Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
Strait of Hormuz is declared ‘open,’ boosting hope for a dealPresident Trump and Iran’s foreign minister both announced today that the Strait of Hormuz — the crucial route for shipping oil and gas out of the Middle East — had been reopened for all commercial ships. Oil prices fell sharply on the news, and the U.S. stock market hit a new high mark, even as Trump’s plans to maintain a blockade of Iran’s ships muddled expectations for a full return to the old normal. The proclamations raised optimism that peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were going well, and bolstered hopes that the two sides were getting closer to a framework that could lead to a lasting peace deal. Trump told reporters today that he expected a deal with Iran in the very near future. He suggested that Iran had “agreed to everything,” including allowing the United States to retrieve Iran’s nuclear material. Iran denied that it was transferring its uranium stockpile, but three senior Iranian officials echoed Trump’s optimism: They said that Iran and U.S. officials were finalizing a memo that would allow 60 days for negotiations to continue. For more: Pickaxe Mountain — a deep underground facility in Iran that remains untouched — illustrates the difficulty of relying on force alone to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
Thousands of Lebanese try to head homeIt’s now been more than 24 hours since a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon went into effect, and so far the truce appears to be holding. Thousands of families who had been forced to relocate north during the fighting crowded the main highway heading to southern Lebanon, hoping to return home. A group of lawmakers from Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia that had been fighting with Israel for the last several weeks, affirmed a “cautious commitment” about the 10-day truce. The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon said that Israeli airstrikes had stopped, and that no projectiles had been fired into Israel. The greater challenge will be turning the temporary truce into a longer-lasting peace deal. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is under intense pressure to gut Hezbollah. In Lebanon, however, there is no consensus on how or even whether Hezbollah should be disarmed.
Congress extends warrantless surveillance law for 10 daysBoth chambers of Congress voted today to prevent a contentious surveillance law from expiring next week. But lawmakers opted for a 10-day extension, rather than full approval, after libertarian-leaning Republicans demanded a vote on new privacy limits. The law allows the government to collect the communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant, including when the interactions are with Americans. The debate over it has scrambled party lines: Privacy-focused lawmakers in both parties are pressing for greater limits, while national security hawks in both parties are working to prevent changes.
Firefighters likely had a limited view before LaGuardia crashAfter a plane collided with a fire truck last month at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of others, questions emerged about what led to the crash and why the truck didn’t stop. To better understand, my colleagues created a 3-D model that visualizes the sight lines from inside the fire truck. Our analysis found that it was most likely hard for the firefighters to see the rapidly approaching plane, and even in optimal scenarios they were left with very little time to react. More top news
Explore a museum this springThe Times sent reporters to museums across country to see what’s new and exciting this season. Our list of new shows is a great place to start making plans for a weekend trip. In Indianapolis, a new contemporary art museum comes with a D.J. In Philadelphia, the Museum of Art is examining the cultural significance of the city’s famous Rocky Balboa statue. In New York, an exhibition showcases the findings of fossil hunters responsible for several important discoveries. And in Austin, Texas, a museum shows how technology can influence art.
A comic who plays on people’s ignoranceJohnson Masase has become an online star by seizing on something he discovered long ago: People tend to laugh at just about anything he does because he is a dwarf. “I make comedy from their ignorance,” said Masase, who lives in Botswana. His comedy skits are often self-deprecating and centered on his 3-foot-4 frame. But to Masase, 38, they are a form of education. “It’s always an opportunity to teach people about dwarfism,” he said.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Avocado and lime balance out this flavorful green shakshuka. Watch: “The Conversation" or one of our four other movie picks that are all free to stream. Read: Our fantasy columnist recommends four transporting new novels. Upgrade your style this spring with a pair of Wirecutter-approved sneakers. Get ready for sandal season with these tips for preventing calluses. Test yourself: Take this week’s news quiz. Play: Here are today’s Connections, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. |
