Elections

A top aide to the Russian opposition leader who died this month said he could have been among several inmates swapped. The claim could not be independently confirmed.Aides to Aleksei A. Navalny asserted on Monday that the Russian opposition leader had been on the verge of being freed in a prisoner exchange with the West before he died earlier this month.Western officials were in advanced talks with the Kremlin on a deal that would have released Mr. Navalny along with two Americans in Russian prison, a top aide to the dead opposition leader, Maria Pevchikh, said in a video released on the Navalny team’s YouTube channel.As part of that deal, Ms. Pevchikh said, Germany would have released Vadim Krasikov, the man convicted of killing a former Chechen separatist fighter in a Berlin park in 2019. Mr. Putin praised Mr. Krasikov in his interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson this month, describing the convicted assassin as having been motivated by “patriotic sentiments.”Ms. Pevchikh’s assertions about a pending deal could not be independently confirmed. There was no immediate comment from any of the parties reportedly involved in the trade described by Ms. Pevchikh. A Kremlin spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.“Navalny was supposed to be free in the coming days,” Ms. Pevchikh, the chairwoman of Mr. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said in the video. “I received confirmation that negotiations were at the final stage on the evening of Feb. 15.”American officials had acknowledged that German officials were asking for Mr. Navalny to be released in any deal that would have freed Mr. Krasikov, though they did not indicate a deal was close. A German government spokeswoman declined to comment when asked about the Navalny team’s assertions at a news conference on Monday.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh of the Palestinian Authority, the body that administers part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, tendered the resignation of his cabinet on Monday, according to the authority’s official news agency.The decision follows diplomatic efforts, involving the United States and Arab states including Saudi Arabia, to persuade the authority to overhaul itself in a way that would enable it to take over the administration of Gaza after the war there ends.But it was unclear whether the appointment of a new prime minister and cabinet would be enough to revamp the authority or persuade Israel to let it govern Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas, the most senior leader of the authority, will remain in position along with his security chiefs, regardless of whether he accepts Mr. Shtayyeh’s resignation.Israeli leaders had strongly hinted that they would not allow the authority’s existing leadership to run Gaza. American and Arab leaders had hoped that new leadership might make Israel more likely to cede administrative control of Gaza to the authority.With no functional parliament within the areas controlled by the authority, Mr. Abbas has long ruled by decree, and he exerts wide influence over the judiciary and prosecution system.According to diplomats briefed on his thinking, Mr. Abbas’s preferred candidate for prime minister is Mohammad Mustafa, a longtime economic adviser who is considered a member of his inner circle. More

No matter what game you’re playing, here are tips for a successful evening.There’s something exhilarating about a great game night.Sure, you can snack on a fistful of pretzels anywhere, but the memories made during an engaging round of Monopoly can last a lifetime. It’s also in our nature: Humans are social creatures, and games have been around nearly as long as we have.“Games go back thousands and thousands of years,” said Geoff Engelstein, an award-winning table-top game designer. “The earliest tombs that they’ve found have dice in them. They very rarely find any kind of archaeological excavation without some kind of game playing. It’s really just part of the human experience.”And with a bit of strategic planning, you can partake in this age-old ritual like a pro. Whether it’s picking the right games or buying the right snacks, here’s what board game experts and enthusiasts recommend for the perfect game night.Set the sceneYour first challenge is settling on a host. Sure, anyone with a couch or a kitchen table can have friends over, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to gather in a place where people can comfortably sit and play for several hours.That’s why Erik Arneson, author of “How to Host a Game Night,” usually volunteers to host with his wife at their oval dining table in Mechanicsburg, Pa.“The most important single factor is who has the best table with good lighting and comfortable chairs,” Mr. Arneson said. “It really does matter. Whether it’s just natural aging, or people with vision impairments, or whatever, a lot of times, the text on cards in a game is just too small.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

