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Trump's Stormy day Stormy Daniels testifies in Manhattan today. A photo of former President Trump and Daniels from their first meeting is displayed on a monitor. Sketch: Elizabeth Williams via AP Stormy Daniels' hours-long testimony today brought her face-to-face with former President Trump, years after she alleged he paid her to stay quiet about an affair he denies, Axios' Erin Doherty reports. Daniels, an adult film actor and prosecutors' star witness, described the night she says she met Trump for dinner in 2006 after meeting at a golf outing. She recounted in detail their brief sexual encounter, saying it left her "shaking." 🧮 Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump a mistrial after his legal team claimed Daniels changed her story. "A lot of the testimony this witness talked about today is way different than the story she was peddling in 2016," Trump attorney Todd Blanche said. Being there: Jurors appeared riveted as Daniels offered her graphic account — the most dramatic testimony of the trial so far. Trump stared straight ahead as Daniels entered the courtroom. He looked away from the witness box as she testified. (AP) Go deeper.

From pop to politics, what to know as Sweden prepares for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest LONDON (AP) — It’s springtime in Europe — time for the annual blossoming of spectacle and sound known as the Eurovision Song Contest. https://apnews.com/article/eurovision-2024-song-contest-sweden-2a6a9a789415f04ae997a688274e4e6f?

Scientists are learning the basic building blocks of sperm whale language after years of effort ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Scientists studying the sperm whales that live around the Caribbean island of Dominica have described for the first time the basic elements of how they might be talking to each other, in an effort that could one day help better protect them. https://apnews.com/article/sperm-whale-language-talk-clicks-a94df8e07b129f19917437fcb85e7655?

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she regrets making an offhand remark that suggested Black children in the Bronx do not know what the word “computer” means. https://apnews.com/article/hochul-black-kids-bronx-computer-comment-e0c3c69b1ebf9639d8f9e402096f8446?

Too much water, and not enough: Brazil’s flooded south struggles to access basic goods PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — The mayor of a major city in southern Brazil on Tuesday pleaded with residents to comply with his water rationing decree, given that some four-fifths of the population is without running water, a week after major flooding that has left at least 90 people dead and more than 130 others missing. https://apnews.com/article/floods-brazil-rio-grande-do-sul-dda51e5aae0e63a09b9ef64189f553b4?

Ukraine says it foiled a Russian spy agency plot to assassinate President Zelenskyy KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian counterintelligence investigators have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top military and political figures, Ukraine’s state security service said Tuesday. https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-assassination-zelenskyy-4b301e9c9a1f067a45105303dff03198?

After deadly Oklahoma tornado, storms bring twisters to the Midwest DETROIT (AP) — Severe storms battered the Midwest on Tuesday, unleashing a curtain of heavy rain, gusty winds and tornadoes throughout the region a day after a deadly twister ripped through a small Oklahoma town and killed at least one person. https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-storms-weather-oklahoma-kansas-b8def43f7b0402d12911573ea5b4233b?

(N) Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Boy Scouts of America changing name to more inclusive Scouting America after years of woes IRVING, Texas (AP) — The Boy Scouts of America announced after 114 years that it will change its name and will become Scouting America in an effort to emphasize inclusion as it works to move past the turmoil of bankruptcy and a flood of sexual abuse claims. https://apnews.com/article/boy-scouts-new-name-scouting-america-d583f5712680f155b4f6b762128734d3?

In Holocaust remembrance, Biden condemns antisemitism sparked by college protests and Gaza war WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday decried a “ferocious surge” in antisemitism on college campuses and around the globe in the months since Hamas attacked Israel and triggered a war in Gaza, using a ceremony to remember victims of the Holocaust to also denounce new waves of violence and hateful rhetoric toward Jews. https://apnews.com/article/biden-gaza-israel-jewish-congress-f2f84c9e7c52345c35e5cb4c2d00a417?

Israel seizes Gaza’s vital Rafah crossing, but the US says it isn’t the full invasion many fear CAIRO (AP) — Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday in what the White House described as a limited operation, as fears mount of a full-scale invasion of the southern city and talks with Hamas over a cease-fire and hostage release remain on a knife’s edge. https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-05-07-2024-113bf4ee5dad87dc5c003d76ed2785bf?

