The Evening: Arizona reinstates an abortion ban

Also, Iran is smuggling weapons into the West Bank.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story April 9, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Tuesday. An abortion ban in Arizona Curbs on chemical plant pollution Plus, art in downtown L.A. Until now, abortion has been legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy.  Matt York/Associated Press Arizona reinstated a 160-year-old abortion ban Arizona's highest court today ruled that an 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions "is now enforceable." With the federal right to abortion now overturned, the justices explained, there was nothing stopping the state from reinstating its long-dormant prohibition. The court put its ruling on hold for the moment, allowing two weeks for arguments about the ban's constitutionality. The state would then wait another 45 days before enforcing the restriction. But if the law goes into effect, it will have far-reaching consequences for both abortion access and national politics. Until now, abortion has been legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the 1864 law, which was enacted many decades before Arizona became a state, outlaws abortion from the moment of conception, except when the procedure is necessary to save the life of the mother. It makes no exceptions for rape or incest, and doctors prosecuted under the law could face two to five years in prison. Abortion rights supporters said the measure would put women's health in jeopardy. Clinics in Arizona could soon close, forcing women seeking abortions to travel to California, New Mexico or Colorado to end their pregnancies. The decision also places Arizona, a critical battleground state, at the center of a debate that could help decide November's presidential election. Democrats condemned the court's ruling, though they also said it would help galvanize their supporters. Several Arizona Republicans, sensing political peril, also criticized the ruling. The Senate candidate Kari Lake called the law "out of step with Arizonans." For more: Here is a map of where abortion is legal, and where it is banned. Most of the facilities affected by the rule are along the Gulf Coast, in the Ohio River Valley and in West Virginia. Mark Felix for The New York Times The E.P.A. set new limits on chemical plant pollution For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. today set stricter limits on pollution from chemical plants. As a result, more than 200 plants across the country will be required to curb the toxins they release into the air. The new rule is aimed at reducing the risk of cancer for people living near industrial sites. It specifically targets ethylene oxide, which is used to sterilize medical devices, and chloroprene, which is used to make rubber in footwear. These chemicals are considered a top health concern in an area of Louisiana so dense with chemical facilities that it is known as Cancer Alley. In other environmental news, Europe's top human rights court said the Swiss government had violated its citizens' rights by not doing enough to stop climate change. "This is a landmark ruling, and it could trigger a wave of similar lawsuits in European countries," said David Gelles, who writes our Climate Forward newsletter. Airstrikes in Syria last week targeted units from Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps overseeing smuggling, officials said. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Iran smuggles arms into the West Bank, officials say Iran is using a network of intelligence operatives, militants and criminal gangs to deliver weapons to Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to officials from the U.S., Israel and Iran. The goal, Iranian officials say, is to feed unrest against Israel by flooding the enclave with arms. The covert operation is heightening concerns that Iran wants to turn the West Bank into the next flashpoint in the shadow war between Iran and Israel. In related news, Ramadan is coming to a close without the kind of cease-fire deal U.S. officials had hoped for. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner under construction. Pool photo by Reuters The U.S. looks into claims from a Boeing whistle-blower The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating concerns raised by a Boeing engineer who says that sections of the fuselage of the 787 Dreamliner are improperly fastened together and could break apart mid-flight after thousands of trips. The engineer, Sam Salehpour, who worked on the plane, detailed his allegations in interviews with my colleagues. He is set to address a congressional hearing on April 17. In response, Boeing said it was "fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner," rejecting Salehpour's concerns. More top news Crime: Jennifer and James Crumbley, who were convicted of involuntary manslaughter for failing to prevent their son from killing four students, were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison. Trump: A New York appeals court judge rejected the former president's latest attempt to delay his criminal case in Manhattan. Economy: Rising oil prices could make efforts to reduce inflation more challenging, analysts say. Environment: Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $600 million to residents and businesses in East Palestine, Ohio, to settle a lawsuit over last year's derailment. Court: A Florida woman was