Leader’s Killing Is a Blow, but Not a Knockout, for Hamas

The killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a key Hamas strategist, in Lebanon sets the organization back at a vulnerable time. The group has rebuilt after the assassination of other leaders, though.

Bombing in Iran Kills Over 100, Sowing Confusion and Speculation

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing at a memorial for Qassim Suleimani, the top commander killed by a U.S. drone strike four years ago.

Strawberry Case Study: What if Farmers Had to Pay for Water?

With aquifers nationwide in dangerous decline, one part of California has tried essentially taxing groundwater. New research shows it’s working.

‘It’s State Propaganda’: Ukrainians Shun TV News as War Drags on

A government-approved news program intended to counter Russian disinformation and boost morale is coming under criticism for painting a rosy picture of the war.

Top Hamas Official Is Killed in Lebanon as Fears Grow of a Wider War

The Israeli government would not comment on the death of Saleh al-Arouri. But a U.S. official said to expect Israel to assassinate Hamas officials “for years.”

The Twin Fronts in the Battle Over Israel’s Identity

Monday’s court ruling joined the war in Gaza in a widening crisis over what kind of state Israel will be.

A ‘Miracle’: Plane Erupts in Flames Landing in Tokyo, but All Aboard Survive

Japan Airlines said all 367 passengers and 12 crew members had safely, evacuated the jet. But five crew members on a Japanese Coast Guard plane that collided with it were killed.

Harvard President Resigns After Mounting Plagiarism Accusations

Claudine Gay faced backlash over the university’s response to antisemitism on campus, which led to increased scrutiny of her academic record.

Israel’s Top Court Strikes Down Move to Curb Its Powers

The Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, rejected a law pushed by Netanyahu allies that limited its authority to review government decisions.

Can He Condemn the Killings Without Causing More Pain?

Chris George has lived in Israel and Gaza, where he was once held hostage. As his employees ask him to speak out on the latest war, he is torn.

Powerful Earthquake Hits Japan, and Officials Warn of Aftershocks

There were reports of collapsed buildings and people being trapped underneath them. The quake disrupted electricity and phone service, and initially raised fears of a tsunami.

Police Officers Are Charged With Crimes, but Are Juries Convicting?

Since the death of George Floyd, a national movement promised sweeping justice reform. So far, police prosecutions have resulted in a mixed bag of convictions, acquittals and a mistrial.

The U.S. and Israel: An Embrace Shows Signs of Strain After Oct. 7

No other episode in the past half-century has tested the relationship between the United States and Israel in such an intense and consequential way as the Israel-Hamas war of 2023.

Half of Gazans Are at Risk of Starving, U.N. Warns

More than 90 percent of Palestinians in the territory say they have regularly gone without food for a whole day, according to the United Nations.

‘There’s No Other Job’: The Colonial Roots of Philippine Poverty

Decades after independence, the Philippines lacks the kind of factory economy that has lifted up other Asian nations, tying millions to farm work.

He Was One of the Central Park Five. Now He’s Councilman Yusef Salaam.

Mr. Salaam will take office 34 years after a wrongful prosecution for rape led to his spending nearly seven years in prison.

‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7

A Times investigation uncovered new details showing a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the attacks on Israel.

Ukraine, Stalled on the Front, Steps Up Sabotage, Targeting Trains

As conventional forces struggle to break through defensive lines, both sides are increasingly turning to guerrilla tactics.

UKRAINE’S STOLEN CHILDREN

Some have returned to tell their stories. Thousands of others have not been as lucky.

They’re Paid Billions to Root Out Child Labor in the U.S. Why Do They Fail?

Private auditors have failed to detect migrant children working for U.S. suppliers of Oreos, Gerber baby snacks, McDonald’s milk and many other products.

How the Supreme Court May Rule on Trump’s Presidential Run

The legal issues are novel and tangled, experts said, and the justices may be wary of knocking a leading presidential candidate off the ballot.

Russia Pounds Ukrainian Cities in One of the Largest Air Attacks of the War

The missile and drone attacks killed at least 30 people and damaged critical industrial and military infrastructure, part of a wintertime campaign that Ukraine had been dreading.

Where Was the Israeli Military?

A Times investigation found that troops were disorganized, out of position and relied on social media to choose targets. Behind the failure: Israel had no battle plan for a massive Hamas invasion.

How America’s Diet Is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis

As dinner tables and snack menus feature far more chicken and cheese, farms are expanding where water is scarce.

Israel Expresses Regret for ‘Unintended Harm’ to Civilians in Gaza Airstrike

The Israeli military said it was “working to draw lessons” from an attack in central Gaza that was reported to have killed dozens of people.

Earth Was Due for Another Year of Record Warmth. But This Warm?

Scientists are already busy trying to understand whether 2023’s off-the-charts heat is a sign that global warming is accelerating.

The Covenant Parents Aren’t Going to Keep Quiet on Guns

A group of parents reeling from a mass shooting at their children’s private Christian school believed no one was in a better position to persuade the G.O.P. to enact limited gun control.

Skepticism Grows Over Israel’s Ability to Dismantle Hamas

Israel has vowed time and again to eliminate the group responsible for the brutal Oct. 7 attack, but critics increasingly see that goal as unrealistic or even impossible.

Nearly Two Million Crowd Into Gaza’s South as Fighting Intensifies

As Israel’s ground campaign broadens in southern Gaza, thousands more people are pouring into areas that are struggling to offer shelter or security.

Michigan Supreme Court Decides Trump Can Stay on Ballot

After Colorado’s top court ruled that the former president was disqualified for engaging in insurrection, justices in Michigan considered a similar challenge.

Chinese Spy Agency Rising to Challenge the C.I.A.

The ambitious Ministry of State Security is deploying A.I. and other advanced technology to go toe-to-toe with the United States, even as the two nations try to pilfer each other’s scientific secrets.

As World’s Gaze Shifts to Gaza, Israel’s Psyche Remains Defined by Oct. 7 Attack

Hamas’s brutal raid and taking of hostages has left Israelis deeply traumatized and is expected to reshape the country for years to come.

Chaos, Fury, Mistakes: 600 Days Inside New York’s Migrant Crisis

More than 150,000 people have arrived in less than two years, throwing the city into crisis. Missed opportunities made things even harder.

A New Tax on Imports and a Split From China: Trump’s 2025 Trade Agenda

Donald J. Trump plans to sharply expand his use of tariffs if he returns to power, risking disruption to the economy in an attempt to transform it.

A Natural Gas Project Is Biden’s Next Big Climate Test

A proposed export terminal on the Louisiana coast highlights the tension between economic growth, geopolitics and the environment.

China Quietly Rebuilds Secretive Base for Nuclear Tests

Beijing is investing heavily in the modernization of Lop Nur, a sprawling military site where it long detonated atom bombs and thermonuclear warheads.

A White Christmas in New York City (if You Squint a Little)

It has not snowed in New York in a very long time. But onstage at Lincoln Center, inside a shop display, and in a busker’s saxophone, there are flakes to be found.

In Campus Protests Over Gaza, Echoes of Outcry Over Vietnam

The war in Vietnam ignited a protest movement that helped define a generation. Is the war between Israel and Hamas doing the same thing?

Netanyahu Visits Gaza as Palestinians Mourn an Attack That Officials Say Killed Dozens

The Gazan Health Ministry blamed Israeli airstrikes for the deaths, and Israel’s military said it was reviewing the episode.