CDC warns of new COVID-19 variants nicknamed FLiRT The virus behind COVID-19 has mutated again, this time producing variants nicknamed FLiRT, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported. https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3430725465093-cdc-warns-of-new-covid-19-variants-nicknamed-flirt?

Kekpler-442b is a recently discovered planet that is thought to be suitable for life. It is located 1,200 light years away from this Earth. Some would like to suggest that in the future we should send humans to that planet to establish human life on it. If those humans could travel at the speed of light, which is impossible now, it would take them 1,200 Earth yeas to reach it. If that were to be successfully attempted, what age would the people be when they reached that planet? https://www.msn.com/en-US/news/scienceandtechnology/scientists-discover-a-planet-that-may-be-even-more-habitable-than-earth/ar-AA1no98B The answer to our question lies in an interesting effect of living on the International Space Station. Let us say that NASA obtained two clocks that were totally in sync with each other. IOW, over all periods of extended time, they maintained exactly the same time. No difference of any amount ever existed between them. One clock remains on Earth, while the second clock it taken to the International Space Station. one-hundred years pass and the second clock is returned to Earth. At the time it is noted that it differs from the first clock by one second. In short, it is one second behind the time on the first clock. If he second clock had been further from the Earth, it would have slowed more. It the International Space station had been traveling faster, the second clock would have been slower. If that second clock had been traveling at the speed of light, it would have stopped completely and 100 years later it would have reported the exact same time as it was when it departed the Earth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation NOTE: In asking the question, I have gone beyond the information found in the two cited articles.

A Homeless Woman Given Child: Lauren Jope was given $20 to care for a 7-yearold female. After she decided that the child would be given to someone, and therefore potentially endangered, she agreed and took the girl back to the homeless camp to care for her. The child had been given to her by the girl'nd grandfather, who later told people that she had been kidnapped. At that point the police became involved as there was a video of Lauren leaving with the girl. After giving the child some food, Lauren took her to the police. The girls grandfather has been arrested and charged with a crime. So, who is Lauren Jope? She is a local college student who is attempting to better herself by getting an education. Yes, she is homeless. When approached by the grandfather, she was deeply concerned as to what would happen to the child, if given to someone else--even a pervert. So, she took action. I hope that the public will help lauren with some of her needs. https://6abc.com/post/jason-warren-left-7-year-old-granddaughter-with-homeless-woman-lauren-jope-to-go-drinking-sacramento-county-sheriffs-office/14781521/ NOTE: I have given more information than is available at the link above, which I have obtained from other sources.

introversion & Church: The article linked below is an interesting comment on doing Church. It links to two books that have been written on this subject. Give it some thought. https://atoday.org/an-introvert-in-a-happy-church-world/

🏀 NBA playoffs: The Timberwolves blew out the Nuggets, 106-80, in Denver to go up 2-0 on the defending champs; Jalen Brunson (43 points) and the Knicks beat the Pacers, 121-117, in Game 1 at The Garden. ‌ 🏒 NHL playoffs: The Bruins blasted the Panthers, 5-1, in the series opener behind 38 saves from Jeremy Swayman, whose .955 save percentage leads all postseason goalies. ‌ ⚽️ Another loss for United: Crystal Palace beat Manchester United, 4-0, to hand the club its 13th Premier League loss this season (most ever) and 18th loss in all competitions (most since 1977-78). ‌ 🏒 Bowness retires: Jets coach Rick Bowness announced his retirement on Monday after nearly four decades behind the bench.

