Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.
Netanyahu said Israel wanted to take military control of GazaPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israel intended to take control of all of Gaza. He described the move as an effort to “assure our security” and liberate both Israelis and Palestinians “from the awful terror of Hamas.” The plan went against the advice of Israel’s military, which has pushed for a cease-fire and argued that full-fledged occupation of Gaza would require up to five years of sustained combat. Its chief of staff has pushed back against the potential plan, according to officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Netanyahu has said that the military would carry out any decision ordered by the country’s security cabinet. However, he suggested today that Israel was not interested in maintaining permanent control over Gaza. “We want to hand it over to Arab forces,” he said. Some analysts have argued that Netanyahu’s threats were an attempt to compel Hamas to offer concessions in cease-fire negotiations, which are at an impasse.
Trump’s new tariffs took effect, reordering global tradePresident Trump’s latest round of punishing tariffs took effect this morning on imports from more than 90 countries. Those hardest hit by the taxes rushed to respond: Brazil and India signaled that they would deepen their trade ties, while Switzerland and others urged Washington to ease up. American consumers can anticipate higher prices on many products, including sneakers, bananas and cars. Here’s what you can expect. In other Trump administration news:
On vaccines, Kennedy has broken with the mainstreamDuring his confirmation hearings to become Trump’s health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reassured lawmakers that he would not take away anyone’s vaccines, change the childhood immunization schedule or make changes to the advisory panel that makes recommendations for vaccines. But Kennedy has left most scientists aghast at his decision to side with the more extreme wing of the anti-vaccine movement. He has expressed doubts about childhood vaccines, described the Covid shot as “the deadliest vaccine ever made” and canceled nearly $500 million designated for work on mRNA vaccines.
Trump’s immigration crackdown, by the numbersTo deliver on his campaign pledge to deport undocumented immigrants, Trump is relying on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is set to receive $75 billion over the next four years, making it the best-funded law enforcement agency in the country. My colleagues Evan Gorelick and Lyna Bentahar broke down some of the crucial stats: $45 billion to expand the detention system. That money could allow ICE to hold more than 125,000 migrants at a time, according to one estimate, more than doubling the agency’s current capacity. 14,050 more staffers: To recruit them, ICE plans to use social media and digital advertising, according to contracting records. $50,000 bonuses: That’s what you’ll get if you take a job at ICE. The agency also lowered the age requirement for all roles to 18, from 21. One TV star: Dean Cain, who played Superman in the 1990s TV series “Lois and Clark,” said this week that he was signing up to become an ICE officer. More top news
Millennial nostalgia fueled a ‘Freaky Friday’ sequelFans of Disney’s 2003 body swap comedy “Freaky Friday” never let go of the idea of a sequel. After two decades, the film’s stars, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, have seemingly willed a follow-up into existence. This week, “Freakier Friday” arrives in theaters. Lohan’s character, now 22 years older, has a daughter of her own. And, of course, there’s some body swappage. The narrative shudders at times, our critic writes, but it’s still satisfying for anyone with fond memories of its predecessor. For more: We talked to Curtis, Lohan and the other stars about the experience of making the sequel.
What do ‘super-agers’ have in common?“Super-agers” are people 80 and up who have the same memory ability as someone 20 to 30 years younger. They don’t share a magic diet, exercise regimen or medication. The one thing that unites them is “how they view the importance of social relationships,” according to a researcher who has been studying the remarkable group for the last quarter century. Loneliness can increase levels of the stress hormone cortisol and, in turn, damage brain cells. By being more social in old age, super-agers may avert some brain atrophy.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Impress your friends or family with this straightforward slow-cooker gochujang chicken. Watch: “Boys Go to Jupiter” is a creative animated comedy about a teenage food courier. Read: A new book looks deep inside the project that made Bruce Springsteen a rock star. Game: The video game Mafia: The Old Country rewards players for soaking up the sights of Sicily. Consider: The secret to teaching your child to ride a bike? Remove the pedals. Hunt: Which North Carolina home would you buy with a $400,000 budget? Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and |
