Members phkrause Posted Sunday at 11:48 PM Author Members Posted Sunday at 11:48 PM June 27, 2026 Good morning. Sometimes, our preference for certitude, our need to define things with conviction, closes us off from possibility. María Jesús Contreras Natural selection By Melissa Kirsch When Serena Williams retired from tennis in 2022, she was 40 years old, had won 23 Grand Slam singles tournaments, 14 more in doubles, and had spent 319 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world. She had “never liked the word retirement,” she said in an essay in Vogue, offering a reframing of her departure from the sport that she’d dominated for so many years: “Maybe the best word to describe what I’m up to is evolution. I’m here to tell you that I’m evolving away from tennis, toward other things that are important to me.” “Evolving away”! At the time, this phrasing seemed to offer a distinction without a difference — a “conscious uncoupling” from tennis. This week, though, when Wimbledon announced that Williams would play singles at the tournament for the first time in four years, the language seemed less poetic and more deliberate. She evolved away from tennis; now, it seems, at least for the moment, she has evolved back. We get to decide how we narrate our lives, and sometimes our preference for certitude, our need to define things with conviction, closes us off from possibility. I’m not asserting that Williams scripted her return to tennis four years ago. But I’m intrigued, now, by the way she framed her decision to leave the sport — for her fans, and, one imagines, for herself — not as a rejection of tennis, but as an embrace of her family, her business ventures, the other things in her life that matter to her. I’ve written about how much I value the practice of making “Away/Toward” lists, where you itemize the things in your life you want to move away from, the things you want to move toward. My “Away” lists are always a series of negatives I need to rid myself of — bad habits, soured relationships, unproductive ways of thinking. But I love the idea of looking at one’s life more objectively, without so much judgment: I’m evolving away from this person, this job, this particular chapter, and who’s to say I won’t evolve back? This openness with language seems particularly useful when you’re making a decision or change that’s difficult. Leaving tennis was painful for Williams. “I don’t want it to be over,” she said in her farewell essay, “but at the same time I’m ready for what’s next.” For most of us, this is the ideal “away” scenario: We love what we’re doing, but we’re leaving it, on our own terms, and we’re looking forward to the next chapter. Moving away from one thing without rancor, moving toward something else with enthusiasm. As Williams evolves back onto the court at the All England Club this coming week, I’m wondering about my own evolutions. Where can I narrate my own experience with more spaciousness? Celebrities’ purposely ambiguous public statements don’t often offer much in the way of wisdom, but in this case, I think there’s something to be heeded. What elements of our own lives could benefit from some less definitive framing? What are we leaving behind that, who knows, we might want to one day revisit? THE LATEST NEWS Venezuela Earthquakes The ruins of a residential building in La Guaira. Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times Officials say the earthquakes in Venezuela this week killed at least 920 people and injured at least 3,300 others. The toll could still rise, as many people remained missing or trapped. These satellite photos show the trail of destruction down the northern coast. Search-and-rescue teams from around the world have arrived to help recover people from the rubble. The U.S. State Department has earmarked $150 million for relief efforts. The quakes exposed the fragility of Venezuela’s infrastructure. There are only three functioning ambulances serving greater Caracas, one doctor said. Firefighters are relying on cellphone lights. A hospital in the disaster zone is operating without running water. War in Iran The U.S. military said it had struck missile and drone storage locations in Iran, as well as coastal radar sites, in retaliation for Iran’s attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump called Iran’s ship attack a “foolish violation” of the cease-fire. A U.S. defense official told The Times that yesterday’s attacks were not intended to revive the war. Around the World Vantor, via Reuters Crimea: Weeks of Ukrainian airstrikes have rattled the Russian-controlled peninsula. The authorities there declared a state of emergency after Russia said it had intercepted 660 drones overnight. China: A small aircraft flew into the tallest building in Beijing, sending debris and plane parts onto the street. Politics John Bolton, who was national security adviser during Trump’s first term, pleaded guilty to mishandling classified information. He faces up to five years in prison. Vice President JD Vance downplayed the Watergate scandal, saying that if it happened today it would be “like a 12-hour news story.” Times Exclusive: The administration is investigating whether Yale’s admissions practices hurt white and Asian applicants. The university has hired a high-powered law firm to try to reach a settlement. Other Big Stories Texas approved a common set of books that millions of public school students across the state must read. It includes Bible excerpts. The District of Columbia agreed to pay a settlement to a man who was arrested last year after he played the “Imperial March” from “Star Wars” to protest the National Guard. Two weeks after breaking free