👀 Our true unemployment rate By Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi and Felix Salmon Note: Share of the U.S. labor force that is functionally unemployed (seeking but unable to find a full-time job, is unemployed or is employed in a position earning less than a living wage); Data: Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity; Chart: Axios Visuals The Dallas area was among the major U.S. metros with the lowest rates of true unemployment last year. Why it matters: Strong labor markets signify a healthy economy. Boom towns like Denver, Nashville and Dallas are seeing low levels of unemployment — in stark contrast to areas such as El Paso and New Orleans with large numbers of low-wage jobs, according to the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity. How it works: The institute looked at the true rate of unemployment instead of the official rate of unemployment, which tends to be significantly lower than the true rate. The official unemployment rate excludes people earning a few dollars a week and people who stopped looking for work for reasons like a lack of jobs or the demands of child care. The true rate of unemployment tracks the percentage of the labor force that doesn't have a full-time job but wants one, has no job, or doesn't earn a living wage. Zoom in: The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro had a true unemployment rate of almost 20% in 2023, significantly better than the Austin (24%), Houston (24%) and San Antonio (27%) metros. The U.S. rate was 23%. Yes, but: 45% of the Dallas metro's population 16 and older was unable to find full-time work with a living wage, which the Ludwig Institute "conservatively" pegs at $25,000 annually before taxes. Zoom out: The Laredo and McAllen areas had the highest true unemployment rates last year, close to 50%, per the Ludwig Institute.

1 big thing: Texas' low per-student funding By Fiza Kuzhiyil and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi Data: Census Bureau; Map: Axios Visuals Around 9 in 10 Texas students attend inadequately funded schools, per a report analyzing public school funding nationwide. Why it matters: Texas ranks in the bottom 10 states in the country for education spending by several measures, including the report by the Albert Shanker Institute, the University of Miami and Rutgers University. The state Legislature hasn't increased per-student funding since 2019, leaving cash-strapped school districts to consider deep budget cuts to make ends meet. How it works: Per-student funding is set by the Legislature using a formula. The state's basic allotment is $6,160 per student and can be higher based on characteristics of the district, including family income and the number of students who need accessible education. Local property taxes also contribute to a district's overall funding. Zoom in: Dallas ISD had a $40 million shortfall for 2023-24 and projects a $188 million deficit for 2024-25, officials tell Axios. Teacher salaries, security mandates and inflation-related spending, and the number of seniors graduating "career, college and military ready" have all increased at Dallas ISD in recent years, superintendent Stephanie Elizalde tells Axios. "About the only thing that isn't up is the money that the state gives us to teach the children," Elizalde says. Threat level: Districts are spending more on maintenance, health care, food services, custodial work and utilities because of inflation. Texas schools received $19.2 billion of federal COVID funding, which ends in September. The state Legislature hasn't increased per-student funding for districts with compounding financial woes. Meanwhile: Several legislative sessions last year focused on a voucher-like proposal to provide public funding for private school tuition. It didn't pass. Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican leaders are pushing again to pass a voucher bill when the Legislature reconvenes next year.

