Today's Headlines: Biden Issues a ‘Full and Unconditional Pardon’ of His Son Hunter Biden

Long a 'Crown Jewel' of Government, N.I.H. Is Now a Target

View in browser December 2, 2024, 4:00 a.m. Eastern time Top News Biden Issues a 'Full and Unconditional Pardon' of His Son Hunter Biden The pardon comes weeks before President Biden leaves office and transfers power to President-elect Donald J. Trump, who spent years attacking Hunter Biden over his legal and personal issues. Long a 'Crown Jewel' of Government, N.I.H. Is Now a Target The agency long benefited from broad bipartisan support. But Republican criticism has intensified, and new choices for top health posts hope to upend the organization. Kash Patel Would Bring Bravado and Baggage to F.B.I. Role President-elect Donald J. Trump's choice to run the F.B.I. has a record in and out of government that is likely to raise questions during his Senate confirmation hearings. Editors' Picks Cher: A Visual Dictionary The things that make Cher Cher. Opinion | Mary Is the Bennet Sister We Need Jane Austen, one of the most beloved novelists in the English language, must have had some sympathy for a girl who liked a good book. World Fighting Rages in Syria as Rebels Advance Forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad have captured the Aleppo airport and are attacking the western city of Hama, according to local officials and a Britain-based war monitor. Former Defense Minister Accuses Israel of Committing War Crimes in Gaza The comments by Moshe Yaalon were swiftly denied and condemned by allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who said that they would hurt the country and help its enemies. Police and Protesters Clash in Georgian Capital The government's decision to suspend its bid for European Union membership has driven thousands of protesters into the streets. See more world news U.S. Why Black Americans Searching for Their Roots Should Look to Angola When President Biden visits the country this week, he is expected to highlight a largely overlooked bond between Angola and the United States that was born out of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Trump Picks a Florida Sheriff as D.E.A. Administrator The announcement of Sheriff Chad Chronister came after President-elect Donald J. Trump said that he would impose tariffs that would stay in place until Canada, Mexico and China halted the flow of drugs and migrants. Game Time in Philadelphia: Vote Looms for New 76ers Arena Near Chinatown The mayor and labor unions say the $1.3 billion basketball arena would be an economic boost. But the city acknowledges that Chinatown could be at risk. See more U.S. news Politics Republicans Stand Behind Trump's Choice of Kash Patel to Lead F.B.I. Several lawmakers expressed support on Sunday for the president-elect's plan to install a loyalist who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on adversaries. How the Border County Where Elon Musk Is a Local Flipped for Trump Mr. Musk's rockets and presence have helped shape, and reshape, the culture and politics of Cameron County in South Texas. Trump Offers Massad Boulos Middle East Adviser Role The announcement on Sunday was the second time this weekend that President-elect Donald J. Trump offered an influential post to an in-law. See more political news Business C.E.O. of Stellantis, Which Owns Chrysler and Jeep, Resigns The company, facing slumping sales, announced that Carlos Tavares would step down immediately and that a search for a new chief was underway. Cucumbers Are Recalled After Salmonella Sickens People in 19 States At least 68 people have fallen ill in the outbreak believed to be linked to cucumbers sold in the United States and Canada, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Frequent Fliers Are Rethinking Loyalty Programs and Setting Themselves Free Some travelers, frustrated with changing airline rewards programs, have stopped chasing status and adopted different strategies when booking flights and using credit cards. See more business news Arts Oxford's 2024 Word of the Year Is… A slang term for supposed mental damage done by overconsumption of trivial online content triumphed over a shortlist that also included "lore," "demure" and "slop." Review: This Is the First Must-See of the Met Opera's Season "Die Frau Ohne Schatten," a dense ode to fertility, may not sound appealing at first. But in this performance, the fairy tale comes movingly to life. Art Collector Who Bought a $6 Million Banana Offers to Buy 100,000 More The vendor who sold the banana received only a quarter for the fruit. The buyer of the conceptual work has offered his stand a bigger payday, but logistical problems may be in the way. See more arts news New York Relatives of Subway Choking Victim Must Relive His Death Daily In life, Jordan Neely's family lost him to mental illness. After his death, his father and uncle have steeled themselves to attend the manslaughter trial of Daniel Penny each day. The Nameless Dead and the Cold Case Unit That Tries to Identify Them A little-known squad of New York's medical examiner's office uses dogs, DNA and any other available clue to identify bodies. Behind the Scenes With Our Thanksgiving Day Parade Reporter Sarah Maslin Nir has covered the annual event in New York City through freezing temperatures, gusting winds and always crowded sidewalks. See more New York news Science Nations Fail to Reach an Agreement on Plastic Pollution Talks on the world's first treaty to tackle plastic pollution will continue in coming months, delegates said. A Warning From a California Marine Heat Wave An extreme heat wave off California's coast seemed like an anomaly 10 years ago. But as the ocean warms, the catastrophe may be a glimpse of the future. Hoping for Allies Among Trump's Health Picks, Pharma Faces Hostility Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other candidates for top health posts are at odds with the drug industry, setting the stage for tense battles over regulatory changes. See more science news Fashion & Style From Pong to Pokémon: A History of Holiday 'It' Toys A look back at 70-plus years of gadgetry, innovation and Mr. Potato Head. Fashion's Last Great Weirdo With a new store in Los Angeles, a Levi's collaboration and a growing international presence, Kiko Kostadinov is building that rarest thing in fashion: an independent, family-run empire. The 'Wicked' Practice of Taking Pictures of the Movie Screen Why are so many people snapping photos and taking videos at the movies? Will this trend ever go away? See more fashion news Obituaries Lou Carnesecca, St. John's Basketball Coach With 526 Wins, Is Dead at 99 Known for his quick wit and garish sweaters, he took the New York City university to national basketball prominence over 24 seasons. Wayne Northrop, 'Days of Our Lives' Actor, Dies at 77 He was best known for playing two characters, Roman Brady and Dr. Alex North, in more than 1,000 episodes on the daytime soap opera. Marshall Brickman, Woody Allen's Co-Writer on Hit Films, Dies at 85 The duo won an Oscar for "Annie Hall." Mr. Brickman went on to write Broadway shows, including "Jersey Boys," and make movies of his own. Peter Westbrook, Pathbreaking Olympic Fencer, Dies at 72 As the first African American to win a medal in a sport long dominated by white Europeans, he was compared to Jackie Robinson and Arthur Ashe. See more Obituaries Opinion Guest Essay Misogyny and Antisemitism Are a Toxic Brew Stereotyping Jewish women is dangerously common. Guest Essay I've Been on an Informal Listening Tour of Rural Michigan. What I Heard Surprised Me. This year Donald Trump took social conservatives for granted. Guest Essay Running Away From Trump's America Is Complicated. I Should Know. For Americans declaring they want to leave a Trump-led America, the best approach is to understand what you are running to, not from. Guest Essay Republicans Would Regret Letting Elon Musk Ax Weather Forecasting Everyone benefits from government weather forecasting. Republicans have the chance to make it better. David French 'I Was a Stranger and You Invited Me In' I won't forget the first time I volunteered at Room in the Inn. See more Opinion Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Today's Headlines from The New York Times. To stop receiving Today's Headlines, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018