Mr. Mitchell, a Canadian actor who appeared on “Star Trek: Discovery,” had A.L.S.Kenneth Mitchell, a Canadian actor known for his roles on the series “Star Trek: Discovery” and the film “Captain Marvel,” died on Saturday. He was 49.He had lived with the neurological disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or A.L.S., which causes paralysis and death, for more than five years, according to a statement from Mr. Mitchell’s family posted to his social media.Mr. Mitchell played the Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio, on “Star Trek: Discovery,” and voiced several other characters in an episode of “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”In “Captain Marvel,” he played the father of the superhero, Carol Danvers. He was also known for portraying Eric Green on the series “Jericho,” Joshua Dodd in the series “Nancy Drew,” a hockey player in the film “Miracle,” and appeared in several other film and television series.Mr. Mitchell lived with his wife, the actress Susan May Pratt, and their children in Los Angeles. He was born on Nov. 25, 1974, in Toronto to Diane and David Mitchell.In 2018, Mr. Mitchell was diagnosed with A.L.S., according to a statement posted to his social media in August. He revealed his diagnosis in an interview with People Magazine in 2020, saying that from the moment he found out, it was “like I was watching that scene where someone is being told that they have a terminal illness.” He added, “It was just a complete disbelief, a shock.”Mr. Mitchell said he focused on spending more time with his family and rejected a lead role in a television series that required moving back to Canada. The makers of the series “Nancy Drew” also accommodated for his illness, he told People, using a stunt double when needed. Other roles were created for him that allowed him to be seated, he added.“This disease is absolutely horrific,” Mr. Mitchell said in the post last year, which accompanied a photo of him watching the sunset from a wheelchair on the beach. “Yet despite all the suffering, there is so much to be grateful for,” he added.Mr. Mitchell is survived by his wife, their children Lilah and Kallum, his parentsand other family members, according to the family statement. More

Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry were on their yacht in the Caribbean. The authorities are looking into whether their disappearance is connected to a prisoner escape.An American couple who had departed from Virginia and were spending the winter cruising in the Caribbean went missing this month while sailing off Grenada, and their boat turned up empty in neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines.Their disappearance came around the same time three men escaped from a prison in Grenada and made their getaway by boat to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the authorities in those islands said.In a statement, the Royal Grenada Police Force did not identify the two Americans but said that it was looking into possible harm to them in connection to the prisoners’ escape.According to the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, a nonprofit that brings together sailing and cruising enthusiasts, a skipper notified it on Feb. 21 that a member’s yacht called Simplicity was found anchored and abandoned off a beach on the southern coast of St. Vincent.The skipper boarded the catamaran and noted that its owners were not onboard, the association’s statement said. The skipper contacted the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard, which then notified the local police.The missing boat owners were identified as Ralph Hendry, 66, and Kathy Brandel, 71, by the association and Ms. Brandel’s son, Nick Buro, who said the couple, originally from Virginia, were married for 27 years.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

The group’s chief executive wrote in an email to staff on Sunday that it would now focus on House and Senate races.The political network created by the billionaire industrialist Koch brothers announced on Sunday that it was suspending its support for Nikki Haley in the presidential primary after her latest defeat in South Carolina.The group, Americans for Prosperity Action, had spent tens of millions of dollars trying to elevate Ms. Haley and prevent the renomination of Donald J. Trump, but it had already slowed its spending in the G.O.P. race dramatically after Ms. Haley fell short in the New Hampshire primary last month. The organization made its decision official on Sunday.“Given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory,” Emily Seidel, the chief executive of Americans for Prosperity Action, wrote in an email to the staff. The email was first reported by Politico.Ms. Seidel wrote that the group would now focus on House and Senate races, adding that the conservative organization remained concerned about the political aftershocks of Mr. Trump winning the G.O.P. nomination.“If Donald Trump is at the top of the Republican ticket, the risk of one-party rule by a Democratic Party captured by the progressive left is severe,” she wrote.Ms. Seidel described how the last three elections had shown “what we can expect from voters who consistently rejected Donald Trump and his impact on the Republican party brand.”Ms. Haley’s campaign had announced that it had raised $1 million in the less than 24 hours since polls closed in South Carolina on Saturday and she lost her home state. She has vowed to stay in the race through Super Tuesday, on March 5.In a statement, the Haley campaign praised Americans for Prosperity Action as an ally.“We thank them for their tremendous help in this race,” the statement read. “Our fight continues, and with more than $1 million coming in from grass-roots conservatives in just the last 24 hours, we have plenty of fuel to keep going. We have a country to save.”The endorsement from the group, which was announced in November, was crucial for Ms. Haley. It came as she was trying to gain traction against Mr. Trump, particularly given how small her team was at the time. It gave her access to a direct-mail operation, field workers to knock on doors and people to make phone calls to prospective voters in Iowa and other states.Still, despite those efforts, Ms. Haley came in a distant third to Mr. Trump in Iowa. One person close to the network said that it had focused on grass-roots voter outreach in the final stretch leading up to South Carolina, as opposed to advertising.After word of the group’s pullback became public, Mr. Trump posted on his social media website that Charles Koch “and his group got played for suckers right from the beginning!” More

