Here are some of the stories we are covering from around the world:

Putin Drives Home a Perilous Point: Ukraine’s East Is Russia’s Main Goal

Dismissing Ukraine’s recent invasion of Kursk, Putin said Kyiv made a mistake in trying to force Moscow to divert its forces from the Donbas region.

When a Nation Banned Female Genital Cutting, a 96-Year-Old Resisted

A 96-year-old Gambian woman, who has performed female genital cutting for generations, is now passing the torch. After becoming the first practitioner to be convicted, her case has sparked a backlash and a popular campaign to reinstate the practice.

Pope Finds Fervent Fans Among Indonesia’s Transgender Community

"This is not the Pope but God himself visiting us." For many trans women living on the fringes of society in Indonesia, the Catholic Church is a haven, and Pope Francis, with his messages of tolerance toward the LGBTQ community, has become a personal hero.

@nytimes