“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” returned to Broadway, now in one part instead of two. It may feel smaller, but is no less dazzling.

Review: ‘Harry Potter’ Back Onstage, Streamlined and Still Magical

Unions representing other workers affected by climate legislation have struck deals, but opposition from coal miners has persisted, complicating the path to enactment.

The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.

Adam Mosseri, the company’s leader, was asked to appear before a Senate panel after internal research leaked that said the app had a toxic effect on some teenagers.

Lawmakers urge the head of Instagram to better protect children.

Based on the popular 1962 children’s book, the show aims to celebrate Blackness and attract new audiences to the art form.

‘The Snowy Day,’ a Children’s Classic, Becomes an Opera

In Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back,” Ono is a performance artist at the height of her powers.

The Sublime Spectacle of Yoko Ono Disrupting the Beatles

Steven Spielberg rediscovers the breathing, troubling essence of a classic, building a bold and current screen musical with no pretense to perfection.

‘West Side Story’ Review: In Love and War, 1957 Might Be Tonight

Even as the government expanded aid programs, many people faced barriers to using them. That problem is now being addressed with apps and streamlined websites.

How Tech Is Helping Poor People Get Government Aid

In a new Peacock series, Forte returns as the unruly “Saturday Night Live” action hero who’s once again reckoning with bombs (including his 2010 movie).

Will Forte Is Still Waiting for ‘MacGruber’ to Blow Up

The ratings flop that was the last ceremony provided useful lessons in what not to do. But there are steps the academy can take for an actually enjoyable evening.

The Oscars Are Broken. Here’s How to Fix Them.

NATO promised Ukraine full membership in 2008, but without explaining how or when. Putin sees that promise as an ongoing threat to Russia.

Ally, Member or Partner? NATO’s Long Dilemma Over Ukraine.

For four decades, he set the critical standard for elegantly intricate assessments of music, art, literature and more, writing dynamically about the resilience and paradoxes of Black creativity and life.

The Peerless Imagination of Greg Tate

Mayor Bill de Blasio was warned that he created an “appearance of coercion and improper access” by directly contacting donors who had business before the city.

De Blasio Fought for 2 Years to Keep Ethics Warning Secret. Here’s Why.

Sanctions, like aiming to cut oil exports, could also hurt European allies. “It’s a limited toolbox,” one expert said.

U.S. Threat to Squeeze Russia’s Economy Is a Tactic With a Mixed Record

Mr. Banks, who founded the Eagle Academy, a network of public schools for boys, is the first commissioner named to Mayor-elect Eric Adams’s administration.

David Banks, Educator and Adams Ally, Is Next N.Y.C. Schools Chancellor

“Accidental Gods,” by Anna Della Subin, is about “men unwittingly turned divine,” including Julius Caesar, Gandhi, Douglas MacArthur and others.

A Roving History of Mortals Considered Gods

It took about 40 people, dozens of testers, months of cooking and gaming and countless hours to curate this year’s list of items. And yes, there is a doughnut stool.

How The 2021 Holiday Gift Guide Came Together

To reach a rapidly expanding demographic, companies are changing their tone.

The Key to Marketing to Older People? Don’t Say ‘Old.’

New research links the geological oddities to intense ground shaking from earthquakes or asteroid impacts.

Scientists Have a New Explanation for Mysterious Sand Spikes

A Chinese lunar rover spotted an unusual object on the moon's surface. Extraterrestrial artifact, or the latest case of mistaken space identity?

Moon Cube and Mysteries of the Solar System

Quotation of the Day for Wednesday, December 8, 2021.

Quotation of the Day: In Shops and Salons, Mixed Feelings Over New York City Vaccine Mandate

The Labor Department said 4.2 million people quit their jobs in October, a decline of about 205,000 from September but still close to a record high.

The number of people quitting jobs remained near a record in October as openings increased.

Vishal Garg said in a letter to employees on Tuesday that he had failed to show “respect and appreciation” in the call, which has been widely criticized.

The Better.com C.E.O. says he’s ‘deeply sorry’ for firing workers over Zoom.

Fans have been streaming his music, buying his books, and trying to get in to see his shows, with a new revival of “Company” opening this week on Broadway.

A Sondheim Surge: Interest in His Work Soars After His Death

The ruling was a win for Apple, which can put off tweaking its App Store policies until its legal battle with Epic Games concludes.

Apple can delay changes to App Store rules, appeals court says.

Lawyers must now agree on a set of jury instructions before closing arguments begin on Dec. 16.

December 8, 2021

Headlines from December 8, 2021

Review: ‘Harry Potter’ Back Onstage, Streamlined and Still Magical

The Achilles’ Heel of Biden’s Climate Plan? Coal Miners.

Lawmakers urge the head of Instagram to better protect children.

‘The Snowy Day,’ a Children’s Classic, Becomes an Opera

The Sublime Spectacle of Yoko Ono Disrupting the Beatles

Billboard 200

30

Red (Taylor's Version)

Christmas

Sour

Certified Lover Boy

Historical Context for December 8, 2021