Read Online  |  Oct. 21, 2024  |  E-Paper

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Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese border village of Khiam on Oct. 20, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (AFP via Getty Images)

The United States is probing a leak of intelligence purporting to show Israel’s plans to retaliate against Iran.

Appearing on CNN on Sunday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said an investigation of the leak is underway and that he will get a briefing later in the day.

The context: Israel is expected to retaliate against Iran after it launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel earlier this month following Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollah is an Iranian-financed terrorist group based in Southern Lebanon. Israel has not said when it will retaliate other than it will do so at its own choosing.

In a statement, the Pentagon said it is aware of the media reports of the documents but does not have further comment. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the leak of the two documents.

Keep reading.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Elon Musk’s offer to give away $1 million per day to a random registered Pennsylvania voter who signs his petition in support of the First and Second Amendments is “deeply concerning” and “something that law enforcement could take a look at.”

Musk, who owns Tesla, delivered the first check for the prize money on Saturday.

Why it matters: Musk, who has endorsed former President Donald Trump and is campaigning for him, is using an unconventional approach to inspire voters to register. With some observers already saying they believe the practice to be illegal with no clear precedent, the billionaire may end up defending the giveaway in court.

Continue reading…

As a record number of Americans turn 65 this year, retiring abroad is becoming an increasingly attractive option for many.

For some retirement-age expats, finding a slower pace of life, a sense of community, and a temperate climate were reasons enough to pull up stakes.

Our own Autumn Spredemann spoke to other expats who say retiring in another country is a great option. Read Autumn’s report about the trend here.

JEFFREY A. TUCKER

Would you like to keep more of the money you make? Presumably yes.

Would you like it even more if you could keep all the money you make, as life was like before 1913? Presumably yes.

Some recent trends in policy rhetoric are headed in this direction. I regard this as a good thing. Once again, the people’s wishes are not inconsistent with what would be good for the entire country.

It’s common among economists, however, to decry special tax breaks as distorting production decisions. Continue reading…

Top U.S. lawmakers are urging Japan to restrict its companies from selling semiconductor chip-making equipment to China.

John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) said the continuing exports would give the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) “a functional veto over our nation’s ability to produce our weapons systems and modern consumer goods at necessary levels.”

Continue reading…

The right spice or herb can create flavor versatility and breathe new life into your favorite savory dishes.

Historically, many cultures worldwide used culinary herbs and spices to make foods easier to digest. One such powerful yet often underused spice is cumin.

Cumin is a medicinal plant containing over 100 chemicals, including essential fatty acids and volatile oils. In Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient traditional system of Indian medicine, cumin is believed to possess healing properties.

While cumin is a staple in Indian cuisine, its influence extends far beyond. In the United States, it gained popularity in Latin American foods and is now commonly used in Mexican cuisine.

Read on for the benefits of cumin and how to incorporate it into your diet.

Four Muses by François Lemoine

“Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”

—William Faulkner,

American author

Autumn Poetry

Autumn reminds us of time’s passing and of our own transience. Everything about it is in motion; the cascade of leaves, the rapid succession of colors, and the onset of chill evoke time’s passage and mortality. At the same time, there is a delicate balance between the time of abundant harvest and the time of fading and approaching decay.

Each of the poets, in different ways, shows that autumn is a tangible and visible reminder of the whole of our lives in which joy and sorrow are held in tension and are always both fiercely present.

Join Marlena Figge to explore other fall classics.

LiAndStudio/Shutterstock

From rare heirlooms to splashy newcomers, there are more varieties ripe for the picking than ever. A chef, an orchardist, and an apple historian shared their favorites with our colleague, Kevin Revolinski.

Best for Baking: Northern Spy, Pink Pearl, Granny Smith, and Tompkins King

Best for Snaking: Hidden Rose, Lord Hindlip, Cox’s Orange Pippin and more

Explore the rest of the in-depth guide here.

Spot the Difference is our readers’ favorite. Play it here.

Here are more games that everyone loves:

Thanks for reading.

Have a wonderful day.

—Ivan Pentchoukov and Kenzi Li.

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