May 7, 2024 Good morning. Today my colleague Vanessa Friedman is covering the Met Gala, the biggest night in fashion. —David Leonhardt Nina Westervelt for The New York Times, Amir Hamja/The New York Times The show By Vanessa Friedman She is The Times’s chief fashion critic. If you are wondering why your social media feeds are awash this morning with culture-shapers of all kinds (actors, athletes, musical artists, politicians) dressed up in the most over-the-top outfits you’ve ever seen, it’s because last night was the Met Gala — also known as the Oscars of the East Coast and the party of the year. Every Gala has a dress code, which is tethered to the exhibition. This year, the show is titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.” Guests were instructed to dress according to a “Garden of Time” theme, an allusion to a 1962 J.G. Ballard short story. Yes, there is occasionally something cynical and commercial here. We’ve seen meme-baiting fashions in recent years: Katy Perry costumed as a chandelier, Rihanna as the pope, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a fox in the fabulous henhouse. (She wore a white ball gown with “Tax the Rich” scrawled on the back in 2021.) The famous faces often serve as quasi-advertisements for fashion brands. All of which makes it easy to forget this is actually an important fund-raiser for one of New York’s cultural pillars: the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. It was once a free-standing museum, but when it merged with the Met in 1946, part of the deal was that the Costume Institute would have to pay for itself. It is the only curatorial department in the museum where that is true. Hence the gala, which raises all the funds for the institute’s operating budget. (Last year, it made $22 million.) One reason the institute is treated like a sideshow is that it has always been controversial in some quarters to treat fashion as fine art. (Shock! Horror! Clothes with the Kandinsky!) The Costume Institute itself has historically been housed in the museum’s basement — a clear statement about its status at the museum. But the fashion exhibitions have become more ambitious and more popular as the curator in charge, Andrew Bolton, has focused on the intersection of dress and zeitgeist. He has aimed at themes such as camp, or fashion and Catholicism. Three of the 10 most visited exhibitions in the Met’s history are Costume Institute shows. That has made it harder for the museum to justify its prejudice. Last year, it announced plans to renovate the gift shop into the new costume galleries, meaning those galleries will be among the first any visitor sees. And that is a reflection of the growing importance of fashion as part of culture, high and low. The gala, with its carefully documented entrances, has simply become everyone’s pass to gleefully render judgment on the game. Feel free to do so yourself: Here are some of the more — well, eye-opening looks from last night. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Harris Reed wearing his own design. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Lana Del Rey in Alexander McQueen. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Demi Moore in Harris Reed. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Ariana Grande in Loewe. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Barry Keoghan in Burberry. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Nicki Minaj in Marni. Amir Hamja/The New York Times Bad Bunny in Maison Margiela. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Amelia Gray in Undercover, left, and Rachel Zegler in Dior, right. Nina Westervelt for The New York Times Gigi Hadid in Thom Browne. For more Zendaya made two appearances on the carpet in two different dresses. Cardi B required eight ushers to arrange her voluminous skirt. Gigi Hadid said her dress bore 2.8 million beads. See more of the night’s unforgettable looks. More influencers, fewer actors: The Washington Post tracked and categorized a decade of Met Gala attendees. ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Israeli Forces in Rafah In Rafah, in southern Gaza Strip. Hatem Khaled/Reuters The Israeli military said that it had sent tanks overnight into part of Rafah — the city near Gaza’s border with Egypt where many Palestinians have taken refuge — in what it called a limited operation aimed at Hamas targets. Earlier, Israel had ordered more than 100,000 Gazans to evacuate the city. Israeli forces took operational control over the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing, an important route for aid. The military said, without offering evidence, that troops found three tunnel shafts near the crossing and that about 20 militants were killed during the operation. The incursion did not appear to be the long-discussed full ground invasion. Cease-Fire Negotiations Hours before the attacks, Hamas endorsed a cease-fire proposal. Officials told The Times that it was mostly similar to one Israel had previously endorsed. Israeli officials said that the proposal was unacceptable but that they would send a negotiating team to Cairo. The White House sees Hamas’s announcement as a counteroffer to gain negotiating leverage, Peter Baker writes. Hamas also told negotiators that the 33 hostages it was willing to release in a cease-fire’s first phase included the remains of some who had died as well as those still living. Campus Protests Pro-Palestinian protesters at M.I.T. resisted a university order to clear their encampment. Columbia University canceled its main commencement, citing security concerns. The police arrested 64 people at an encampment at the University of California, San Diego, and more than 40 at U.C.L.A. Russia Russian authorities detained a U.S. soldier in the port city of Vladivostok last week on charges of criminal misconduct. Russia is planning military exercises to practice for the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons, a display calibrated to discourage further Western intervention in Ukraine. More International News Kotono Hara, a career diplomat. Noriko Hayashi for The New York Times After decades of government and industry efforts, Japanese women are finally making progress in the workplace. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has near-total control over the nation’s politics — except in the wealthier, ethnically diverse south, The A.P. reports. Trump on Trial The jury in Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial saw the invoices and checks that prosecutors accuse Trump of falsifying to hide a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Two witnesses — current and former Trump employees — testified that Trump paid close attention to outgoing cash and that much of the reimbursement for the payment came from his personal account. The judge again fined Trump for violating a gag order by criticizing the jury. Addressing Trump directly, the judge said he would consider jailing him if he kept violating it. Prosecutors have about two weeks of their case left to present. The defense then gets its turn, followed by closing arguments. More on Politics Social Security and Medicare will run out of money later than previously estimated — by the mid-2030s. The strong labor market has improved the programs’ financial health. Most young voters oppose Biden’s position on the Israel-Hamas war, but few rank it as their top election issue. Most care more about inflation and housing. Bernie Sanders, 82, plans to run for a fourth Senate term this fall. Health Kendric Cromer, 12. Kenny Holston/The New York Times A new gene therapy may cure sickle cell disease. Last week, a 12-year-old boy in Washington, D.C., became the first patient to get the treatment. People with a particular gene variant are almost certain to get Alzheimer’s, a study found, meaning patients could be diagnosed years before any symptoms. Other Big Stories Dozens of former inmates at Illinois youth detention centers — now adults — sued the state, accusing it of allowing workers to abuse detainees for decades. Boeing is under yet another F.A.A. investigation: It told regulators it might have skipped required inspections on its 787 Dreamliners, a separate model from the one that lost a panel midflight. Opinions Europe’s radical right is rising because no other political group recognizes that the European Union is undemocratic, Lea Ypi argues. Here are columns by Michelle Goldberg on the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act and Paul Krugman on Florida’s ban on lab-grown meat. A subscription to match the variety of your interests. News. Games. Recipes. Product reviews. Sports reporting. A New York Times All Access subscription covers all of it and more. Subscribe today. MORNING READS On Staten Island. Ye Fan for The New York Times Rolling out: On a chilly May evening, Roller Jam USA — New York City’s only year-round roller-skating rink — hosted its final night of operation. Hustling: Meet the schemers and savers obsessed with ending their careers as early as possible. Lives Lived: Kris Hallenga received a Stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis at 23. She spent the next 15 years educating other young people about early detection through her nonprofit and in a memoir. Hallenga died at 38. SPORTS N.B.A.: Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the defending-champion Denver Nuggets, 106-80, to go up 2-0 in their playoff tilt. N.H.L.: The Boston Bruins beat the favored Florida Panthers 5-1 on the road to open their playoff series with a 1-0 lead. ADVERTISEMENT ARTS AND IDEAS Children in Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023. Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times The Times won three Pulitzer Prizes yesterday — for its coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas, an investigation into migrant child labor and a Magazine story on a family’s experience with Alzheimer’s. The Washington Post also won three prizes, while The New Yorker won two. The Invisible Institute, a nonprofit based on the South Side of Chicago, also won parts of two prizes. In the book categories, the winners tended to focus on discrimination and identity, including: a biography of Martin Luther King Jr.; a portrait of Black workers in 19th-century Boston; a story of escape from bondage in Georgia; the reconstruction of a school-bus explosion that killed Palestinians; a memoir touching on violence against women in Mexico; and poetry about a multicultural upbringing. Read the complete list of winners. More on culture Ten years ago, the bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won Eurovision, prompting celebration and condemnation. Her creator, Tom Neuwirth, looks back. In The London Observer, one writer extols the benefits of a transformative — if a little embarrassing — practice: reading books aloud with your partner. “It’s like she thought ‘All Dogs Go to Heaven’ was a personal challenge”: Jordan Klepper joked about Gov. Kristi Noem on “The Daily Show.” THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Christopher Testani for The New York Times Smash portobello mushroom caps with a heavy skillet to make this burger. Fight fleas. Wear a sun hat on a hike. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were attachment, catchment, enchantment and enhancement. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch

