Today's Headlines: Inside the Rushed Effort to Get Trump His New Air Force One
Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns
View in browser
The New York Times
Today's Headlines
July 26, 2026, 4:30 a.m. Eastern time

Top News

Inside the Rushed Effort to Get Trump His New Air Force One

A New York Times investigation found that President Trump’s push to speed delivery of the aircraft led to ballooning costs and trade-offs in safety features.

Trump Holds Off on Major Escalation Against Iran as Advisers Raise Concerns

Among the worries is that expanded hostilities could dangerously drain the diminished stockpile of air defense munitions in the Middle East.

Hundreds of Thousands Flee Fires in France and Spain as Help Pours In

Nearly 300,000 have been told to evacuate or take shelter as major fires edged closer to Madrid and Bordeaux.

World

Car Plows Into Crowd at Berlin Pride Event in Suspected Terror Attack

The police said a suspect was involved in local Islamic groups and that there was a “strong suspicion” it was an act of terrorism. At least one person was killed and 16 injured.

India’s ‘Cockroach’ Protesters Declare Rare Victory Over Government

The Cockroach Janta Party called an end to weeks of protests after the education minister resigned, a win for that movement even as deep-seated anger among young people remains.

A Thin Rope Holds the Line Against Ebola on Uganda’s Border

The Bundibugyo Ebola virus takes its name from this small town, where it was first discovered in 2007. Now, the species has returned to eastern Congo, halting life on a busy border.

See more world news

U.S.

Lowered Number of Troop Deaths on Pentagon Site Upsets Military Families

The change in the number to 14 from 18 this week has prompted scrutiny over the Defense Department’s accounting and reporting practices.

Even in Utah, Land of ‘Big Love,’ Families Are Getting Smaller

Forget tradwives. When it comes to plummeting fertility rates, Utah is leading the country.

More Than 500 Howard University Students Are Bumped From Enrollment

The university said the students failed to meet payment requirements by a July 10 deadline and were removed from the school’s enrollment weeks before they were to move in.

See more U.S. news

Politics

In Maine, Democrats Pick Troy Jackson to Replace Platner in Senate Race

Mr. Jackson, a progressive former State Senate president, clinched the nomination at a hastily arranged state party convention.

Appeals Court Upholds Blocks on Trump Order Restricting Mail Voting

The ruling on Saturday was the latest rebuke to President Trump’s attacks on mail-in voting. The government says it may take the case to the Supreme Court.

‘Is This Supposed to Be Fun?’ Trump Hurls Insults at Correspondents’ Dinner

President Trump gave the keynote speech as relations between his administration and the press continue to deteriorate.

See more political news

Business

Some Attacks and U-Turns, but Ships Sail Red Sea Despite Houthi Blockade

Dozens of ships continued to traverse the Red Sea this week, but with scattered disruption, uncertainty about the passage grows by the hour.

Sell the Company for $400 Million? He’s Giving It Away Instead.

After his sole heir died, Eddie Smith, the owner of Grady-White Boats, looked for a way to pass on his legacy. He was inspired by Patagonia to pledge future profits to charity.

See more business news

Technology

Silicon Valley Splits Over Closing the Borders to Chinese A.I.

Anthropic and OpenAI are clashing with the rest of the tech industry over whether “open-source” models from China should be freely available or restricted.

See more technology news

New York

13 Children Accidentally Consume Edibles at New Jersey Y.M.C.A. Summer Camp

The Y.M.C.A. said a camper had handed them out without its knowledge. A parent described the affected children as looking like “little baby zombies.”

Sally the Robot Was Coming to a New York School. Then the Plug Was Pulled.

Students helped design the A.I.-powered creation as a young female with dark hair and an upbeat personality. Then came the outrage.

How an Uptight ‘Severance’ Character Lets Loose in Real Life

Tramell Tillman promises he is much more fun when dancing, shopping and eating tacos across New York City than he is on the hit Apple TV show.

See more New York news

Arts

The Most Haunting Music in ‘The Odyssey’ Has Ancient Roots

Ludwig Göransson’s soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s film resurrects an ancient instrument, the aulos, to evoke the tormenting allure of the sirens.

Kenneth Branagh Returns to the Stage Where It All Began

Over 40 years after his breakthrough at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the actor tackles Chekhov and the Bard in two productions that subtly resonate with his own story.

‘Dread Beat an Blood’ Set Black Londoners’ Struggle to a Groove

A newly restored 1979 documentary examines how Linton Kwesi Johnson’s dub-infused poetry documented the challenges faced by Britain’s Black Caribbean population.

See more arts news

Books

Vibrant New Historical Fiction

Our columnist on the month’s best new books.