Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Wednesday.
Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire dealOfficials representing Israel and Hamas said today that the two sides had agreed to a 42-day cease-fire that would coincide with the release of Israeli hostages who have been held captive in Gaza. The final details are still being worked out, but the tentative agreement raised hopes that there could soon be an end to the war. The cease-fire is set to take effect on Sunday, according to Qatari mediators, who said that Israeli forces had agreed to withdraw to the east, away from populated areas. Some 33 of the roughly 100 remaining Israeli hostages would then be released over the course of the next 42 days. The Times obtained a copy of the provisional agreement. President Biden said that he was "confident" that the deal would hold, and that U.S. hostages would be released in the first phase. His aides worked closely with Donald Trump's representatives in pursuit of a cease-fire. The deal, which could be finalized as Trump takes office, is reminiscent of the 1981 Iran hostage crisis' resolution. Officials said that the framework was similar to one publicized by Biden in late May. But one Israeli official told The Times that conditions for the deal had been created by Israel's recent military breakthroughs, including the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, in October, and the weakening of the Iran-based proxy network that supported Hamas. In Israel, some right-wing ministers voiced opposition to the deal. But the majority of the government is expected to sign off on it.
Bondi vowed to keep politics out of the Justice DepartmentPam Bondi, Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, promised at her confirmation hearing today that "politics will not play a part" in her work atop the Justice Department. Her exchanges with Democrats at the hearing were often heated, including when she refused to say whether she would defy White House pressure and whether Trump lost the 2020 election. Senators on both sides of the aisle predicted that Bondi would be confirmed. The same is true for Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state, who declared at his confirmation hearing today that America's competition with China would be the defining issue of the century. Each one of the Trump nominees who were questioned today appeared set for confirmation. Chris Wright, Trump's pick for energy secretary, tried to reassure senators that he believed climate change was a "global challenge that we need to solve." John Ratcliffe offered his vision for a more aggressive C.I.A.; Trump's picks for transportation secretary and budget director also appeared on Capitol Hill.
Economic toll of the L.A. fires goes far beyond burned homesFirefighters in Los Angeles have managed to slow the spread of the city's largest blazes, which for the last week have decimated entire neighborhoods and displaced more than 100,000 residents. But the ongoing disaster will affect residents' health, local industries and the cost of housing for years to come. Here's a breakdown of the potential cost of the fires. The latest: The Los Angeles area faced a third consecutive day of strong-wind warnings. Track the fires here. For more:
Biden will deliver a farewell address tonightAt 8 p.m. Eastern time, President Biden plans to deliver a farewell address from the Oval Office, putting a capstone on his five-decade political career just days before he steps away from an office that he has long revered and that he is leaving only reluctantly. Our chief White House correspondent, Peter Baker, outlined the highs and lows of the Biden presidency. More top news
Guy Pearce is a hot commodity in Hollywood againThe Australian actor Guy Pearce mostly turned his back on Hollywood after roles in "Memento" and "L.A. Confidential" made him famous. He was a character actor at heart, and he preferred to take on small roles in big projects. He moved to the Netherlands. But now, at 57, Pearce has returned as a star in "The Brutalist," a role for which he has earned a Golden Globe nomination and plenty of Oscar chatter. We talked to him about his perspective on the industry.
Let us help you find your new favorite thrillerFinding a book you love — the kind you don't ever want to put down — can feel like striking gold. But it shouldn't be that hard. So my colleagues at the Book Review put together a new guide to picking out a thriller. No matter if you prefer cunning protagonists or engrossing family dramas, there is something there for you.
Dinner table topics
Cook: The secret to perfect veggie meatballs is leaning into imperfection. Watch: "The Bunker" is a chilly, and chilling, true-crime documentary. Read: "Open Socrates" argues that the Greek philosopher in its title offers a blueprint for an ethical life. Listen: Readers wrote in with the songs that defined their past year. Travel: Know what you're entitled to if an airline bumps you off a flight. Document: We have tips for creating a digital journal of your life. Exercise: Heated workouts can be a good way to get your heart pumping. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all our games here.
The '70s changed fitness foreverIt wasn't normal to exercise for fun just over a half century ago. There weren't many gyms, running shoes were barely cushioned and the sports bra hadn't been invented. Then the 1970s happened, and everything changed. Americans started jogging, doing yoga and attending Jazzercise classes. And within a few decades, half of the country claimed to work out regularly. "Suddenly, we would go to cocktail parties," one athlete said, "and everyone was talking about running." We looked back at some fads, and some habits that lasted. Have an active 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.
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