The Evening: Biden’s final speech to the U.N.

Also, thousands are fleeing southern Lebanon.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 24, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. Biden's speech at the U.N. Ted Cruz's tight race Plus, a pygmy hippo to steal your heart President Biden's final speech to the United Nations General Assembly, today. Dave Sanders for The New York Times Biden warned that the world was at an 'inflection point' President Biden used his fourth and final address to the United Nations General Assembly today to argue that "things can get better," even in a world that appears enveloped in crises. He celebrated his efforts to defend Ukraine and rebuild America's global alliances, however he also said that the progress could easily collapse if the U.S. turns to isolationism. "Our task, our test, is to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart," Biden said to the world leaders gathered in New York City. "The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come." The president's warning appeared to be an unspoken reference to the possible election of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the NATO alliance. Biden cast his decision to step down from the presidential ticket as a lesson for world leaders. "Some things are more important than staying in power," he said. For more: Many leaders focused on the Middle East, with some speakers criticizing Israel for its war with Hamas in Gaza, where a cease-fire has appeared to become less likely in recent weeks. Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for continued support: "Russia can only be forced into peace," he said. Traffic in the town of Damour, south of the capital, Beirut, today. Ibrahim Amro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Thousands fled southern Lebanon Thousands of people tried to escape southern Lebanon today, as Israel pounded Hezbollah targets there in response to the militant group's continued barrage of rockets directed at Israel. In Beirut, the capital, streets were clogged and displaced people slept in cars. Lebanon's health minister raised the death toll from yesterday's strikes to 558 people, making it the country's deadliest day in decades. Here's the latest. The attacks were the latest in a weeklong wave of aggression that has plunged Lebanon into a deep state of uncertainty. Experts disagree about how much the strikes have disrupted Hezbollah. Ted Cruz at a campaign event in Houston last month. Callaghan O'Hare for The New York Times Ted Cruz finds himself in another close Senate race Republicans have won every statewide race in Texas for the last 30 years. But Ted Cruz, the state's well-known senator who was nearly unseated in 2018, is trying not to get overconfident. He has been attempting to pull off a difficult political trick for a politician whose name ID is nearly universal: remaking his firebrand persona into something more approachable. His Democratic opponent, the former N.F.L. player Colin Allred, has received a fraction of the attention garnered by Cruz's last challenger, Beto O'Rourke. But with just six weeks before Election Day, the race appears exceedingly close. On the campaign trail The presidential election is 42 days away. Kamala Harris said she supports eliminating the Senate filibuster to pass abortion rights legislation. Laurene Powell Jobs, Silicon Valley's wealthiest woman, played a key role in Harris's rise. Many anti-Trump voters are weary to vote for Harris. Democrats are racing to change their minds. Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times Doctors are turning to A.I. when talking to patients Every day, patients send hundreds of thousands of messages to their doctors through MyChart, a communications platform that is nearly ubiquitous in U.S. hospitals. They are often looking for trustworthy advice to make important health decisions. To keep up, doctors at more than 150 health systems have begun allowing artificial intelligence to help draft their responses. The workaround, which appears to ease the doctors' cognitive burden, troubles some experts, who worry that the A.I. tool will make potentially dangerous errors. More top news Antitrust: The Justice Department is suing Visa, accusing the financial giant of unfairly stifling competition for debit card services. New York: The city's public schools chancellor said he would resign, weeks after his phone was seized in a federal bribery investigation. Court: Caroline Ellison, a former top adviser to the disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, was sentenced to two years in prison. Congress: The Republican House speaker is again relying on Democratic votes to fund the government. Education: U.S. News & World Report's college rankings are out. Cue the rage and obsession. Meta: Mark Zuckerberg, who once backed liberal causes, said he was done with politics. That shift has changed his social media platforms. Labor: Dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts are threatening to strike on Oct. 1, a move that could shake the economy. Football: Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback, said he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. TIME TO UNWIND The New York Times Our favorite restaurants of 2024 My colleagues in the Food section have spent the past year traveling to every state in the country to scout out America's best food spots. They ate hyperlocal dishes served out of a trailer in a rural Virginia field, experienced one of the country's most refined seasonal tasting menus in San Francisco and dined on Creole fare at a Texas strip mall. Today, we present their 50 favorite places to eat in America right now. (They're also answering your questions in the comments section.) For more: Restaurant portions might soon get smaller. Are we ready? Ellen DeGeneres in her new Netflix special, "For Your Approval." Netflix Ellen DeGeneres dropped a Netflix special Two years after her daytime talk show ended after reports claimed it had a toxic workplace, Ellen DeGeneres is back with a new Netflix special, "For Your Approval." She talks about her O.C.D., A.D.H.D. and arthritis, but DeGeneres's most insightful section is when she explores being a boss, our critic Jason Zinoman writes. DeGeneres says she was an immature boss, a poor fit for the job. But she adds that female bosses are expected to act differently than male ones are. Read Jason's full review. Getty Images Dinner table topics Anti-aging medicine: People are taking an immunosuppressive pill to extend their lives. Will it work? Wine's bright spot: Many wines have lost favor among the youngest generation of drinkers. But not natural wine. Paris's most famous cafe: Les Deux Magots, in its 140th year, is getting ready for a new generation. Nicholas Sparks: We wandered through the best-selling author's palatial riverfront home in North Carolina. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Rachel Vanni for The New York Times Cook: This corn and cod green curry is a sweet and memorable meal. Read: Jesse Ball's new novel imagines the justice system in a dystopian future. Cheer: The W.N.B.A. playoffs are underway. Here's what to watch. Travel: Here are five colorful leaf-peeping road trips for fall. Brew: Wirecutter developed a quiz to help find the right coffee maker for you. Learn: We asked experts about green tea's supposed links to weight loss. Compete: Take our quiz to see how well you know classic literary villains. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters A pygmy hippo to steal your heart Moo Deng is just 2 months old, and she's already a celebrity. She's a defiant, sassy, slippery and chubby pygmy hippopotamus. She likes to scream and her name translates to "bouncy pork." What's not to love? After her zoo in Thailand introduced her to the public in July, the internet fell in love with Moo Deng. Like previous animal stars, zoo workers appreciate the attention because it draws in visitors and raises awareness for endangered animal species. Have an adorable evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Sean Kawasaki-Culligan 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