sentenced to a month in prison for her role in a scheme to steal the diary of Ashley Biden, President Biden's daughter. Education: A Brooklyn charter school is trying to help its working parents by staying open 12 hours a day. Media: The magazine Fortune named Anastasia Nyrkovskaya chief executive, making her the first woman to lead the 95-year-old business publication. Eclipse: Internet traffic dropped by 40 percent or more in states in the path of totality. Lives lived: Peter Higgs discovered the Higgs boson, or "God particle," which helps explain how particles acquire mass. He died at 94. TIME TO UNWIND The Broad, right, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, left. Alex Welsh for The New York Times Art institutions aren't giving up on downtown L.A. The pandemic was tough for both downtowns and cultural institutions. Vacancy rates are up, attendance is down and it is unclear whether artistic hubs like Los Angeles will ever return to their former state. So it was an important vote of confidence in the city's center when the Broad, the popular art museum, announced a $100 million expansion. Some other institutions are still seeing lagging interest, but leaders of the Broad said they remained confident in their founder's belief that downtown L.A. was the best place for cultural gatherings. For your reading list Heartbreak, family love and methods to cope with poverty are all among the topics tackled by the nominees for this year's International Booker Prize, the prestigious award for fiction translated into English. The most well-known author on the shortlist is Jenny Erpenbeck, whose fourth novel, "Kairos," was called a "beautiful bummer" by our critic. Check out the other nominees. Liz Gilson's converted barbershop was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Tony Cenicola/The New York Times Dinner table topics Tiny homes: For $367 a month, a North Carolina woman got 345 square feet in a quaint former barbershop. Cut!: Studio accounting means that some entertainment companies are seeing value in making sure that you never see some of their movies. Now and then: These nine men backed Biden in 2020. Here's what they have to say about him now. A final eclipse: At some point in the distant future, Earth will experience its last total solar eclipse. Exactly when that will be is hard to predict. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Cook: Chef Sohla El-Waylly has tips to help you make the most flawless fish. Watch: "Madu" is one of the best children's movies to stream right now. Listen: Here are six podcasts about the joys and perils of the outdoors. Plan: If you're traveling to Chicago, check out this list of the 25 best restaurants. Moisturize: Many people pay attention to the skin on their faces, but here's how to give your body the care it needs. Compete: Do you know these novels driven by climate change? Take our quiz. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ONE LAST THING Fried brussels sprouts at last year's dinner for winners of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. Doug Mills/The New York Times A dinner every golfer wants to pay for Every spring, the golfer who wins the Masters Tournament gets a green jacket, an elegant trophy, a lifetime course membership and the chance to plan the following year's champions dinner. This year's meal is tonight, featuring a menu picked out and paid for by Jon Rahm, the 2023 winner. Rahm asked a fellow Spaniard, chef José Andrés, to help him develop the menu. The star offering is "Mama Rahm's classic lentil stew"; if the other golfers don't like it, Rahm said, they should keep that to themselves. Have a delicious evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story 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

Watching Iran—Again

Alarm over Tehran's potential retaliation and regional ambition, plus: Fareed's take, 'leaving Haiti,' and reexamining whether China's economy will rise to #1 …

View this email in your browser  Insights, analysis and must reads from CNN's Fareed Zakaria and the Global Public Square team, compiled by Global Briefing editor Chris Good   Seeing this newsletter as a forward? Sign up here.   April 9, 2024 Watching Iran—Again Iran alarm is back. Since Oct. 7, fears of a wider Middle East war have centered on Iran and its network of proxies—including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Red Sea-menacing Yemeni Houthis. In February, the US struck Iran-linked targets across the region, after an Iran-backed Iraqi militia killed US troops on a base in Jordan.   Last week, a suspected Israeli strike in Damascus killed seven Iranian military officials, including three senior commanders. Since then, fears of a wider, Iran–Israel–US war in the Middle East have returned. Iran has warned the US to "step aside" as it prepares to respond.   As always, nuclear weapons are part of the broad concern when it comes to Iran. At The National Interest, Sam Raus reminds us Iran has neared nuclear capability. In strategic terms, noted Iran expert Suzanne Maloney argues in a Foreign Affair essay that the war in Gaza—and a broad US pullback from the region, in terms of military and diplomatic engagement—have generated opportunity for the clerical regime in Tehran to seize.   "The truth is that the Islamic Republic is now in a better position than ever to dominate the Middle East, including by attaining the ability to disrupt shipping at multiple critical chokepoints," Maloney writes, referencing the Iran-backed Houthis' persistent harassment of international shipping in the Red Sea, which has rerouted cargo ships around Africa. "Over the decades, Iran and its proxies have developed keen instincts for calibrating risk. Now, having gauged the waning American interest in the Middle East, Iranian leaders see an advantage to be gained by gambling. With their attacks, they seek to provoke the United States to make mistakes that give Tehran and its allies an advantage—mistakes similar to the ones Washington made two decades ago, when it invaded Iraq, or in 2018, when [former President Donald] Trump withdrew from [former] President Barack Obama's Iran nuclear deal. A miscalculation by any of the actors involved, including Iran itself, could ignite a much wider and more intense conflict across the Middle East, causing profound damage to regional stability and the global economy." Watch Fareed's Take On Sunday's GPS, Fareed noted a trend reporters have seen recently on the 2024 campaign trail: Trump rallies taking on somber, religious overtones. That may seem odd, but Fareed said it makes sense: In recent decades, one of the major trends in American society has been rapid secularization. As religion fades, Fareed suggested, Trump is using it for political purposes. 'Leaving Haiti' As chaos envelops Haiti, Pooja Bhatia writes for the London Review of Books, no mass exodus has come to US shores. But Haitians have indeed fled the instability and de facto gang rule, Bhatia writes, reporting from a shelter in Mexico on the danger Haitians face and the journeys some have taken.   US asylum law protects people fleeing persecution, not economic migrants, but Bhatia writes: "In Haiti, it's hard to separate the political from the economic. Political leaders have armed and empowered gangs, which terrorise the population and make it impossible to engage in normal economic behaviour, such as going to work or saving money." Bhatia listens to a lawyer for a US immigration advocacy group explain the law to Haitians: "'Is anyone here not scared to return to Haiti?'" she asked. There was silence followed by laughter. 'They killed the president in his bedroom!' someone called out," a reference to the 2021 assassination of then-President Jovenel Moïse in the presidential palace. Will China Overtake the US? A Reexamination Will China's economy—currently the world's largest by purchasing power but the second largest in nominal terms—ever overtake America's? While China's rapid growth once suggested it was likely or at least possible, the idea has fallen out of favor as China's economy has lagged of late.   At Foreign Affairs, Nicholas R. Lardy argues against this recent conventional wisdom, pointing out that China's lower inflation rate has masked economic growth, given how GDP figures are usually expressed. Observers worry about Chinese domestic demand, but consumption grew more than income last year. A "dismissive view of the country underestimates the resilience of its economy," Lardy writes. "Yes, China faces several well documented headwinds, including a housing market slump, restrictions imposed by the United States on access to some advanced technologies, and a shrinking working-age population. But China overcame even greater challenges when it started on the path of economic reform in the late 1970s. While its growth has slowed in recent years, China is likely to expand at twice the rate of the United States in the years ahead."   Chinese leader Xi Jinping seems to think it's possible to leapfrog the US. Some analysts have criticized Xi's party-state for doubling down on investing in production, instead of stimulating consumer demand. But, The Economist writes, "[a]ccording to Mr Xi, the new productive forces"—a recent Chinese economic buzzword—"will flow from the application of science and technology to production. The phrase is a signal that China's technology push should be even more ambitious than it is today, and more tightly integrated into economic production. … In e-commerce, fintech, high-speed trains and renewable energy, China is at or near the frontier. The same is strikingly apparent in EVs, where success helped China last year to become the world's biggest exporter of cars. In a list of 64 'critical' technologies identified by the Australian Policy Research Institute, a think-tank, China leads the world in all but 11, based on its share of the most influential papers in the fields. The country is number one in 5G and 6G communications, as well as biomanufacturing, nanomanufacturing and additive manufacturing. It is also out in front in drones, radar, robotics and sonar, as well as post-quantum cryptography."   The plan for technology-fueled growth might or might not pan out. Elsewhere, The Economist calls Xi's approach "misguided" in the face of stagnation that constitutes "China's gravest economic test since the most far-reaching of Deng Xiaoping's reforms began in the 1990s." What did you think of today's newsletter? Send ideas, questions and feedback to globalbriefing@cnn.com   You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for Fareed's Global Briefing. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or sign up to manage your CNN account   Learn more about the CNN app |  Get CNN web alerts  |  Sign up for a free CNN account   ® © 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. 1050 Techwood Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318