First Run News

LOS ANGELES — Weinstein v. Weinstein has commenced. Harvey Weinstein, who was fired by the studio he had helped found after The New York Times revealed decades of sexual harassment allegations against him, sued the Weinstein Company on Thursday to demand access to records and emails. The complaint, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, said Mr. Weinstein needed the materials to defend himself. More than 50 women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Mr.

Big technology companies are being dragged in front of Congress to answer tough questions about their impact on the 2016 presidential election, and their market power is under increasing scrutiny. But back on their home turfs, it is business as usual, as earning

SAN FRANCISCO — Fires need fuel. In this era of political rage, a Twitter account that called itself the unofficial voice of Tennessee Republicans provided buckets of gasoline. Its pre-election tweets were a bottomless well of inflammatory misinformation: “Obama wants our children to be converted to Islam! Hillary will continue his mission.” A mysterious explosion in Washington, it said, had killed one of Mrs. Clinton’s aides, raising her “body count” to six.

SYDNEY, Australia — After months of uncertainty, Australia’s High Court declared Friday that five federal lawmakers who have dual citizenship were ineligible to run for their seats, a ruling that threatens the government’s one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. The decision means that the seat belonging to Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce of the National Party, a coalition partner, will be subject to an election, which will be Dec.

Takashi Murakami rocketed to international fame in the art world for his Pop Japanese anime-inspired characters and motifs that proliferate playfully and menacingly across paintings, sculptures and a line of commercial products. He entered high-profile collaborations with the luxury retailer Louis Vuitton in 2002 and later the rap star Kanye West that slyly navigated the avenues of consumer culture.

Mark Halperin built an empire as journalism’s ultimate political insider, spinning the world of government into dramatic narratives of power and ambition.

Mark Halperin built an empire as journalism’s ultimate political insider, spinning the world of government into dramatic narratives of power and ambition.

PARIS — The people running France would like to clear up what they contend is an unfortunate misunderstanding: They are not ditching the egalitarian ideals of French society for the ravages of global capitalism. Yes, the investment banker turned president, Emmanuel Macron, has decreed alterations to the famously voluminous French labor code that make it less of an expensive hassle for employers to fire workers.

CVS Health, the giant drugstore chain that also runs walk-in clinics and a pharmacy benefit business, is in talks to buy Aetna, one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, according to people briefed on the talks. Negotiations between the two companies could still fall apart, these people say.

WASHINGTON — In the chaotic moments after an Army Special Forces team and 30 Nigerien troops were ambushed by militants in a remote corner of West Africa three weeks ago, four of the Americans were separated from the larger group. Their squad mates immediately alerted commanders that they were under attack — then called for help nearly an hour later, as a top Pentagon official said this week — and ground forces from Niger’s army and French Mirage jets were both dispatched. About two hours later, the firefig