Good evening and happy St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Iran’s leadership suffers a double blowIsraeli airstrikes killed two more of Iran’s top leaders: Ali Larijani, who had been the country’s de facto ruler during the war, and Gholamreza Soleimani, who led Iran’s powerful plainclothes militia. The killings were the most damaging blows to Iran’s regime since the first day of the war, when the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died in an Israeli attack. See a chart of Iran’s remaining leaders. As the country’s top security official, Larijani was among Iran’s most influential figures — a close confidant of Khamenei who was in charge of preparing for a war and putting down the recent anti-government protests. Upon hearing the news of his death, Iranian officials said they feared for their lives. The attacks again demonstrated Israel’s ability to target its enemies. Less clear was whether the killings would bring it closer to achieving its war goals. Larijani was seen as an influential pragmatist with the clout to negotiate with the U.S. His death could embolden Iranian hard-liners. In related news:
The Senate begins a bitter debate about voting rulesUnder pressure from the president, Senate Republicans began what is expected to be a prolonged debate over a bill designed to crack down on voter fraud, which is exceedingly rare. The legislation would require voters to show identification to vote and proof of citizenship to register. The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate because of opposition by Democrats, who argue that it would suppress voting rights. Trump has called the bill his “No. 1 priority,” saying it would “guarantee the midterms” for Republicans. John Thune, the Republican leader in the Senate, said he wanted the debate to showcase Democratic resistance, but he has resisted calls to push through a filibuster or undermine the procedure. In other election news:
Dozens dead after a Pakistani strike in KabulAt least 75 people, and possibly many more, were killed when a Pakistani airstrike hit a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack and five others in Afghanistan yesterday, but a Pakistani official said the target had been an ammunition depot. The strike was the deadliest single attack of an escalating conflict between the two neighbors. Pakistan, which once supported the Taliban, declared “open war” last month against Afghanistan’s government and has accused the Taliban of harboring an Islamist terrorist group that has attacked Pakistan.
Driverless big rigs are coming to American highwaysLater this year, multiple companies are expected to begin hauling freight across long stretches of U.S. highways in driverless trucks. Some fully autonomous trucks have already racked up thousands of miles. Most of the driverless shipping routes will begin in Texas, where the cities are far apart, the weather is typically pleasant for driving, and regulation is at a minimum. In related news: Driverless taxis have been targeted in anti-robot attacks, trapping their riders inside. More top news
This red fox took a covert overseas voyageIt’s a tale that seems like something out of a children’s book: A roughly 2-year-old red fox sneaked aboard a huge cargo ship in England and remained unseen until the vessel was en route to New York. Once he was discovered, the fox was brought to the Bronx Zoo, where he remains this week, dining on apples, sweet potatoes and mice. How the fox found enough food to sustain him while aboard the ship is not clear. But zoo officials said they would find him a suitable home if he continued to display good health.
Overalls are having a momentLong a staple of work wear and children’s wardrobes, several notable men have put overalls in the spotlight. There was Buddy Guy, the musician and “Sinners” cast member, who wore leather overalls to the Oscars; Graham Platner, the Senate candidate, who has farmed oysters in overalls; Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté, who skated at the Olympics in overalls; and Rob Rausch, who frequently sported them on reality TV. More on style: Why do so many men buy dress shoes that are too big?
Dinner table topics
Cook: There’s no better day to make some traditional Irish soda bread. Watch “Merrily We Roll Along” and other theater productions from your couch at home. |
