Jack Smith, Special Counsel for Trump Inquiries, Steps Up the Pace  —  Named less than three months ago to oversee investigations into Donald J. Trump's efforts to hold onto power and his handling of classified documents, the special counsel is moving aggressively.

A Yale Professor Suggested Mass Suicide for Old People in Japan.  What Did He Mean?  —  Yusuke Narita says he is mainly addressing a growing effort to revamp Japan's age-based hierarchies.  Still, he has pushed the country's hottest button.  —  Reporting from Tokyo  —  His pronouncements could hardly sound more drastic.

Weekend Update #15  —  Russia's Massive Offensive and Signs of Military Learning  —  Russia's Massive Offensive … This week has been a fascinating contrast in reporting, and once again highlights the ease with which a particular narrative about the war can quickly spread and even start influencing debates and possibly policy.

Our commitment to AP African American Studies, the scholars, and the field  —  Our commitment to AP African American Studies is unwavering.  This will be the most rigorous, cohesive immersion that high school students have ever had in this discipline.  Many more students than ever …

A horrific environmental disaster is happening in Ohio, and you may not even have heard about it  —  A train derailment last week in Ohio has turned into a full-fledged environmental disaster, and it's received surprisingly little national media coverage.  —  Last Friday, a train belonging …

DeSantis's Challenge: When, and How, to Counterattack Trump  —  As the former president lobs insults and calls him “Ron DeSanctimonious,” Gov. Ron DeSantis is carefully avoiding conflict.  But if he runs for president as expected, a clash is inevitable.  —  Gov. Ron DeSantis …

After helping prince's rise, Trump and Kushner benefit from Saudi funds  —  An investment fund overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is backing ventures that profit the former president and his senior adviser, raising questions of conflict  —  In early 2021, as Donald Trump exited the White House …

Childbirth Is Deadlier for Black Families Even When They're Rich, Expansive Study Finds … Produced by Larry Buchanan and Shannon Lin  —  In the United States, the richest mothers and their newborns are the most likely to survive the year after childbirth — except when the family is Black …

Republicans clash with prosecutors over enforcement of abortion bans  —  GOP lawmakers see a major flaw in their states' near-total abortion bans: Some local prosecutors won't enforce them.  —  Republicans in Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Texas — frustrated by progressive district attorneys …

In 46 Words, Biden Sends a Clear Message to Israel  —  I woke up on Saturday morning, read the news from Israel that at least 50,000 Israelis had just demonstrated once more against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to strip the Israeli Supreme Court of its independence and put …

New unidentified ‘cylindrical’ object shot down over Canada  —  NORAD and military aircraft spotted and tracked the latest object, as search continues off Alaska for aircraft downed Friday  —  A new “high-altitude airborne object” was shot down over Canada's Yukon territory …

In Kutztown schools, the right's culture warriors block a book on climate change  —  It's a yearly tradition in Kutztown, the eastern Pennsylvania college town surrounded by more rural “Trump Country”: Middle schoolers across grades promote a love for literacy through a “One Book, One School” …

Iran smuggled drones into Russia using boats and state airline, sources reveal  —  Exclusive: at least 18 long-range armed drones were delivered to Putin's navy after Russians visit Tehran in November  —  Martin Chulov in Beirut, Dan Sabbagh in Kyiv and Nechirvan Mando

Bernie Sanders Has a New Role.  It Could Be His Final Act in Washington.  —  After two unsuccessful runs for the presidency, the Vermont senator now leads the Senate health committee, a job that gives him sweeping jurisdiction over issues he cares about.  —  WASHINGTON — In two unsuccessful bids …