February 14, 2025
Cuts to U.S.-Backed Rights Groups Seen as a Win for China
U.S. funding for the promotion of democracy has been frozen, disrupting the work of groups that expose abuses in China. Chinese nationalists are celebrating.
High Above Chernobyl, Workers Grapple With Ice, Fire and Nuclear Fears
After an apparent drone strike blew a hole in the protective shell, there is an urgent need to patch what covers the wreckage of the world’s worst nuclear accident.
Tensions Build in Syria Between New Leaders and Kurdish-Led Militia
The interim government in Damascus has called for a powerful Kurdish-led militia backed by the United States to disarm and integrate into a national military force.
Live Updates: In Speech to Europeans, Vance Signals Support for Far-Right Parties
Vice President JD Vance scolded an audience in Munich, saying Europe was failing to uphold democratic values. He said nothing about President Trump’s talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, which have stirred anxiety on the continent.
With Fighting Stilled, Gazans Face New Trauma: Searching for Their Dead
Thousands of bodies may be unearthed from Gaza’s ruins, the authorities say. Families with missing loved ones face fresh horrors as they search the rubble.
All 3 Fayed Brothers, Ex-Owners of Harrods, Are Now Accused of Sexual Assault
An abuse scandal that once appeared centered on the billionaire Mohamed al-Fayed has since widened to include Salah and Ali, with whom he owned Harrods, the iconic London department store.
Whiskey Offers Window Into the Pain of a Trade War
Liquor is leverage as the world careens toward another trade dispute. European tariffs on American whiskey snap back after March 31 unless an extension is granted.
For Ukraine War Widows, Valentine’s Day is a Painful Reminder
Cellphone messages provide a cherished link for Ukrainians whose partners are away fighting, but when the answers dry up, the last words can become poignant symbols of loss.