Tag Archives: Syria

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, FEB. 19, 2026

In 2025, Trade Deficit in Goods Reached Record High

The trade deficit remained historically large last year, new data showed, as President Trump’s steep tariffs scrambled trade but did not halt it.

Trump Mulls a North American Trade Pact Without Canada

After Avalanche Warnings, a Sierra Nevada Tragedy

Eight skiers were killed and one other was presumed dead in the deadliest snow disaster in modern California history. Six were found alive.

Trump Says U.S. Will Commit $10 Billion to His Board of Peace

President Trump did not specify the source of the funding for the body created for the security and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 2026

A Case Against 6 Democrats Lacked Urgency. Then Came Calls for an Indictment.

Prosecutors have been caught between President Trump’s insistence that they undertake weak or baseless cases and the necessity of going to court.

Republicans, Braced for Losses, Push in Congress for More Voting Restrictions

A strict voter identification measure is part of a broader legislative effort to amplify President Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud.

F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine

Moderna said that the agency would now accept the company’s application for approval of a vaccine that uses mRNA technology.

9 Skiers Are Still Missing After Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe

The avalanche struck a guided skiing group in a popular California backcountry destination, officials said. Six skiers have been rescued.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026

Jesse Jackson, Charismatic Champion of Civil Rights, Dies at 84

A skilled orator who twice ran for president, he was a moral and political force who formed a “rainbow coalition” of poor and working-class people.

U.S. and Iran Make ‘Good Progress’ in Geneva Talks, Tehran Says

President Trump has called on Iran to reach an immediate accord or else face the threat of a possible U.S. attack.

Iranians Defy Government Crackdown at Memorials for Slain Protesters

Warner Bros. Discovery Restarts Deal Talks With Paramount

Paramount’s takeover bid was initially rejected in favor of Netflix. Paramount had said it would pay more if negotiations were reopened.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

Despite Epstein’s Toxicity, Steve Bannon Stood by Him, Texts Indicate

Mr. Bannon, a MAGA podcaster, developed a seemingly chummy relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. He said it was in the name of getting Mr. Epstein to open up.

Epstein’s Ties With Academics Show the Seedy Side of College Fund-Raising

Professors and presidents are often eager to raise outside cash. Some are now facing blowback after connecting with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Quiet Architect of Trump’s Global Trade War

Jamieson Greer, a low-key lawyer from a working-class background, is rewriting the rules of the global economy at President Trump’s behest.

In Xi’s Purge of the Military, a Search for Absolute Loyalty

By reaching back to Maoist tactics of “rectification,” Xi Jinping is signaling that control over the gun requires a state of perpetual cleansing.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2026

Deep in China’s Mountains, a Nuclear Revival Takes Shape

Satellite imagery of secretive nuclear facilities reveals Beijing’s efforts to expand its arsenal, just as the last global guardrails on nuclear weapons vanish.

Trump’s Relentless Self-Promotion Fosters an American Cult of Personality

President Trump has engaged in a spree of self-aggrandizement unlike any of his predecessors, making himself an inescapable force at home and around the world.

Republican State Legislators Rush to Limit Their Own Regulators

South Carolina’s state legislature is one of 17 that is moving to handcuff state agencies at a moment of tectonic changes in energy, technology and finance.

Iran Protester’s Death in Custody Sparks Outrage. His Family Believes He Was Executed.

Rights groups are investigating the death of Ali Rahbar as a potential extrajudicial killing. Iran denies executions have taken place.54m agoBy Sanam Mahoozi and Erika Solomon

THE NEW YORK TIMES – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026

Inside the Debacle That Led to the Closure of El Paso’s Airspace

The F.A.A., citing “a grave risk of fatalities” from a new technology being used on the Mexican border, got caught in a stalemate with the Pentagon.

Department of Homeland Security Shuts Down, Though Essential Work Continues

ICE Tried to Justify a Minneapolis Shooting. Its Story Unraveled.

The collapse of the Trump administration’s version of events in the case was another instance of an account of a shooting that was later contradicted.

Homeland Security Wants Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE

In Munich, Rubio Calls Europe a Friend but Says It Must Change

European leaders expressed relief at the tone of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks, but it was clear that the trans-Atlantic rift remained.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2026

U.S. Inflation Eased at Start of the Year

Overall inflation eased to 2.4 percent in January from the same time last year, offering a reprieve to the Federal Reserve.

The Epstein Files and the Hidden World of an Unaccountable Elite

The search continues in the documents for ironclad criminal conduct, but the story of a sexual predator given a free ride by the ruling class has already emerged.

Goldman’s Top Lawyer Departs Amid Revelations About Her Ties to Epstein

Kathryn Ruemmler, a former Obama administration lawyer, is out at Goldman Sachs after emails revealed her years of friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

German Leader Says International Order ‘No Longer Exists’

Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticized President Trump’s rapid reorientation of U.S. foreign policy.

Iran Turns to Digital Surveillance Tools to Track Down Protesters

As the authorities restore some online services after crushing antigovernment demonstrations, they are using technology to target attendees of the protests.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2026

Border Agency Is Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser

F.A.A. officials said privately that the agency did not have enough time or information to assess the technology’s risk to commercial aircraft.

Trump’s Director of Election Security Is an Election Denier

Even in a government full of conspiracists, Kurt Olsen stands out. He made a key referral in the Fulton County, Ga., election case.

How Trump Sees the World: It’s Personal

Historical relationships play little if any role in the second-term worldview of President Trump, who holds himself as the constant center of global events.

U.S. Attorney Chosen to Replace Trump Pick Is Quickly Fired by White House

Donald Kinsella had been appointed top prosecutor in the Northern District of New York after the Trump administration’s nominee was found to be serving unlawfully.

Trump’s Trade Deal With India Has Become a Headache for Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi won a big reduction of sky-high tariffs, but critics said he undermined Indian sovereignty and undercut the nation’s farmers.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11, 2026

F.A.A. Halts All Flights at El Paso Airport for 10 Days for ‘Security Reasons’

The agency provided no details, but its order will leave one of the largest cities in Texas without air service of any kind until Feb. 20.

Trump Decries a ‘Nation of Renters’ but His New Policy Promotes One

A recent executive order that would bar investors from acquiring single-family homes includes an exemption that allows them to build homes for rent.

Unemployment Rate in Focus as Fed Considers When to Restart Rate Cuts

Mass Shooting in Remote Canadian Town Is One of Deadliest in Nation’s History

Nine people were killed and 25 were injured at a high school and a residence in British Columbia, the police said. The shooter was also found dead.

Grand Jury Rebuffs Justice Dept. Attempt to Indict 6 Democrats in Congress

The rejection was a remarkable rebuke, suggesting that ordinary citizens did not believe that the lawmakers had committed any crimes.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2026

Russia Nears Capture of Key Ukrainian Towns After Year of Grinding Assaults

Russian troops have advanced slowly in recent months, but gains in southern and eastern Ukraine could give Moscow an edge in U.S.-mediated peace talks.

Trump Threatens to Block Opening of New Bridge to Canada

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, expected to open early this year, was built by Canada to ease cargo transport between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

Trump’s Threats to Cuba’s Oil Suppliers Put Mexico in a Bind

The longstanding alliance between Cuba and Mexico is under mounting pressure from the U.S., forcing President Claudia Sheinbaum into a balancing act.

After U.S. Criticism, Nicaragua Blocks a Once-Popular Route From Cuba

Susan Collins Runs for Re-election, in One of 2026’s Top Senate Fights

The Maine Republican is one of her party’s most vulnerable senators, and her seat is crucial to Democratic hopes of retaking control of the chamber.