from a game ranch in Texas’ Hill Country, an escaped giraffe named Gracie was found “fat and happy” a few miles away. THE WEEK IN CULTURE Film and TV Milly Alcock as Supergirl. Warner Bros.Entertainment “Supergirl” is a watchable (if derivative) bit of summer superhero entertainment, our critic writes, held up by a strong central performance from Milly Alcock. In “The Invite,” Seth Rogen and Olivia Wilde star as a millennial couple whose tense marriage gets a wild jolt from their neighbors. It’s a critic’s pick. “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness,” a seven-episode historical sketch show starring Larry David and produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, premieres on HBO this weekend. Fine Arts A record Sotheby’s auction in London brought in £393.4 million with fees — about $521 million — across 25 works. The top earner: Amedeo Modigliani’s 1917 “Seated Nude With Necklace,” which sold for £48.2 million. As Europe broiled in a heat wave this week, some museums billed themselves as refuges. London’s Imperial War Museum called itself a space of “salvation” from the heat. A new National Geographic museum opened in Washington, D.C., this week. Here are five standout photographs from its collection. More Culture Eisa Davis and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Daniel Weiss for The New York Times Lin-Manuel Miranda is returning to Broadway: “Warriors,” his first musical since “Hamilton,” is set to open next spring. It’s based on the cult classic 1979 film about a street gang that has to fight its way from the Bronx to Coney Island. Major networks are taking a new look at microdramas, the vertically shot, mobile-first soap operas delivered in dozens of rapid-fire episodes. Will Canada be the next country to join the Eurovision Song Contest? Its broadcaster has joined the European Broadcasting Union, the requirement for entry in the competition. Subscribers always win. Here’s why. You can now save 75% on your first year of a New York Times Games subscription. Discover all of our word and logic games (and play past puzzles), earn badges for your achievements, plus more. Time is running out though, so subscribe today. RECIPE OF THE WEEK Dane Tashima for The New York Times By Melissa Clark Apricot Snack Cake Apricots and other stone fruits are coming into season in much of the country right now, and Kay Chun’s moist and rich apricot snack cake is a perfect use for the ones that have gone a bit soft. She calls for fresh apricots, but peaches, plums and nectarines work well, too. And while this is a delightful afternoon snack, it’s also lovely for dessert, preferably with some vanilla or butterscotch ice cream scooped on top. REAL ESTATE Gabriela Hasbun for The New York Times The Hunt: Three women wanted to start a family in the Bay Area. Could they find a house to do it in? Play our game. What you get for $900,000: An Italianate house in St. Louis. A stone house in Round Mountain, Texas. A farmhouse with outbuildings in Bovina, N.Y. Pick your favorite: In Mexico City, a colonial-style house, a house clad in terrazzo and a 1945 Art Deco-style home are all on the market for $1.3 million. LIVING The New York Times La Dolce Vita: Dreaming of an Italian getaway but not sure where to go? This quiz will help you find your ideal vacation spot. Move abroad: Countries are curtailing or even canceling their residency-by-investment programs, but there are still some appealing options available. Spread out the blanket: It’s picnic season! Be the ultimate host with these recipes and tips. ADVICE FROM WIRECUTTER How to stop your Brita from growing gunk Where you store your Brita pitcher matters. Mold can grow in humid environments where water is stagnant, and algae can grow when the pitcher is left out in the sun. Instead, store it somewhere cool and dim: in the fridge, in a cabinet or on a counter away from a window. Make sure to disassemble and hand-wash the pitcher with soap and water monthly, and dry it thoroughly before putting it back together — otherwise you might find mold in the spots where water is trapped. Lastly, don’t forget to replace the filter when it expires, especially if your current one seems clogged or your water is starting to taste funny. — Annemarie Conte and Tim Heffernan WORLD CUP The knockout rounds are about to get underway. No more settling for a draw or monitoring point differentials. It’s the phase of the tournament where one moment, action or mistake can define a team’s legacy, The Athletic’s Paul Tenorio writes. And that idea of legacy will be looming large on Wednesday, when the United States plays Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will be the lowest-rated team the U.S. has ever played in a knockout match, Paul notes. But the Americans can’t dwell on that. “Just one U.S. team, in 2002, has ever won a World Cup knockout game,” he writes. “This is a chance to change another narrative around the program. But to do that, you have to win.” More World Cup Cape Verde — the third-smallest country in tournament history, playing in its first World Cup — has advanced to the knockouts. It will play Argentina next. France crushed Norway, 4-1, behind a first-half hat trick by Ousmane Dembele. Brazil is home to the world’s largest Lebanese diaspora. That explains why fans in Lebanon, whose own team didn’t qualify, are all in on the Brazilians. Our correspondent Abdi Latif Dahir attended a watch party in Tripoli. See his video below. The New York Times NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were magically and myalgic. Take the news quiz to see how well you followed this week’s headlines. