
February 2025

Hezbollah Plans Show of Strength at Killed Leader’s Funeral
The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group is staging an elaborate commemoration for its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel in September.

The Battle of Iwo Jima: A Photo History
U.S. Marines raised an American flag on the Japanese island’s highest peak exactly 80 years ago. But the fighting, some of the deadliest of World War II, would rage on for a month.

Pope Francis in Critical Condition After ‘Respiratory Crisis,’ Vatican Says
The announcement on Saturday evening indicated that Francis’ medical condition had become more complicated since an update from his doctors on Friday.

Pope Francis Put Church Above His Health, Vatican Observers Say
Many who know him said that Francis, driven by a sense of mission and a discipline born of his early training, essentially worked himself into the hospital.

On the Ropes, Olaf Scholz Keeps Punching
The German chancellor, who defied calls to step aside after his government fell apart, is down in the polls but insisting he can still win.

Shocked by Trump, Europe Turns Its Hopes to Germany’s Election
Germany’s economy is stalled and its politics fractured. But it sees an opening for a new chancellor to lead Europe’s response to a changing America.

New Proposal for Ukraine’s Minerals Is Nearly Identical to Rejected Version
The Trump administration appears to be insisting that Ukraine relinquish half of its revenues from natural resource extraction, with no security guarantee in exchange.

The Unabashedly Provocative Youth Driving Germany’s Far Right
A new band of influencers unafraid of confrontation has helped elevate the Alternative for Germany party to second in pre-election polls.

As Conflict Rages in Congo, President Offers U.S. Minerals Deal
As vast swaths of Congolese territory are seized by a Rwandan-backed armed group, Congo’s president looks to make a minerals deal with the United States.

In Syria, Joy at al-Assad’s Demise Turns to Fear of Israeli Raids
Villagers say they worry that incursions into border areas of Syria by Israel’s military could turn into a prolonged occupation. Israel says the raids are needed to protect the border.