Author: NY TIMES

The Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday that ended a decades-old exemption for ultra-Orthodox Jews from serving in the country’s military could herald a seismic change in the trajectory of the country, with social, political and security implications.The ruling is likely to further strain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brittle governing coalition, which depends on the support of two ultra-Orthodox parties that support the exemption, even as Israel is at war in Gaza.The issue of ultra-Orthodox exemption has long polarized a country where most Jewish 18-year-olds, both men and women, are conscripted for years of obligatory service. Mainstream Israelis have long…

The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Russia and its proxy security forces in Crimea have committed multiple human rights violations during its decade-long occupation of the Ukrainian territory.In a case brought by the government of Ukraine, the court found evidence of the unlawful persecution and detention of those who criticized Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as the systemic repression of ethnic and religious minorities in Crimea. The evidence presented to the court painted a picture of a region under the tight grip of Moscow’s authoritarian control, where any criticism is harshly punished and…

Maybe you’re worried that the New York Knicks don’t have enough players from Villanova after having success this season with Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo. Well, worry no more.The Knicks will acquire Mikal Bridges and a second-round pick from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, five first-round picks and a Second round pick. The Nets also traded with the Houston Rockets for the first-round picks owed by Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade in order to acquire their own picks from the James Harden trade. Nets have traded Mikal Bridges to Knicks, source says @TheAthletic @stadium.…

[Estamos en WhatsApp. Empieza a seguirnos ahora]Nací en un mundo lleno de enfado. Mis primeras lecciones de niño consistieron en comprender y evitar los detonadores invisibles que impregnaban nuestro hogar. Mi madre se enojaba a menudo con mi padre. Mi hermano, disgustado por la separación de nuestros padres —y por mi presencia, después de haber sido hijo único durante seis años—, con frecuencia se enojaba conmigo. Y mi padre, veterano de Vietnam, solía arremeter contra cualquiera de nosotros.Su ira, que llegaba en forma de gritos y alaridos, podía activarse a la menor provocación. Podía estallar cuando mi hermano no quería…

Rampant identity theft has overwhelmed the Internal Revenue Service, resulting in a backlog of 500,000 unresolved fraud cases, leaving taxpayers without refunds and credits that they are due, the agency’s watchdog wrote in a report to Congress on Wednesday.The report by the National Taxpayer Advocate described the slow pace of addressing the identity theft cases as a “blemish” on the performance of the I.R.S., which is in the midst of a sweeping modernization campaign that aims to improve taxpayer services. While the I.R.S. was criticized by the watchdog for identify theft delays last year, the backlog has gotten only worse.The…

The Olympics have ancient beginnings. Now, they will also have a dose of the latest technology.This year, highlights from the Summer Olympics will be brought to you by artificial intelligence — and more specifically, the A.I.-generated narration of Al Michaels.Executives at NBCUniversal and the streaming service Peacock said on Wednesday that a customized, daily highlight reel for the Olympics would be available to streaming subscribers. The reel will feature the voice of Mr. Michaels, the 79-year-old American broadcaster, who first covered the Olympics decades ago.Mr. Michaels, however, will not be holing up in a broadcast booth each night to briefly…

Russell Crowe is going through a religious phase.In 2023, “The Pope’s Exorcist” showcased the actor as — you guessed it — the Vatican’s official exorcist. In “The Exorcism,” released Friday, he’s at it again, this time playing a washed-up movie star cast in the role of an exorcist. The set is cursed and Crowe’s Tony, an emotionally tormented single father and recovering addict, is ripe for demonic possession.Aside from the obvious, the two unrelated movies couldn’t be more different. “The Pope’s Exorcist” leans into schlock, with Crowe sporting a delightfully hammy Italian accent. “The Exorcism” is a relatively somber affair,…

Throughout Iran’s presidential campaign, in debates, rallies and speeches, a singular presence has hovered: Donald J. Trump.To hear the six candidates tell it, the former president’s victory in the 2024 White House race is a foregone conclusion. The urgent question facing Iranian voters as they go to the polls on Friday, they say, is who is best suited to deal with him.They hardly ever mention President Biden, and they never bring up the many polls suggesting that the American election will be extremely close. Instead, Mr. Trump’s name is invoked again and again.“Wait and you will see what will happen…

The instructions were concise and clear.Those hoping to march to the stadium with Hungary’s fans for their soccer team’s first game of the European Championship were expected to report by 10 a.m. sharp, five hours before kickoff.A strict dress code would apply. Some could wear black. Others were to stick with red, white and green, the colors of the country’s flag. Under no circumstances was there to be any flashiness. “Gaudy colors, clown hats and bagpipes” were all prohibited. They were, prospective marchers were reminded, “going to a soccer stadium, not a circus.”The hectoring and slightly priggish tone felt jarring,…

Byron Ridge wrote a brief note on his phone and then sent a text message to his former Calgary Flames teammate Jarome Iginla.Richie’s son Ryder was mired in a goal-slumping slump, and Richie asked Iginla if he could watch some of his son’s shifts. “See if you see something different than I do,” Byron asked.This is one hockey dad asking another for advice, but in truth, this kind of less personal exchange is common for Richie and Iginla. The two former NHL forwards played together for two seasons in Calgary nearly 20 years ago. Their offseason home is in the…