The New York Times The WORLD - May 23, 2026 - Five stories...

 

	7:32 AM (3 hours ago)
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nytimes.com May 23, 2026 Here are some standout stories from this week, curated by The World editors and personalized for you. Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times Early War Goal Was to Install Hard-Line Former President as Iran’s Leader An Israeli strike designed to free Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from house arrest in Tehran, U.S. officials said, was part of an effort to bring about regime change and put him in power. By Mark Mazzetti, Julian E. Barnes, Farnaz Fassihi and Ronen Bergman The New York Times The Secretive Conglomerate That Controls Cuba’s Economy A shadowy state enterprise run by the military is a focal point of Washington's pressure campaign against Cuba. By Maria Abi-Habib and Lazaro Gamio Bakr Alkasem/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A Search for Ways Around Blocked Strait Leads to Syria The latest war in the Middle East has created new economic opportunities for Syria thanks to its geography. By Raja Abdulrahim Vantor, via Reuters As Ukraine Hits Oil Refineries, Russians Pay a Heavy Environmental Toll After invading more than four years ago, Moscow has usually been the one causing ecological disaster. But Kyiv’s strikes, intended to cut into the Kremlin’s oil revenue, have flipped the script. By Nataliya Vasilyeva and Alina Lobzina Samuel Aranda for The New York Times ‘Beautiful Revenge’ for a French Chef Who Lost a Michelin Star Guy Savoy, who worked his way up from modest beginnings (and a recent setback), has become the first chef inducted into the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts. By Elaine Sciolino Host: Katrin Bennhold Editor: Alicia Wittmeyer News Editors: Desiree Ibekwe, Carole Landry Associate Staff Editor: Parin Behrooz Photo Editor: Eli Cohen Deputy International Editor: Adam Pasick