Today's Headlines: Trump’s Conspicuous Silence Leaves a Struggle Against Russia Without a Leader

‘An Endless War’: Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [Most Popular]( | [Video]( | Subscribe: [Digital /]( [Home Delivery]( [My Account]( [Today's Headlines]( Sunday, February 18, 2018 IN THIS EMAIL: [Top News](#0) | [Editors' Picks](#2) | [Today’s Videos](#4) | [World](#5) | [U.S.](#6) | [Politics](#7) | [Business](#8) | [Technology](#9) | [Sports](#10) | [Arts](#11) | [Metropolitan](#12) | [Real Estate](#13) | [Travel](#14) | [Fashion & Style](#15) | [Magazine](#16) | [T Magazine](#17) | [Obituaries](#18) | [Editorial](#19) | [Op-Ed](#20) | [CUSTOMIZE »]( [] Top News [Trump’s Conspicuous Silence Leaves a Struggle Against Russia Without a Leader]( News Analysis [Trump’s Conspicuous Silence Leaves a Struggle Against Russia Without a Leader]( By PETER BAKER President Trump depicted indictments charging Russians with interfering in America’s politics as a vindication for himself rather than a threat to the United States. [‘An Endless War’: Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert]( [‘An Endless War’: Why 4 U.S. Soldiers Died in a Remote African Desert]( By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI, HELENE COOPER, ERIC SCHMITT, ALAN BLINDER and THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF More than 16 years after the Sept. 11 attacks spurred a broad fight against terrorism, some Americans say it’s time to look at how the country is deploying its forces. [Florida Agency Investigated Nikolas Cruz After Violent Social Media Posts]( [Florida Agency Investigated Nikolas Cruz After Violent Social Media Posts]( By AUDRA D. S. BURCH, FRANCES ROBLES and PATRICIA MAZZEI After visiting and questioning Mr. Cruz at his home in 2016, the Department of Children and Families determined he was not a risk to himself or others. For more top news, go to [NYTimes.com »]( ADVERTISEMENT [Get the Morning Briefing in Your Inbox]( [Get the Morning Briefing in Your Inbox]( What you need to know to start your day, delivered Monday through Friday. [Sign up »]( [] Editors' Picks [President or Luxury Towers: Either Way, Trump Is the Rage in India]( World [President or Luxury Towers: Either Way, Trump Is the Rage in India]( By MARIA ABI-HABIB and ERIC LIPTON President Trump’s eldest son is headed to India on a sales trip for the family’s real estate business. Indians are star-struck by a family both rich and famous. [The Tyranny of Convenience]( Opinion | Contributing Op-Ed Writer [The Tyranny of Convenience]( By TIM WU All the personal tasks in our lives are being made easier. But at what cost? [] QUOTATION OF THE DAY "This kid exhibited every single known red flag, from killing animals to having a cache of weapons to disruptive behavior to saying he wanted to be a school shooter. If this isn’t a person who should have gotten someone’s attention, I don’t know who is. This was a multi-system failure." [HOWARD FINKELSTEIN]( the Broward County public defender, whose office is representing Nikolas Cruz, the suspect in the mass shooting last Wednesday at a Florida high school. [] Today’s Videos [What a Soldier Killed in Niger Left Behind]( [[Video]Video: What a Soldier Killed in Niger Left Behind]( By ORA DeKORNFELD, TAIGE JENSEN and CORA ENGELBRECHT Jenna was relieved when her boyfriend, a U.S. Special Forces soldier, told her he was deploying to Africa, rather than to a war zone like Iraq or Afghanistan. When he was killed in an ambush in Niger, she was left with the fragments of their imagined future. ADVERTISEMENT [] World [Brazil Looks to Crack Down on Fake News Ahead of Bitter Election]( [Brazil Looks to Crack Down on Fake News Ahead of Bitter Election]( By ERNESTO LONDOÑO Officials from the judiciary and law enforcement are teaming up to try to prevent voters from being misled, arguing that freedom of speech cannot come at the cost of a tainted election. [As Ramaphosa Hails a ‘New Dawn,’ South Africans See More of the Same]( [As Ramaphosa Hails a ‘New Dawn,’ South Africans See More of the Same]( By NORIMITSU ONISHI Few in Soweto township expect change now that Cyril Ramaphosa is president. But none can imagine voting against the African National Congress. [In Colombia Border Town, Desperate Venezuelans Sell Hair to Survive]( [In Colombia Border Town, Desperate Venezuelans Sell Hair to Survive]( By JOE PARKIN DANIELS Fleeing an economic crisis and rampant crime, more than half a