House Narrowly Passes Defense Bill, Setting Up Showdown Over Social Issues

Republicans loaded the measure with a raft of social policy provisions — including limits on abortions, gender transition procedures and diversity training — that have little chance of surviving in the Senate.

Vulnerable Republicans Take a Political Risk With Abortion Vote

In uniting his party behind a defense bill loaded with social policy restrictions, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has raised questions over whether his short-term victory could imperil his majority.

New Heat Wave Descends on Europe, as It Struggles to Adapt

European governments have been slow to put in place broader mitigation strategies for extreme heat, allowing deaths to increase. This year may be no different.

Once ‘The Nanny,’ Now Center Stage as the Actors’ Union Leader

Fran Drescher, who became a household name for her role on a 1990s sitcom, is now president of the union going on strike.

F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill

The move could significantly expand access to contraception. The pill is expected to be available in early 2024

Prosecutors Ask Witnesses Whether Trump Acknowledged He Lost 2020 Race

Jared Kushner was questioned before a federal grand jury as prosecutors appeared to be trying to establish if the former president knew his efforts to stay in power were built on a lie.

This Agency Was Created With a Terrorism Focus. Now It Also Has to Care for Migrants

Customs and Border Protection was set up after 9/11 amid the fight against terrorism. Its responsibilities have ballooned with the influx of asylum-seeking migrants crossing the southern border.

Actors Join Writers on Strike, Bringing Hollywood to a Standstill

The dual walkouts pit more than 170,000 workers against old-line studios like Disney and Sony, as well as tech juggernauts like Netflix and Amazon.

Inflation Cools Sharply in June, Good News for Consumers and the Fed

The Consumer Price Index climbed far more slowly in June, a relief for shoppers and a hopeful — though inconclusive — sign that America might pull off a “soft landing.”

Biden Braces NATO for Long Conflict With Russia, Making Cold War Parallel

Concluding a NATO summit focused on the war in Ukraine and other fast-changing challenges, President Biden vowed that the alliance would oppose Russian aggression for as long as needed.

G.O.P.’s Far Right Seeks to Use Defense Bill to Defund Ukraine War Effort

The group’s proposals have no chance of passage, but they have further mired the military spending bill in a partisan fight and highlighted Republican divisions over the war.

To Help Cool a Hot Planet, the Whitest of White Coats

Scientists at Purdue have created a white paint that, when applied, can reduce the surface temperature on a roof and cool the building beneath it.

NATO Says It Will Invite Ukraine Some Day, Resisting Calls to Act Soon

The alliance firmed up its plans to include Ukraine eventually, but gave no timetable, siding with President Biden and frustrating some East European members.

Dirty Socks and Rotting Bodies: What Russians Left Behind in the Trenches

As Ukrainian troops inch forward in the counteroffensive, they are occupying positions abandoned by enemy troops. Says one: “It’s not very pleasant.”

Vermont Floods Show Limits of America’s Efforts to Adapt to Climate Change

The lack of a comprehensive national rainfall database and current flood maps hampers the ability to prepare for storms intensified by climate change.

Heat Down Below Is Making the Ground Shift Under Chicago

Basements and train tunnels constantly leak heat, causing the land to sink and straining building foundations. Scientists call it “underground climate change.”

Turkey Clears the Way for Sweden’s Entry to NATO on the Eve of Summit

The announcement allows the military alliance to project unity, which is getting harder to sustain as the war in Ukraine goes on.

Flooding Closes Roads and Threatens Towns Through Much of Vermont

At least one person died as rain inundated New York’s Hudson Valley and the surrounding areas. In Vermont, rivers were expected to crest on Tuesday.

Putin Met With Mercenary Leaders He Had Called Traitors During Mutiny

The Kremlin’s disclosure of the meeting with Yevgeny V. Prigozhin and other Wagner group commanders hinted at the power they wield, but left many questions unanswered.

For a President and a King, the View From the Top Is Curiously Similar

Despite hints of tension between Washington and London, President Biden and King Charles III share interests and have faced comparable challenges, which might have helped smooth their meeting.