Good evening. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
Trump directed the military to target foreign drug cartelsPresident Trump secretly signed a directive ordering the Pentagon to begin using military force against Latin American drug cartels that his administration has deemed terrorist organizations. The move was the most aggressive step so far in the president’s campaign against the cartels. It indicated that Trump plans to use the armed forces to carry out what in the past was considered law enforcement, and it provided an official basis for military operations against cartels at sea or on foreign soil. U.S. military officials have started drawing up options for how they could go after the cartels, though it’s not yet clear what it would look like. Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said today that American troops were not welcome in her country: “We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion,” she said. “That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out.”
Israel said it was preparing to take control of Gaza CityThe Israeli security cabinet voted early this morning to approve a plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate its nearly two-year-old campaign in the Gaza by taking control of Gaza City. The decision went against the urging of Israel’s military leadership, and it was met with loud criticism at home and abroad. And, as our Jerusalem bureau chief writes, it risks ending the same way as similar efforts from Netanyahu: in a strategic dead-end, with Israeli hostages still in Hamas’s grip and Palestinian civilians trapped in a dystopian nightmare. For more: International experts warn that Gaza is fast plunging into famine. Here is what we know.
Trump wants U.C.L.A. to pay $1 billion to restore its fundingThe Trump administration is seeking a $1 billion payment from U.C.L.A. in order to unfreeze hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding. The administration also asked for the university to contribute an additional $172 million to a fund that would compensate victims of civil rights violations, according to a draft of the agreement. If U.C.L.A. accedes to the demand, it would be the largest payout — by far — of any university that has so far reached a deal with the White House. In other Trump administration news:
Here’s how your phone gets the weatherRecent government cuts have forced layoffs at the National Weather Service. But for many people, it can be hard to imagine how that could affect the daily forecast. After all, most of us check the weather by looking at our phones. Our apps, however, sit atop a huge amount of data that is collected by the government. It costs each taxpayer roughly $4 to fund a network of data stations, weather balloons and satellites, and cuts have reduced balloon launches. Some experts think that the accuracy of long-term forecasts may already be compromised. Here’s how it all works. More top news
Netflix’s most popular show might surprise youWhat do you get when you take a murder mystery in a small Texas town and layer in right-versus-left culture wars and a clique of vindictive women who carry guns in their handbags and have sex with one another? Apparently, a hit show. “The Hunting Wives” was the most popular show on Netflix last week. Its creator called its success “unexpected” — just a few months ago, the show was dropped by Starz, where it had initially been scheduled to appear — but it fits with a broader surge in sapphic pop culture over the last couple of years.
Can acupuncture be the next Botox?Interest in cosmetic acupuncture has grown significantly in recent years as many celebrities, athletes and wellness influencers have turned to the tiny needles in an effort to achieve youthful-looking skin. Some prefer it to more invasive needle treatments like Botox injections and plumping fillers. Whether cosmetic acupuncture actually works is less clear, because a successful result — better-looking skin — is a subjective assessment.
Dinner table topics
Cook: With just four ingredients you can make this refreshing carlota de limón. Watch: These are the movies that got our critics talking this week. Read: “The Hounding” is one of the best new books to check out. Travel: Here are Seth Rogen’s favorite places in Los Angeles. Consider: We talked to experts about how to give better advice. Learn: So you touched poison ivy. Now what? Test yourself: Take this week’s news quiz. Play: Here are today’s Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. |
