The Evening: Israel targets Hezbollah’s leader

Also, Hurricane Helene destroyed large swaths of the Southeast.

View in browser|nytimes.com September 27, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Friday. A major Israeli strike in Lebanon Destruction from Hurricane Helene Plus, remembering Maggie Smith The aftermath of Israeli strikes today in Beirut's suburbs. Ibrahim Amro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Israel targeted Hezbollah's leader in a strike near Beirut The Israeli military bombed multiple residential buildings outside of Beirut, the Lebanese capital, today that it said sat on top of the central headquarters of Hezbollah. The strikes appeared to have been the most intense in the area since the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began last October. Here's the latest. The target of the strike was Hassan Nasrallah, the cleric who has led Hezbollah since 1992, according to Israeli and American officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear whether Nasrallah had been killed. Lebanon's health minister said the bombing had caused the "complete decimation" of four to six residential buildings in the Dahiya, a group of crowded neighborhoods south of Beirut where Hezbollah dominates. At least two people were killed and 76 others were wounded, the health ministry said, though that toll is likely to rise because others are believed to be trapped under the rubble. The attack came just after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gave a defiant speech at the United Nations General Assembly, in which he defended his government's handling of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and vowed to continue fighting despite international calls for a cease-fire. For more: Israel's new campaign against Hezbollah started with a raid in Syria. Dekle Beach, Fla., today. Paul Ratje for The New York Times Hurricane Helene destroyed large swaths of the Southeast Helene crashed ashore overnight as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing tree-snapping winds and devastating flooding to much of the Southeast. At least 41 people have been reported dead across four states, though officials said that toll would likely rise. The storm left damage stretching from South Florida into the mountains of Appalachia. In the densely populated Tampa Bay region, neighborhoods were underwater; in southern Georgia, search teams pulled trapped residents out of damaged buildings; and in North Carolina, more than two million people were under flood warnings. Take a look at scenes from Florida after the hurricane roared through. Vice President Kamala Harris will make her first visit to the border since beginning her campaign, and the first since 2021. Erin Schaff/The New York Times Harris is visiting the border Later tonight, Kamala Harris is set to make her first visit to the nation's southern border since 2021, when President Biden assigned her the task of tackling the root causes of migration. She is expected to give a speech in Douglas, Ariz., where she will try to demonstrate her harder line on immigration. The appearance is an attempt by Harris to directly confront an issue that polls show remains a major weakness for her. On the campaign trail The presidential election is 39 days away. The U.S. charged three Iranians for the hacking of Donald Trump's campaign. Both presidential campaigns have stepped up efforts to court an unlikely group of potential swing voters: Mormons. Our chief political analyst, Nate Cohn, explained the problems with online polls. Mayor Eric Adams in Manhattan after his arraignment today. Jefferson Siegel for The New York Times Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Inside a Lower Manhattan courtroom this afternoon, Eric Adams, New York City's mayor, pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. New York's power brokers are still debating what should happen next. Jerrold Nadler, a congressman representing Manhattan, joined a host of Democrats who have called for Adams to resign. But Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove the mayor, said in a statement that she expects Adams to "find an appropriate path forward." In related news, Investigators seized a phone belonging to Adams's chief adviser and served her with a grand jury subpoena. More top news Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump amid fears that a second Trump administration could spell the end of American support for Ukraine's fight against Russia. Economy: Inflation cooled in August, the latest sign of progress in the Federal Reserve's yearslong fight to bring it back under control. Japan: The governing party selected Shigeru Ishiba, 67, to become the next prime minister. Sports: The World Anti-Doping Agency lost track of open cases and test results before the Paris Olympics. Health: A possible cluster of bird-flu infections in Missouri has grown to include eight people. Elon Musk: Almost a third of 171 posts last week from the X owner were false, misleading or missing vital context, according to a Times analysis. Punctuation: A plaque in Westminster Abbey memorializing the Brontë sisters had a typo for 85 years. It's fixed now. TIME TO UNWIND Maggie Smith in 2015. Tom Jamieson for The New York Times Remembering Maggie Smith Maggie Smith, one of the finest British stage and screen actors of her generation, died today at 89. She won Academy Awards for her roles in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "California Suite," then became a megastar in her mid-70s as the acid-tongued dowager countess on "Downton Abbey." We looked back on her life in photographs, and picked out 10 great performances to stream. The cast of "Saturday Night," from left, Kim Matula as Jane Curtin; Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman; Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels; Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster; and Matt Wood as John Belushi. Hopper Stone/Sony Pictures How 'Saturday Night Live' came to life No one knew it at the time, but the evening of Oct. 11, 1975, turned out to be a pivotal moment in television history: It was the night of the first episode of "Saturday Night Live." That evening is now the basis of a new movie, "Saturday Night," a fictional reimagining of the show's first episode, directed by Jason Reitman. (Here's our review.) Ahead of the show's 50th anniversary season, we turned to some of the writers, actors and performers who were there on that first night to ask about their recollections. "We were all prepared — at least I was," Chevy Chase said. The New York Times Dinner table topics Food voyages: We sent photographers and writers on personal quests around the world to experience flavors and feelings they couldn't find anywhere else. Exclusive Met preview: The museum's newly renovated wing presents the art of Africa, the Ancient Americas and Oceania as three distinct areas. Viral at 8 years old: After years as a child actor, Maisy Stella said high school helped her prepare for a starring role. The ultimate celebrity photographer: Kevin Mazur has thrived by gaining the trust of Beyoncé, Madonna, Taylor Swift and other stars. WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND Christopher Testani for The New York Times Cook: Get in the fall spirit with this tender pumpkin bread. Watch: "The Bouncer" is one of this month's best under-the-radar streaming picks. Read: Here are seven new books we recommend this week. Focus: Try to spend 10 uninterrupted minutes with this artwork. Rest: Wirecutter has tested more than 130 pillows. These are their favorites. Compete: Take this week's news quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Stefano Ukmar for The New York Times These professional designers swear by supermarket décor On the final day of every project, Miles Redd and David Kaihoi, a pair of New York-based interior designers, always head to the grocery store. They believe that items like fruit, herbs, nuts and cellophane-wrapped flowers can be just as compelling as any fancy décor. We followed them as they designed a room with fistfuls of mint, a dozen nectarines and a recycled glass water bottle. See how it turned out. Have a resourceful weekend. Thanks for reading. I'll be back on Monday. — Matthew Philip Pacheco 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