Trump Bets on Diplomacy Without Diplomats

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:12:44 +0000)

President Trump’s most trusted envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are at the center of the Iran and Ukraine negotiations.

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

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:18:51 +0000)

The Iranian minister, Abbas Araghchi, said both sides had agreed on a “set of guiding principles.” President Trump has called on Iran to make an immediate accord or face a possible U.S. attack.

Talks on Russia-Ukraine War Enter 2nd Day in Geneva

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:01:34 +0000)

The talks in Geneva, Switzerland, were expected to focus on Ukrainian-held territory in the east that Russia wants to control as the price of peace. Kyiv has said that demand is a nonstarter.

Mamdani Threatens 9.5% Property Tax Increase if Wealth Tax Is Not Passed

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 03:04:35 +0000)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his proposal to raise New York City property taxes was a “last resort” to close a budget gap.

Mamdani Ushers in a New Tradition: Ramadan in City Hall

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 22:20:38 +0000)

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, will observe Ramadan as he runs the nation’s largest city, blending his faith into his public life.

Colbert Slams Trump Administration After CBS Pulls Talarico Interview

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:12:32 +0000)

Stephen Colbert said he had to drop an interview with James Talarico from his Monday broadcast because of new F.C.C. guidance that targeted political interviews on late-night shows.

Jesse Jackson’s Death Arrives at a Crucial Moment for Black Political Power

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:21:50 +0000)

There are more Black senators than ever before, but a major Supreme Court ruling could reduce Black representation in the House.

How a Stray Quote of Jesse Jackson’s Led to a Rupture Between Black and Jewish Voters

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:47:23 +0000)

The candidate’s reference to New York as “Hymietown” helped tank his 1984 presidential campaign and eroded a longstanding alliance.

Jackson’s ‘Keep Hope Alive’ Speech in 1988 Was a Call for Social Justice and Unity

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:37:15 +0000)

Though he didn’t win the Democratic nomination for president in either year, Jesse Jackson’s moving speeches at the conventions called on the party to care more about the marginalized.

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

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:10:32 +0000)

An impassioned orator, he was a moral and political force, forming a “rainbow coalition” of poor and working-class people and seeking the presidency. His mission, he said, was “to transform the mind of America.”

Six of 15 Skiers Caught in California Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe Are Rescued

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:06:06 +0000)

Rescuers pulled six survivors from a remote California site where 15 backcountry skiers were caught in an avalanche, the authorities said. Nine others were still missing.

4 Dead in Colorado Crash as Strong Winds Kick Up Wildfire Warnings

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:07:07 +0000)

High winds were fueling the risk of wildfires across the Southwest and the Plains, and an Oklahoma town faced a mandatory evacuation. Officials said the weather had caused a deadly pileup in Colorado.

The Sleepy Market for Japanese Government Bonds Is Now a ‘Battlefield’

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:07 +0000)

Trading of Japanese government bonds, long considered moribund, is roaring back to life as fears of the country’s debt have sent yields surging.

Trump Hails Japan’s First Batch of U.S. Investments

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:33:24 +0000)

The deals, totaling $36 billion, were the first step in a $550 billion investment pledge aimed at securing tariff relief and sustaining U.S. relations.

White House Shrugs Off Lutnick’s Epstein Ties

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:32:13 +0000)

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has acknowledged traveling to Jeffrey Epstein’s island and meeting him on another occasion.

A Road Trip from Kandahar to Kabul on Highway 1 in Afghanistan

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:21 +0000)

Life and business are back along a road once defined by war damage. But even with improved security, Afghans are desperate for jobs and development.

Daniel Radcliffe on Returning to Broadway in ‘Every Brilliant Thing’

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:02:21 +0000)

The Tony winner returns to the stage in “Every Brilliant Thing,” an interactive monologue with a message of hope “that might be vital for somebody to hear.”

Alberto Tomba Was an ’80s and ’90s Icon. The Olympics Have Brought Him Back.

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:27:31 +0000)

Nicknamed “Tomba la Bomba,” the Italian skier was a global superstar before he drifted from the limelight. Decades later, the Winter Games have given him a new platform.

California Wealth Tax Opponents Intensify Efforts Before Bernie Sanders Visit

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:49:28 +0000)

The opponents’ latest moves include online ads tied to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a crypto-related push to raise money and competing ballot measures.

Potomac Sewage Spill Becomes Ecological Disaster and Political Fight

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:59:58 +0000)

A D.C. utility had been working for weeks to repair a collapsed sewer line when the president blamed Maryland’s governor for the contamination on Monday.

Height Surgery for Men Can Add Inches But Has Risks

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:01:12 +0000)

Limb-lengthening can add inches to a person’s stature. But its risks have made it controversial.

Boneless Wings Are Still Wings, Judge Rules

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:53:51 +0000)

A Chicago man filed a lawsuit in 2023 against Buffalo Wild Wings, arguing that it had engaged in false advertising of its boneless wings. A judge said the claim “has no meat on its bones.”

Netanyahu Plays Trump and American Jews for Fools — Again

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:55:32 +0000)

Netanyahu has gotten Trump to focus on Iran and ignore the destructive things Bibi is doing in Gaza, in the West Bank and inside Israel.

What the American Right Wants From Europe

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 23:00:10 +0000)

The tensions in Marco Rubio’s trans-Atlantic vision.

Manhattan Hospital Ends Medical Treatment for Transgender Youth

(Wed, 18 Feb 2026 04:05:03 +0000)

NYU Langone Health cited the “current regulatory environment” in its decision to discontinue its gender medicine program for minors.

It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This Year, the Party Might Be a Bit Greener.

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:00:06 +0000)

Carnival can generate more than 1,000 tons of trash every year. A coalition of nonprofit groups, city officials and scientists has a plan to clean it up.

Shia LaBeouf Charged With Battery in New Orleans

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 21:45:00 +0000)

The actor, known for his roles in “Transformers” and “Megalopolis,” was arrested early Tuesday after reportedly assaulting two people, the authorities said.

Peru Votes to Impeach President José Jerí

(Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:41:02 +0000)

Peru’s Congress voted to impeach President José Jerí, four months after he replaced Dina Boluarte, who had also been removed from the presidency.