The designation prohibits the sites from being targeted or used for military purposes, with violations potentially constituting serious breaches of the 1954 Hague Convention and grounds for criminal responsibility.
In 2025, the administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the US Agency for International Development to be closed; this year, it withdrew the country from 66 international organizations. Other Western nations that are plagued with high levels of debt and pressure to prioritize domestic challenges have slashed their foreign aid, too. According to projections, official development assistance dropped by 9-17% in 2025, amounting to some US$55 billion.
Tourists take pictures as cloud-clad Mount Fuji is seen in the background from Oishi park in Yamanashi prefecture Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images Luci, a red tabby and white Persian cat, is judged best in show household pet during the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) Supreme Show at Stoneleigh Park in England Photograph: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images A farmer dries moso bamboo sticks at a bamboo product processing factory Jiangxi province Photograph: VCG/Getty Images
I went to Kharkiv and spent a few days with Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines. I saw how extremely difficult their lives are from my interactions with them, but their resolve is also incredibly strong. I met many Ukrainians, from high-ranking military leaders to drone operators, and understood the depth of their resilience during this challenging time.
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