🗳️ Scoop: Biden hits Trump on border Screenshot: Biden campaign ad The Biden campaign is launching a digital ad to remind Latino voters of President Trump's family separation policy at the border — officially announced six years ago today — which resulted in 3,000+ kids being taken from their parents. Why it matters: The Biden campaign is upping its effort to puncture what they see as nostalgia for Trump's four years in office. Zoom in: The ad, "Ripped Apart," interlaces video of Trump making anti-immigrant comments with the cries of children separated from their parents. The other side: Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said he "will restore his effective immigration policies ... and marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history." Watch the ad.

⛵ Navy's new problem: Drone ships A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel sails by a Royal Jordanian Navy patrol craft during a joint exercise with U.S. forces. Photo: U.S. Navy handout via Reuters The U.S. Navy's efforts to build a fleet of unmanned vessels are faltering because the Pentagon remains wedded to big shipbuilding projects, Reuters reports. Why it matters: The recent push masks years of hesitation by the U.S. Navy to build a fleet of unmanned vessels, despite repeated warnings this was the future of maritime warfare. Tactics used by Ukraine (successfully) and Houthi rebels in Yemen (less successfully) have caught the attention of the Pentagon, which is incorporating those lessons into plans to counter China's rising naval power. But the Pentagon budget process still prioritizes big ships and submarines. Go deeper.

