architects has been selected for the project, which is expected to increase the Paris museum’s capacity by three million visitors a year.By Mark Landler
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
arts
Paris (France)Louvre MuseumMacron, Emmanuel (1977- )

Catastrophe Is Emerging in the World’s Most Vulnerable Places
The humanitarian relief system, decimated by cuts, faces a grave challenge as the Middle East war causes soaring costs for food, fuel and fertilizer.By Peter S. Goodman and Finbarr O’Reilly
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
business
SomaliaMogadishu (Somalia)AfricaMercy CorpsUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentTrump, Donald J

What to Know About the Latest Ebola Outbreak
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency after about 80 people died from the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo.By Ephrat Livni
Published on : Mon May 18 2026
worldafrica
Congo, Democratic Republic of (Congo-Kinshasa)UgandaWorld Health Organization

He’s Forging the Future of War
Meet the man who wants Ukraine to use autonomous drones that could decide on their own to use lethal force.By Katrin Bennhold
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
world
Fedorov, Mykhailo

The Iran War Is Crippling One of the World’s Wealthiest Nations
Iranian attacks and the stoppage of seaborne transit have paralyzed Qatar’s vital gas exports, stalling the economic pivots intended to anchor the country’s growth.By River Akira Davis
Published on : Sun May 17 2026
business
Doha (Qatar)Qatar

Félicien Kabuga Dies; Accused of Masterminding Rwanda’s Genocide
One of his country’s richest businessmen, he fled arrest and escaped prosecution for allegedly financing and directing the bloodletting that cost 800,000 lives in 1994.By Alan Cowell
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldafrica
RwandaAfricaInternational Criminal Tribunal for RwandaKabuga, Felicien

Car Plows Into Pedestrians in Northern Italian Town, Injuring at Least 8
Four of the injured were in serious condition, the mayor of Modena said, praising residents who rushed to stop the car’s driver from escaping on foot.By Elisabetta Povoledo
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
Modena (Italy)

Trump Calls Xi a ‘Friend.’ But He Left China Without Any Breakthroughs.
The lack of concrete agreements with Beijing shows the risks of President Trump’s personality-driven foreign policy, which rests on the belief that he can defend U.S. interests through charm and force of will.By Anton Troianovski
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
ChinaTaiwanXi JinpingTrump, Donald J

Fears Grow That Iran May Be Using Proxy Groups Beyond Mideast
The charges against Mohammad al-Saadi in the United States have raised concerns that Iran could be working with its proxies to stage attacks outside the region.By Aaron Boxerman, Neil MacFarquhar and Falih Hassan
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldmiddleeast
United StatesIraqIranHezbollahKataib HezbollahIslamic Revolutionary Guards Corps

Train Crashes Into Bangkok Traffic, Killing at Least 8
A freight train plowed into traffic on train tracks, starting a fire. The authorities did not immediately give a cause but said a barrier had not come down.By Kittiphum Sringammuang, Isabella Kwai and Phuriphat Dejsuphong
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldasia
Bangkok (Thailand)

Man Stole Medieval Skull From Church and Sealed it in Concrete, Police Say
The man disagreed with the 800-year-old relic’s display in a church in the Czech Republic and planned to throw it into a river, police said.By Jonathan Wolfe
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
Czech RepublicRoman Catholic Church

China Will Host Putin, Days After Trump’s Visit
The Russian leader will go to Beijing on Tuesday for talks with President Xi Jinping. The Kremlin said he had watched President Trump’s visit closely.By Ivan Nechepurenko
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
ChinaRussiaPutin, Vladimir VXi JinpingTrump, Donald J

Finishing School
It’s graduation season, a time of aspiration and anxiety. Today is about the aspiration — the wisdom to be gleaned from great commencement addresses.By Melissa Kirsch
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
briefing

How a Times Reporter Found Cartel Gold at the Royal Canadian Mint
A conversation with Justin Scheck, who found that illegal Colombian gold transformed into legal North American gold through bureaucratic sleights of hand, and ended up in Canada.By Shawna Richer
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldcanada
CanadaColombiaRoyal Canadian MintClan del Golfo

They Fled to Safety in Palestinian Territory, Then Settlers Attacked Again
Violent settlers are not merely clearing Palestinians from land under Israel’s control. They are attacking areas where Israel agreed to Palestinian self-governance.By Azam Ahmed and Ivor Prickett
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldmiddleeast
West BankIsrael

Rubio, Once a China Hawk, Strikes Softer Tone to Align With Trump
As a senator, Marco Rubio even hinted at the need for regime change in China. Now he talks about cooperation.By Edward Wong and Michael Crowley
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
uspolitics
ChinaState DepartmentXi JinpingRubio, MarcoTrump, Donald J

Rival Protests Take Place in London, With a Major Security Effort
The police have deployed thousands of officers, partly to keep far-right and pro-Palestinian marchers apart. The events drew tens of thousands to London.By Michael D. Shear and Megan Specia
Published on : Sat May 16 2026
worldeurope
Great BritainLondon (England)Scotland Yard (Metropolitan Police Service)Robinson, Tommy (1982- )