Inside Israel’s Secret Operation to Cultivate Ahmadinejad

7/13/2026 5:15 AM Open Story
The yearslong effort to groom the former Iranian president as an intelligence asset culminated in a dramatic effort to take him to an Israeli safe house in the early days of the war. But the plan fell apart.
Strait of Hormuz Ship Traffic Falls to Lowest Point in a Month After Strikes

7/13/2026 6:38 AM Open Story
Shipping activity plummeted after Iran attacked a ship, setting off U.S. strikes. Little crude oil is being transported through the critical waterway.
Lindsey Graham’s Unexpected Death, and How Marco Rubio Is Running Venezuela

7/13/2026 3:00 AM Open Story
Plus, Sam Neill of “Jurassic Park” fame dies at 78.
Mercurial and Magnetic, Lindsey Graham Was a Force in the Senate

7/13/2026 5:23 AM Open Story
The sharp-witted South Carolinian repaired relations with President Trump to advance his foreign policy goals, was willing to cut deals with Democrats and tried to insert himself into every legislative fight.
What We Know About Lindsey Graham’s Death

7/12/2026 5:10 PM Open Story
Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday night, a day after returning from Ukraine and four months before he was to face re-election.
Lindsey Graham Had a Complicated Relationship With Black Voters

7/13/2026 2:03 AM Open Story
Mr. Graham, a long-serving senator from South Carolina, was known for his ability to maintain relationships even with his political foes. But the support of Black voters remained elusive.
Japan Builds Intelligence Agency It Hasn’t Had Since World War II

7/13/2026 5:57 AM Open Story
Facing threats from Russia and China, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is turning to help from Western allies in forming a centralized agency.
How Putin Turned Japan Into a Den of Spies

7/12/2026 5:14 AM Open Story
Operating out of a Tokyo high-rise, a military intelligence unit finds the high-tech equipment that Russia needs to wage war.
Maine Democrats to Chuck Schumer: Stay Out of Our Senate Race

7/13/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
Local Democrats are warning the top Senate Democrat to keep away as they replace Graham Platner, and the candidates are giving his leadership in Washington low marks.
Civics Groups Are at Odds With Mamdani Over Push for Open Primaries

7/13/2026 6:21 AM Open Story
If a new effort to persuade voters to change New York City’s closed primary system gains steam, a potential showdown between its backers and the mayor awaits.
‘We’re Fighting Satan’: The War to Save Bees From a Hornet Invasion

7/13/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
As yellow-legged hornets spread through South Carolina’s Lowcountry region, threatening the local honey crop, a state team of bee defenders is racing to the rescue.
Sam Neill, New Zealand Actor Known for ‘Jurassic Park,’ Dies at 78

7/13/2026 6:28 AM Open Story
He appeared in more than 150 productions over a five-decade career but was perhaps best known for his star turn in the “Jurassic Park” series.
A Robot Army Remakes Ground Warfare in Ukraine

7/13/2026 5:04 AM Open Story
They began as supply mules. Now ground robots evacuate the wounded, hold trenches and even do the killing.
There’s an Injury Epidemic in Pro Sports. There’s Also a Recovery Revolution.

7/13/2026 6:33 AM Open Story
Athletes are pushing their bodies to astonishing feats, knowing that medical advances can heal them quickly.
With Threats Rising, Supreme Court Asks Congress to Increase Security Funds

7/13/2026 2:02 AM Open Story
Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan are scheduled to make a rare appearance at the Capitol to testify about the court’s more than $200 million request.
How Wealthy People Are Getting to World Cup Games

7/13/2026 2:01 AM Open Story
The skies above the Hamptons are packed with choppers headed to games, as “inequality is taking it right in the face.”
Heat Waves in Europe Linked to Thousands of Excess Deaths

7/13/2026 5:51 AM Open Story
While the full toll will take months to calculate, death statistics already look substantial compared with historical averages.
When Vital Weather Data Is Needed, Muppets Take Flight

7/13/2026 2:01 AM Open Story
“For the most part, the aircraft have their own souls,” said a pilot of the meteorological research planes, which are known as Kermit, Miss Piggy and Gonzo.
The World Must Not Forget About the Genocide in Sudan

7/13/2026 12:15 AM Open Story
The longer the fighting drags on, the greater the chance that regional instability will spread.
The Viceroy of Venezuela

7/13/2026 3:42 AM Open Story
We look into who’s really running the country.
Fire in Bangkok Bar Leaves at Least 27 Dead

7/13/2026 4:06 AM Open Story
The fast-moving blaze sent people fleeing toward the bathrooms to hide, officials said. Their bodies were found there, raising questions about safety standards.