📢 Exclusive poll: College students shrug Data: Generation Lab. (Respondents selected up to three issues.) Chart: Axios Visuals College protests are dominating headlines. But only a sliver of students are participating or view the Israel-Hamas war as a top issue, Axios' Sareen Habeshian writes from a new Generation Lab survey. Why it matters: The poll hints that the war — and the accompanying protests — might not hurt President Biden's election prospects among young voters as much as some think. 🧮 By the numbers: Only a small minority (8%) of college students have participated in either side of the protests, the survey of 1,250 college students found. Students ranked the conflict in the Middle East as the least important issue out of nine options (charted above). Keep reading.

🏛️ Dems' breaking point on Israel Palestinians in Rafah carry their belongings as they leave following an evacuation order by the Israeli military yesterday. Photo: AFP via Getty Images Democrats in Congress are furious as Israel moves into the southern Gazan city of Rafah after they and President Biden spent months trying to prevent such an operation, Axios' Andrew Solender reports. Why it matters: A full-scale invasion could be a sea-change moment for Democrats on Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom relations have become increasingly strained. A House Democrat who has pushed for Biden to condition military aid to Israel said the Rafah assault "has the potential of making our case for us."

Israel frustrated with hostage talks Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike east of Rafah yesterday. Photo: Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP Israeli officials claim the Biden administration knew about the latest hostage and ceasefire deal proposal that Egypt and Qatar negotiated with Hamas — but didn't brief them before Hamas announced it had accepted it yesterday, Axios' Barak Ravid reports. Why it matters: The episode has created deep disappointment and suspicion among senior Israeli officials regarding the U.S. role in the hostage deal talks. It could hurt future negotiations. A senior U.S. official pushed back: "American diplomats have been engaged with Israeli counterparts. There have been no surprises." The official said the Biden administration sees Hamas' response as a counter-proposal, not a new proposal. 👀 Behind the scenes: Three Israeli officials said yesterday's Hamas announcement about accepting a ceasefire surprised the Israeli government — and that Israel didn't receive the text of the group's response from the mediators until an hour after Hamas released its statement. When the Israelis read Hamas' response, they were surprised to see it contained "many new elements" that weren't part of the previous proposal that Israel agreed on, and that was presented to Hamas by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar 10 days ago, the officials said. "It looked like a whole new proposal," one official said. Two Israeli officials said the feeling is that "Israel got played" by the U.S., and the mediators who drafted "a new deal" and weren't transparent. The other side: A source with knowledge of the negotiations said the U.S. invited the Israelis to Cairo over the weekend but they chose not to send a team. One Israeli official admitted it was a mistake that led Israel to have less visibility into the talks. Data: IDF. Chart: Axios Visuals ⚡ Breaking: Today, an Israeli tank brigade seized control of the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt as Israel moved forward with an offensive. Get the latest.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY May 7 1994 Edvard Munch's "The Scream" recovered after theft On May 7, 1994, Norway's most famous painting, "The Scream" by Edvard Munch, is recovered almost three months after it was stolen from a museum in Oslo. The fragile painting was recovered undamaged at a hotel in Asgardstrand, about 40 miles south of Oslo, police said... read more 1950s 1954 French defeated at Dien Bien Phu Art, Literature and Film History 1824 Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 debuts Cold War 1960 Leonid Brezhnev becomes leader of the USSR Crime 1896 Serial killer H.H. Holmes is hanged in Philadelphia Immigration 1843 First Japanese immigrant arrives in the U.S. Inventions & Science 1998 Daimler-Benz announces purchase of Chrysler Corp. 2004 Marine biologist Richard Thompson coins the term “microplastics” Native American History 1763 Ottawa Chief Pontiac's Rebellion against the British begins VIETNAM WAR 1984 Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange win $180 million settlement World War I 1915 German submarine sinks Lusitania World War II 1945 Germany surrenders unconditionally to the Allies at Reims