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

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:08:50 +0000)

Mr. Bannon, a MAGA podcaster, developed a seemingly chummy relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking. 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

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:02:33 +0000)

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

Epstein Files Hint at His Ties to the Supermodel Naomi Campbell

(Sun, 15 Feb 2026 15:42:00 +0000)

Ms. Campbell previously claimed she was an acquaintance of the convicted sex offender. Emails shed new light on the extent of their interactions.

D.H.S. Pushes Social Media Sites to Expose Anti-ICE Accounts, and U.S. Troops Land in Nigeria

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:10 +0000)

Plus, the Super Bowl ad that prompted a backlash.

With Latest Rollback, the U.S. Essentially Has No Clean-Car Rules

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:04:00 +0000)

The E.P.A.’s killing of the “endangerment finding” caps a year of deregulation that is likely to make cars thirstier for gas and less competitive globally, experts say.

What to Know About the Homeland Security Shutdown

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:47:40 +0000)

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Saturday amid a standoff over restrictions that Democrats have demanded for federal immigration agents. But much of its work continues.

From One President to Another, a Love Letter With an Edge

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:03:23 +0000)

To open a series of essays about U.S. presidents, George W. Bush pays tribute to George Washington, who “ensured America wouldn’t become a monarchy, or worse.”

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

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:38:20 +0000)

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

In Hungary, Marco Rubio Stresses Trump’s Support for Viktor Orban

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:49:41 +0000)

The U.S. secretary of state said in Budapest that the president was “deeply committed” to the success of Viktor Orban, who has boasted of creating an “illiberal state.”

Three American Speeches at Munich, and Plenty of Confusion

(Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:01:09 +0000)

As the U.S. message veered from shared heritage and values to shared interests and back again, Europeans wondered what kind of alliance they were left with.

A Russian ‘Village of Military Valor’ Waits for Its Reward

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:00:58 +0000)

A provincial governor seeks to honor villages that deployed many soldiers to the war in Ukraine with a prestigious title first bestowed on cities that were major World War II battlefields.

Why an A.I. Video of Tom Cruise Battling Brad Pitt Spooked Hollywood

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:04:07 +0000)

A 15-second clip created by an artificial intelligence tool owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance appears more cinematic than anything so far.

What Gisèle Pelicot Survived

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:47:28 +0000)

We present a story of extraordinary courage.

Gisèle Pelicot, the Woman at the Center of Rape Trial That Shook France, Shares Her Story

(Sun, 15 Feb 2026 13:08:14 +0000)

In her first interview with an American media outlet, Pelicot opens up about surviving years of secret abuse — and a trial that shocked the world.

Syrian Army Crosses New Threshold With Advances in Kurdish Regions

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:32:00 +0000)

The advance of the Syrian Army into Kurdish regions could put nearly all the country under one authority. But it ends a dream of autonomy for ethnic Kurds.

Indonesia Says It’s Preparing Thousands of Peacekeeping Troops for Trump’s Gaza Plan

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:30:37 +0000)

President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia will be among those meeting with President Trump in Washington this week to discuss his Board of Peace initiative to oversee a cease-fire in Gaza.

How a Trump Tax Break Rescued Horse Racing

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:46:22 +0000)

Owners spent nearly $1.5 billion last year on racehorses, a big increase over 2024. A new tax provision allows them to immediately deduct the full cost of the purchase.

Trial Begins for Father of Teen Charged in Georgia School Shooting

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:54:19 +0000)

Prosecutors say Colin Gray is criminally culpable after his teenage son killed two students and two teachers with a rifle that had been a Christmas gift.

5 New Dumpling Recipes for Lunar New Year 2026

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:42:15 +0000)

Our annual tribute to one of everyone’s favorite foods returns, with all-new ways to get you pinching and pleating.

How to Host an Unforgettable Dumpling Party

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 10:03:45 +0000)

Four expert tips turn prep work into a major part of the fun.

Trump Risks Igniting a Nuclear Wildfire

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:08:11 +0000)

The president’s approach to the rising nuclear danger is alarming.

What Does Body Positivity Mean in This New Weight Loss Era?

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:25:19 +0000)

Can you love your body and still want to lose weight?

Ticket Scam Cost the Louvre $12 Million, Investigators Say

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:30:05 +0000)

The Paris prosecutor’s office said that a network involving museum employees and tour guides had been operating for a decade. Investigators also believe the fraud occurred at Versailles Palace.

New York Needs Lifeguards. Would These Teens Make the Cut?

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:00:12 +0000)

To qualify for a job patrolling the city’s beaches and pools, candidates must swim 50 yards in 50 seconds or less.

Dana Eden, Co-Creator of ‘Tehran,’ Dies During Filming of Fourth Season

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:28:17 +0000)

Ms. Eden, 52, who was also an executive producer of the Emmy-winning show, was found in a hotel room in Athens. Greek police said they did not suspect foul play.

Diplomatic Feud With China Weighs on Japan’s Economy

(Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:53:12 +0000)

A standoff over the security of Taiwan has led to a steep decline in the number of Chinese visitors to Japan, which is heavily dependent on the tourists.