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Monday, February 16, 2026 10:46 AM ET

Christian Science Monitor - US News

In Cuba, is Trump seeking ouster of Communist leaders, or of China's presence? -- Deteriorating conditions in a Cuba cut off from Venezuelan oil are feeding a debate in Washington: Regime change or a deal? Experts say the latter is more likely, while a bigger strategic goal might be to curb China's presence on the island.

2 hours ago

US military boards another oil tanker in Indian Ocean, tracked from Caribbean -- U.S. military boarded a sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela.

14 hours ago

Rubio's speech to European allies takes softer tone but keeps firm stance -- Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a less aggressive tone with allies about the Trump administration's intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance.

1 day ago

ICE official says officers appear to have lied regarding shooting of immigrant -- The statement marks the latest in a string of federal immigration shootings where evidence has contradicted initial accounts.

2 days ago

Ski for free? Community-run hills help to offset costs and barriers to the sport. -- The nonprofit venues offer low- or no-cost opportunities for families to learn and ski together. Some noted Olympians, such as Mikaela Shiffrin, got their start on small slopes.

1 day ago

America at 250: What would Ben Franklin say? Reenactors aim to spark reflection. -- Reenactors portraying George Washington and Ben Franklin say America's 250th is a chance to tell the true, complex story of America's founding.

2 days ago

Russia is finding post-START arms control a harder, multipolar project -- The last arms control treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, but no one really wants an end to arms control. They want it to change.

2 days ago

Democrats press for immigration enforcement reform as DHS shutdown begins -- Democrats demand immigration enforcement reforms before they will agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Funding ended as of Saturday morning, with no deal imminent.

2 days ago

Is Trump's Teflon fading? Amid slumping polls, the president faces new pushback. -- Recent votes on tariffs and blunt public criticisms signal a GOP that's more willing to defy President Donald Trump – and worried about this fall's midterm elections.

3 days ago

With trust in US wavering, NATO allies meet in Brussels and Munich to forge new ties -- At meetings this week, NATO officials and European allies grapple with the Trump-driven reality that they must now take charge of their own defense.

3 days ago

A guide to the Epstein files: Will any new charges result? -- The release of documents surrounding sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has stirred massive media attention, but much of the evidence is inconclusive. The challenge is sifting facts from a frenzy of speculation.

4 days ago

These dog lovers get a Golden break from a ruff news cycle -- Thousands of dogs and people convened in Golden, Colorado, recently, to bask in the joy of what's billed as the "world's largest unofficial gathering" of golden retrievers.

6 days ago

What is the SAVE America Act, and how could it change US voting? -- Republicans in Congress have a new strategy to advance the SAVE America Act, which would significantly change how Americans vote in federal elections.

6 days ago

Prediction markets are booming. Why are their ads banned from the Super Bowl? -- As prediction markets boom, target events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics show why this form of online betting is both popular and polarizing.

9 days ago