Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Thursday.
Vance issues a blunt warning to IsraelPresident Trump’s preliminary deal with Iran has become the subject of mounting criticism around the world. Israeli officials see it as a disastrous mistake. Gulf states are frustrated that it doesn’t limit Iran’s missiles. And some Republicans on Capitol Hill argue that it gives Iran economic relief while demanding minimal concessions, at least until a later date. Vice President JD Vance held a news conference at the White House today to rebut those concerns. He trumpeted falling gas prices, argued that the U.S. retained leverage over Iran and delivered an extraordinary rebuke to the Israeli leaders who have criticized the president. He described Trump as the “only head of state in the entire world” sympathetic to Israel, warning, “I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have.” Soon after Vance spoke, Iran’s supreme leader offered his first statement on the preliminary deal. He said that Trump had agreed to the terms “out of desperation” and promised that Iran would not submit to “excessive demands” during the next 60 days of talks. Iran also said that commercial ships seeking to pass through the Strait of Hormuz would have to submit requests to a new agency called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. For more:
Ukraine launches a major assault on MoscowUkrainian forces bombarded Russia’s capital city today with what appeared to be the largest drone attack of the war. An oil refinery was hit, toxic black smoke filled the sky and the city’s four airports were urgently closed. The footage of the explosions in Moscow is dramatic. “If Ukraine burns, then your Moscow will burn as well,” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said. The strikes seemed likely to feed fears among Russians that the Kremlin’s ability to isolate society from the war was sharply eroding. Some hard-liners called for unleashing the country’s full military might on Ukraine, raising the prospect of a new cycle of escalation.
ICE plans to offload warehouses it just spent $700 million onIn an effort to supercharge Trump’s deportation campaign, ICE spent $1 billion to buy 11 large warehouses for detentions. Now, the agency is reversing course: It plans to give away seven of the warehouses to other government agencies or sell them outright. In other Trump administration news:
There’s a thriving black market for a powerful weight-loss drugRetatrutide, the most powerful weight-loss drug in development, is not expected to hit the U.S. market before next year. The F.D.A. has warned against taking any substance that claims to be the drug. But that hasn’t stopped many people from buying it from WhatsApp groups, Chinese labs and websites selling it “for research purposes.” Influencers even advertise it, using code words like “ratatouille.” Our health reporter Dani Blum talked to people who are taking the drug. In other health news: Scientists are investigating whether anti-inflammatory drugs might benefit some patients with depression. More top news
Joy fills the streets of New YorkLower Manhattan looked like a sea of blue and orange today as the championship-winning Knicks took a long, rapturous, confetti-showered journey up Broadway, carrying their first trophy in 53 years. Crowds at the parade were bursting with excitement and tears. Some fans arrived before dawn. Others paid hundreds of dollars to have line-waiters save spots for them. Outside the viewing area, people clambered onto trucks, scaffolding, trees and subway entrances to get a glimpse of history. See photos from the celebration. Next stop: the White House.
A new podcast from SerialMy colleagues at Serial Productions are out today with a new show about a team of lawyers tasked with the high-stakes and at times bizarre job of defending a man on death row. Over five episodes, the podcast, “The Last 12 Weeks,” follows the efforts to save the life of David Wood, convicted as a serial killer, as the clock ticks down to his execution date. Listen here.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This shrimp and potatoes dish is simple and rewarding. Watch “Color Book,” about a widowed father and his disabled son overcoming personal tragedy. Book a great summer vacation before it’s too late. Here are our suggestions. Consider these last-minute Father’s Day gift ideas. Enjoy your chirping neighbors by installing a smart bird house. |
