The Delta variant of the coronavirus has overwhelmed the country, which has been reeling from the pandemic since it began, presenting a stark test for its new hard-line president.

Iran’s Health System ‘Beyond Disastrous’ From Covid Surge

Frantic caterers, $200,000 weekends: The wedding industry is on fire, bringing spending, and bottlenecks.

The Wedding Business Is Booming, a Short-Term Jolt to the Economy

The pandemic shut down outdoor film shoots for months, but now the production trucks and crews are back and some New Yorkers are soaking it all in.

Lights! Camera! Action on New York’s Streets Again!

His movies often arrive amid a commotion, and his newest is no exception: “If you’re going to make a musical, you’ve got to be either ambitious or pretentious.”

Leos Carax on ‘Annette’ and the Cinema of Doubt

The Brooklyn rapper, fresh off nearly seven years in prison on gang conspiracy charges, is plotting his dance-heavy comeback — slowly.

Bobby Shmurda’s New Lust for Life

Hunter Biden’s works are being offered for as much as $500,000 apiece; his art dealer said he would follow ethics guidelines that the Biden administration helped to develop.

A Gallery Sells Hunter Bidens. The White House Says It Won’t Know Who’s Buying.

As fatal police shootings have become a flashpoint in U.S. cities, they have also occurred at high rates in rural areas — largely without national attention.

Where Police Killings Often Meet With Silence: Rural America

Many Republicans in Congress no longer deny that Earth is heating because of fossil fuel emissions. But they say abandoning oil, gas and coal will harm the economy.

Amid Extreme Weather, a Shift Among Republicans on Climate Change

Allies may understand the desire to give up on a failed project, but the retreat heightens the sense that America’s backing is no longer unbounded.

Afghanistan’s Unraveling May Strike Another Blow to U.S. Credibility

With college athletes now allowed to profit from their name, image and likeness, high school athletes are also looking to cash in.

Forget Friday Night Lights: High School Stars Seek a Better Deal

The Taliban’s rapid advance has made clear that U.S. efforts to turn Afghanistan’s military into a robust, independent fighting force have failed, with its soldiers feeling abandoned by inept leaders.

The Afghan Military Was Built Over 20 Years. How Did It Collapse So Quickly?

Families across the country have grown more diverse. A design change in the census form also allowed the government to report people’s identity in greater detail.

Behind the Surprising Jump in Multiracial Americans, Several Theories

The insect, found in New Zealand, has an evolutionary trick that supports its bizarre and elongated head.

Meet the Giraffe Weevil. It’s Got a Secret Up Its Long Snout.

A new portfolio from Opinion and the newsroom will expand our ambitions in an age-old medium.

The Next Chapter in Times Newsletters

Josh Russ Tupper checks in on the family business, Russ & Daughters. Then, it’s time for drinks and games with friends.

How a Babka Baron Spends His Sundays

For this rising artist, Chopin’s 21 nocturnes are “pieces I play for myself.” A new recording will bring them to an audience.

Jan Lisiecki, Piano’s Doogie Howser, Comes of Age With Chopin

The fact-checking site has banned David Mikkelson, who owns half the company, from writing articles after a BuzzFeed News investigation prompted an internal review.

Snopes Retracts 60 Articles Plagiarized by Co-Founder: ‘Our Staff Are Gutted’

Quotation of the Day for Friday, August 13, 2021.

Quotation of the Day: Amid a Pandemic and Repression, a Boy Band Changes the Mood

Carré Sutton accuses a former executive at a modeling agency of sexual assault, and a second employee of enabling the attacks.

Why an Ex-Supermodel Who Says She Was Raped at 17 Is Suing Now

Thousands of passengers have experienced delayed or canceled flights since June when airlines began to struggle with surging demand and worker shortages. Here’s how to deal with the chaos.

6 Ways to Tame Airline Nightmares

There is no magical way to earn a full-time salary without working full-time.

The 40-Hour Work Week Is, in Fact, Life

Sonos is seeking to ban the import of several Google products that are made in China. The preliminary finding will now be reviewed by the full United States International Trade Commission.

Google Infringed on Patents Owned by Sonos, a Trade Judge Says

Four years ago, Andrew Rannells published his side of a hookup gone wrong in Modern Love. Now, as a director, he explores the same story from both characters’ perspectives.

What Did He Think of Our Night Together?

Katie Heaney used to take multiple-choice quizzes to determine whether she was gay or straight. Turns out, she had the answers all along.

Maybe Don’t Trust an Online Quiz With Your Personal Life

“When you talk to workers, they don’t want to sign up for a 9-to-5 job,” said Hayden Brown, who runs Upwork, a site that matches freelancers with employers.

August 13, 2021

Headlines from August 13, 2021

Iran’s Health System ‘Beyond Disastrous’ From Covid Surge

The Wedding Business Is Booming, a Short-Term Jolt to the Economy

Lights! Camera! Action on New York’s Streets Again!

Leos Carax on ‘Annette’ and the Cinema of Doubt

Bobby Shmurda’s New Lust for Life

Billboard 200

Happier Than Ever

F*ck Love

Sour

Welcome 2 America

Planet Her

Historical Context for August 13, 2021