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A blanket pardon for the president’s son, Hunter Biden, comes amid wider signs that federal justice isn’t immune from the political divisiveness that has gripped America’s public square.

Syria’s devastating civil war, responsible for more than 300,000 deaths, was never officially resolved. Lightning gains by rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad were opportunistic, but also indicated years of patient preparations.

With an even split of representatives in the state’s House, the two parties are preparing for sharing power. Many American voters may wish for such moderation over polarization.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the biggest transgender rights case in its history. The decision in United States v. Skrmetti has the potential to be a seismic one.

Despite pledging as recently as early November he would not go through with it, President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden on the night of Dec. 1. He said he “believe[s] raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice.”

Almost 100 small island nations say their existence is threatened by climate change. The largest case in its history, the top United Nations court will determine whether major polluting nations should be held responsible.

Georgian citizens’ protests against their pro-Russian government entered a fourth day after the ruling Georgian Dream party canceled negotiations to join the European Union. Tensions around a disputed election result have been simmering for months.

Our reviewer sees potential for two new holiday films, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “That Christmas,” to become seasonal favorites. Both stories, he says, explore the same question: What makes Christmas meaningful?

A decades-old habitat preservation effort in British Columbia, Canada, is showing positive signs for one type of orcas that live there.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom was on good terms with Donald Trump during his first term as president. Now the governor is suiting up for battle.

In hard times, training ourselves to see the good can be a gift. Our writer found unimaginable bounty under his nose and invites us to share in it.

Donald Trump has put together a Mideast team charged with building on his first term’s successes. But in a region shaken by the war in Gaza, can the deal-making president achieve a historic peace agreement with a pro-Israel team?

Women in the Ukrainian city of Sumy are escaping the war by exploring their home town's history through fashion using old photos to recreate costumes.

Hezbollah has emerged from its war with Israel leaderless and weak, no longer the force that Iran has depended on. Will Israel seek to take advantage of Tehran’s vulnerability?

Delhi's air pollution is among the worst in the world, far exceeding World Health Organization safety limits. Residents share what that feels like for them on the ground.

Two new animated films – both centered on water – touch on the power of connection. One is our movie critic’s favorite of the year.

Alice Loxton doesn’t believe history should be boring or academic. As “History Alice,” she connects with millions of people on social media, and her second book, “Eighteen,” already reached No. 1 in the U.K.

An official apology to Native Americans – and a response of forgiveness – can help create the possibility of a mutual feeling of justice.

Beneath the joyous celebration of Thanksgiving lies a fraught history. This year, the Monitor turned to Canada for lessons in honoring gratitude without obscuring the reality of the past.

Tulsi Gabbard’s comments about U.S. adversaries Russia and Syria are raising questions about how she would approach intelligence gathering and sharing, if confirmed as director of national intelligence.

The president-elect’s economic team will face a minefield of fiscal and economic challenges, with no clarity as to how American workers will fare.

The pro-settlement movement in Israel is exulting at what it perceives as a possible green light from the incoming Trump Middle East team to pursue annexation of the West Bank.

Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has a history of antagonizing China over its human rights record. But assuming Mr. Rubio is confirmed, his new boss may be more pragmatic.

Many of the countries that formed out of the Soviet Union aspired to link their future with the West. But European troubles and Russian aggressiveness are pulling their focus back toward Moscow.