Today's Headlines: With Possible Raúl Castro Indictment, U.S. Eyes Venezuela Playbook
Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Effort to Reinstate New Voting Map
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The New York Times
Today's Headlines
May 16, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

With Possible Raúl Castro Indictment, U.S. Eyes Venezuela Playbook

Amid stepped-up surveillance flights, a visit of the C.I.A. director and an energy embargo, the White House is trying to increase pressure on Cuba.

Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Effort to Reinstate New Voting Map

State officials had asked the justices to step in to allow the state to use a congressional map in the midterms that was drawn by Democrats and recently approved by voters.

Trump’s ‘Learning Curve’ on China Ends With Conciliation at Summit

The president has shifted the foundations of American policy toward China, throwing aside the adversarial approach of recent years.

World

Civilian Planes Shot Down by Cuba: A Push to Punish Raúl Castro 30 Years Later

Mr. Castro, Cuba’s former president, could soon face charges in the 1996 killings of four volunteer airmen who were members of a humanitarian group that searched for migrants at sea.

It’s Been a Wild Week in British Politics. What Happens Next?

Nobody has yet challenged Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership, but his leading rival, Andy Burnham, finally has a route to Downing Street.

Israeli Strike Targeted Top Hamas Leader in Gaza, Officials Say

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the target of an Israeli strike in Gaza City, took over the group’s military wing in Gaza last year. Israeli officials said he was also an architect of the Oct. 7 attack.

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U.S.

Texas Supreme Court Rejects Abbott Effort to Remove Democrats From Office

Republican state leaders tried to expel Democratic lawmakers during their fight over redistricting last year. The court said it was not necessary.

Catholic Clergy Can Minister Within ICE Facility After a Legal Agreement

Several clergy members and an advocacy group had sued the Trump administration, arguing that they were unlawfully denied access to detainees at an Illinois facility.

Hospital Will Open First ‘Detransition’ Clinic in Legal Settlement With Texas

Texas Children’s Hospital was under investigation for billing practices on gender-transition treatments. The settlement was expected to end that inquiry.

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Politics

Trump Administration Weighs $1.7 Billion Fund for Allies Investigated Under Biden

Critics denounced the highly unusual plan, which has yet to be finalized or approved, as a vast political slush fund financed by taxpayers.

Snorkeling at Pearl Harbor: Kash Patel’s Travels Add to Focus on Ethical Issues

The F.B.I. director continues to come under scrutiny for mixing government business with dates, vacation and leisure time.

Tina Peters, Colorado Election Denier, Will Be Freed by Governor

Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted the sentence of Ms. Peters, a former county clerk serving a nine-year sentence for her role in a plot to examine voting machines after the 2020 election.

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Business

NPR Podcast Host Exits Amid Workplace Investigation

Ramtin Arablouei, a co-host of “Throughline,” left the network after an employee made a human resources complaint about his behavior.

For Xi’s Critics, Summit Spectacle Is Fuel for Jokes They Can’t Tell

On Threads and other sites, liberal-minded Chinese accounts were mocking the proceedings and offering a rare window into opinions on Xi Jinping and his leadership style.

The Stock Market’s Winning Streak Is About to Be Tested

Despite accelerating inflation and possible interest rate increases, the S&P 500 has posted a long weekly winning streak, driven by strong corporate earnings. Can it last?

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Technology

OpenAI Bought Company That Offered A.I. Tools for Cloning Voices

The acquisition, Weights.gg, was a sort of social network for creating and sharing artificial intelligence algorithms.

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New York

Long Island Rail Road Strike Shuts Down Busiest U.S. Passenger Rail Service

This is the first strike on the service in more than 30 years. It comes after three years of failed contract negotiations, two federal interventions and a volley of last-minute bargaining.

Militia Commander Tied to Iran Plotted Attacks on Jewish Sites, Prosecutors Say

Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi is accused of leading attacks in Europe and being part of a retaliation campaign by Iran. Prosecutors say he is a leader of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia with ties to Iran.

How Fights Over West Bank Settlements Are Unfolding at N.Y.C. Synagogues

Demonstrations outside synagogues have turned real estate sales in Israel and in the occupied territories into a political issue in the city. The protesters’ tactics have disturbed some New Yorkers.

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Arts

Smithsonian Adds Back Impeachment Language to Label on Trump Portrait

The language had been removed from wall text in the National Portrait Gallery, but it’s back as the museum unveiled changes to its exhibition on U.S. presidents.

36 Hours to Air: Inside the Scramble to Film ‘S.N.L.’ Shorts

A rare glimpse behind the scenes reveals a frenetic process that has been refined across decades.

Martin Short and the Secret to Finding Joy While Surviving Tragedy

The comedy star, who is the subject of a new documentary, has faced a series of unimaginable losses. Yet he says there are always laughs to remember.

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Food