Pregnant British Women to Get Covid Vaccines

Early in the pandemic, Britain had recommended against vaccines for pregnant women, citing a lack of research on side effects.…

A Week of Discouraging, Frightening and Frustrating Pandemic Developments

Canada inched ahead of the United States on new daily coronavirus cases per capita and officials warned that worse is to come.…

Covid-19 Global Death Toll Nears 3 Million

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has surged to nearly 140 million as dangerous virus variants spread and countries race to provide enough vaccines.…

Raúl Castro to Step Down as Head of Cuba’s Communist Party

Mr. Castro announced that he will step down and pass on control of the party to Cuba’s younger generation. His departure will leave Cuba without a Castro at its helm for the first time in 60 years.…

The Contradiction That Doomed America’s Mission in Afghanistan

How a series of fateful choices and lofty ambitions put Taliban defeat at odds with American victory.…

Vaccine Hesitancy Leaves Doses to Expire in Some African Countries

Thousands of doses have gone to waste in Malawi and South Sudan.…

Young Italians Are Accused of Jumping the Line for Vaccines

“How can people in all conscience jump the line?” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said. “Knowing that they leave exposed a person who is over 75 to a risk, a concrete risk of dying, or a fragile person?”…

Prince Philip’s Funeral Marks the End of an Era for U.K. Royal Family

The prince’s death is the monarchy’s dress rehearsal for the far more consequential passing of the queen, a reckoning that seems likely to reverberate in British history.…

Russia Will Expel Diplomats in Retaliation for U.S. Sanctions

The Russian government announced the expulsion of 10 diplomats and a travel ban for some U.S. officials in a response to sanctions.…

In Russia, a Military Buildup That Can’t be Missed

Russia’s massing of tanks and infantry along its southwestern border with Ukraine was meant to send a message, analysts say.…

Shirley Williams, Breakaway Political Force in Britain, Dies at 90

She was one of the “Gang of Four” who left Labour to start the more centrist Social Democratic Party in 1981, altering the country’s political landscape.…

$40,000 Swindle Puts Spotlight on Literary Prize Scams

The organizers of at least five British awards received emails asking them to transfer prize money to a PayPal account. One of them paid out.…

Iran Says It Began Enriching Uranium to 60 Percent. How Important Is That?

A highly purified form of uranium is needed to make an atomic bomb, but the main point of Tehran’s action may be to give it leverage in nuclear talks.…

The Carpenter Who Built Tiny Homes for Toronto’s Homeless

Khaleel Seivwright built himself a wooden shanty while living on a West Coast commune. Then he started building similar lodgings for homeless people in Toronto to survive the winter.…

The End of the United States’ Forever War

A new book about the Pech Valley in Afghanistan’s violent east offers poignant lessons as the Biden administration announces plans to withdraw all troops.…

Taiwan Prosecutors Charge Man With Causing Deadly Train Crash

The driver of a crane truck that slid down an embankment — into the path of an oncoming express train — faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.…

A new coronavirus wave is crushing middle-class dreams in India.

Hong Kong Sentences Jimmy Lai, Other Pro-Democracy Figures, to Prison

The punishments over an unauthorized peaceful protest point to what critics say is the shrinking space for dissent in Hong Kong.…

Pfizer and Others Are Planning for Covid Vaccine Boosters

“There are vaccines like polio where one dose is enough, and there are vaccines like flu that you need every year, ” Pfizer’s chief said. “The Covid virus looks more like the influenza virus than the polio virus.”…

In a season of reopenings, New York City venues try to strike the right note.

Overwhelmed by the virus, Paraguay considers ditching Taiwan for China — and its vaccines.

Paraguay’s ‘Life and Death’ Covid Crisis Gives China Diplomatic Opening

Paraguay desperately needs Covid-19 vaccines, which China could supply. That has led the South American nation to reconsider its relationship with Taiwan, which precludes it from dealing with Beijing.…

Disappearing Slang and Cultural Variants: How Australian English Is Changing

Readers reflect on the country’s many different accents.…

Your Friday Briefing

U.S. sanctions on Russia.…

Eritrean Troops Continue to Commit Atrocities in Tigray, U.N. Says

Despite a promise to leave, Eritrea’s troops remain in northern Ethiopia, aiding the Ethiopian government campaign there, a senior U.N. official told the Security Council.…

Prince Philip’s Funeral Will Include a Call to Battle

The prince approved plans for his own funeral and, despite coronavirus restrictions, the ceremony will reflect his wishes, officials say.…

Biden Sanctions on Russian Debt Called a ‘First Salvo’ That Send a Message

The curbs on U.S. banks’ purchases of some bonds apply to a small portion of the market but could signal a sharper aim at Russia’s access to global capital.…

Biden’s Afghan Pullout Is a Victory for Pakistan. But at What Cost?

Pakistan’s military stayed allied to both the Americans and Taliban. But now the country may face intensified extremism at home as a result of a perceived Taliban victory.…