A mix of casual and chic attire made the 39th annual awards show worth watching. “The Independent Spirit Awards, where the dress code is, get dressed,” said John Mulaney during his bit at the 2018 show, which he co-hosted along with comedian Nick Kroll. This year, “Saturday Night Live” alum Aidy Bryant is hosting the Indie Spirit’s 39th annual show, which is being live-streamed, with a presenter list that included Joel Kim Booster, Greta Lee, Jude Law, Colman Domingo and Emma Corrin. There are substantial differences between these awards and the rest of the seasonal intake of trophies this time of year — including, for the second year, all acting categories are gender-neutral — but last year “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won best picture awards at both the Oscars and the Indie Spirits. Held in broad daylight in a tent on a beach in Santa Monica, the show has always been presented as the looser, hipper distant cousin of the Oscars — the outfits could also be somewhat described the same way. Due to the time of day it’s held (2 p.m. PST), this is one place during awards season when the industry can kick off its heels, leave the evening gowns at home and show off its casual wares, which has the potential for interesting style choices. Here are some of the best ones.Lily Gladstone, a nominee for the John Cassavetes Award and an honorary chair of the event.Aude Guerrucci/ReutersBillie Eilish in Valentino.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressGreta Lee, who was nominated for Best Lead Performance in “Past Lives.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressJeffrey Wright, who won for Best Lead Performance in the film “American Fiction” and Colman Domingo.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesAli Wong, who won for Best Lead Performer in the TV series “Beef.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesAude Guerrucci/ReutersMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesDa’Vine Joy Randolph, who won the award for Best Supporting Performance for the film “The Holdovers.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressCharles Melton, nominated for supporting performer in the film “May December.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersAidy Bryant, the host of the show.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesNatalie Portman, one of the stars of the film “May December.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersAnne HathawayJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressSteven Yeun, nominated for “Beef,” with his wife, Joana Pak.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesMichelle Williams, who starred in the film “Showing Up,” which was honored with the Robert Altman award.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesSterling K. Brown, nominated for supporting performer in the film “American Fiction.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJessica Chastain, who starred in the film “Memory”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersValerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesA.V. Rockwell and Lena Waithe, the writer/director and producer, respectively, of “A Thousand and One,” which won Best First Feature.Aliah Anderson/Getty ImagesDominic Sessa, who won the Best Breakthrough Performance award for his work on “The Holdovers,” wearing Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesCeline Song, who won Best Director for the film “Past Lives.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressQuinta Brunson, the creator of the series “Abbott Elementary.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesIra Sachs and Franz Rogowski, the director and star, respectively, of the film “Passages.” Both were nominated for Spirit Awards.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJudy Reyes, nominated for her work in “Birth/Rebirth.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressStephanie Hsu, last year’s winner of the Best Breakthrough Performance award.Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAndrew Scott, nominated for his performance in “All of Us Strangers.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesBenny Safdie, who was nominated for his supporting role in the TV series “The Curse.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesEmma Corrin, nominated for their work in the television series “A Murder at the End of the World.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesJordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesMonica Schipper/Getty ImagesLee Sung Jin, the writer and director of the series “Beef,” which won Best New Scripted Series.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressTia Nomore, nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance in “Earth Mama.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesNoah Galvin, nominated for his supporting performance in “Theater Camp.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesZoe Lister-Jones, nominated in the Best Lead Performance category for the television series “Slip.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJoel Kim Booster, a presenter.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesBel Powley, nominated for her work in the series “A Small Light.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesFrazer Harrison/Getty ImagesTeo Yoo, who was nominated for his performance in the film “Past Lives.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesAnna Kendrick, a presenter.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesElizabeth Banks, who was a presenter and produced the film “Bottoms.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesLuke Tennie, nominated for his supporting work on the series “Shrinking.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJessica Williams, nominated for her role in the show “Shrinking.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesMarin Ireland, nominated for her supporting acting work on the film “Eileen.”Frazer Harrison/Getty ImagesDominique Fishback, nominated for her role in the series “Swarm.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressWill Ferrell, the producer of the film “May December.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressAdina Porter, nominated in the best supporting category for her work in “The Changeling.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressEmma Roberts, a presenter.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressJharrel Jerome, nominated for his work in the series “I’m a Virgo.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressKara Young, nominated for Best Breakthrough Performance in the series “I’m a Virgo.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesHannah Einbinder, a presenter and star of the show “Hacks.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesLewis Pullman, who co-starred in the film “Top Gun: Maverick.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressErika Alexander, nominated for her role in “American Fiction.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesJack Farthing, nominated for his supporting role in “Rain Dogs,” and actress Hanako Footman.Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesRamón Rodríguez, who was nominated for his role in the TV series “Will Trent.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesOlivia Washington, nominated for her supporting role in “I’m a Virgo.”Monica Schipper/Getty ImagesKeivonn Woodard, who won for Breakthrough Performance in the series “The Last of Us.”Aude Guerrucci/ReutersNoomi Rapace, who stars in the show “Constellation.”Valerie Macon/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesGlenn Howerton, who was nominated for his work in the show “BlackBerry.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated PressTrace Lysette, nominated for her work in the film “Monica.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press More

