Biden and Kishida Vow to Bolster U.S.-Japan Alliance as China’s Power Grows

The two leaders discussed tensions with China, North Korea and Russia and plans for deterrence in Asia with U.S. troops and missiles.

Idaho Murders Suspect Felt ‘No Emotion’ and ‘Little Remorse’ as a Teen

Messages and online posts from the Ph.D. student now charged with four murders show that he was once detached and suicidal before he became fascinated with criminals’ minds.

In a Drought, California Is Watching Water Wash Out to Sea

Heavy storms have flooded parts of California, but the state has been unable to capture billions of gallons of water that are flowing unchecked into the ocean. Los Angeles is embarking on an ambitious new program to change that.

How Western Goods Reach Russia: A Long Line of Trucks Through Georgia

With Western sanctions barring many imports, a lot of what Russia needs now travels a slow, crowded truck route through the Caucasus Mountains from Georgia.

Garland Appoints Special Counsel to Investigate Handling of Biden Documents

The appointment of Robert K. Hur comes two months after the attorney general named a special counsel to investigate former President Donald J. Trump’s mishandling of classified material.

Inflation Is Slowing, Good News for American Consumers and the Fed

Consumer Price Index inflation moderated to 6.5 percent in December, helping Fed officials to lean toward slower rate moves.

Western Tanks Appear Headed to Ukraine, Breaking Another Taboo

The West has sent an array of weapons once seen as too provocative, and it looks like tanks will be next. With a new Russian offensive expected, officials see an urgent need to shift the balance.

With F.B.I. Search, U.S. Escalates Global Fight Over Chinese Police Outposts

Beijing says the outposts aren’t doing police work, but Chinese state media reports say they “collect intelligence” and solve crimes far outside their jurisdiction.

Discovery of More Classified Records Raises Questions Over Biden’s Handling of Documents

The revelation is sure to intensify Republican attacks on the president, who has called former President Donald J. Trump irresponsible for hoarding sensitive documents at his estate in Florida.

Hunter Biden’s Tangled Tale Comes Front and Center

Federal prosecutors could decide soon whether to indict the president’s son on tax and gun charges, and he faces a fresh round of hostile congressional hearings. But a close look at his story shows that it differs in important ways from the narrative promoted by Republicans.

Here Are All the Ways Republicans Plan to Investigate Biden

House Republicans are preparing a cascade of investigations, some overlapping, into the Biden administration and its policies. Right-wing lawmakers have said the ultimate goal is to impeach the president.

Obamacare Is Everywhere in the Unlikeliest of Places: Miami

A decade after the Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance marketplace was created, its outsize — and improbable — popularity in South Florida persists.

Soaked and Battered by Repeating Rainstorms, California Girds for More

Extreme weather has plagued many parts of the country this fall and winter. But few places have been as savaged by the changing climate these last weeks as California.

As Infrastructure Money Lands, the Job Dividends Begin

Trillions of dollars in government spending will profoundly affect the labor market, but in ways hard to measure, and mostly under the surface.

Divided House Approves G.O.P. Inquiry Into ‘Weaponization’ of Government

Republicans pushed through a measure to create a powerful new committee to scrutinize what they have charged is an effort by the government to target and silence conservatives.

An Ailing Arkansas City Elected an 18-Year-Old Mayor to Turn Things Around

Residents hope that Jaylen Smith’s youthful energy and sense of purpose can improve the fortunes of Earle, Ark. — or at least attract a supermarket to the small city.

Bolsonaro Supporters Lay Siege to Brazil’s Capital

Backers of former President Jair Bolsonaro ransacked government offices, denouncing what they falsely claim was a rigged election. Hundreds were arrested.

Biden Visits Southern Border Amid Fresh Crackdown on Migrants

A surge of migration has made El Paso one of the most vivid symbols of the decades-long breakdown in America’s immigration system.

Republicans Prepare New Rules, but Fixing Congress Isn’t So Easy

History suggests that the procedural plans of the new House Republican majority are likely to lead to more gridlock and legislative instability, not less.

Now Fighting for Ukraine: Volunteers Seeking Revenge Against Russia

Chechens, Crimean Tatars and people from the former Soviet republics, all with deep historical grievances against Moscow, are eagerly taking up arms for Kyiv.

Speaker Drama Raises New Fears on Debt Limit

An emboldened conservative flank and concessions made to win votes could lead to a protracted standoff on critical fiscal issues, risking economic pain.

In Speaker Fight’s Final Hours, Arm-Twisting, Flaring Tempers and Calls From Trump

Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s slog to his post ended with a remarkably public show of intraparty strife that played out in a history-making overnight session.

From Gingrich to McCarthy, the Roots of Governance by Chaos

Mr. Gingrich began the zero-sum politics that mutated into the brand of the Tea Party and Trump M.A.G.A. Republicans and that presaged the raucous speaker battle in the House.

A Lecturer Showed a Painting of the Prophet Muhammad. She Lost Her Job.

After an outcry over the art history class by Muslim students, Hamline University officials said the incident was Islamophobic. But many scholars say the work is a masterpiece.

U.S. Added 223,000 Jobs in December, a Slight Easing in Pace

The Federal Reserve’s moves to cool the economy with higher interest rates seem to be taking gentle hold. Wage growth lost momentum.

McCarthy Wins Speakership on 15th Vote After Concessions to Hard Right

An agreement with ultraconservative Republicans delivered a breakthrough for the California Republican, but he still had to claw his way to the post during a dramatic post-midnight session.

Widening Highways Doesn’t Fix Traffic. So Why Do We Keep Doing It?

With billions of dollars available to improve transportation infrastructure, states have a chance to try new strategies for addressing congestion. But some habits are hard to break.

Speaker Quest Reveals McCarthy’s Tenuous Grip on an Unruly Majority

As the Republican leader has made concessions to the far right, he has effectively agreed to give them carte blanche to disrupt the workings of the House — and to hold him hostage to their demands.