million Venezuelans have crossed into Colombia, with many sleeping on the streets, begging for food and suffering abuse from the locals. For more world news, go to [NYTimes.com/World »]( ADVERTISEMENT [] U.S. [When Calling An Uber Can Pay Off For Cities and States]( [When Calling An Uber Can Pay Off For Cities and States]( By WINNIE HU New taxes and fees on ride-hailing services have raised millions of dollars for transportation, infrastructure, and even public schools. [Driven From Island Homes by Storms, Dialysis Patients Can Do Little but Wait]( [Driven From Island Homes by Storms, Dialysis Patients Can Do Little but Wait]( By ALAN BLINDER and SHERI FINK More than 200 patients were evacuated to the mainland United States when hurricanes blasted their islands last fall. Many are still in Atlanta, unable to go home safely. [Jury Awards $38 Million to Family of Maryland Woman Shot by Police]( [Jury Awards $38 Million to Family of Maryland Woman Shot by Police]( By MATT STEVENS After a standoff, Korryn Gaines was shot several times by a Baltimore County police officer. Her 5-year-old son, lingering nearby, was struck twice by gunfire. For more U.S. news, go to [NYTimes.com/US »]( [] Politics [In Wake of Florida Massacre, Gun-Control Advocates Look to Connecticut]( [In Wake of Florida Massacre, Gun-Control Advocates Look to Connecticut]( By LISA W. FODERARO and KRISTIN HUSSEY Connecticut, which passed a strict gun law after the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, has seen a sharp drop in the number of gun deaths. [In Florida, Extraordinary Obstacles for Changes to Gun Laws]( [In Florida, Extraordinary Obstacles for Changes to Gun Laws]( By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. Florida’s pro-gun approach came under scrutiny after mass shootings in Orlando in 2016 and in Fort Lauderdale, but little changed. [Russian Trolls Were Sloppy, but Indictment Still ‘Points at the Kremlin’]( [Russian Trolls Were Sloppy, but Indictment Still ‘Points at the Kremlin’]( By NEIL MacFARQUHAR When Russian trolling techniques were exported to the United States, it seems to have been done with a lack of discipline and secrecy. But that does not mean the operation lacked high-level support. For more political news, go to [NYTimes.com/Politics »]( [] Business [The WeWork Manifesto: First, Office Space. Next, the World.]( [The WeWork Manifesto: First, Office Space. Next, the World.]( By DAVID GELLES The brash, ambitious founders of WeWork, a global network of shared office spaces, want nothing less than to transform the way we work, live and play. [Christopher Bailey Takes a Final Walk Down the Burberry Runway]( [Christopher Bailey Takes a Final Walk Down the Burberry Runway]( By ELIZABETH PATON Mr. Bailey is leaving the company he led as both chief designer and C.E.O. A new management team now has to revive the brand’s critical and financial fortunes. [N.B.A. Stars Get Into the Hollywood Game]( [N.B.A. Stars Get Into the Hollywood Game]( By BROOKS BARNES Los Angeles is suddenly crawling with basketball royalty like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who are developing TV shows, streaming offerings and movies. For more business news, go to [NYTimes.com/Business »]( [] Technology [To Stir Discord in 2016, Russians Turned Most Often to Facebook]( [To Stir Discord in 2016, Russians Turned Most Often to Facebook]( By SHEERA FRENKEL and KATIE BENNER The special counsel’s indictment detailed how crucial Facebook and Instagram were to the Russian campaign to disrupt the presidential election. [New Google Tips and Tools for Travelers]( The Getaway [New Google Tips and Tools for Travelers]( By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM The search giant has been rolling out features and products to make planning and taking vacations easier. For more technology news, go to [NYTimes.com/Technology »]( [] Sports [Nathan Chen Gets a Different Kind of Reward]( Sports of The Times [Nathan Chen Gets a Different Kind of Reward]( By JULIET MACUR With nothing to lose but pride, the 18-year-old took some risks, and they finally paid off. [Seeing Bounty Abroad, Will North Koreans Change Their Homeland?]( [Seeing Bounty Abroad, Will North Koreans Change Their Homeland?]