Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
America gathers to remember, 25 years after 9/11Mourners and dignitaries gathered this morning in Lower Manhattan to honor the thousands of people who were killed on this day 25 years ago, when terrorists crashed two airplanes into the World Trade Center, shaking America and the world. It took four hours for family members of the victims to read aloud the names of all of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives: Gordon M. Aamoth Jr.; Edelmiro Abad; Marie Rose Abad … Solemn ceremonies were also held at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa., where the other hijacked planes crashed. At the Pentagon, President Trump spoke of American resilience: “Sept. 11 reminded us of the terrible power of hate,” he said. “The 25 years since have shown us the even greater power of the American spirit to endure and prevail and to win.” All four other living presidents attended the memorial in New York. Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, was also in attendance, despite a petition signed by thousands of people, including the family members of some victims, urging him to stay away. That ceremony began, as always, at 8:46 a.m., with a beat of silence honoring the moment when the first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, struck the North Tower. Five more silences marked the times when other flights crashed and buildings fell. But this year, a new, seventh moment of silence was observed, to mourn those who have died from cancer and other illnesses inflicted by the toxic dust they inhaled after the attacks. For more:
Iranian-backed militia seized a key Red Sea islandThe Houthis, the Iran-backed militant group in Yemen, seized a strategic Red Sea island after days of fierce fighting. The capture could further disrupt shipping in the region and give the Iranians more leverage in their war with the U.S.: Iran and its allies now have sway over the two main routes used for shipping oil out of the Middle East. The move presents a particularly significant setback for Saudi Arabia, which now exports most of its oil through the Red Sea. Satellite images obtained by The Times also showed a 60-mile-long plume of smoke near a major Saudi oil pipeline; the kingdom said it had been hit by drones launched from Iraq.
Elevated inflation keeps pressure on the FedThe latest inflation report, released this morning, showed U.S. consumer prices rising at an annual pace of 3.4 percent. That’s still notably elevated when compared with the 2 percent goal set by federal policymakers. The result, based on data from last month, is likely to add more pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next week. Officials at the central bank said this summer that if inflation did not soon moderate, they would be ready to make borrowing money more expensive — and some have already run out of patience. For more: These charts show what years of inflation have done to American prices.
Reflecting Pool contractor blames itself, not vandalsAfter pieces of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s liner peeled and floated to the surface, the president blamed knife-wielding vandals. But documents reviewed by The Times showed that the contractor that renovated the pool has told the Trump administration that errors in its own work caused the issues. The contractor said the pool’s new blue liner tore because of “human oversight” and a flawed plan that involved layering two chemicals that turned out to be incompatible. More top news
The 1,000-year story behind the Bayeux TapestryThis week, it seemed like all of Britain was talking about the Bayeux Tapestry, an epic 230-foot embroidery that has just gone on display in the country for the first time in 1,000 years. But beyond its status as a cultural sensation, the tapestry is also a story, stitched in or around the 1070s, about William the Conqueror’s invasion of England just a few years before. Take a closer look with our critic Jason Farago, who explains what the tapestry depicts. Can’t make it to Britain? There’s probably a replica of the Bayeux Tapestry closer to you.
Will an American man finally win in New York?It has been 23 years since an American man has won the U.S. Open, the country’s premier tennis tournament. That could change this weekend. American stars Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe will play each other at 7 p.m., Eastern, tonight in Flushing, Queens. The winner will head to the finals on Sunday. No matter the outcome, the winner will be the first Black man since Arthur Ashe in 1972 to reach the final. On the women’s side: Tomorrow’s final is a clash between the world’s top two players. Surprising? No. Exciting? Very much so.
Dinner table topics
Bake this yogurt cake. It’s like a lighter lemon cheesecake. Watch a documentary about the lives of the people who have been crowned the world’s oldest. Read one of our favorite new books. Plan a peaceful fall cycling trip. Our writer recently took a great one through Normandy. Find a great pickle, or learn to make one at home, with advice from real experts. Take this week’s news quiz. Play today’s Connections, Spelling Bee and | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
