How sex scandals have made Silvio Berlusconi even more powerful in Italy.

Syrian orphans become child laborers in Turkey.

What does it mean to be polite anymore?

A profile.

On a Presidential paper trail.

An unfinished civil war inspires a global delusion.

How social media, FaceTune, and plastic surgery created a single, cyborgian look.

On Toyin Salau’s disappearance and death.

She calls claiming to be Amy Pascal, Kathleen Kennedy, or some other powerful woman in entertainment. She knows personal details about her mark as well as the woman she is impersonating.

She offers work, then sends them—photographers, make-up artists, soldiers—around the world to bilk them out of modest amounts of cash.

An interview with Steve Albini on art, commerce, and ethic.

A conversation with the comedian.

JW: You’ve talked about how you’ve had to explain moral lessons to your daughters, but do it in an inarticulate, catchy way. It’s almost as though you’re writing material for them. What’s the place of morality and ethics in your comedy? I think those are questions people live with all the time, and I think there’s a lazy not answering of them now, everyone sheepishly goes, “Oh, I’m just not doing it, I’m not doing the right thing.” There are people that really live by doing the right thing, but I don’t know what that is, I’m really curious about that. I’m really curious about what people think they’re doing when they’re doing something evil, casually.

On the eve of the Civil War, a nightmare at sea turned into one of the greatest rescues in maritime history. More than a century later, a rookie treasure hunter went looking for the lost ship—and found a different kind of ruin.

Eleven members of an Australian rugby club traveled to Bali. After a bomb went off at a nightclub, only five of them made it home.

What does satire do? What should we expect of it? Is it crucial to Western culture that we be free to produce it?

Almost five years ago, the author’s 13-year-old niece was murdered in her bedroom in suburban New Delhi. Since then, both of her parents have spent time in jail. Evidence, bungled by police, points to another possible killer. The trial has not yet begun.

Daniel Norris lives out of his car. He’s also the #1 pitching prospect for the Toronto Blue Jays.

How volunteer firefighters responded to a lethal West, Texas explosion.

How New York City built its own CIA.

Bernie Kerik and Jack Abramoff on “Club Fed.”

On Hillary Clinton’s policy team.

On living in Syria as an Alawite loyalist.

Nine innings with Mr. Baseball.

A young woman with a rare condition navigates El Paso.

A flamboyant player, a charismatic coach, and a sex predator.

Juries trust DNA. But should they?