The Origins of the Times Square Ball Drop

By RAILLAN BROOKS and ALEXANDRIA SYMONDS from NYT Reader Center https://nyti.ms/2Qau3D7

N.Y.’s New Attorney General Is Targeting Trump. Will Judges See a ‘Political Vendetta?’

By JEFFERY C. MAYS from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2Vk4OSH

Castro Takes Manhattan: Vintage Pictures of the Cuban Conqueror as Tourist

By BILL KELLER from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2QfOIWy

A Little Bit of Excess in a Sensible Package

By GENEVIEVE KO from NYT Food https://nyti.ms/2VkMwRe

‘Help, My Boss Has Breasts!’

By CHOIRE SICHA from NYT Business https://nyti.ms/2QaV9dn

Superb Oddities: Robert Gottlieb Reviews a Biography of Edward Gorey

By ROBERT GOTTLIEB from NYT Books https://nyti.ms/2Vh4dRX

Taymour Soomro on the Sights, Sounds, and Social Dynamics of Karachi

Deborah Treisman talks to Taymour Soomro about “Philosophy of the Foot,” his short story from the January 7, 2019, issue of The New Yorker.

from Book Reviews and News, Literary Criticism, and Fiction http://bit.ly/2RrUzg0

“Philosophy of the Foot,” by Taymour Soomro

Fiction by Taymour Soomro: “Listen to the foot,” the boy says. “The foot says go forward, go back, stand still. If you listen you’ll know.”

from Book Reviews and News, Literary Criticism, and Fiction http://bit.ly/2GXL6sG

“Pretend It Was Just the Wind,” by Gary J. Whitehead

Poetry by Gary J. Whitehead: “Water crept into our furnished home.”

from Book Reviews and News, Literary Criticism, and Fiction http://bit.ly/2RqZ1f1

“Advent,” by Heather Christle

Poetry by Heather Christle: “It’s hopeless, the stars, the books / about stars.”

from Book Reviews and News, Literary Criticism, and Fiction http://bit.ly/2GWCPpg

2018: The Year in Visual Stories and Graphics

By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2Ap0DMN

Congratulations on the Promotion. But Did Science Get a Demotion?

By AARON E. CARROLL from NYT The Upshot https://nyti.ms/2Su6ebo

Russia detains American in Moscow over suspected spying

Russia's domestic security service (FSB) said on Monday it had detained an American citizen suspected of spying in Moscow.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2EYvIdR

Four terrorism suspects to appear in Dutch court

Four men suspected of belonging to a terrorist organization will appear in court on Monday, two days after being arrested in Rotterdam, a prosecution spokesman said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2F1NDzR

Bangladesh’s Leader Wins a Third Term but Opposition Contests Results

By JULFIKAR ALI MANIK and MARIA ABI-HABIB from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2s0XQod

Russia detains American in Moscow over suspected spying

Russia's domestic security service (FSB) said on Monday it had detained an American citizen suspected of spying in Moscow.

from Reuters: Top News https://reut.rs/2Vs1HbA

Russian apartment block blast kills three, dozens missing: agencies

Russian rescuers were on Monday searching for people still trapped under the rubble of a city apartment block that partly collapsed in a suspected gas blast, killing at least three, RIA said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GLhL4E

Iran says Afghan Taliban arrived in Tehran, held peace talks

Iran said Taliban representatives from Afghanistan negotiated with Iranian officials in Tehran on Sunday, as the Islamic Republic seeks to advance peace talks in the neighboring country to curb the influence of other Islamist groups.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2RmDlRf

Russian apartment block blast kills three, dozens missing: agencies

Russian rescuers were on Monday searching for people still trapped under the rubble of a city apartment block that partly collapsed in a suspected gas blast, killing at least three, RIA said.

from Reuters: Top News https://reut.rs/2GPAyvP

Bangladesh's PM Hasina wins third straight term; opposition cries foul

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won a third straight term, sealing a landslide with almost all the seats in parliament, officials said on Monday, while the opposition rejected the result as rigged and called for a fresh vote.

from Reuters: Top News https://reut.rs/2QZjsQF

Bangladesh's PM Hasina wins third straight term; opposition cries foul

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has won a third straight term, sealing a landslide with almost all the seats in parliament, officials said on Monday, while the opposition rejected the result as rigged and called for a fresh vote.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2Ss0PBO

Congo opposition, ruling coalition both say they've won chaotic election

Democratic Republic of Congo's opposition said on Monday it expected one of its candidates to win the presidential election based on early vote tallies, but the ruling coalition said it was confident its candidate had won the chaotic contest.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2AmnsAE

Russian apartment block blast kills three; rescuers search for survivors

Russian rescuers were on Monday searching for people trapped under the rubble of a city apartment block that partly collapsed in a suspected gas blast, killing at least three, RIA said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2SrWo9X

An American Photographer’s Pilgrimage to the Italian Village of Luzzara

By JOSEPH SCIORRA from NYT Lens https://nyti.ms/2LG1ywy