Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Son to be charged in killing of Rob and Michele ReinerNick Reiner will be charged this evening with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, the celebrated Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, prosecutors said. Check here for the latest updates. The charges carry a maximum sentence of the death penalty, or of life in prison without the possibility of parole. But prosecutors have not yet decided whether they will pursue the death penalty, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney, who announced the charges. The police said that Nick Reiner, 32, was arrested “without incident” on Sunday night. He had spoken over the years about his struggles with drug abuse and periods of homelessness that began in his teenage years. He had also worked with his father on a movie loosely inspired by his early life, “Being Charlie.” The film and its making revealed a complex, fraught relationship between the gregarious director and his introverted son, people who worked on it told The Times. A person who attended a holiday party at the home of the comedian Conan O’Brien on Saturday night said that Rob and Nick Reiner had argued there, and two attendees said that Nick Reiner had alarmed guests with his behavior. The Obamas had plans to see Rob and Michele Reiner on the day they were found dead.
U.S. and Europe backed a plan to ensure Ukraine’s securityAmerican and European diplomats have largely signed off on a plan to defend Ukraine once the current war ends. The proposal, my colleagues reported today, would include an enhancement of the Ukrainian military, a vow to protect Ukraine from a future invasion, the deployment of European forces inside the country and increased use of American intelligence. The security plans, hammered out this week during more than eight hours of discussions in Berlin with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his aides, are designed to serve as the cornerstone of a cease-fire agreement. They are also intended to persuade Ukraine to concede territory, as Russia has demanded. Zelensky expressed wary optimism about the plan, but so far the Kremlin has shown little willingness to negotiate. For more: This is a pivotal week for Kyiv. In addition to the peace proposal, European leaders are trying to decide on a plan to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets.
New data offered a warning sign for the economyThe unemployment rate increased last month to 4.6 percent — the highest it has been since September 2021, when the economy was emerging from the pandemic. The data, which was released today, was a concerning sign for people in search of jobs, but the White House insisted that it was nothing to worry about. In the same report, the government found that employers added 64,000 jobs, fueled largely by the health care sector and partly reversing a decline from the previous month. In total, the data failed to offer the kind of clarity that economists had hoped for after months of conflicting signals.
The untold story of how Jeffrey Epstein got richThe life and death of Jeffrey Epstein has become an American obsession. But how a college dropout from a working-class family amassed hundreds of millions of dollars has remained a sort of mystery. Today, a monthslong investigation from my colleagues revealed the truth about Epstein’s rise: He built his wealth and reputation through scams, theft and lies. Here are six takeaways from their findings. For more: A former girlfriend of Epstein shared her diary with us. It provides a window into how he sought to use their relationship for his advantage. More top news
Rob Reiner gave us great reasons to go to the moviesAs the son of Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner grew up attending parties featuring the cream of comedy — Mel Brooks, Norman Lear, Neil Simon. And when Reiner became a director himself, he began with an astonishing run of movies that, in their variety and generosity, recalled the appeal of Old Hollywood. In just eight years, Reiner made cherished films as different as the delightful mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap,” the coming-of-age drama “Stand By Me,” the charming fairy tale “The Princess Bride” and the military courtroom drama “A Few Good Men.” It’s the kind of career, our critic Manohla Dargis writes, that’s inconceivable today. In Opinion: Stephen King writes why he hugged Reiner after watching “Stand By Me.”
The best real-life breakup linesThe winter holidays are an especially popular time to break up. So, to mark the occasion, our Modern Love team asked people around the world for their most striking parting words. Some were funny; others were sad; many were evocative. Read through them here. “You deserve to find someone who likes Taylor Swift as much as you do,” one reader was told. Another watched the movie “Wall-E,” and then turned to her boyfriend of five years and said: “Those robots are in love — we’re not.”
Dinner table topics
Cook: Indulge a bit with these pignoli cookies. Watch: My colleague highlighted four true crime picks that are worth checking out. Listen: These 11 new holiday albums just might make you sway along with them. Wear: Take inspiration from our fashion photographer’s look of the week. Learn: Scientists aren’t sure why rosacea gets worse with age. But there are ways to manage it. Plan: We have tips for avoiding an Airbnb fail on your next vacation. Play: |
