A 3rd National Lockdown Seems Likely in France as Hospitals Are Overwhelmed

President Emmanuel Macron will address the country tonight and is expected to announce far-reaching new restrictions, a last resort that he has long tried to avoid.


In Empty Amsterdam, Reconsidering Tourism

Before Covid-19, the city was packed with visitors. Now efforts to rein in the expected post-pandemic crowds are ramping up, but not without controversy.


Building a Mosque in France, Never Easy, May Get Even Harder

The country’s principle of secularism has long disadvantaged Muslim communities, experts say, and President Emmanuel Macron’s new law against Islamism could deepen the disparities.


Cockpit Recorder From Indonesian Crash Is Finally Recovered

After months of searching, Indonesian officials say they have found the crucial memory unit from Sriwijaya Air Flight 182. Investigators hope it will help explain why the plane crashed in January.


A Terrifying Disease Stalks Seaside Australia: Flesh-Eating Ulcers

As Buruli ulcer cases have risen, they have taken a physical and psychological toll but also offered hope that scientists can solve the bacteria’s many mysteries.


Tropical Forest Destruction Accelerated in 2020

There were bright spots, but the total lost acreage increased by 12 percent over all from the year before, according to new research.


Your Wednesday Briefing

Surging coronavirus cases in the U.S.


State Dept. Reverses Trump Policies on Reproductive and Religious Freedoms

Even as Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken similarly condemned abuses and oppression from China to Syria to Venezuela, he overturned aspects of the Trump administration’s human rights agenda.


More Eager for Covid Vaccine but Skeptics Remain, U.S. Poll Says

Roughly 61 percent of adults have either received their first dose or are eager for one, up from 47 percent in January, according to the latest monthly survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation.


White House Demanded China Provide More Access Over Virus Origin

“The report lacks crucial data information and access — it represents a partial and incomplete picture,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said at a news conference on Tuesday.