

The Road to a Gaza Cease-Fire Runs Through Qatar
The emirate has used its influence with Hamas to press for a truce with Israel. But “the last word is with those on the battlefield,” one expert said.

Distracted and Divided, Russian Security Service Misses Threats
The Ukrainian offensive over the border caught Moscow’s intelligence agencies by surprise, experts say. It wasn’t the first time that has happened during the war.

China Stops Foreign Adoptions, Ending a Complicated Chapter
Beijing said the move was in line with international trends, as more countries have limited such adoptions. Many would-be adoptive families were left in limbo.

Are Pacific Islands a ‘Dumping Ground’ for Accused Priests?
Over a decades-long period, more than 30 Catholic priests and missionaries moved to remote island nations after they had allegedly abused children in the West, or had been found to do so.

Woman in France Testifies Against Husband Accused of Bringing Men to Rape Her
Gisèle Pelicot spoke of the horror of being told by the police that they had evidence her husband had drugged her for years and brought men into their home to join him in raping her.

Anti-Polio Campaign in Gaza Enters New Phase, Hours After Deadly Strike
As the mass vaccination campaign shifted Thursday from central to southern Gaza, an Israeli strike reportedly killed four in an area where inoculations had just concluded.

How Much Screen Time Should Toddlers Have? None, Sweden Says.
Children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any screens, Swedish public health authorities said, part of a growing effort to limit phone use by youngsters.

Boko Haram Kills at Least 170 Villagers in Nigeria Attack
Boko Haram killed at least 170 villagers in northeastern Nigeria, community leaders say, in what is likely one of the deadliest attacks in recent years.

German Police Shoot Gunman Dead Near Israeli Consulate in Munich
The shootout with an 18-year-old Austrian came on the anniversary of the attack on the Munich Olympics that left 11 Israelis dead, was being investigated as a possible terrorist attack.

Dismissing Kursk, Putin Says Ukraine’s East Is Russia’s Main Goal
Dismissing Ukraine’s recent invasion of Kursk, the Russian leader said Kyiv made a mistake in trying to force Moscow to divert its forces from the Donbas region.