At Trump Trial’s Closings, Lawyers Weave Facts Into Clashing Accounts

A defense lawyer painted Donald J. Trump as the victim of unscrupulous people, but a prosecutor said Mr. Trump had directed a scheme to conceal a hush-money payment.

Elon Musk Dominates Space Launch. Rivals Are Calling Foul.

At a time when the U.S. government is concerned about its reliance on a mercurial billionaire for access to space, new competitors say Elon Musk’s SpaceX is using tactics intended to squash them.

The Unlikely Women Fighting for Abortion Rights

The end of Roe has turned women who terminated pregnancies for medical reasons into a political force.

Eyeing Trump, but on the Fence: How Tuned-Out Voters Could Decide 2024

Politically disengaged Americans are increasingly Trump-curious, but President Biden has a shot at winning some of them back. Reaching them in a changed media environment will be his challenge.

Biden Doesn’t Want You Buying an E.V. From China. Here’s Why.

The president wants to shift America’s car fleet toward electric vehicles, but not at the expense of American jobs or national security.

Facing Global Outrage, Netanyahu Calls Civilian Deaths in Rafah Strike ‘Tragic Accident’

The strike on Sunday, which Israeli officials said targeted two Hamas leaders taking cover near a civilian encampment, ignited a fire that killed 45 people, according to the Gazan authorities.

A 100-Ton Locomotive With No One in the Cab

Railroad unions are raising safety concerns about the growing use of remote-controlled trains after a rash of fatal accidents.

He Threw ‘Spaghetti at the Wall’ for Trump. Now He’s After a Top Job.

If Donald Trump wins the presidency, Richard Grenell hopes to be secretary of state. But his work raises questions, even from his former boss.

Xi Jinping’s Recipe for Total Control: An Army of Eyes and Ears

Reviving a Mao-era surveillance campaign, the authorities are tracking residents, schoolchildren and businesses to forestall any potential unrest.

Optimistic About the War in Ukraine, Putin Unleashes a Purge at Home

Despite years of criticism, President Vladimir V. Putin has only now changed his defense minister and allowed high-level corruption arrests.

Why N.Y.C. Hotel Rooms Are So Expensive Right Now

The average hotel room rate in the city is $301 a night, a record. A major reason: One of every five hotels is now a shelter, contributing to a shortage of tourist lodging.

One of the Deadliest Jobs in Mexico: Running for Office

The assassination of Gisela Gaytán shocked Mexico. She was among dozens of aspirants for public office killed in recent months.

‘New Territory’ for Americans: Deadly Heat in the Workplace

Deaths are rising sharply, and the Biden administration is trying to respond. Its plan faces big hurdles.

The Hamas Chief and the Israeli Who Saved His Life

In an Israeli prison infirmary, a Jewish dentist came to the aid of a desperately ill Hamas inmate. Years later, the prisoner became a mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack.

Condemnation Slows, but Does Not Stall, Israel’s Assault on Rafah

Despite fierce criticism, Israel insists it must take control of Rafah and the border with Egypt to prevent future arms smuggling.

As Rafah Offensive Grinds On, Hunger in Gaza Spirals

Aid officials and health experts expect famine this month unless Israel lifts barriers to aid, the fighting stops and vital services are restored.

The Increasing Trumpification of TikTok

An internal analysis found nearly twice as many pro-Trump posts as pro-Biden ones on TikTok since November, a sign of the right’s use of a liberal-friendly platform.

Almost 6,000 Dead in 6 Years: How Baltimore Became the U.S. Overdose Capital

The city was once hailed for its response to addiction. But as fentanyl flooded the streets and officials shifted priorities, deaths hit unprecedented heights.

The Capital of Women’s Soccer

The success of Barcelona’s team has made Catalonia a laboratory for finding out what happens when the women’s game has prominence similar to the men’s.

U.S. Military Faces Reality in Gaza as Aid Project Struggles

The Pentagon predicted that a stream of humanitarian aid would be arriving in Gaza via the floating pier, but little relief has reached the besieged strip, officials acknowledged this week.

Supreme Court Sides With Republicans Over South Carolina Voting Map

The case concerned a constitutional puzzle: how to distinguish the roles of race and partisanship in drawing voting maps when Black voters overwhelmingly favor Democrats.

Their Palm Springs Neighborhood Burned More Than 50 Years Ago. They Want Compensation.

The Black and Latino families of Section 14, who made up much of the labor force of Palm Springs, are asking for reparations for what they say was a racially motivated attack.

Spain, Norway and Ireland Recognize Palestinian State, Further Isolating Israel

The moves, while largely symbolic, were welcomed by Palestinians and denounced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called them “a prize for terrorism.”

America’s Monster

How the United States backed kidnapping, torture and murder in Afghanistan.

History: $1 Billion, Cocaine, a Fling With Elon Musk

Nicole Shanahan, a lawyer who was married to Sergey Brin, a Google founder, led a rarefied and sometimes turbulent life in Silicon Valley, according to a Times examination.