Today's Headlines: U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane

January 13, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane

Even accepting the Trump administration’s claim that there is an armed conflict with suspected drug runners, the laws of war bar “perfidy.”

F.B.I. Inquiry Into ICE Shooting Is Examining Victim’s Possible Ties to Activist Groups

Former department officials warned that such a broad inquiry raised the specter that forms of political protests could be criminalized.

Fed Changes Course and Takes On Trump’s Political Fight

The Justice Department’s decision to open up a criminal investigation of Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the Federal Reserve, is a major escalation in the pressure campaign against the central bank to cut interest rates.

World

Trump Explores Diplomacy With Iran While Weighing Strikes, Officials Say

The Pentagon is presenting a wider range of strike options to the president than previously reported. Targets could include Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile sites.

How a Syrian Hiking Club Is Rediscovering the Country

The nearly 14-year civil war prevented Syrians from traveling freely to many parts of their own country. After the conflict ended a year ago, a group of outdoor enthusiasts began exploring newly accessible areas, fueled by a sense of adventure and hope.

Why China Is Suddenly Obsessed With American Poverty

State media, embracing the gaming phrase “kill line,” is asserting China’s political superiority over the United States, deflecting focus on China’s own economic challenges.

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U.S.

Arson Suspect Targeted Mississippi Synagogue for Its ‘Jewish Ties,’ F.B.I. Says

The suspect, Stephen Spencer Pittman, was turned in by his father, who said his son had laughed as he confessed to the fire that damaged the synagogue, investigators said.

Former Congressional Employee Accused of Stealing 240 Phones

A Maryland man used his government job to order new cellphones worth over $150,000 and then sell them to a pawnshop, federal prosecutors said.

A Push to Expand the Rights of Immigrants in Defiance of Trump

An effort by New Jersey Democrats is seen as a provocative statement of principle in a state with the country’s second largest percentage of immigrants, after California.

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Politics

Trump’s Plans for Venezuelan Oil Run Headlong Into Reality

President Trump’s fixation on Venezuela’s oil raises the question of how much “energy dominance” is really worth nowadays.

Trump Has Another Justification for the Shooting of Renee Good: Disrespect

President Trump suggested that Renee Good’s “highly disrespectful” attitude toward law enforcement played a role in her fatal shooting by an ICE agent.

Trump Officials Are Sending 1,000 More Immigration Officers to Minnesota

The Customs and Border Protection officers are joining 2,000 other officers and agents at the Department of Homeland Security who have recently been deployed to the Minneapolis region.

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Business

Newsom Vows to Stop Proposed Billionaire Tax in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was working behind the scenes to block a proposed tax on billionaires’ wealth and was committed to defeating the measure if it reached the ballot.

Labor Secretary’s Aides Placed on Leave in Misconduct Investigation

The Labor Department is investigating a complaint alleging misconduct by Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer.

A Top Fed Official Conveys Little Urgency for Immediate Rate Cuts

The Federal Reserve is likely to hold interest rates steady when it meets at the end of the month, keeping tensions high with President Trump.

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Technology

Meta Plans to Cut Around 10% of Employees in Reality Labs Business

The layoffs are set to be announced this week and would affect Meta’s work on the metaverse, as the company spends heavily on building artificial intelligence.

Apple Teams Up With Google for A.I. in Its Products

Apple was facing increasing questions about its plans for artificial intelligence as other big tech companies invested tens of billions in the technology.

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New York

ICE Arrests N.Y.C. City Council Employee at Routine Appointment

City officials said the employee, a data analyst from Venezuela, had legal authorization to work and remain in the United States until October.

Pitching Crypto and Needling Mamdani: Adams’s Post-Mayoralty Takes Shape

Two weeks ago, Eric Adams was in Times Square to lead the New Year’s Eve ball drop as his last act as mayor. He returned on Monday to promote a new business interest.

Why New Jersey Is Running Out of Groundhogs

Since Milltown Mel died, a New Jersey town has faced a groundhog crisis. Now the governor has vetoed an effort to bring in out-of-state replacements.

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