World

This month, Sao Paulo’s main street was packed with thousands of people dressed in the yellow and green of the Brazilian flag, drawn by a towering figure on a trailer equipped with loudspeakers. From above, it might have looked like any other political rallies held by former President Jair Bolsonaro, who famously declared that he could never love a gay son. (Although the huge rainbow flag might have been a clue.) In fact, it was one of the largest Pride parades in the world, and the person in the van with the sound was Phabullo Rodrigues da Silva, 30, the gay son of a working-class single mother from northern Brazil. But everyone knew him as Pabllo Vittar, a six-foot-tall drag queen in a shiny Brazilian soccer jersey and ripped denim shorts: one of the biggest pop stars in this nation of ...

A Russian military court has sentenced playwright Svetlana Petriychuk and theater director Yevgenia Berkovich to six years in prison, accusing them of “justifying terrorism.” Critics say the case exemplifies the crackdown on free speech since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Petriychuk, 44, and Berkovich, 39, have been in custody since May 2023. In addition to their prison sentences, both are banned from operating websites for three years after release. The work at the center of the controversy, "Finist the Brave Falcon," written by Petriychuk and directed by Berkovich, adapts a classic fairy tale by integrating narratives of women deceived online into joining the Islamic State. It reflects the true stories of several women from Russia and the former Soviet Union recruited b...

According to French pollsters' projections based on preliminary results, France appears to be heading for a prolonged political stalemate, as no party or coalition has won an absolute majority of parliamentary seats. Experts suggest the immediate path forward is unclear. The country could face months of political instability, with President Emmanuel Macron facing a deeply divided parliament that includes two blocs staunchly opposed to him. "Without an absolute majority, the government will be at the mercy of opposition parties that will unite to overthrow it," said Dominique Rousseau, professor emeritus of public law at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris. Projections indicate that the National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, will be divided into three m...

Russia is unlikely to make significant territorial gains in Ukraine in the coming months, U.S. officials say, given its poorly trained troops and Ukraine’s robust defenses, now bolstered by Western munitions. During the spring and early summer, Russian troops attempted to advance out of the city of Kharkiv and renew their offensive in eastern Ukraine, capitalizing on the capture of Avdiivka. However, these efforts resulted in thousands of Russian casualties and very little territorial gains. This shift represents a significant change in the dynamics of the war, which had recently favored Moscow. While Russian forces continue to inflict damage, their progress has been slowed by strengthened Ukrainian defense lines. The coming months will not be easy for Ukraine, but allied leaders gathered...

The meeting between a middle power and a great power was a high-risk, meticulously planned diplomatic operation. “You are now connected to Air Force One,” a White House operator said as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaned into a speakerphone in a short video released from 10 Downing Street on Saturday. “Congratulations, Mr. Prime Minister,” President Biden exclaimed on his way to a campaign rally in Wisconsin. “What an incredible victory!” The two leaders spoke warmly about the importance of the “special relationship” between the UK and the US, their shared commitment to defending Ukraine and an upcoming meeting: Starmer will travel to Washington on Tuesday, where Biden will host a NATO summit. Since Barack Obama took office, the White House and Downing Street have not been simulta...

Instead of bringing clarity, the snap election called by French President Emmanuel Macron has created a complex situation that could take months to unravel. The snap election, intended to secure a stronger mandate for Macron’s government, has instead led to a fragmented political landscape, with no party securing a clear majority. The French electorate delivered a mixed verdict, resulting in a stalemated parliament where alliances and coalitions will be crucial to governance. Macron's party, La République En Marche!, fell short of the majority needed to pass the legislation smoothly. This result forces Macron to negotiate with other parties, which could dilute his political agenda and slow down legislative processes. The main opposition parties, including the conservative Les Rép...

Rishi Sunak, the outgoing British Prime Minister, has managed to retain his parliamentary seat in North Yorkshire, albeit by a narrower margin than in the previous election five years ago. Sunak won 47.5% of the vote in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in northern England. The result was likely a relief to Sunak, who was said to be worried about holding on to his once-safe seat in the run-up to the election. Few in Richmond expected Sunak to be unseated. The Conservative Party has long dominated rural Yorkshire. A defeat would make Sunak the first sitting prime minister to lose his parliamentary seat. “If they put a goat in Richmond as conservative, it would still win,” observed Lawrence Hathaway, 94. “This area has always been conservative.” However, Sunak, a multimillionai...

In recent years, as Chinese athletes have been accused of doping, the Chinese government has mobilized its vast propaganda apparatus, including state-run newspapers, television commentators and social media accounts, to defend the accused and deflect criticism away from its sports system. Yet the recent revelation that 23 elite Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the 2021 Olympics has been met with an unusual response from China: near silence. While the scandal is hotly debated abroad, including in congressional sessions, Chinese media have largely limited their coverage to scant official statements. Online discussions of the controversy have been heavily censored, a level of suppression typically reserved for highly sensitive political issues. This shift in s...

Hurricane Beryl is moving toward Jamaica as a Category 4 storm, after wreaking havoc across the southeastern Caribbean and killing at least four people. Beryl intensified to a Category 5 storm with winds of at least 155 mph, but was downgraded to a Category 4 late Tuesday afternoon, with sustained winds near 165 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. No Atlantic storm has reached Category 5 strength this early in the season, noted Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University. Major Atlantic hurricanes have sustained winds of 111 mph or more. Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, is in turmoil as people rush to gather supplies. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has ordered all non-essential government offices to close and told residents of low-lying areas to evacuate. J...

On Monday, Israel released Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the head of Gaza’s largest hospital, after holding him for more than seven months without charge. The move sparked immediate protests in Israel, highlighting the polarized views on the ongoing conflict. Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, was arrested in late November during an attempt to evacuate patients while the hospital was under siege by the Israeli army. The military said he was being questioned about Hamas activities at the hospital. His release has amplified differing perspectives on the war. Human rights groups have criticized his continued detention without charge as indicative of Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, who are often held without trial. In contrast, some Israeli officials have condemn...