Trump Plots to Pull Out of NATO — If He Doesn't Get His Way  —  At the very least, the former president wants to put the U.S. on “standby” mode — and undermine NATO's principle of collective defense  —  Donald Trump wanted to pull the United States out of NATO during his first term …

Republicans Grapple With Being Speakerless, but Effectively Leaderless, Too  —  With a speaker fight in the House, concerns about an aging Senate leader and a 2024 front-runner who has the party in a vise grip, some G.O.P. members worry the turmoil could have long-term effects.

Editors' Note: Gaza Hospital Coverage  —  On Oct. 17, The New York Times published news of an explosion at a hospital in Gaza City, leading its coverage with claims by Hamas government officials that an Israeli airstrike was the cause and that hundreds of people were dead or injured.

Exclusive poll: Nikki Haley surges, nearly ties Ron DeSantis as the alternative to Trump  —  Haley's support has surged to 11% and DeSantis' plunged to 12%, the USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll finds.  But Trump still dominates.  —  Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley has surged nationally …

U.S. Advises Israel to Delay Gaza Invasion, Officials Say  —  The Biden administration has suggested that more time is needed for hostage negotiations, the delivery of aid to Palestinians and mapping out ways to avoid more civilian casualties.  —  The Biden administration has advised Israel …

New SAT Data Highlights the Deep Inequality at the Heart of American Education  —  New data shows, for the first time at this level of detail, how much students' standardized test scores rise with their parents' incomes — and how disparities start years before students sit for tests.

US renews warning it will defend Philippines after incidents with Chinese vessels in South China Sea  —  The United States renewed a warning Monday that it would defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack under a 1951 treaty, after Chinese ships blocked and collided with two Filipino vessels off …

Ukrainian spies with deep ties to CIA wage shadow war against Russia  —  KYIV — The cluttered car carrying a mother and her 12-year-old daughter seemed barely worth the attention of Russian security officials as it approached a border checkpoint.  But the least conspicuous piece of luggage …

Scoop: Marine Corp 3-star general advising Israeli military on Gaza ground operation  —  The Biden administration recently sent a Marine three-star general and several other U.S. military officers to Israel to help advise the Israeli military's leadership in its operation in Gaza …

Federal Investigators Widen Tesla Inquiry, Company Says  —  The Department of Justice has sought documents related to vehicle range and “personal benefits,” Tesla said.  —  The Department of Justice has expanded its inquiry into Tesla's business practices to include how far its vehicles …

House GOP speaker race balloons to nine candidates  —  House Republicans will hear Monday from nine lawmakers vying to be the next speaker of the House, with a candidate forum that ushers in a grueling day of voting Tuesday.  —  Why it matters: Candidates will be given just minutes …

COVID Is Ramping Up for a Year of Deadly Surges  —  Scientists hope that by the end of 2024 COVID may become more flu-like but before that fading immunity means more killer waves are on the way.  —  COVID is back.  But then, it never really left.  And the respiratory disease's late-summer resurgence might …