As Hamas Releases More Hostages, Longer Cease-Fire Appears Possible

A third group of captives released from Gaza included a 4-year-old dual American-Israeli citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

U.S. Troops Still Train on Weapons With Known Risk of Brain Injury

Pentagon researchers say weapons like shoulder-fired rockets expose troops who fire them to blast waves far above safety limits, but they remain in wide use.

Members of Congress Head for the Exits, Many Citing Dysfunction

More than three dozen incumbents have announced they will not seek re-election next year. Some are running for other offices, while others intend to leave Congress altogether.

As Groundwater Dwindles, Powerful Players Block Change

Here are some of the people fighting efforts to conserve a vital resource that’s disappearing across the United States.

Amid Hostage Releases, Israel Faces Dilemma Over Resuming the War

The cease-fire can be extended by daily releases of hostages, making it progressively harder for Israel to restart military operations.

Gaza Civilians, Under Israeli Barrage, Are Being Killed at Historic Pace

Even a conservative assessment of the reported Gaza casualty figures shows that the rate of death during Israel’s assault has few precedents in this century, experts say.

Despite Bans, Disabled Women Are Still Being Sterilized in Europe

Governments have declared the practice a human rights violation. But they have made exceptions that are divisive among parents, doctors and social workers.

In This Atlanta Suburb, Teens Taste Freedom at 10 M.P.H.

In Peachtree City, Ga., golf carts are everywhere, giving young people in particular an early chance to take life by the wheel.

First Captives Freed in Tense Gaza Truce Between Israel and Hamas

Hamas freed two dozen hostages, Israel released 39 imprisoned Palestinians, and more than 130 aid trucks reached Gaza over the first day of a tense, temporary truce after seven weeks of war.

Growing Numbers of Chinese Migrants Are Crossing the Southern Border

More than 24,000 Chinese citizens have been apprehended crossing into the United States from Mexico in the past year. That is more than in the preceding 10 years combined.

How Electricity Is Changing, Country by Country

Carbon-free electricity has never been more plentiful. Wind and solar power have taken off over the past two decades, faster than experts ever expected. But it hasn’t yet been enough to halt the rise of coal- and gas-burning generation.

Could Haley Really Beat Trump? Big Donors Are Daring to Dream.

Powerful players in the business world have gravitated toward Nikki Haley, aware that she remains an underdog but beginning to believe she has a chance.

Israel, Hamas Agree to Begin Cease-Fire Friday Morning

Prodded by the U.S., Israel agreed to the pause in hostilities and the release of 150 imprisoned Palestinians in exchange for 50 hostages held in Gaza.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Draws Spectators and Protests

The nearly century-old holiday tradition also provided a stage for activists.

Retailers Worry About Shoppers’ Mood This Holiday Season

Consumer spending has been strong in 2023 despite higher prices and waning savings. But some retailers have jitters heading into Black Friday.

Johnson’s Release of Jan. 6 Video Feeds Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories

The speaker fulfilled a demand of the far right, which has sought thousands of hours of footage to try to rewrite the history of the Capitol attack.

Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire May Start Friday, Followed by Hostage and Prisoner Release

Both sides announced a four-day pause in the war between Israel and Hamas, but details were still being worked out.

Five Days of Chaos: How Sam Altman Returned to OpenAI

On Friday, Mr. Altman was pushed out of the hot A.I. start-up he ran. But an intense pressure campaign and negotiations brought him back.

Extra Fees Drive Assisted-Living Profits

The add-ons pile up: $93 for medications, $50 for cable TV. Prices soar as the industry leaves no service unbilled. The housing option is out of reach for many families.

For Election Workers, Fentanyl-Laced Letters Signal a Challenging Year

As overheated rhetoric and threats rise, people are leaving election jobs in record numbers.

Israel and Hamas Agree to Cease-Fire in Exchange for Hostage Release

The agreement calls for a pause in the fighting and for Hamas to free 50 of the captives it seized in its Oct. 7 raid on Israel. Hamas said Israel would release 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Families Fear for the Health of Ailing, Frail Israelis Held Hostage

Many of the more than 200 people seized by Hamas when it raided Israel had serious medical conditions. Some were badly injured in the attack. Doctors say they need medical care urgently.

As A.I.-Controlled Killer Drones Become Reality, Nations Debate Limits

Worried about the risks of robot warfare, some countries want new legal constraints, but the U.S. and other major powers are resistant.

Before Altman’s Ouster, OpenAI’s Board Was Divided and Feuding

Sam Altman confronted a member over a research paper that discussed the company, while directors disagreed for months about who should fill board vacancies.

Trump’s Dire Words Raise New Fears About His Authoritarian Bent

The former president is focusing his most vicious attacks on domestic political opponents, setting off fresh worries among autocracy experts.

Between Israelis and Palestinians, a Lethal Psychological Chasm Grows

In a conflict marked by complete incomprehension on both sides, the ability to see each other as human has been lost.

Behind 94 Acts of Shocking Violence, Years of Glaring Mistakes

New York officials have escaped scrutiny for repeated failures to help homeless mentally ill people, a New York Times investigation has found.

The Long Shadow of Steve Jobs Looms Over the Turmoil at OpenAI

Sam Altman, the most prominent promoter of artificial intelligence, learned that it’s hard to be a visionary founder like the Apple legend.

Infants Moved From ‘Death Zone’ Hospital That Israel Says Was Hamas Hideout

U.N. officials said 31 premature babies in precarious health were evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital to a hospital further south in Gaza.

The Invisible War in Ukraine Being Fought Over Radio Waves

Using electromagnetic waves to flummox and follow smarter weapons has become a critical part of the cat-and-mouse game between Ukraine and Russia. The United States, China and others have taken note.

A 30-Year Trap: The Problem With America’s Weird Mortgages

One big reason the U.S. housing market is broken: Owners don’t want to give up their cushy old loans.

For Years, Two Men Shuttled Messages Between Israel and Hamas. No Longer.

Since 2006, Gershon Baskin, an Israeli peace activist, and Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas official, maintained a secret back channel between Gaza and Israel. Then Oct. 7 happened.

The War Turns Gaza Into a ‘Graveyard’ for Children

Thousands of children have been killed in the enclave since the Israeli assault began, officials in Gaza say. The Israeli military says it takes “all feasible precautions” to avoid civilian deaths.

A Jan. 6 Defendant Pleads His Case to the Son Who Turned Him In

The Capitol attacks ruptured their mutual trust. In the weeks before Brian Mock’s sentencing, could he mend the divide with his son A.J.?

Why Is the College Board Pushing to Expand Advanced Placement?

This year, taxpayers paid the nonprofit at least $90 million for A.P. tests that many students failed.

Downtowns Are Full of Empty Buildings. Universities Are Moving In.

The stylish new Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center took over a former museum in Washington. It’s got potential to become a community hub.

Want to Know What’s Bedeviling Biden? TikTok Economics May Hold Clues.

Economic despair dominates social media as young people fret about the cost of living. It offers a snapshot of the challenges facing Democrats ahead of the 2024 election.

Santos Faces New Expulsion Push Led by His Own Party After Damning Report

The resolution from Representative Michael Guest, a Republican, sets the stage for a vote shortly after Thanksgiving.

Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care

The United States has no coherent system for providing long-term care, leading many who are aging to struggle to stay independent or to rely on a patchwork of solutions.

A Journey Into Northern Gaza: Ruins, Wreckage and Darkness

New York Times journalists traveled with an Israeli military convoy to catch a rare glimpse of conditions inside wartime Gaza. They saw houses flattened like playing cards, and a city utterly disfigured.