Good morning. We’re covering talks between Israel and Hamas, and the verdict in Sean Combs’s trial. Plus: The best relationship tips.
Israel wants to resume talks with HamasIsrael’s foreign minister said yesterday that there were “some positive signs” in the U.S.-led effort to restart intensive cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. Israel, he added, was eager for talks to resume “as soon as possible.” The minister, Gideon Saar, spoke a day after President Trump said that Israel had agreed to “conditions to finalize” a 60-day cease-fire in Gaza, a proposal that would free some of the hostages still held in the enclave. Saar said the goal was to begin “proximity talks” soon, referring to mediation needed to flesh out the details of an agreement. Hamas said that it was considering the U.S.-backed proposal. Its exact terms remained unclear, but insiders on both sides said the deal would entail the release of 10 of the remaining living hostages and the return of 18 bodies held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Context: The momentum toward new talks comes as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet with Trump next week in Washington, after the recent U.S. decision to join Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear sites. Iran: As the country suspended cooperation with U.N. nuclear inspectors, the Pentagon offered a new assessment of how much U.S. and Israeli bombing campaigns set back Iran’s nuclear program.
Sean Combs was acquitted of sex traffickingThe music mogul Sean Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, the two most serious charges against him. Look back at the most important moments from the trial. The outcome was something of a victory for Combs, who had faced a possible life sentence. He could get a maximum of 10 years each on the two prostitution charges, but the final sentence will be up to a judge. Combs has been ordered back to jail until his sentencing, which is still unscheduled. During the eight-week trial in Manhattan, jurors heard about Combs’s prolific drug use and violence against two former girlfriends, Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified as “Jane.” Prosecutors accused him of coercing the women into “freak-offs,” extended sex sessions with male prostitutes. Details: Jurors deadlocked on the racketeering charges on Tuesday, and the judge instructed them to continue deliberating. Yesterday, they announced they had decided to find Combs not guilty of the charge. The jury also was not convinced that the women were coerced into the sex marathons at the heart of the case. For more: The grim testimony was not compelling enough to completely knock Combs from his perch as a powerful executive in hip-hop, our pop music critic writes. Women’s advocacy groups expressed disappointment. Combs’s lawyers pushed for his quick release. Here’s the latest.
A pause in weapons deepened doubts about U.S. support for UkraineUkraine summoned a senior U.S. diplomat in Kyiv yesterday for an explanation after the Trump administration announced that it would pause some weapons deliveries. The suspension includes air defense interceptors, and precision-guided bombs and missiles. Officially, the decision was because of dwindling U.S. stockpiles, but a different message seemed clear: Washington is disengaging from the war. The timing is especially bad. Russia has been pounding the country every few days with assaults intended to break its air defenses. Drones are often followed by powerful ballistic missiles that only U.S.-provided Patriot missiles can intercept. Context: The Trump administration’s decision is part of a broader global review of where the Pentagon is sending such weapons, the Defense Department said.
Business & Economics
A year ago, Trump’s finances were shaky. Then he began to capitalize on his comeback, especially with crypto. Here’s what we know about his net worth. Lives lived: Anne Merriman, a medical doctor and former nun who found an affordable way to expand palliative care in the developing world, has died at age 90.
Sharing our best relationship tipsIn a world that feels increasingly lonely, connecting with others is difficult — but the payoff can be huge. Healthy relationships can make your life longer, happier and healthier. My colleagues from our Well desk, who write about relationships, spend a lot of time talking with experts about what works and what doesn’t. They advised people to stop focusing so much on being right, to embrace a little nostalgia and to infuse their relationships with curiosity. We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
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