Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
Mexico is on edge after the killing of a cartel bossMany people in Mexico awoke today with unease. Violence erupted across the country over the weekend after the leader of the nation’s most powerful criminal organization was killed yesterday in a Mexican military raid. Followers of the cartel boss attacked government security forces, blocked roads and set fire to stores. Videos show how the violence spread. Order appeared to be largely restored by this afternoon. But schools, gas stations and supermarkets remained closed today in Guadalajara, a city near the epicenter of the chaos. “Normally clogged thoroughfares had nearly empty stretches of asphalt,” our reporter there, Paulina Villegas Vargas, said. “Along the main highway near the airport, a charred bus lay on its side, its metal frame still smelling of smoke.” Airlines and bus companies canceled routes, trapping tourists in beach destinations like Puerto Vallarta. They were told to shelter in place. Twenty-five members of the national guard were killed in the operation targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes — who went by “El Mencho” and was widely regarded as one of the country’s most violent criminal figures. Officials said they had located Oseguera, who led the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, by tracking one of his romantic partners. They were also aided by C.I.A. intelligence. Here’s what we know about the operation. Oseguera’s death was a major victory for President Claudia Sheinbaum, who, unlike her predecessor, has mounted an aggressive offensive against the cartels. It could also help reduce pressure from President Trump, who has been threatening strikes in Mexico and demanding a crackdown on the cartels. For more: Most experts expect Oseguera’s cartel to live on.
A blizzard slams the NortheastA powerful winter storm dumped more than two feet of snow from New Jersey and New York to Rhode Island, which recorded a record of nearly 33 inches. Thousands of flights were canceled and officials insisted that residents stay home. Look at these maps and charts to see the snowfall in your area. The wet, heavy snow and strong winds snapped tree limbs and created blizzard conditions. Well over half a million homes and businesses lost power. For more: My colleagues have tips for shoveling snow safely and protecting yourself against the cold. Also, our in-house meteorologist explained how to understand the storm from satellite images.
A former ICE lawyer calls training for new agents ‘broken’A former ICE official who resigned this month from his job instructing recruits wants to speak out as a whistle-blower. Ryan Schwank, a lawyer, described the agency’s training program as “deficient, defective and broken.” His comments coincided with Senate Democrats’ release of documents suggesting that ICE training standards have been notably reduced. In other Trump administration news:
Trump is working to piece his tariffs back togetherThe Trump administration has begun using a cumbersome patchwork of trade laws to recreate the sweeping tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down as illegal last week. The approach is already creating friction inside the administration and confusion around the world. E.U. officials said today that they were putting their trade deal with the U.S. on pause; some nations, including Britain and Japan, suddenly face higher fees; and many countries are left wondering whether they made a mistake by striking trade deals with the U.S. For more: These charts show where U.S. tariffs are currently in place. More top news
The Winter Games are over. Despite yesterday’s inspiring effort from the U.S. men’s hockey team, Norway came out on top — by a lot. The country, which has fewer people than Colorado, won a record 18 gold medals, the most total medals, the most medals by men, and the most medals per capita. The Americans, however, bested everyone in women’s events. See all the medal breakdowns here, and check out our photographers’ best images from the Olympics. For more: The Games were also a showcase for a hearty Italian winter dish called pizzoccheri.
‘Survivor’ is a reflection of AmericaWhen “Survivor” premiered in 2000, the suspenseful reality drama held up a mirror to society — strength and wit mattered, but not as much as social aptitude and political maneuvering. The show, which begins its 50th season this week, is still a reflection of the country, our critic James Poniewozik writes. But like society, the show has evolved. “Baseball may have had the 20th century,” James wrote. “But in the 21st, whether you watched it or not, ‘Survivor’ was America’s pastime.”
Bad Bunny sparks a salsa surgeFor decades, salsa dancing classes in the U.S. have struggled to attract young people. Then, last year, the Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny released the salsa track “Baile Inolvidable.” “Boom, my classes doubled in size,” one teacher said. “When that song came on, everybody was on the dance floor,” said Talia Castro-Pozo, who organizes salsa parties. Listen: To hear where salsa came from, check out these songs and albums by Willie Colón, the trombonist and bandleader who died Saturday at 75.
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