A series of attacks over the weekend shook communities around the world. Today, we have updates on four of those tragedies. Also, we will step away from the news to look at James Cameron’s evolution as a director, as well as some of our favorite book covers of 2025.
Rob Reiner’s son arrested on suspicion of killing his parentsA day after the celebrated Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death at home, their son was booked on suspicion of murder. Here’s what we know about the killing. Nick Reiner, 32, is being held in a Los Angeles County jail without bail, the police said. He had spoken openly over the years about his struggles with drug abuse and bouts of homelessness. Rob Reiner, 78, starred in the groundbreaking sitcom “All in the Family” before directing a slate of beloved films, including “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally …” and “The Princess Bride.” (Read his obituary.) He also became a force in liberal politics, championing gay marriage and other causes. Michele Singer Reiner, 70, was a photographer, and later a producer, who inadvertently changed the course of movie history. Many Hollywood figures paid tribute to the couple. President Trump used the deaths as an opportunity to attack the director, suggesting that his criticism of the president may have led to the murder. Several Republicans pushed back, but Trump was unapologetic when asked about his comments. For more: Here are some of Rob Reiner’s career highlights that are available to stream, and his life in photos.
The police are still hunting for the Brown University shooterPolice officers went door to door this afternoon across Providence, R.I., in search of video footage that might help them track down the gunman who killed two students and injured nine others at Brown University this weekend. With no one in custody, the campus and the community are on edge. We’re following the latest updates here. The authorities renewed their manhunt last night after they released a 24-year-old Wisconsin man who had been detained in connection with the shooting. Now, more than 48 hours after the attack, officials have not named other suspects or discussed potential motives. The police released brief videos of the possible shooter in the hopes that someone might recognize him by his gait or dark clothing. What we know about the victims: MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old from Virginia, was remembered as extroverted, helpful and bright. Ella Cook, 19, was a talented pianist who spoke French and was the vice president of Brown’s Republican Club. The pastor of her church described her as a “bright light.”
Australia promises to tighten gun laws after terror attackAustralia’s prime minister vowed to toughen the country’s already strict gun laws after a father-and-son pair of gunmen killed at least 15 people at a Jewish holiday gathering at Bondi Beach. The authorities described the attack as terrorism, and announced that they planned to charge the surviving gunman. Dozens of people remained hospitalized after the shooting, which targeted Jews, from toddlers to grandparents, who were celebrating the first night of Hanukkah with face painting, a giant menorah and barbecue. These maps and videos help show how the shooting unfolded before a bystander tackled one of the shooters and disarmed him. The victims of the attack included a long-serving rabbi, a joyful 10-year-old and a Holocaust survivor. Here’s what to know about them.
The soldiers killed in Syria were Iowa National Guard sergeantsThe two U.S. soldiers who were killed by a gunman in Syria over the weekend were identified today: Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar. The men, both from Iowa, were described as dedicated soldiers who were proud to serve their country. The gunman, a member of Syria’s security forces who was slated for dismissal over his extremist views, also killed an American civilian contractor who was working as an interpreter and has not yet been named. Trump promised to retaliate against the Islamic State for the attack. More top news
James Cameron channels his inner Na’viExpectations are high for James Cameron’s latest film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The third installment in his series about the Na’vi aliens arrives in theaters on Friday, yet the Golden Globes already placed it among the nominees for best box-office achievement of the year. The anticipation is nothing new for Cameron, who has made three of the four top-grossing films of all time. My colleague Maureen Dowd visited Cameron at his museum in California and talked to some of his collaborators about how he has changed over the years. Sigourney Weaver said he had “mellowed.” Cameron calls it “marinating.” Go deeper: Maureen asked Cameron some fun rapid-fire questions. See his answers.
We judged these books by their coversIf you take a look around a bookstore, you’ll notice that the book jackets of many new releases look very similar. It’s a decision that makes sense financially, and hopefully gets people reading. But Matt Dorfman, an art director at our Book Review, wanted to celebrate designers that tried something different and exciting. He picked out a dozen great covers that surprised and delighted him this year.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This super savory sausage and mushroom strata is best made the night before. Watch: Stream “The Snow Queen” and these five other theater performances. Wear: Our fashion critic explains how to choose the right winter boots. |
