Israeli forces seize Rafah crossing in Gaza, putting cease-fire talks on edge
CAIRO — Israeli tanks have seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and launched an incursion into the southern city. That came even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge. The U.N. warned of a potential collapse of the flow of aid to Palestinians from the closure of Rafah and the other main crossing into Gaza at a time when officials say the northern part of the enclave is already experiencing “full-blown famine.” The Israeli foray overnight into Tuesday came after hours of whiplash in the Israel-Hamas war. The militant group on Monday said it accepted an Egyptian-Qatari mediated cease-fire proposal. Israel, however, insisted the deal did not meet its core demands.
The Met Gala's flowery theme went in all directions
NEW YORK — Who won the Met Gala? Nature and its many blooms, along with some far-flung princesses. It was anybody’s guess exactly how the celebrity crowd on the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art would interpret the “Garden of Time” dress code Monday at the annual fashion extravaganza. It followed last year’s uber-specific homage to Karl Lagerfeld. Some fashion experts were pleasantly surprised at how well the A-list crowd did with the fashion assignment. Others saw great beauty but a muddled approach to the theme for fashion's big night. The gala's mastermind, Anna Wintour, saw it coming.
University of Chicago clears pro-Palestinian demonstration
CHICAGO — Police have cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the University of Chicago as tension ratchets up in standoffs with demonstrators at other college campuses across the U.S. and even Europe. The Rhode Island School of Design is holding talks with protesters occupying a building and MIT is dealing with a new encampment on a site that was cleared and immediately retaken by demonstrators. The confrontations come as campuses try a range of strategies from appeasement to threats of disciplinary action to resolve the protests against the Israel-Hamas war and clear the way for commencements.
Police break up a pro-Palestinian student protest in Berlin
AMSTERDAM — Berlin police have broken up a protest by several hundred pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied a courtyard at Berlin’s Free University earlier in the day. The protesters had put up about 20 tents and formed a human chain around the tents. Police called on the students via loudspeakers to leave the campus on Tuesday. Most protesters had covered their faces with medical masks and had draped kufiyah scarves around their heads, shouting slogans like “viva, viva Palestina.” In recent days, students have held protests or set up encampments in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and Britain, following earlier protests that have roiled U.S. campuses. Police also broke up a similar student demonstration in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
Putin begins his fifth term as president
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term as Russian president at a glittering Kremlin ceremony, after destroying his political opposition, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and consolidating power. Already in office for nearly a quarter-century and the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Josef Stalin, Putin’s new term doesn’t expire until 2030, when he is constitutionally eligible to run for yet another six years. He has transformed Russia from a country emerging from economic collapse to a pariah state that threatens global security. The question now is what the 71-year-old Putin will do — both at home and abroad — over the course of another six years.
Police investigate shooting outside Drake's mansion
TORONTO — Police are investigating a shooting outside rapper Drake’s mansion that left a security guard seriously wounded. Authorities did not confirm whether Drake was at home at the time of the shooting, but said his team is cooperating. The shooting happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the affluent Bridle Path neighborhood of Toronto. Toronto Police Inspector Paul Krawczyk said video of the shooting had been recovered but it was too early in the investigation to talk about a possible motive for the shooting. Krawczyk said the guard who was wounded remains hospitalized.
Apple unveils brighter screen, faster processors for iPad
Apple on Tuesday unveiled its next generation of iPad Pros and Airs — lineups that will boast faster processors, new sizes and a new display system. The showcase at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, comes after the company disclosed its steepest quarterly decline in iPhone sales since the pandemic’s outset, deepening a slump that’s increasing the pressure on the trendsetting company to spruce up its products.
Woman denies murdering her former husband's relatives
MELBOURNE, Australia — A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms with lunch has pleaded not guilty in an Australian court to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder. Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video link from a Melbourne prison where she has been held since her arrest in November last year. She pleaded not guilty to all charges and will appear in the Victoria state Supreme Court in Melbourne for the first time later this month. Proceedings have been fast-tracked after Patterson dispensed with a committal hearing. She also stands accused for the attempted murder of her ex-husband and another one of his family members.
Instacart partners with Uber Eats to offer restaurant deliveries
Instacart is partnering with Uber Eats to offer restaurant deliveries to its customers. The San Francisco-based grocery delivery company said Tuesday that its U.S. shoppers will see a “Restaurants” tab in the company’s app in the coming weeks. Restaurant orders will be delivered by Uber Eats drivers. Instacart said its Instacart Plus members, who pay $99 per year or $9.99 per month for free grocery deliveries, will also get free restaurant delivery if their order is over $35. Regular Instacart members will be charged Uber Eats delivery fees. The companies said the deal will expand Uber Eats' reach into the suburban neighborhoods where Instacart is most heavily used.
Snoop Dogg brand is attached to Arizona Bowl, fo shizzle
TUCSON, Ariz. — Rapper and media personality Snoop Dogg is putting his name on the Arizona Bowl for what will be the first partnership between an alcohol brand and a college bowl game. The “Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl Presented by Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop” is scheduled for Dec. 28 at Arizona Stadium and will match teams from the Mountain West Conference and Mid-American Conference. The digital media company Barstool previously sponsored the bowl. Gin & Juice, named after Snoop’s 1994 hit, is the first product from Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s new premium spirits company.