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. — Melissa Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted 2 hours ago Author Members Posted 2 hours ago June 29, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning. Rescue efforts continue in Venezuela. And a U.S. official said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. There’s plenty more below. But I want to start today in South Africa. Malawian nationals wait outside a migrant camp in Durban, South Africa. Joao Silva/The New York Times Migration woes Xenophobic violence has been mounting in South Africa recently, as mobs of anti-immigrant protesters march in Johannesburg and elsewhere, threatening African migrants and attacking foreign-owned businesses. (This link is free.) One anti-immigration group has set an arbitrary deadline for all undocumented migrants who are in the country to leave. That’s tomorrow, June 30. It’s unclear what will happen if the migrants don’t leave — the group hasn’t said — but many in South Africa are worried. I reached out to John Eligon, our bureau chief in Johannesburg, to ask what’s happening, and why. Sam: Let’s take this back to basics. Can you help us understand what things are like in South Africa these days? John: In a word, tense! Over the past several months we’ve had a lot of protests against immigrants, and they’ve just been growing and growing. And there’s been a few instances of violence in which mobs have chased and attacked immigrants out of their homes and businesses. Recently, an immigrant from Malawi was killed. Already this year, we’ve seen thousands of immigrants leave South Africa because of the threats and the attacks. Migration has long caused tensions in South Africa, because it has the continent’s largest economy. The fact is, most African migrants aren’t crossing the Mediterranean in search of greener pastures in Europe. Most go to other African countries. And South Africa is about as attractive a destination as any on the continent, because people think they can find work here. Officially, about three million immigrants live in South Africa, or about 5 percent of the population. But there are a lot more who are undocumented. Have you noticed a change recently? One thing I’ve found particularly startling in recent weeks is that we’ve essentially had migrant camps spring up on streets of major cities around South Africa. This is the wealthiest country on the continent and you don’t expect to see that here. But with so many immigrants scared to stay in their homes and rushing to leave the country, thousands have gone to these makeshift camps where the authorities are processing them and trying to get them out of the country. Where does this anger at migrants come from? Many South Africans blame foreigners for taking their jobs, committing crime and straining public resources. For all its economic might on the continent, South Africa is also one of the most unequal countries in the world. Poverty and unemployment are high. So is crime. Even though research and data suggest that immigrants are hardly drivers of these problems, they are often scapegoated. One survey found that seven out of 10 South Africans believe immigrants are bad for the economy. A fence separates a migrant from Malawi from his South African girlfriend and their son. Joao Silva/The New York Times What’s most fascinating to me is that it’s Black South Africans targeting other Black Africans. No one’s marching against or attacking the white Germans in Cape Town. In fact, there was a clip circulating on social media of one of the anti-immigrant leaders telling a white German who’s lived in the country for 20 years, “You are a part of us now.” These are the same activists telling Black Zimbabweans who have lived most of their lives in South Africa to go back to their country. And now this is all coming to a head. What is this Tuesday deadline? Who set it? The deadline is most closely tied to Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, one of the leading anti-immigrant activists, who is also a prominent Zulu leader. Ndabandaba has been leading groups of men dressed in traditional Zulu warrior regalia in demonstrations against immigrants. He has been most vocal about the June 30 deadline. But other anti-immigrant groups closely tied to him — most notably, a relatively new group called March and March — have also adopted that date. It goes without saying that they have no official authorization to force immigrants out of the country. But this deadline has taken on a life of its own, stirring panic among South Africans across the board. How is the South African government responding to the violence? President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned South Africans not to take the law into their own hands, saying that the country rejects xenophobia and Afrophobia. But the messages have been somewhat mixed. His government has also instituted a harsh crackdown on illegal immigration, with new workplace inspections, more stringent border controls and other measures that seemed meant to appease the anti-immigrant groups. It has also touted the fact that it’s been processing all the migrants who want to return to their native nations — and making a point to say that they’re issuing five-year bans to undocumented migrants on their way out. The issue of migration isn’t going anywhere anytime soon — not with the world’s population continuing to grow and climate change and economics driving people from their home countries. What does that mean for Africa? Africa is the youngest and fastest-growing continent. By 2050, it’s expected to have 2.5 billion people. Some analysts say internal migration can be good for the continent if government