Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.
Lebanon cease-fire goes into effectThe governments of Israel and Lebanon said today that they had agreed to a 10-day cease-fire. The truce was designed to pause fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, potentially removing a major hurdle in the broader peace talks between the U.S. and Iran. The cease-fire went into effect at 5 p.m. Eastern, according to President Trump, who announced the deal. He also said he would invite the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to the White House for peace talks. However, it is still too soon to know if the truce will hold. The Lebanese government does not control Hezbollah, and Israel and Hezbollah had continued to trade strikes earlier this afternoon. One point of contention could be Israel’s plans to keep its troops in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said in a statement that the cease-fire must not allow Israeli forces “any freedom of movement,” without directly saying whether the group planned to abide by the truce. Iran has described peace in Lebanon as a crucial part of any long-term deal with the U.S. This afternoon, Trump seemed optimistic. He said that the next in-person negotiations could occur this weekend, and that he might travel to Pakistan if a deal were signed there. For more:
Trump’s triumphal arch has preliminary approvalA fine arts commission full of Trump appointees granted initial approval today of the president’s plans to build an enormous arch in the nation’s capital. However, the panel’s vice chairman suggested major changes, including the removal of statues that make up the final third of the 250-foot height Trump desired to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday and to “top” the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The vice chairman, who was the original architect for Trump’s ballroom, also recommended against the statues of gold lions at the base. “They’re not of this continent,” he said. See how the proposed arch compares to other monuments across the world. In other news from Washington:
Utah is now the epicenter of U.S. measles casesNearly 600 people, mostly children, have been sickened with measles across Utah since last summer. And unlike other recent outbreaks the virus appears to be spreading through the broader population. The rise comes as Utah has seen an increase in vaccine exemptions among young children. Since measles is one of the most contagious diseases, health officials say that vaccination rates need to be about 95 percent or higher to stem an outbreak.
Maine could be the first state to halt data center constructionOfficials across the country have raised concerns about the rapid construction of data centers — which are crucial for the development of artificial intelligence tools, but often require massive amounts of electricity and water. Maine is now on the verge of becoming the first state to formally halt their expansion. Lawmakers approved an 18-month statewide moratorium on larger data centers, while officials assess their potential effects. The fate of the ban now rests with Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is in the middle of a tough primary race for a U.S. Senate seat. More top news
Anime season is back, againFor anyone who misses the pre-streaming era when new television seasons would arrive every fall, consider anime. Like clockwork, the Japanese animation industry puts out new seasons four times a year. In the latest batch, our critic Mike Hale sees two standouts: the Ghibli-like “Witch Hat Atelier,” about a young girl learning to practice forbidden magic, and the samurai saga “Nippon Sangoku,” which he describes as “a bit like an Akira Kurosawa epic crossed with ‘Mad Max.’”
Kendrick Lamar’s protégé tells his storyHykeem Jamaal Carter Jr., the 25-year-old rapper who goes by Baby Keem, tried to avoid focusing too much on narrative in his early work. He didn’t want to seem like he was copying his cousin, Kendrick Lamar, who is one of the industry’s biggest stars. But he’s no longer concerned about that perception. His latest album, “Casino,” is an autobiographical tale of hardship, perseverance and extraordinary opportunity. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and starting this week, he’s taking it on the road. But he’s still out to impress one person: his cousin.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This deeply satisfying gratin swaps potatoes for white beans. Try a black-and-white video game. Listen to Elizabeth Banks reflect on 33 years of marriage on the latest episode of “Modern Love.” Plan a vacation with help from our guide to Amsterdam. Consider buying products with longevity in mind. Hunt: Which Brooklyn apartment would you buy with a budget around $1.25 million? |
