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Zohran Mamdani Is Sworn In as Mayor of New York City

Zohran Mamdani officially took office as mayor after the New Year’s Eve ball drop, in a private ceremony held at a shuttered relic of the city’s subway.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/mamdani-mayor-swearing-in.html

Mamdani Names Transportation Chief With Job of Making Buses Fast and Free

As commissioner of New York City’s Department of Transportation, Michael Flynn will seek to implement one of the new mayor’s central campaign planks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/nyregion/mamdani-transportation-commissioner-mike-flynn.html

Mamdani Reverses Call to End Mayoral Control of NYC Public Schools

The mayor-elect’s turnaround came as he selected Kamar Samuels to lead New York City’s school system at a precarious moment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/mamdani-nyc-public-schools-mayoral-control.html

Mamdani Is First New York Mayor to Use the Quran at His Swearing-In

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, put his hand on Islam’s holiest book at his swearing-in ceremony.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/mamdani-quran-inauguration-muslim.html

Another New Year at War: Ukraine’s Troops Doubt It Will Be the Last

After a year of Russian advances, the goal for 2026 is simply to survive, said one officer in eastern Ukraine. “It’s hard to make any plans,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/world/europe/ukraine-russia-new-years-day-donetsk.html

Ukraine Did Not Target Putin’s Home, C.I.A. Finds

The assessment rebutted a claim that the Russian leader made to President Trump in a phone call this week.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/ukraine-putin-home-drone-strike-cia.html

Trump Abandons Efforts to Deploy National Guard to 3 Major Cities

The troops had nearly no presence in two of the cities, Portland and Chicago. But the decision signaled a retreat, at least for now, in one of the president’s most audacious attempts to test his power.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/trump-national-guard.html

Trump Must Return Command of California National Guard to Newsom, Court Rules

The ruling is a win for Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has vigorously opposed President Trump’s moves to control California’s National Guard since the summer.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/trump-national-guard-california-newsom.html

In Hearing Transcript, Jack Smith Defends Decision to Indict Trump

The former special counsel accused President Trump of “exploiting” violence on Jan. 6, 2021, according to an interview released by House Republicans.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/jack-smith-deposition-house-trump.html

He’s Chevy Chase, and He’s Still Like That

The famously prickly comedian found a sympathetic adversary in the director of a CNN documentary about him. Their conversation with a reporter was … spirited.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/arts/television/hes-chevy-chase-and-hes-still-like-that.html

Oil Tanker Fleeing the Coast Guard Now Listed in Russian Ship Database

The listing could make it more challenging for U.S. forces to board the ship, which an arm of the Kremlin’s maritime authority says is now flying the Russian flag.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/russia-oil-tanker-venezuela.html

Coast Guard Searches for Survivors After More Boat Strikes

The U.S. military attacked a convoy of three boats in the eastern Pacific on Tuesday, and two more on Wednesday, as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against people suspected of drug trafficking.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/coast-guard-survivors-boat-strikes.html

Space Events 2026: NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission, Summer Eclipse and More

In 2026, there will be journeys to the moon and Mars, new visions of the cosmos and a solar eclipse that might be worth traveling for.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/science/space-nasa-spacex-blue-origin-astronomy.html

Even the Sky May Not Be the Limit for A.I. Data Centers

Some tech leaders are concerned that the artificial intelligence race will exhaust available land and energy. The solution might lie in orbit.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/technology/space-data-centers-ai.html

Trump’s Veto of Water Project Is His Latest Targeted Hit on Colorado

The president seems to be at war with the Democratic-led state as he raises the pressure on Colorado leaders to release a convicted election denier, Tina Peters, from state prison.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/trump-veto-water-project-colorado.html

Trump Vetoes 2 Bills, Drawing Accusations of Retaliation

The president said he blocked the bills to save taxpayers’ money. But he has grievances against a tribe in Florida and officials in Colorado.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/trump-vetoes-retribution.html

3 Years After a Toddler’s Parents Fled Kabul, a Reunion Is Still on Hold

The twisting saga that separated the Hashemis in Oregon from their infant son has reached a new dead end: President Trump’s hold on all visas to the United States.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/politics/afghanistan-visas.html

Repeat Moviegoers Help Hollywood Eke Out a Slightly Better 2025

Ticket sales in North America totaled $8.9 billion for the year, up 2 percent from 2024. But the box office remains far below prepandemic levels.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/business/cinema-hollywood-2025-ticket-sales.html

A Year of Fires and Floods in Southern California

The floods that struck last week just before the first anniversary of the January wildfires show how extreme weather is defining life in the L.A. region.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/us/los-angeles-fires-floods.html

Behind Oklahoma Cannabis Farms, New Yorkers With Ties to Beijing

In China, trafficking marijuana is punishable by death. But in the United States, it has become a lucrative sideline for some favored sons of the motherland.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/us/ny-china-hometown-association-oklahoma-marjiuana.html

‘Stranger Things’ Has Ended. What Happened in the Series Finale?

There was a lot to tie up after five seasons and nearly 10 years, and the show gave itself another two hours to do it. Here are the major events.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/arts/television/stranger-things-finale-ending.html

The Two Questions I Wish We’d Stop Asking in 2026

How did we get here? I don’t want to know.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/opinion/podcasts-interviews-questions.html

The Economy Made It Through 2025. The New Year Will Be Harder.

The new year will pose numerous problems that won’t be so easily overcome.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/opinion/global-economy-public-private-sectors.html

Most of Iran Shuts Down as Government Grapples With Protests and Economy

Amid mounting street protests, businesses, universities and government offices stayed closed Wednesday under government orders, in 21 of 31 provinces, including Tehran.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/world/middleeast/iran-shutdown-protests.html

Historic Snowstorm Blankets Syracuse Just in Time for the New Year

Syracuse, N.Y., has received nearly twice its usual monthly amount of snow in December.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/nyregion/syracuse-record-snow.html

Tatiana Schlossberg Submitted a Heartbreaking Essay to The New Yorker on Her Cancer Diagnosis, Fully Formed

When Tatiana Schlossberg submitted an essay to The New Yorker, it had not been assigned or even expected. It was accepted immediately and barely edited.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/style/tatiana-schlossberg-new-yorker-essay-david-remnick.html

Brigitte Bardot’s Legacy of Racist Rhetoric

The actress, who died this week at 91, was an icon of 1960s cinema. She was also a hero to the French far right.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/world/europe/brigitte-bardot-racism-far-right.html