The Evening: Biden prepares new peace effort

Also, a power outage plunged all of Cuba into darkness.

View in browser|nytimes.com October 18, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. A U.S. push for a Gaza truce Doubts about a candidate's war story Plus, Lin-Manuel Miranda's new album An image of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is projected during a rally in Sana'a, Yemen, today. Yahya Arhab/EPA, via Shutterstock Biden renewed efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza President Biden said today that the killing of the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar offered "an opportunity to seek a path to peace" in the Middle East. Speaking in Berlin, where he met with European leaders, Biden said he would send Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel in the coming days to discuss a plan to end the war in Gaza. Biden also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, whose office said that both leaders had agreed there was an "opportunity to advance the release of the hostages" as part of a cease-fire deal. However, Sinwar's longtime deputy insisted that Hamas's demands were unchanged. For Biden, who has only three months left in office, getting a cease-fire deal done is a big reach, my colleague David Sanger writes. An autopsy conducted by Israel found that Sinwar was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Here's what we know about his death. In related news, Kamala Harris is unlikely to break from Biden on Israel, her advisers said. Tim Sheehy. Tailyr Irvine for The New York Times A Senate candidate's war story raised questions Tim Sheehy, a Republican from Montana running in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races, has often talked about a bullet lodged in his forearm. He says he suffered the injury in 2012 as a Navy SEAL during a firefight in Afghanistan. But two people who had close interactions with Sheehy have come forward to dispute his account. A former SEAL colleague said Sheehy had never mentioned the wound, and he remembered no visible evidence of an injury. A park ranger said he was certain Sheehy shot himself at Glacier National Park in 2015, when the ranger spoke to him at the hospital. On the campaign trail The presidential election is 18 days away. Both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris campaigned today in Michigan, where they are effectively tied in the polls. A judge released a redacted trove of evidence in Trump's federal election case, rejecting the former president's objections. Trump and his campaign have blamed illegal immigration as the cause of many of the country's problems. That is rarely the case. Residents of western North Carolina began early voting. Many are weighing which candidate will better help them rebuild. India is accused of plotting to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh lawyer and activist. Sarah Blesener for The New York Times India is caught up in two murder plot accusations In an indictment unsealed last night, American prosecutors charged a man they identified as an Indian intelligence officer with trying to orchestrate the assassination of a Sikh activist in New York. Earlier this week, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, accusing them of being part of a broad criminal network to intimidate Sikhs. In both cases, India's government is likely to face increased pressure to explain its actions. So far, only the Canadian accusations have caused a rift. India has been far more accommodating of requests from the U.S., perhaps out of fear of alienating Washington. People waiting at a bus station today in Matanzas, Cuba, after a power outage across the entire country. Antonio Levi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A power outage plunged all of Cuba into darkness Electricity went out today across all of Cuba after the nation's power grid failed. For weeks, the country has not had enough fuel to run the grid, resulting in blackouts of up to 12 hours. Experts said it was the worst electricity crisis in the nation's history. More top news Tech: The federal auto safety regulator is investigating whether Tesla's self-driving cars were at fault for four collisions, including one that killed a pedestrian. Trump: A report by House Democrats accused Donald Trump of accepting inappropriate payments through the Trump International Hotel in 2017 and 2018. Business: CVS Health abruptly ousted its chief executive after the company's earnings disappointed investors. War: In Berlin, President Biden urged allies not to waver in their support for Ukraine, saying Kyiv's forces were "headed into a very difficult winter." New York: In a rare move, a judge corrected a sentence he imposed 27 years ago and freed a man, who walked out of prison yesterday. France: The town of Mazan, where Gisèle Pelicot was drugged and raped by her husband and strangers, has been shaken by the revelations. TIME TO UNWIND Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Daniel Weiss for The New York Times Lin-Manuel Miranda knows his new project is old-fashioned Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of "Hamilton," released today an 80-minute concept album inspired by the 1979 movie "The Warriors" and co-written by Eisa Davis. The story follows a gang of women who fight their way through New York City. The very notion of such an album, which is a bit like a musical without much dialogue or any visuals, is old-fashioned, Miranda acknowledged. But he said he was trying to recapture the feeling of listening to cast albums as a child. After all, Miranda first got hooked on "The Warriors" when he was just 4. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart, right. Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports, via Reuters Connect Can the Liberty end New York's title drought? New York City considers itself the Mecca of basketball, but none of its three professional teams have won a championship since 1976. That could change tonight: If the New York Liberty defeat the Minnesota Lynx, they will take home their first W.N.B.A. championship. The Liberty's biggest stars, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, have helped the team dominate all year long. Now, just 40 minutes and a talented Lynx team stand between them and a ring. (If the Liberty lose, they'll get one more chance on Sunday.) ABC Dinner table topics The American dream: Want to understand the U.S. economy? Watch "Shark Tank." From royal to Uniqlo: Clare Waight Keller, who designed Meghan Markle's wedding dress, is taking on the mass market. California's crumbling coastline: Our boundless love for Big Sur may be killing it. A playoffs thaw: Something weird is happening in New York's baseball scene: Mets and Yankees fans are getting along. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Rachel Vanni for The New York Times Cook: This beef tagine with green beans and olives is perfect for sharing. Watch: "It's Florida, Man" reveals the lives behind bizarre news reports. Read: "When We Flew Away," a novel for young readers, imagines Anne Frank before her diary. Focus: Wear your earbuds to dinner, really. Say no: Experts offered tips to stop your people-pleasing habits. Gaze: The Orionids meteor shower will reach its peak Sunday night into Monday morning. Here's how to watch. Style: Looking for a good loafer? Start here. Heal: Eczema affects about one in 10 people in the U.S. Here's how to deal with it. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Jordan Macy for The New York Times Meet the real superheroes of Comic Con When you stitch, snap or glue together your own elaborate costume, it's good to have a team of repairers at the ready. That's why the Paladins of Cosplay — armed with glue guns, zip ties and safety pins — have become such a popular station at New York Comic Con, which is happening right now. Fittingly named for the event, the Paladins draw inspiration from the pilots of the robotic hero Voltron. When one attendee's jetpack shattered, they "were able to Humpty Dumpty, piece it back together," the group's founder said. Have an imaginative weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Scott Nelson was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018