The Evening: The death of Iran’s president, and what’s next

Also, prosecutors rested their case against Trump.

View in browser|nytimes.com May 20, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Monday. The death of Iran's president Warrants over Oct. 7 and Gaza Plus, how big is Taylor Swift? Some Iranians mourned the death of the country's president; others celebrated. Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times Iran's president died, opening a new chapter of instability Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's president, was killed yesterday in a helicopter crash along with the country's foreign minister. A conservative Shiite Muslim cleric, Raisi had a hand in brutal crackdowns on opponents of the Islamic Republic, and he was widely viewed as a possible successor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. State media attributed the crash to a "technical failure." Here's the latest. In the hours since the wreckage was discovered, Khamenei has sought to project order and control: He quickly named acting leaders and announced that new presidential elections would be held within 50 days. But the tumult comes at a perilous time for Iran, which has in recent years dealt with a nationwide uprising, a deadly terrorist attack and a shadow war with Israel that escalated last month. "On top of all of this, the economy is really in a state of shambles because it's been plagued by tough sanctions," said my colleague Farnaz Fassihi, who covers Iran. "Now there's also anxiety about what's going to happen in the future." Politically, little is likely to change in the short term. Khamenei sets the tone, and the next president will all but certainly follow his lead. But he is 85, in declining health and searching for a successor. Raisi's death added to the speculation that Khamenei's son, an invisible but powerful figure, could become the next supreme leader. For more: My colleague David Sanger explained the importance of a question facing Iran's next leaders: Will they take the path of aggression or caution? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, left, and the Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Pool photo by Amir Cohen; Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The I.C.C.'s prosecutor seeks warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said today that he had requested arrest warrants on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, for Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and for the leaders of Hamas. The warrants are largely symbolic. The court's jurisdiction is not recognized in Israel or Gaza, and it could be months before judges decide whether to issue the warrants. But if judges do, the leaders could be arrested if they travel to one of the court's 124 member nations. President Biden condemned the call for Netanyahu's arrest, saying that "whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas." Donald Trump in court in Manhattan, today. Dave Sanders for The New York Times Prosecutors rested their case against Trump The marathon cross-examination of Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer and the key witness in his New York criminal trial, ended today. With that, the prosecution's case concluded after 15 days of testimony and 20 witnesses. The defense this afternoon called its first two witnesses: Daniel Sitko, a paralegal who works for Trump's lead attorney, and Robert Costello, a lawyer who once advised Cohen. Not everyone around Trump thought that calling Costello was a wise move, my colleague Maggie Haberman reported, and the judge cleared the courtroom after scolding Costello. Here's what we learned. What's next: Closing arguments are expected to begin a week from tomorrow. The container ship Dali was guided to port today by tugboats. Jason Andrew for The New York Times Baltimore's crashed cargo ship moved back to port The Dali, a 947-foot-long container ship that rammed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, returned today to the Port of Baltimore. The ship had been covered in debris, with its crew still onboard for nearly eight weeks, after causing the bridge's collapse and the deaths of six road workers. The ship's move was a crucial step in the effort to fully reopen the port, which is one of the nation's key shipping hubs. The authorities set a goal of reopening the port's main channel by the end of May. More top news WikiLeaks: Julian Assange can appeal his extradition to the U.S., the High Court in Britain ruled. Ukraine: For the first time this year, the country ordered rolling blackouts as Russia increasingly strikes its power plants. South Africa: The country's top court ruled that Jacob Zuma, the former president, cannot serve in Parliament, fueling uncertainty a week before national elections. Russia: After a secret review, the F.B.I. cut ties to confidential sources thought to be connected to Russian disinformation. Banks: Martin Gruenberg, the embattled chairman of the F.D.I.C., said he would resign once a successor had been confirmed. A.I.: Microsoft introduced new computers designed for artificial intelligence. Books: Penguin Random House, the largest U.S. publishing house, announced that the heads of two of its most prestigious literary imprints had been let go. Wall Street: Ivan Boesky, the rogue trader who inspired the character of Gordon Gekko, died at 87. TIME TO UNWIND Michael Emerson plays a demonic emissary in "Evil." Elizabeth Fisher/Paramount+ TV's king of creepy is back for more If you're looking for an unsettling television character, Michael Emerson is the man you call. More than two decades ago, he won a guest actor Emmy for his breakout role playing a serial killer in "The Practice." He went on to creep out viewers in "Lost" and "Person of Interest." Now, Emerson is inhabiting his most ghoulish role yet in the aptly named Paramount+ show "Evil," which returns for its fourth and final season this week. He credits his Shakespearean training for his ability to keep viewers on edge, and told us that he has been drawn to "grotesquerie" since he was a child. Cassidy Araiza for The New York Times; Getty Images; Associated Press How big is Taylor Swift? She is everywhere. Taylor Swift secured her eighth No. 1 album since 2020 with her new "The Tortured Poets Department"; she's the only artist with four Grammys for album of the year; and her ongoing tour far surpassed earnings records. That had us wondering: How does her popularity stack up with the biggest names in pop music history? The Beatles still surpass her in chart-toppers, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" has far outsold any Swift album — but she's hitting her peak nearly two decades into her career. "Cieper," a top-hatted tomcat who is the unofficial mascot of the Belgian town of Ieper. Kevin Faingnaert for The New York Times Dinner table topics A 22-foot feline: Cat lovers from around the world gathered for Kattenstoet, a Belgian cat parade. Culinary controversy: Is a taco a sandwich? It depends on the law. The buzz from Cannes: We talked to Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons and Willem Dafoe about acting in the unusual worlds created by the director Yorgos Lanthimos. Ask our climate desk: Is biodegradable plastic really a thing? ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: This mushroom smash burger is quick to make and dense with savoriness. Watch: "A Most Wanted Man" was among our top under-the-radar movies to stream. Read: Elizabeth Beller's new book examines the life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Style: Our fashion critic has alternatives to the little black dress. Moisturize: Here's a guide for dealing with acne. Give: It's graduation season. Wirecutter has gift ideas. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Ena Da, the winner of the competition. Benjamin Norman for The New York Times How good is your mwahahahaha? Nothing highlights the wickedness of a movie character quite like an evil laugh. Think of the witch from "The Wizard of Oz," the Joker from the Batman movies or even Dr. Evil from "Austin Powers." Dozens of New Yorkers tried to replicate that villainous charm with their own cackles at the Evil Laugh Competition in Brooklyn. In the end, no one delighted the packed crowd more than Ena Da, a writer and comedian who heard of the event just five hours before it began. Listen to her laugh and several other crowd favorites. Have an amusing evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — 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