Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Israel and Lebanon talk, but fighting continuesFor the first time in decades, Israeli and Lebanese officials sat down today for direct negotiations. Afterward, the Israeli representative said the two countries were “on the same side of the equation,” and a U.S. statement said both sides had agreed to hold more talks about ending the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon. The diplomatic effort has so far done little to halt the violence, which has threatened to upend the U.S.-Iran cease-fire. The Lebanese government has no direct control over Hezbollah, and officials said that both Israel and Hezbollah launched strikes at each other today. The broader war in the Middle East has upended the global economy and raised the possibility of a global recession, the International Monetary Fund warned. A new poll also found that few Americans — 24 percent — think the war has been worth the costs and benefits. Even among President Trump’s core supporters, a significant number do not approve of the war. My colleagues around the country heard from many Americans who were confused by the choice to enter the conflict. What’s next: Trump said today that a second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran could take place in Pakistan over the next two days. The first round ended over the weekend with disagreements over a number of issues, including the status of Iran’s nuclear program. For more: Tracking data showed that several ships had passed through the Strait of Hormuz before and after the U.S. announced a blockade of Iran’s ports.
A new accuser says Eric Swalwell assaulted herA woman who turned to Representative Eric Swalwell for political help in 2018 said today that he raped her in a West Hollywood hotel that year. The woman, Lonna Drewes, a model who works in fashion technology, said she believed she had been drugged. Drewes’s account was the latest in a series of accusations that ended Swalwell’s career as a House Democrat and put him in legal jeopardy. Hours after it was made public, Swalwell’s resignation from Congress officially took effect, his office said. For more:
Tax season has become a gamble for undocumented immigrantsTomorrow is April 15, which is also known as Tax Day — the date by which Americans are asked to file their returns. This year, the deadline was agonizing for many of the millions of undocumented immigrants who pay their taxes year after year, even though they cannot benefit from programs like Social Security and Medicare. Some are considering not filing. Their fears were fueled by the I.R.S.’s decision last year to give immigration officials the addresses of people subject to deportation. According to one estimate, the U.S. could lose about $300 billion in revenue over a decade as a result. For more:
A Ukrainian city is bouncing back with Denmark’s helpMykolaiv, a city of half a million people in southern Ukraine, seemed nearly uninhabitable after Russia’s invasion. Electricity blinked on and off, tap water ran orange and buildings were in ruins. Then Denmark “adopted” the city. The Danish government has contributed about $250 million to Mykolaiv, focused on mending both the infrastructure and the city’s social fabric. The initiative is an alternative to the American plan for aiding Ukraine’s recovery, which focuses more on for-profit ventures. More top news
Betting big on bagelsHigh-quality hand-rolled bagels — once the exclusive domain of a few major coastal cities — are exploding in popularity across the country, especially in the South and the Sun Belt. They are perfect for a generation that likes to eat breakfast on the go. Recently, private equity investors have gotten involved, betting that the notoriously finicky baking process can become profitable in parts of the country more used to the puffy, pale bagels that have long ruled American strip malls.
The demands of maestros may be changingIn recent decades, we have witnessed the rise of celebrity conductors who are constantly jetting around the world, juggling affiliations with multiple orchestras (like the young star Klaus Mäkelä). But now, as American orchestras face declining audiences and budgets, some communities want more from their maestros. Orchestras are increasingly looking to attract conductors who are interested in spending more time in the community. They are “the cultural face of a city, more than just the leader of the orchestra,” said Leonard Slatkin, who started as a music director 60 years ago.
Dinner table topics
Cook: These spring rolls are a refreshing way to end the day. Plan a trip to a spa where you can tune out the world. Read: Solvej Balle’s cult hit series follows a woman trapped in a time loop. Be inspired by our fashion photographer’s eclectic look of the week. Join our Book Review’s 2026 challenge. H |