With Republicans insisting on adding right-wing policy measures to spending bills, lawmakers are running out of time to strike a deal to avert a partial government shutdown before a deadline of Friday at midnight.Congressional leaders have failed to reach a deal on legislation to keep federal funding going past Friday, with Republicans insisting on adding right-wing policy dictates to the spending bills, pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown within days.Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said on Sunday that despite “intense discussions” that were continuing among top lawmakers to break the impasse, Republican recalcitrance was raising the prospect of a “disruptive shutdown” at midnight on Friday.“While we had hoped to have legislation ready this weekend that would give ample time for members to review the text, it is clear now that House Republicans need more time to sort themselves out,” Mr. Schumer said in a letter to Democratic senators. “With the uncertainty of how the House will pass the appropriations bills and avoid a shutdown this week, I ask all senators to keep their schedules flexible, so we can work to ensure a pointless and harmful lapse in funding doesn’t occur.”With no sign of a breakthrough, President Biden summoned congressional leaders to the White House on Tuesday to discuss the spending legislation, as well as the $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine and Israel that the Senate passed earlier this month, which Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to take up.But the more immediate task was to keep government spending from lapsing this week.Three consecutive times over the last six months, Congress has relied on short-term, stopgap spending bills passed by a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to keep government spending flowing, essentially punting on a longer-term agreement for several weeks at a time. Each time, the Republican speaker — first Kevin McCarthy, then Mr. Johnson — has promised hard-right lawmakers that they would try to win more spending cuts and conservative policy conditions on how federal money could be spent during the next round of negotiations.Now, with patience wearing thin among ultraconservatives, pressure is mounting on Mr. Johnson, whose members want him to secure major cuts and policy changes that have no chance of enactment with Democrats in control of the Senate and White House. Lawmakers in the House, which has been out of session for the past week, are set to return to Washington on Wednesday, just two days before a deadline on Friday to fund military construction, agriculture, transportation and housing programs.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More