( By MOTOKO RICH At the Olympics, curious onlookers scrutinize visitors from the isolated North and wonder what a peek at a broader world could achieve. [Nascar Waits for Leader of Its Next Generation to Emerge]( [Nascar Waits for Leader of Its Next Generation to Emerge]( By PETER KERASOTIS A new season begins at the Daytona 500 on Sunday with the sport looking for a young driver to energize its brand. For more sports news, go to [NYTimes.com/Sports »]( [] Arts [The Stars of ‘Black Panther’ Waited a Lifetime for This Moment]( [The Stars of ‘Black Panther’ Waited a Lifetime for This Moment]( By REGGIE UGWU The director Ryan Coogler and the castmates Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira see personal and political potency in Marvel’s first black superhero film. [A Barrier Breaks: An Actress With Down Syndrome Plays the Lead]( [A Barrier Breaks: An Actress With Down Syndrome Plays the Lead]( By SOPAN DEB Jamie Brewer stars in “Amy and the Orphans,” about three siblings who reunite after their father’s death, and the road trip that follows. [How an Indie-Rock Star Is Made in 2018]( [How an Indie-Rock Star Is Made in 2018]( By JOE COSCARELLI The singer and songwriter Lucy Dacus, 22, was deemed “up next.” Then she had to actually make the album. For more arts news, go to [NYTimes.com/Arts »]( [] Metropolitan [Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Next Lion of New York]( [Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Next Lion of New York]( By JOHN LELAND The unifying voice of the Obama years digs in for a fractious new era and a second child. [Cool-Looking and Sweet, Juul is a Vice Teens Can’t Resist]( Big City [Cool-Looking and Sweet, Juul is a Vice Teens Can’t Resist]( By GINIA BELLAFANTE The e-cigarettes, in flavors like Mango and Fruit Medley, offer rebellion in a sharply designed package that appeals to a driven generation. [The Tingle Makers, Open for Business]( [The Tingle Makers, Open for Business]( By ANDREA MARKS Soothing videos of women whispering or crinkling paper have an unusually devoted following online. A salon in Brooklyn is mixing the therapy with theater. [] Real Estate [This Old House Is a Chore]( Right at Home [This Old House Is a Chore]( By RONDA KAYSEN There is a lot to learn when you buy an old house — and what seems like a simple fix can turn into a major project. [The Go-for-Broke Renovation]( On Location [The Go-for-Broke Renovation]( By TIM McKEOUGH After years of looking, they found a bigger house in Brooklyn — then discovered an entire wall was crumbling. So much for staying on budget. [When Furniture Rains from Above]( Ask Real Estate [When Furniture Rains from Above]( By RONDA KAYSEN What can be done to make sure large items from a neighbor’s terrace don’t come crashing down onto yours? For more real estate news, go to [NYTimes.com/RealEstate »]( [] Travel [Starting an Intimidating World Tour in the Big Easy]( The 52 Places Traveler [Starting an Intimidating World Tour in the Big Easy]( By JADA YUAN Our new columnist — chosen (out of 13,000 applicants) to visit all of the spots on our 52 Places list — finds plenty to celebrate in New Orleans, including fierce pride and a spirit of forgiveness. [At New Zealand Trail Huts, Shelter, Conversation and Community]( Explorer [At New Zealand Trail Huts, Shelter, Conversation and Community]( By JEREMY CRONON Sometimes there’s solitude. Other times, lively discussions with new friends. And at every stop in the hut system there’s the Intentions Book. It’s must-reading. [At a Yoga Retreat in India: Beach Walks, Body Treatments and Healing]( Personal Journeys [At a Yoga Retreat in India: Beach Walks, Body Treatments and Healing]( By CAREN OSTEN GERSZBERG Guests have many reasons for spending a week of yoga and meditation in Gokarna, but reflection and rejuvenation are priorities. For more travel news, go to [NYTimes.com/Travel »]( [] Fashion & Style [Jake Shears, of Scissor Sisters, Stages His Own Comeback]( [Jake Shears, of Scissor Sisters, Stages His Own Comeback]( By MICHAEL SCHULMAN After years of self-imposed exile, the glam rocker returns to the limelight on Broadway, and with a new memoir chronicling a saucy slice of Downtown New York. [Still Talking After All These Years]( [Still Talking After All These Years]( By PENELOPE GREEN At the annual meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association, the seminars covered the quantum hologram (huh?) and President Trump. [Susie Cave on Designing Delicate Dresses With Bite]( [Susie Cave on Designing Delicate Dresses With Bite]( By ELIZABETH PATON Since its 2014 introduction, The Vampire’s Wife has become a cult brand. Its founder talks female