Tuesday Briefing: Hope rises for new cease-fire talks

April 30, 2024

	By Amelia Nierenberg

Good morning. We’re covering hopes for a Gaza cease-fire deal and Russian advances in Ukraine.

Plus, why some people in their 80s have exceptional memories.

A crowd of demonstrators. Some are waving Israeli flags and a man plays drums. At the center of the photo, a woman holds a sign reading “All of Them Home Now!”

Israeli demonstrators in Tel Aviv called for the release of hostages yesterday. Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated Press

Cease-fire talks could restart today

Negotiations for a pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas could restart as soon as today, officials said. A mid-level Israeli delegation is planning to fly to Cairo for new talks mediated by Egypt, but only if Hamas also agrees to attend, Israeli officials said.

Hopes for a cease-fire were raised after Israel scaled back its demand that at least 40 hostages be released and said it was prepared to settle for 33, in part because it believes that some have died in captivity.

“That makes it a little easier to reach a deal,” Patrick Kingsley, our Jerusalem bureau chief, told us yesterday. “But there are still many stumbling blocks.”

“Hamas wants a truce that gives it a chance of surviving the war as a military force, whereas Israel wants a deal that would allow its army the chance to eventually resume fighting and rout Hamas,” he added. “That’s why Israel wants a short cease-fire, while Hamas wants a longer one that could be dragged out into permanence.”

Yesterday, President Biden called the leaders of Egypt and Qatar as he seeks to increase pressure on Hamas to accept a deal. The moves raised expectations that the two sides might be moving closer to their first truce in months.

Other updates from the war:

The Hague: The International Criminal Court is considering arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, as well as for Hamas’s leaders, Israeli officials believe.
Arab countries: Regional leaders are cracking down on protests, trying to stop pro-Palestinian protesters from criticizing their own governments.

A bombed-out building seen through the windows of a vehicle.

A village near Avdiivka, an eastern stronghold that Russia seized earlier this year. Anatolii Stepanov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Russia is advancing before U.S. aid can arrive

In the past week, Russia has captured or entered around a half-dozen villages on Ukraine’s eastern front. Moscow is trying to exploit a window of opportunity as Kyiv’s outmanned and outgunned troops wait for the first batch of U.S. military aid.

Military experts have said that Russia is preparing to launch a new large-scale offensive in late May or early June, and that it will press ahead with attacks in the coming weeks.

The U.S. said last week that it would rush the first $1 billion military aid package, which will include shoulder-fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles and other air defense munitions, Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and 155-millimeter shells.

What’s next: Russia may press on toward the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a logistical hub for Ukraine’s military, or try to push north toward Chasiv Yar, a strategic hilltop town that has suffered relentless Russian attacks in recent weeks.

Elon Musk and Li Qiang, the Chinese premier, both wearing dark suits, white shirts and ties, sit alongside one another with a small table between them.

A photo released by state-run media of Elon Musk with China’s premier, Li Qiang, in Beijing on Sunday. Wang Ye/Xinhua, via Associated Press

Elon Musk’s business win in China

Elon Musk, the Tesla chief executive, landed a deal that potentially moves the company closer to offering its most advanced self-driving software on cars in China. The timing is significant. Just days before arriving in China to close the deal, Musk identified self-driving technology and artificial intelligence as critical to Tesla’s future.

The deal’s approval would also give him a much-needed win after U.S. regulators on Friday issued a harsh assessment of the system’s safety and performance.

Analysis: China used Musk’s visit to show that it still has leverage with foreign companies reliant on its market. It publicized Musk’s meeting with Premier Li Qiang, China’s No. 2 official, as an example of Western business playing by Beijing’s rules.

MORE TOP NEWS

A woman wearing a green coat and red head scarf holding Iraqi flag.

Ghufran Mahdi Sawadi, known online as Um Fahad, had drawn the ire of conservatives in Iraq. Hussein Faleh/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Iraq: An assassin killed one of the country’s most famous TikTok personalities. It was the third killing in Iraq of an influencer in less than a year.
Scotland: The first minister, Humza Yousaf, resigned yesterday, days after the collapse of his coalition government.
Demonstrations: Pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia have not dispersed, despite the university’s threats of suspension.
The Philippines: The authorities closed all public schools yesterday because of dangerous heat. They will stay closed today.
Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he would not resign, nearly a week after he considered stepping down over corruption claims against his wife.
Kenya: A dam collapsed in the western part of the country, killing at least 45 people. Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across East Africa.
The U.S. dollar: Every major currency has fallen against it this year, which could have serious consequences for the global economy.

Germany: The first trial began yesterday in a case involving people accused of plotting to overthrow the government and replace the chancellor.
France: Gérard Depardieu was ordered to stand trial on criminal charges that he sexually assaulted two women during a 2021 film shoot.

MORNING READ

A scene at a restaurant as a woman serves two people at a table and a trio with two guitarists and a drummer plays music.

La Carreta, a landmark Havana restaurant, was recently reopened by private owners. Eliana Aponte for The New York Times

Cuba’s socialist economy is cratering to its lowest point in decades. To cope, communist leaders are embracing private entrepreneurs, people they once vilified as “filthy” capitalists.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

The princes in the tower: A British historian is trying to crack a 15th-century cold case: Did Richard III really assassinate his nephews?
The Tony Awards: The nominations for Broadway’s biggest awards are coming today. Here’s what to expect.
A furry stowaway: Galena, a 6-year-old cat, was found in an Amazon warehouse in California a week after she climbed into a cardboard box at her owner’s home in Utah.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

HEALTH

An elderly couple walking along a street in Rome.

New research explores why some octogenarians have exceptional memories. Gregorio Borgia/Associated Press

What makes ‘super-agers’ special?

Scientists have been studying a subset of people they call “super-agers.” Age 80 and older, they have the memory ability of a person decades younger.

A paper published yesterday helps shed some light on what makes them special: Their brains have less atrophy than their peers’ brains do.

Participants were otherwise similar in terms of diet, sleep, career or alcohol and tobacco use. Being a super-ager might just come down to “some sort of lucky predisposition,” or parts of the brain that we don’t yet understand, said Tessa Harrison, a scientist.

And for younger folks: A new study suggests that physical fitness can improve mental health in children and adolescents.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Three partly open tacos, filled with shrimp, cabbage, herbs and a creamy sauce, on a green platter. They are photographed from overhead.

Kelly Marshall for The New York Times

Cook: Shrimp tacos are an easy weeknight meal.

Read: Here’s our guide to Joan Didion’s work.

Listen: Our critics recommend these new songs.

Watch: The Times has a new documentary exploring the underbelly of horse racing.

Dress: Are we really supposed to wear cargo pants? Our expert weighs in.

Play Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Amelia

You can reach us at briefing@nytimes.com.

Daniel E. Slotnik contributed reporting. Thanks to Patrick Kingsley.

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