Author: NY TIMES

This week’s episode of Popcast (Deluxe), the weekly culture roundup show on YouTube hosted by Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli, includes segments on:The new Billie Eilish album, “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” and how it compares to her earlier workOther early-to-mid-career pop star pivotsEilish’s evolution as a vocalistEilish’s relationship to other unconventional pop stars like LordeSongs of the week, including how Tinashe’s “Nasty” went viralSnack of the weekConnect With Popcast. Become a part of the Popcast community: Join the show’s Facebook group and Discord channel. We want to hear from you! Tune in, and tell us what you think at…

The families of several Israeli female soldiers taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 released video of their abduction in an attempt to pressure the Israeli government to revive apparently stalled cease-fire talks that could pave the way for the captives’ release.Family members first saw the footage a few weeks ago via the Israeli military, which formally handed them a copy on Tuesday night, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of hostages held captive in Gaza.“I’m asking you, please show this clip every day, open your broadcasts with it,” Eli Albag, whose daughter…

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain on Wednesday called a snap general election for July 4, throwing the fate of his embattled Conservative Party to a restless British public that appears eager for change after 14 years of Conservative government.Mr. Sunak’s surprise announcement, from a rain-spattered lectern in front of 10 Downing Street, was the starting gun for six weeks of campaigning that will render a verdict on a party that has led Britain since Barack Obama was America’s president. But the Tories have discarded four prime ministers in eight years, lurching through the serial chaos of Brexit, the coronavirus…

How important the end of the season is for Liverpool.Arne Slott announced a three-year contract with Jurgen Klopp as head coach on Monday, as the pair bid an emotional farewell to Jurgen Klopp and a new era.Here’s the inside story from the final week, including laughs, tears, dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson and Taylor Swift’s outburst…deeperHow Liverpool hired Sloter: The numbers, surprising contenders and why talks got tenseJurgen Klopp took to the stage as Liverpool legend John Barnes delighted the crowd with a flawless rendition of Rapper’s Delight by Sugar Hill Gang.They performed an impromptu double act, with Barnes singing…

My husband and I have lived in the same house for 20 years. It’s modest, which allowed me to stay home with our children when they were young. My husband worked hard to pay off the mortgage, and I’m grateful to him. But this was never meant to be our forever home. It’s near a busy street with lots of noise and traffic. I’ve wanted to move to a quieter location for several years, but my husband emphatically refuses. We are both working full time now, and we are bringing in more money. I believe this should be a joint…

Federal Reserve officials were wary about the recent lack of progress on inflation and remained willing to lift interest rates if conditions made it necessary as of their two-day meeting that ended on May 1.Minutes from the gathering, released Wednesday, showed that “many” officials expressed uncertainty about how much today’s interest-rate setting — 5.3 percent, up sharply from near zero in early 2022 — was weighing on the economy.Officials have been clear that they expect to leave interest rates unchanged for now, hoping that they are tapping the brakes on economic growth enough to quash inflation over time. And central…

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange who was convicted of fraud and conspiracy, was transferred out of a Brooklyn detention center on Wednesday morning, his spokesman said.Mr. Bankman-Fried’s final destination wasn’t clear, said his spokesman, Mark Botnick. Before the transfer, Mr. Bankman-Fried, 32, told people close to him that he expected to be moved to a federal correctional facility in Mendota, Calif., a person with knowledge of the matter said.A representative for the Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on Mr. Bankman-Fried, citing “privacy, safety and security reasons.” A spokesman for the prosecutors who oversaw Mr. Bankman-Fried’s…

Graceland will not be sold at auction, at least for now.On Wednesday, a Tennessee judge deferred ruling on an apparent attempt to sell Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, but kept a temporary injunction in place that would prevent the property from going to auction imminently.The bizarre case came into wide public view this week when a lawsuit surfaced that had been filed by Mr. Presley’s granddaughter, the actress Riley Keough. In it, Ms. Keough sued to prevent what her lawyers described as a fraudulent effort to auction the home by a company claiming that Lisa Marie Presley —…

In Europe, long a vital source of support for Israel, the political center of gravity is moving away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.Spain, Ireland and Norway on Wednesday recognized Palestinian statehood, despite vehement Israeli and American opposition. And most European governments offered unequivocal support to the International Criminal Court this week, after it requested arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and defense minister, along with leaders of Hamas.Israel still has staunch allies within the European Union, especially Hungary and the Czech Republic, and key players like Germany, despite growing discomfort with Israel’s conduct, have not shown any inclination to…

The decision of Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, to publicly seek arrest warrants for the leaders of Hamas and Israel this week will be one of the most significant and contentious of his career.Khan accused three Hamas leaders of war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and hostage taking. He also accused Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its defense minister, Yoav Gallant, of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military operation in Gaza, including the starvation of civilians. Now a three-judge panel will consider whether to issue…