Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday.
Zelensky returned to Ukraine empty-handedMore than 20 months into Ukraine's war to fend off invading Russian troops, President Volodymyr Zelensky made a globe-trotting trip this week in an effort to garner enough foreign aid to sustain his military. Today, he returned to Ukraine with little to show for it. This morning, E.U. leaders conceded that they could not pass a multiyear $54.5 billion aid package over the objections of Hungary, pushing back the vote to January at the earliest. Zelensky had met with European leaders after leaving Washington, where political infighting has so far halted U.S. aid. In Ukraine, where the military is facing mounting deaths and a stalemate on the battlefield, army recruiters have become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to replenish the ranks. In some cases, they have pulled men off the streets, whisking them off to recruiting centers using intimidation and even physical force.
Israeli troops accidentally killed three hostagesThe Israeli military announced that its troops killed three Israeli hostages today after mistakenly identifying them as a threat during combat with Hamas. The accident took place in Shejaiye, one of the densely populated communities in northern Gaza that the Israeli military has identified as a Hamas stronghold. The hostages, identified as Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shamriz, had all been abducted from kibbutzim near the Gaza border during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel. Separately, we spoke to a former Israeli hostage who, along with three of her children, spent seven weeks in Hamas captivity. She recounted the horrifying ordeal.
This holiday season, some prices are actually fallingAmerican shoppers, burned by more than two years of rapid inflation, are getting some welcome relief: Prices on many products are falling. Toys are almost 3 percent cheaper than they were last year, washing machines are down 12 percent, and eggs, whose prices skyrocketed last winter, are down 22 percent. Housing costs, however, remain on the rise. Many young people are paying more for rent, and finding the idea of homeownership implausible, a fact that could hurt President Biden in next year's election.
Inside the dismantling of Roe v. WadeWhen the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion last year, the story behind the decision seemed obvious: A liberal justice died and was replaced by a conservative one, who locked in the votes needed to reverse Roe v. Wade. But that's far from the whole picture. An investigation by my colleagues found that the newest conservative justice, Amy Coney Barrett, actually opposed taking up the case, while another conservative justice teamed up with a liberal member in an effort to save part of Roe. Read the full investigation. More top news
Readers' favorite entertainment picks of 2023At the end of every year, our critics release their lists of the year's best films, TV shows, songs, theater and more. Our readers don't always agree. So this year we wanted to share with you their picks: Some said we should have included the show "Billions" or the play "Sabbath's Theater." Many were disappointed not to see "Barbie" among the top movies. Perhaps Brian Seifert, a reader from Cincinnati, summed up the discrepancy between critics and readers best: "Critics see a lot of junk, so they like the intense, quality-issue movies that come along. Average people deal with a lot of junk, so they like lighter entertainment to escape and relax."
A season of coughs and coldsThese days, it can feel as though we're stuck in a cycle of never-ending illness. Particularly since the pandemic, it may appear as if you and your family are sick more often and that colds are more severe and coughs drag on for longer. But why? To some extent, it's simple math: Covid now adds to the infectious diseases — like the flu, R.S.V. and the common cold — already spreading every virus season. But doctors say that another reason this season feels more intense is because our bodies forgot how to fight back after years of mask-wearing and other heightened protections.
Dinner table topics
Cook: This roasted beef tenderloin is an ideal party centerpiece. Watch: "No One Will Save You" was one of the year's best science fiction films. Read: Our editors recommend "My Death," a slim yet marvelous novel from Lisa Tuttle. Celebrate: We have a holiday party survival guide for introverts. Consider: Family history can influence alcoholism. Here's what to know. Give: Personalized gifts are especially popular this year. Compete: Do you know the defining personalities of 2023? Take our faces quiz to find out. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini. Find all our games here.
In New York City's detritus, a gift for a loved one?It's the holiday season, which means that many of us are struggling to find last-minute gifts that don't feel like last-minute gifts. Lucky for us, my colleague Dan Barry may have found just the solution with New York City's latest junk auction, which sells off items that have outlived their usefulness from city agencies. How about a 40-foot shipping container starting at $100 or 100 cans of "flying insect killer spray" starting at $5? You could also consider a set of 92 used, motion-sensing soap dispensers. (Batteries not included.) OK, maybe you won't find too many hidden gems. But the sea of discarded items offers a glimpse of the cosmic size of the city's operations. Have a generous weekend. Thanks for reading. Sarah Hughes was our photo editor today. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com.
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