Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Wednesday.
U.S. pushed a Ukraine peace plan that favored RussiaVice President JD Vance said today that the U.S. would “walk away” from negotiations to end the war in Ukraine unless both sides agreed to the American peace plan. The terms, as Vance laid out to reporters for the first time, closely align with Russia’s longstanding goals. Under the plan, there would be a “freeze” of territorial lines, acceptance of the annexation of Crimea by Russia and a promise that Ukraine would not join NATO. Russia currently occupies 18.7 percent of Ukraine, according to one estimate. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, has said he would accept a cease-fire as long as Ukraine drops its NATO aspirations and withdraws its troops from the four regions that Russia has claimed. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made clear that he would reject any agreement that recognized the annexation of Crimea. “There is nothing to talk about,” he said. “This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine.” In response, President Trump lashed out today at Zelensky: “He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that!”
Treasury secretary said U.S.-China tariffs are not sustainableOn the sidelines of the spring meetings of the I.M.F. and the World Bank, Scott Bessent, the Treasury secretary, said today that the White House would not lower its tariffs on imports from China before holding negotiations with Beijing. So far, they have not been scheduled. However, Bessent suggested that both sides would eventually agree to reduce the levies. “I don’t think either side believes that the current tariff levels are sustainable,” he said. For now, China’s army of factory robots — used in both big manufacturers and in back-alley workshops — could allow it to hold off on major price hikes, giving it an advantage in the trade war. In related news, Britain indicated that it would not rush into a trade deal with the U.S. nor would it change food and automotive safety standards to reach one.
Musk has hit a rough patchElon Musk vowed yesterday to spend less time in Washington, and more with his electric vehicle company, Tesla, which reported a profit drop of 71 percent in the first quarter. He acknowledged, to an extent, that his work slashing the federal government has made him reviled in parts of the country, as polling indicates. Musk also said that China’s halt on exports of certain magnets was stalling his plans to build humanoid robots. He’s even been sparring with Trump aides and allies on X, the social platform he owns. We found that when people feud with Musk, their reach on the platform plummets. One bright spot for Musk: He is about to realize his dream of building a new town for himself, SpaceX and its employees.
Endorsements jolted the New York City mayoral raceAdrienne Adams, the City Council speaker, who hopes to become New York City’s first female mayor, received four important endorsements today: three from big unions, plus the support of Letitia James, the state attorney general. The announcements were a signal that not all of New York’s powerful political institutions will back Andrew Cuomo, the former governor and current front-runner. More top news
A ‘Star Wars’ prequel that’s more than just a joyride“Andor,” whose second and final season began streaming yesterday on Disney+, faced a storytelling hurdle from its inception. It’s a prequel, and fans know that its hero later goes on a fatal mission to retrieve the blueprints for the Death Star. But instead of simply cashing in on nostalgia, the show uses that knowledge as an asset. Our chief television critic, James Poniewozik, called it the best of Disney’s “Star Wars” series. It accomplishes that, he explains, by showing that resistance is built through loss and sacrifice.
Some sleep hacks can help. Others, not so much.Social media is flooded with amateur sleep advice. People tout the benefits of mouth tape, melatonin and “worry journals” without offering much evidence. So we asked a handful of sleep doctors to weigh in on what might actually help. One tip: Avoiding the light that electronic screens emit can improve sleep, but not all blue-light-blocking products do the trick. For more health tips: A new study identified 17 factors that affect your risk of stroke, dementia and depression. You can address them all at once.
Dinner table topics
Cook: Try this humble, bright yellow potato soup. Watch: “The Gardener” is a great pop-goth Spanish murder series. Check out: These are our critics’ favorite video games of the year so far. Try: Here are some new iPhone features that could save you time. Equip: Looking for at-home luxury? Consider the bar cabinet. Plan: The Spanish island of Majorca isn’t just for parties. Its trails are worth getting up early for. Design: Hang art like a pro. Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here. |
