Israel announced a daily pause in some fighting
The Israeli army said yesterday that it would Suspension of military activities during the day near the border crossing in southern Gaza “until further notice.” The move is an effort to allow more humanitarian aid into the region, as aid groups issue increasingly urgent warnings about shortages of food and other basic goods.
The announcement, made on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, comes amid a series of talks, brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt, to reach a ceasefire. shoot. One sticking point in those negotiations is disagreement over the permanence of any cessation of hostilities.
The Israeli army stressed yesterday that the pause will be limited, its offensive in Rafah will continue and there will be “no cessation of fighting” in southern Gaza in general.
The government claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only learned about the suspension from news reports and expressed disagreement. But analysts said it was likely Netanyahu was aware of the plan and its implementation message, with each plan tailored to different audiences.
A new Trump resistance appears
A vast network of Democratic officials, progressive activists, watchdog groups and former Republicans are taking extraordinary steps to prepare for a full second presidential term. Trump’s potential. They see his agenda as a threat to democracy, and lays the groundwork to push back if he wins the election in November.
The timing and early scale of the planning are unprecedented. Some are drafting possible lawsuits in case he carries out mass deportations as he has claimed. The ACLU has hired a new auditor to fight any efforts to turn the Internal Revenue Service against it. At least five Democratic-run states even stockpile abortion pills.
If Trump wins: He is openly planning major changes to the government, many with authoritarian overtones, such as using the Justice Department to exact revenge on his enemies and sending in federal troops into cities run by Democrats. Here’s our overview of his agenda.
Iran-Sweden prisoner exchange
Iran and Sweden swapped prisoners on Saturday, bringing relief to families but also raising concerns that the exchange benefited Iran because of its hostage diplomacy. The country has it Foreign nationals are systematically detained about fabricated accusations aimed at gaining concessions from Western countries.
Iran has released an EU diplomat and a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen. Sweden releases first Iranian official convicted of crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court after being found guilty of torture, war crimes and the mass execution of 5,000 dissidents in 1988. His sentence at the time was Human rights advocates hailed it as a landmark case of cross-border justice.
Reaction: The victim’s family members and others remain in Iranian custody was offended. Some people still in detention, including Ahmadreza Djalali, a scientist on death row for spying and assisting Israel, are Swedish citizens. He has denied the charges against him.
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Climate and temperature
After two sisters in Venezuela served breakfast to an opposition leader, the government closed their restaurant. They shared a video of their meeting online and have been since then emerged as unlikely political folk heroes as the country enters its most competitive election in years, rebranding its product as “freedom empanadas.”
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SPORTS NEWS
Broadway’s pop era
The Tony Awards – Broadway’s biggest televised night – will begin in a few hours. More than half of the new musicals opening this season feature music written by artists with major credentials in the music business, such as Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow and Britney Spears.
My colleague Michael Paulson writes that it’s part of a broader pattern: Broadway’s soundscape is changing, with many musicals written by artists with their roots in pop music. Some leading artists are excited by cross-pollination; Some theater fans worry that pop songs don’t enhance storytelling the way musical theater tunes do.
In some ways, this is nothing new: In the early 20th century, theater stars found success on stage and on the radio. There have also been jukebox musicals for a long time. But it’s also a financial consideration. The movie theater industry has seen audiences decline and costs increase since the pandemic-induced shutdown, while familiarity has also forced ticket sales.
For more: We spoke to 43 nominees. Want a vote? We’ve got you covered. And this is who our chief critic thinks will and should win.