beauty, brand building and why her work has saved her. For more fashion news, go to [NYTimes.com/Fashion »]( [] Magazine [A Literary Road Trip Into the Heart of Russia]( Feature [A Literary Road Trip Into the Heart of Russia]( By KARL OVE KNAUSGAARD In the land of Tolstoy, Turgenev and now Putin, what are the stories Russians are telling themselves? [Why ‘Black Panther’ Is a Defining Moment for Black America]( Feature [Why ‘Black Panther’ Is a Defining Moment for Black America]( By CARVELL WALLACE Ryan Coogler’s film is a vivid re-imagination of something black Americans have cherished for centuries — Africa as a dream of our wholeness, greatness and self-realization. [‘I’m Just More Afraid of Climate Change Than I Am of Prison’]( Feature [‘I’m Just More Afraid of Climate Change Than I Am of Prison’]( By MICHELLE NIJHUIS How a group of five activists called the Valve Turners decided to fight global warming by doing whatever it takes. For more magazine news, go to [NYTimes.com/Magazine »]( [] T Magazine [Judy Chicago, the Godmother]( [Judy Chicago, the Godmother]( By SASHA WEISS For decades, the feminist artist was pushed to the sidelines. Relevant once again, she can no longer be ignored. [Kengo Kuma’s Architecture of the Future]( [Kengo Kuma’s Architecture of the Future]( By NIKIL SAVAL Rejecting flashy forms in favor of buildings in harmony with their environment, the architect is trying to reinvent his entire trade. [A Blind Publisher, Poet — and Link to the Lower East Side’s Cultural History]( Rediscoveries [A Blind Publisher, Poet — and Link to the Lower East Side’s Cultural History]( By M.H. MILLER Steve Cannon is a bridge to 50 years’ worth of thinkers in New York, and a point of contact to David Hammons, one of the most elusive artists of our age. For more on T Magazine, go to [NYTimes.com/TMagazine »]( [] Obituaries [Lerone Bennett Jr., Historian of Black America, Dies at 89]( [Lerone Bennett Jr., Historian of Black America, Dies at 89]( By NEIL GENZLINGER Mr. Bennett, the author of “Before the Mayflower” and other books, was also a top editor at Ebony magazine for decades. [Jim Bridwell, Mountaineering Maverick, Is Dead at 73]( [Jim Bridwell, Mountaineering Maverick, Is Dead at 73]( By NEIL GENZLINGER With a go-for-broke style, Mr. Bridwell conquered countless peaks, many in Yosemite, where he led the 1970s climbers known as the Stonemasters. [Patricia Frustaci, 63, Dies; Septuplets Put Her in Spotlight]( [Patricia Frustaci, 63, Dies; Septuplets Put Her in Spotlight]( By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK Her multiple births set a record in 1985, and they led to a medical ordeal, early deaths, a lawsuit and a flood of media attention. For more Obituaries, go to [NYTimes.com/Obituaries »]( [] Editorial [Donald Trump and the Undoing of Justice Reform]( Editorial [Donald Trump and the Undoing of Justice Reform]( By THE EDITORIAL BOARD The president and his attorney general have a backward worldview that is translating into regressive policies. For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( [] Op-Ed [Russia Wanted Trump to Win. And It Wanted to Get Caught.]( Op-Ed Contributor [Russia Wanted Trump to Win. And It Wanted to Get Caught.]( By JULIAN SANCHEZ Its election interference didn’t aim at just the outcome — it also targeted attitudes toward our democracy. [Letting American Kids Die]( Op-Ed Columnist [Letting American Kids Die]( By DAVID LEONHARDT Guns, infant mortality and car crashes show that we’re behind other wealthy nations. [Why Wasn’t My Son the Last School Shooting Victim?]( Opinion [Why Wasn’t My Son the Last School Shooting Victim?]( By GREGORY GIBSON It’s been 25 years since our family’s loss. The country has become numb to these tragedies. [Appeasing the Trigger Gods]( Op-Ed Columnist [Appeasing the Trigger Gods]( By MAUREEN DOWD Despite tears and shattered hearts, President Trump and Congress will do nothing. [Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women]( Sporting [Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women]( By HONOR JONES Whatever happened to sweatpants? For more opinion, go to [NYTimes.com/Opinion »]( Follow NYTimes [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@NYTimes]( [Pinterest] [Pinterest]( [Instagram] [Instagram]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL This is an automated email. Please do not reply directly to this email from NYTimes.com. 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