Briefing

Courtiers with ideas

The right in Congress and the courts will reshape Donald Trump’s agenda

As dominant as the new president is, there is still life in Washington’s institutions

Deportation fixation

How far will Donald Trump go to get rid of illegal immigrants?

It is his signature policy, but the obstacles are daunting

Nip, tuck, lift, plump

Young customers in developing countries propel a boom in plastic surgery

Falling costs and converging beauty standards spur new habits

An unexpected juncture

The Assad regime’s fall voids many of the Middle East’s old certainties

What if Syria abandoned its hostility to the West and stopped menacing Israel?

After Assad

Syria has exchanged a vile dictator for an uncertain future

It is not clear how stable or how benign the new regime will be

What are the odds?

Gambling is growing like gangbusters in America

Technology and legal changes are spurring a betting bonanza

Titan targeted

The Adani bribery case could upend Indian business and politics

The allegations against the corporate champion may end up being resolved diplomatically rather than in court

All disquiet on the home front

The war in Ukraine is straining Russia’s economy and society

Despite advances on the battlefield, pressure is growing

Inaugural call

How will Donald Trump handle the war in Ukraine?

And how will Ukraine, Russia and Europe respond?

Poster boy

Elon Musk’s transformation, in his own words

Our analysis of 38,000 posts on X reveal a changed man

The first buddy

Elon Musk and Donald Trump seem besotted. Where is their bromance headed?

The precedents are not encouraging

Carbon bargain

The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think

Most analysts overestimate energy demand and underestimate technological advances