Mayor Eric Adams of New York City said his administration would continue to push for in-person learning, but would also consider a temporary remote option for students.

Anwar Raslan, a former officer at a Damascus detention center, was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison.

The House passed a set of voting rights measures in a party-line 220 to 203 vote. In a move aimed at bypassing a Republican filibuster in the Senate, the legislation joined two separate bills already passed by the House with an unrelated measure covering NASA.

The explosion in Mogadishu, Somalia, killed at least eight people and injured nine others. A news website affiliated with Al Shabab said the militants claimed responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain apologized in Parliament for attending a garden party at Downing Street in 2020 while the country was under a strict coronavirus lockdown. Mr. Johnson had not previously admitted to being at the gathering.

President Biden said Republican lawmakers have abused the filibuster and voiced his support for changing Senate rules to pass new voting rights protections.

Officials said the fire that killed 12 people started when a lighter ignited the tree. Investigators determined that a 5-year-old boy, who told the police he had been playing with the lighter, was the only person in the part of the apartment where the fire began.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, White House Covid-19 adviser, and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, responded to criticism about scarce coronavirus tests and confusing guidance.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci refuted claims by Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, that he was undermining scientists with opposing views.

The city of Chicago and the Chicago Teachers Union agreed to return to in-person learning in a deal that would include additional testing and metrics to close schools with major virus outbreaks.