The Evening: Aid to Gaza dries up as Egypt and Israel spar

Also, A.I.Phones and Eurovision

View in browser|nytimes.com May 10, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. Gaza aid is at a standstill Siri might get smarter Plus, Eurovision looks for its next champion People block a road as they try to stop the aid trucks from entering the Gaza Strip. Leo Correa/Associated Press Aid for Gazans has come to a near-total halt Southern Gaza is running dangerously low on essentials like food and medicine, after the flow of aid has come to a near-total stop — first closed off by Israel and then further restricted, officials say, by Egypt. Israel closed the crossing between Egypt and the southern Gazan city of Rafah this week after it sent in tanks and took over the Gazan side of the border. It also temporarily shut down the other crucial southern crossing, known as Kerem Shalom, after a nearby Hamas attack killed four Israeli soldiers on Sunday. Kerem Shalom has since been reopened and some fuel has gone into Gaza, but food and medicine have not been allowed across since last Sunday, according to the main U.N. agency that aids Gaza. Egypt, where most of the aid to Gaza is collected and loaded, is resisting sending trucks toward Kerem Shalom, according to U.S. and Israeli officials. They believe that Egypt is trying to pressure Israel to pull back from its operation in Rafah. Egypt fears that the Rafah operation could push Palestinian refugees onto Egyptian soil — an outcome the country views as a national security threat. A Western official said Israeli military activity near Kerem Shalom has also partly destroyed the roads, making passage extremely difficult for aid trucks. Israeli officials say that they are doing everything they can to get aid into Gaza. In related news, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to support Palestinian statehood, a symbolic move that the U.S. opposed. Amy Matsushita-Beal Apple will bring A.I. to iPhones Apple plans to announce next month that it is introducing a new generative A.I. system for iPhones to power a more versatile Siri. The update, according to three people familiar with the company's work, is part of the tech giant's most significant reorganization in more than a decade. Apple's top software executives launched the effort last year after realizing that the new wave of A.I.-powered chatbots were much more useful than Siri, a voice assistant that has been mocked on shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm." They were worried that the new systems would eventually make the iPhone look like a "dumb brick." That urgency also contributed to Apple's decision to cancel another big bet: a $10 billion project to develop a self-driving car. NASA captured images of solar flares on May 5 and May 6. NASA/SDO A sun storm may bring northern lights to unfamiliar skies Dramatic blasts of particles from the surface of the sun prompted forecasters to issue a severe geomagnetic storm watch, the first since 2005. The material is expected to reach Earth's atmosphere this evening, and the effects could continue through the weekend. Scientists said the storm could disrupt some navigation systems and radio communications, or even cause blackouts. The warnings are designed to help government agencies and companies prepare their systems. On the plus side, the storm could bring the northern lights to places that don't usually see them, as far south as Northern California or Alabama. To catch a glimpse, try to get away from brightly lit cities and find a gap in the cloud cover. More top news Ukraine: Reinforcements were rushed to the northern border after Russian forces attempted to break through a 600-mile front. Trump: Prosecutors in Donald Trump's hush-money trial could rest their case as soon as Thursday. Their last major witness, Michael Cohen, will testify next week. Trade: The Biden administration is expected to announce new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other goods. Protests: Two universities canceled graduation speeches by the American ambassador to the U.N. because of student objections to U.S. support for Israel. Investigations: Russia is building facilities in Belarus that could house nuclear warheads, a Times analysis found. Covid: What will a new variant mean for the spring and summer? Education: The school board of Shenandoah County in Virginia voted to restore the names of three Confederate officers to schools in the district. Lives lived: Jim Simons, a prizewinning mathematician who became one of Wall Street's most successful investors, died at the age of 86. TIME TO UNWIND Baby Lasagna, representing Croatia. Martin Meissner/Associated Press Europe's grandest musical spectacle Eurovision, one of the world's most popular singing contests, will conclude tomorrow as 26 acts from around the world represent their countries with maximalist musical performances. Expect wind machines, fur-lined capes and musicians playing upside down in a gigantic hamster wheel. The champion will be chosen by an audience vote, in which Americans can participate for only the second time. This year's contest has, to an extent, been overshadowed by the war in Gaza. Some artists and activists called for Israel's entrant to be banned. However, our culture reporter Alex Marshall said he didn't expect any major disruptions. "Eurovision says it's about bringing the world together in music," he said, "and a lot of its fans believe that." Here are the acts favored to win. Illustration by Giacomo Gambineri Retirement doesn't have to be scary When people begin planning for retirement, they often start with a number: How much money will I need? Ron Lieber, The Times's Your Money columnist, has a different suggestion. As he explains in a delightful animated column, it's better to start with a retirement mission statement, focused on goals like building relationships. Lauren Groff's Gainesville, Fla., bookstore has a mission. Dustin Miller for The New York Times Dinner table topics Battling the bans: As Florida removed books from libraries and classrooms, Lauren Groff opened her own bookstore in Gainesville, stocked with purged titles. Free good deeds: A woman in New York City tried to do small favors for passers-by. It got complicated. Filling the silence: Talking to yourself is normal, experts say. It's also useful. Dog-friendly housing: Of the largest U.S. cities, Dallas has the most rentals that allow canines. ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: Of these breakfast favorites, the French toast would be great for Mother's Day this Sunday. (Just a hint.) Drink: Here are 10 great Beaujolais to enjoy now, or in a few years. Watch: "Boiling Point" on Netflix could tide you over until the next season of "The Bear." Read: "Reboot" by Justin Taylor is one of the books our editors and critics recommend. Listen: After playing Billie Holiday onscreen, Andra Day displays a jazz virtuosity all her own on a new album. Beautify: We've got some tips on how to restore old furniture. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING One North Yorkshire resident asked if commas would be the next thing to go. Harry Satloka Britons are fighting to save their apostrophes The English town of North Yorkshire caused quite a stir when it began removing apostrophes from street signs for thoroughfares like St. Mary's Walk and King's Road. Officials said the decision would make the streets easier to search for in databases. But some locals residents were not happy, calling it "cultural vandalism." Several grammar lovers sent a letter to officials to demand the policy be reversed. Someone took the matter into their own hands and added an apostrophe using a marker. "What's next?" asked one North Yorkshire resident and former teacher. "We just use emojis?" Have a possessive weekend. Thanks for reading. My colleague Justin Porter will write this newsletter on Monday. I'll be back on Tuesday. — Matthew 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 Photo Editor: Brent Lewis 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