Israel announces daily suspension of some fighting
The Israeli military said yesterday that it would suspend daytime military operations near the southern Gaza border crossing “until further notice.” The move is an effort to get more humanitarian aid into the enclave as aid groups issue increasingly urgent warnings about a lack of food and other basic goods.
The announcement, made on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, comes amid a series of talks between the United States, Qatar and Egypt to reach a ceasefire. A sticking point in these negotiations has been disagreement over whether to permanently cease hostilities.
The Israeli military stressed yesterday that the pause would be limited, that its offensive in Rafah would continue and that “the fighting will not stop” across southern Gaza.
The government said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only learned of the suspension from news reports and expressed his displeasure. But analysts said Netanyahu was likely aware of the plan and the messages it rolled out, with each plan tailored to different audiences.
New Trump resistance emerges
A vast network of Democratic officials, progressive activists, watchdog groups and former Republicans have been taking extraordinary steps to prepare for a possible second Trump term as president. They view his agenda as a threat to democracy and are laying the groundwork to fight back if he wins the November election.
The early timing and scale of planning are unprecedented. Some are drafting potential lawsuits in case he carries out mass deportations as he has vowed to do. The American Civil Liberties Union hired a new auditor to fend off any IRS attempts to attack it. At least five Democratic-run states even stockpile abortion pills.
If Trump wins: He is publicly planning broad reforms to the government, many with authoritarian overtones, such as using the Justice Department to retaliate against his opponents and sending federal troops to Democratic-run cities. Here’s our overview of his agenda.
Iran and Sweden prisoner exchange
Iran and Sweden exchanged prisoners on Saturday, bringing relief to families but raising concerns that the exchange was payback for Iran’s hostage diplomacy. The country systematically arrests foreigners on trumped-up charges in an effort to force concessions from Western countries.
Iran released an EU diplomat and a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen. Sweden has released the first Iranian official convicted of crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court on charges of torture, war crimes and the mass execution of 5,000 dissidents in 1988. His conviction at the time was hailed by rights activists as a landmark case for cross-border justice.
reaction: Families of the victims and others still detained by Iran are outraged. Several of those still imprisoned are Swedish citizens, including scientist Ahmadreza Djalali, who was sentenced to death on covert charges of espionage and aiding Israel. He denies the charges against him.
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climate and heat
After two Venezuelan sisters served breakfast to an opposition leader, the government closed their restaurant. They shared a video of the encounter online, becoming unlikely political folk heroes and renaming their product “Freedom Mince” as the country heads into its most hotly contested election in years. Burrito”.
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broadway’s pop era
The Tony Awards—Broadway television’s biggest night—will begin in a few hours. More than half of the new musicals opening this season have scores composed by artists primarily working in the music industry, such as Alicia Keys, Barry Manilow and Britney Spears.
My colleague Michael Paulson writes that this is part of a broader pattern: The origins of Broadway’s sound are changing, with more and more musicals being created by artists who started out in pop music. Some top artists are excited about cross-pollination; some theater fans worry that pop songs don’t promote storytelling the way musical theater tunes do.
In some ways, this is nothing new: Theater stars found success on stage and radio in the early 20th century. Jukebox musicals have also been around for a long time. But it’s also a financial consideration. Since the pandemic shutdowns, the theater industry has seen fewer audiences and higher costs, and familiarity sells tickets.
learn more: We spoke to 43 nominees. Want a vote? We’ve got you covered. Here’s who our chief critic thinks will and should win.
