Here’s a glimpse at the major front page stories of The New York Times over the past week:

1. Iowa caucuses

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Hillary Clinton claimed the win for their respective parties when the Iowa caucuses finished on Monday night, according to The New York Times. In the Republican camp, Donald Trump came in second at 24 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) came in third at 23 percent. This came after a controversial week where Trump boycotted Thursday’s Fox News debate due to a disagreement with reporter and moderator Megyn Kelly.

Clinton narrowly defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont); she will take 23 delegates and he will take 21. The race was the closest in the history of the Iowa Democratic caucuses. Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Martin O’Malley both suspended their runs for president after dismal showings in the caucuses.

More: Ted Cruz has strong showing, Hillary Clinton ekes out win

 

2. Zika declared emergency

The World Health Organization has officially declared the Zika virus an international public health emergency. On Monday, two new countries — Jamaica and Costa Rica — announced cases of the virus. The main worry surrounding the spread of the disease is its potential link to microcephaly, which causes children to be born with smaller heads and brain damage.

The virus has not yet been directly connected to the birth defects, which has added additional fear to the spread of both. Scientists in Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador have begun to study this link, according to The New York Times.

More: Zika virus spreads rapidly

 

3. Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria

Fighters with Boko Haram went on a rampage this weekend in the village of Dalori in northern Nigeria. The Nigerian government announced Monday that the death toll was at 65, according to The New York Times. Residents of Dalori have said the death toll is closer to 100.

The raid was particularly brutal and marked an escalation from recent behavior by the group. Before the attack, Nigerian officials announced a new round of bombings in the area the group is believed to be living. Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

More: Boko Haram attack

 

4. Facebook bans private gun sales

Facebook has made moves to curb gun sales on its site and on Instagram, which often occur without background checks. The rule would not apply to licensed gun dealers or gun clubs. The company said it would rely on user reporting to enforce the rule.

Although Facebook does not directly facilitate gun sales, many people have used the site to advertise for private exchanges. Facebook already bans the advertisement of marijuana, pharmaceuticals and illegal drugs for sale, according to The New York Times.

More: Facebook’s latest ban

 

5. Barbie introduces new doll types

Mattel has announced three new sizes of Barbie dolls: curvy, petite and tall. The new dolls will come in a variety of skin tones and hairstyles, according to The New York Times. Mattel’s sales have been tumbling in recent years, with Lego surpassing it as the most popular toy brand.

Although industry experts say the changes won’t help sales, many advocates have said the changes are a step in the right direction for children’s play.

More: Changes made at Barbie

 

6. Oregon protestors arrested

Eight of the Oregon protestors who have been occupying a federal refuge were arrested and one was killed this past week. Members of the anti-government movement have identified the man who was shot as LaVoy Finicum, a de facto spokesman for the group, according to The New York Times.

About a month ago, the protestors took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the management of federal lands. Their fight has been mired in controversy about who is the rightful owner of the lands.

More: Arrests made in Oregon standoff

 

7. “Lord Jeff” dropped

Amherst College, a prestigious liberal arts college in Massachusetts, will drop its unofficial mascot from official correspondence and from the name of the college’s campus hotel. The mascot, a representation of colonial military leader Lord Jeffery Amherst, had become controversial in light of increased racial tensions on campuses across the country.

Lord Jeffery is known for approving the inoculation of smallpox in Native Americans. College officials have said they will not force students to refrain from using the mascot.

More: Racially charged mascot dropped

 

8. Migrant boat capsizes

Another migrant boat from Syria capsized in the Aegean Sea on Saturday, killing 37 people. Of those killed, 10 were children, according to The New York Times. This tragedy came as rival parties in the Syrian conflict gathered with the United Nations in Geneva to discuss their issues.

The day before the incident, the International Organization for Migration reported that 218 people in January alone had died in the Aegean Sea while attempting to reach Greece.

More: Migrant death toll rises

 

9. European budgets open to safety measures

European nations have opened their budgets to increased spending on national safety measures, according to The New York Times. This increased spending is a direct reaction to the spree of terrorist attacks that have set Europeans on edge.

France, which has declared themselves “at war” with terrorism, is spending almost 1 million euros per day on safety protocols. The president of the European Commission granted special permission to the country to expand security programs after the Paris attacks in November. It is speculated that this investment may spur economic growth, as well.

More: Europe loosens budgets for safety

Published on February 2, 2016 at 9:44 pm

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu