Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
A crucial week in Ukraine peace negotiationsPresident Volodymyr Zelensky met with President Emmanuel Macron in France today as part of a blitz to shore up support in peace talks with Russia. He also touched base with Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for President Trump, who is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin tomorrow. Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, told reporters this “could be a pivotal week for diplomacy.” But she also expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to negotiate in earnest. Zelensky said that the latest draft of the White House’s peace plan, which has not been made public, “looks better” than the original. The “topic of territories is the most complicated,” he added. The initial 28-point plan drew outrage from Ukraine and its European allies for echoing Russia’s maximalist demands since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to a foreign policy adviser to Ukraine, the unresolved major issues facing the countries’ leaders include Russia’s demand for Ukrainian neutrality after the war, control of the eastern Donbas region and security guarantees from Europe and the U.S.
Court voids Trump’s attorney appointmentA federal appeals court said that Alina Habba, a former lawyer for President Trump, has been serving unlawfully as the U.S. attorney in New Jersey since March. She was neither confirmed by the Senate nor appointed by trial court judges. The ruling follows a similar one from last week that vacated the indictments of James Comey and Letitia James because the prosecutor who filed them, a Trump loyalist named Lindsey Halligan, was improperly installed. The Trump administration has sought to keep Habba in power through a series of unusual maneuvers. It was not immediately clear how the ruling would affect legal proceedings in New Jersey’s federal courts. Some criminal cases have already been slowed and some grand jury proceedings halted since Habba’s status was challenged by various defendants. In other administration news:
Hong Kong officials cite netting in deadly fireHong Kong officials said that contractors at the housing complex where a fire killed more than 150 people last week had used substandard scaffolding netting, and then tried to conceal it. After a summer typhoon, some of the netting — which covers the scaffolds and keeps debris from falling on people below during building repairs — was replaced with cheaper material that did not meet fire safety standards, the officials said. Netting that met the standards was installed at the base of the scaffolding, where samples are usually taken.
U.S. shoppers are seeing unexpected tariff billsThis year, Trump closed a loophole that had allowed goods worth $800 or less to enter the United States free of tariffs. The exemption, known as “de minimis,” ended for goods from China in May, and for other countries in August. There had been an average of four million exempted packages a day. Applying new tariffs to them caused some big new expenses for consumers. For example, one buyer had to pay more than $250 in customs duties for a Dutch coat that sold for $456, while another was taxed $333.50 on parts for a weaving loom that cost $158. In other consumer news, pizzeria owners told us that people are ordering smaller pies with fewer toppings. Here’s what that tells us. More top news
The 50 best clothing stores in AmericaA great clothing store can make you think about who you are — and maybe change it. We tasked our reporters with a nationwide style survey, and they found a warehouse full of American vintage in Massachusetts; a Chicago outfitter of Mexican vaqueros; European ski wear and Japanese outdoor style in Colorado; and more. Check out our list. Related: Doug Bihlmaier spent four decades traveling the world as a buyer for Ralph Lauren. Now, he’s selling his collection.
Chinese chains are coming to the U.S.There are three times as many restaurants and food and drink shops per capita in China as in the U.S. With China’s economy slowing, some of its major chains are looking to expand here. Luckin Coffee, China’s largest chain, opened several spots across Manhattan. Wallace, which has 20,000 stores selling fried chicken and hamburgers in China, unveiled its first U.S. shop last year in Walnut, Calif., near L.A. Three full-size chicken sandwiches are $10. “American fast food is getting too expensive,” said the company’s U.S. president. Dinner table topics
Cook: Hash brown casserole, also known as funeral potatoes, is comforting and easy. Watch: The playwright Tom Stoppard, whose death was announced this weekend, was an in-demand screenwriter. We’ve got a guide to some of his best films. Curl up: It’s officially cozy-book reading season. In this video, Jennifer Harlan, a Times editor, has some recommendations. Shop: It’s Cyber Monday, and Wirecutter has the definitive list of deals. Look: Spend 10 minutes with two Frida Kahlos. Dream: For $1.8 million, you can get a midcentury modern house in California. Think: Take the Flashback quiz. Play: Today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. For more, find all our games here. |