leaders manage it properly. Migrants can help balance labor needs across countries, increase productivity and grow the economy continentwide. But many African officials feel that supporting too many migrants will make it difficult to manage internal challenges like poverty, joblessness, and already-strained electricity and water supplies, which can fuel unrest and backlash. With all that Africa has to offer in terms of human capital and natural resources, the last thing the world wants to see is the continent growing unstable. THE LATEST NEWS Venezuela Earthquakes Fabiola Ferrero and Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times Emergency crews in Venezuela are racing against the clock to find survivors, more than four days after twin earthquakes struck. More than 100 trained dogs from 21 countries are helping with the search. A Colombian team rescued an 11-year-old boy alive from under nearly 10 feet of rubble. Families and forensic specialists are working to identify victims at the state morgue in Caracas. Politics Graham Platner has a slight edge over Senator Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, a new poll indicates. But any lead looks too small for polls to measure reliably. Divisions inside both parties over support for Israel and the war in Iran are making the midterms more unpredictable. War in the Middle East Iran seems willing to risk the cease-fire to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have not confirmed agreeing to halt attacks there. China is emerging as a relative winner from the crisis in the strait. OPINIONS Kelly Nano-Miranda This photo essay by Kelly Nano-Miranda, with text by Binyamin Appelbaum, highlights the immigrant labor that makes Hamptons luxury possible. Pope Leo is taking on just war theory. It’s past time for an overhaul, James Grimaldi writes. (This link is free.) Self-destructive decisions, not Chinese competition, might be the biggest threat to America’s position in the A.I. race, Dan Wang and Julian Gewirtz write. Subscribers always win. Here’s why. You can now save 75% on your first year of a New York Times Games subscription. Discover all of our word and logic games (and play past puzzles), earn badges for your achievements, plus more. Time is running out though, so subscribe today. MORNING READS Zohran Mamdani during his campaign for mayor of New York. Amir Hamja for The New York Times In the club: The hottest venues in New York have drinks, dancing, D.J.s and the occasional democratic socialist campaign event. Hold the doilies: Traditional bed-and-breakfasts are revamping their décor and emphasizing personalized services to compete with Airbnb. Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was a video about attacks on volunteers helping with burials during an Ebola outbreak. Metropolitan Diary: A Robert Moses special. Lives lived proudly: Many transformative figures in L.G.B.T.Q. history worked under the radar to bring about change. Here are a few of their stories. (This link is free.) TODAY’S NUMBER $5.7 million — That is how much money was at stake in a Polymarket bet about whether a player’s nickname, “Donk,” would be said during an e-sports tournament in Romania. Wait, what? (This link is free.) WORLD CUP Canada is through to the round of 16 for the first time with a very late win over South Africa, 1-0. Before this tournament, the Canadian men hadn’t won (or drawn) a single World Cup match. A video showing three of Japan’s players taking on 100 schoolkids could provide clues to the team’s strategy against Brazil. South Korea’s president called for the sports ministry to investigate the national team’s group-stage exit. The team’s head coach is resigning. RECIPE OF THE DAY David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks. Here’s an easy win for a weeknight dinner and you don’t even really need a recipe. It’s just fettuccine with ricotta and a fistful of mint. While the pasta cooks, fold a healthy stream of olive oil into the cheese, along with a little lemon juice, a minced shallot, some salt and pepper and an aggressive amount of chopped mint. That’s your sauce. Drain the pasta and put it into a warm bowl, add the cheese mixture, then swirl. Serve to applause. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL BROOKS Martin Mills/Getty Images On the occasion of his 100th birthday, the Times critics Manohla Dargis and Jason Zinoman present 100 reasons to love Mel Brooks. (No. 11: “All definitions of comedy are terrible, but his is the least bad: ‘Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into a sewer and die.’”) More on culture Bill Maher, a frequent Trump critic, received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center last night. Our report. Johnny Knoxville’s “Jackass” franchise turns 25 this year, with “Jackass: Best and Last” in theaters now. Our critic Alissa Wilkinson takes the measure of the series, “a documentary about an endangered species: enduring, weirdly healthy, bizarrely supportive male friendships in the 21st century.” Also, so much poop. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Caroline Tompkins for The New York Times Listen to Gracie Adams’s new single, “Hit the Wall.” Then watch her in conversation with our Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica on “Popcast.” Eat chickpeas to help keep your cholesterol in check. Also because they’re delicious. Upgrade your bath towels. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to feel luxurious. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were delving, deviling and inveigled. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
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