Trump signs an interim agreement to end the war in Iran. Experts explain why smartphones aren’t to blame for America’s declining fertility rate. And in China, where the national team failed to make it to the World Cup, fans are instead rallying behind a referee.
Here’s what to know today.
President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian both digitally signed a memorandum of understanding laying out terms for ending the war. Trump signed the memorandum yesterday while at dinner at the Palace of Versailles with French President Emmanuel Macron.
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Vice President JD Vance will travel to Switzerland tomorrow, according to a U.S. official. The Swiss government said delegations from the U.S. and Iran would meet there to kick off initial talks on a final peace deal, with the clock starting on a 60-day negotiating window to resolve key issues around the future of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The U.S. is also expected to lift sanctions on Iran and unfreeze funds and assets linked to the country’s regime. The memorandum also declares an intent to stop military operations in the war that began Feb. 28.
Also included in the 14-point memo, which you can read here, is a commitment for the U.S. to work with regional partners to develop a plan for at least $300 billion to be distributed to Iran for “reconstruction and economic development.”
In a sign of growing tension between the U.S. and Israel, the Israeli government was not shown the memorandum, as Trump continues to publicly criticize the country’s attacks in Lebanon.
While Trump has framed the tentative deal as a victory for the U.S., fractures within the Republican Party suggest that it could be a hard sell both on Capitol Hill and in the run-up to November’s midterm elections, as some lawmakers will likely be skeptical about measures to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, slammed the agreement as “one of the biggest American disasters.”
Today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lambasted European allies for failing to provide U.S. forces access to bases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, calling it “shameful.” He announced a six-month Pentagon review of American forces in Europe.
The idea that smartphones might be partially to blame for the falling fertility rate in the U.S. picked up steam in the last month, after several working papers suggested there may be a link. But the theory gave me pause. I had researched declining fertility rates before, and technology was not widely cited as a contributor.
So I put the question to researchers: Was it true that smartphones had changed people’s social lives to the point of having less sex, and therefore fewer babies?
Many of the experts were skeptical. They pointed to more robust research showing that the falling fertility rate was largely driven by a decline in teen pregnancies, made possible by increased access to contraception. More women are also postponing children to advance their education or careers, but still go on to have around two kids, on average, in their 30s and 40s.
From that perspective, the fertility rate seems less like a crisis and more like a reflection of shifting priorities and expanded options for women. — Aria Bendix, health reporter
The Senate yesterday delayed a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee to be the next director of national intelligence, after the president posted on social media he was “cancelling it” (which he didn’t have the authority to do) over his frustration at a lapsed surveillance tool and a voter ID bill that lacks the votes to pass.
The hearing delay not only blindsided and frustrated Senate Republicans, but it also completely derailed Majority Leader John Thune’s plans to fast-track the nomination, which would have ensured that Bill Pulte, Trump’s controversial pick for acting director of national intelligence who has no national security experience, wouldn’t step in a full-time role.
Trump’s decision to stall his own nominee is just the latest instance in recent weeks of how he has disputed his own agenda. Recently, his request for $1 billion for his White House ballroom and the creation of a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund also caused a stir. Now, the already fragile relationship between the president and Senate Republicans is near a breaking point.
These other recent moves have also tested the GOP.
The first named storm of the season, Tropical Storm Arthur, weakened last night, but forecasters warned that it still posed a threat of intense flash flooding over the next few days in southeastern states. Much of the region faced a prolonged drought earlier this year, but recent rain could make the areas extra susceptible to floods.
The National Hurricane Center said yesterday that the storm formed off Texas yesterday morning but later in the day weakened to a low pressure area. Forecasters expect 5 to 10 inches of rain in parts of Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, with some areas potentially seeing 20 inches. The highest flood threat over the next few days stretches from Louisiana to Alabama with the most rainfall expected near Mobile, Alabama.
A cluster of post-industrial towns in northwest England might be about to choose the country’s next prime minister.
The people of Makerfield today decide whether to vote Andy Burnham — mayor of Greater Manchester, often hailed “King of the North” whose common touch has helped make him the most popular politician in Britain — back into Parliament. If elected, he says he would challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer as head of the ruling Labour Party — no public vote needed, thanks to the quirks of British politics.
Two years after a landslide victory, Starmer is the least popular British leader on record due to a perceived lack of personality, and a series of policy U-turns and scandals — including the appointment of a friend of Jeffrey Epstein as ambassador to Washington.
Burnham should win if polls are correct. On Sunday, the pollster Convergent had him on 49% and Reform UK, his main challenger led by Trump ally Nigel Farage, on 37%. Burnham says if triumphant, he will trigger a leadership contest against Starmer. Secure that and he would be prime minister. That leaves Makerfield, with its former mining communities, red-brick terraces and close-knit community spirit, in the surprise position of deciding the fate of Britain.
It has been 24 years since China qualified for the men’s World Cup, but that hasn’t stopped enthusiastic soccer fans from showing their support.
Early on Wednesday local time, as Argentina sealed a 3-0 victory over Algeria, hundreds of fans gathered on the courtyard lawn of Beijing’s Argentine Embassy to cheer the team on. Last week’s opening match between South Korea and the Czech Republic amassed over 44 million viewers, according to data from state broadcaster CCTV.
Fans are also rallying behind the lone Chinese top official at the tournament: Ma Ning, known locally as “Card Master” for his strict approach to officiating and his willingness to wield yellow and red cards. At one point he was a meme on social media. He makes his World Cup debut this weekend at the match between Ecuador and Curaçao.
How China is celebrating the World Cup.
💥 What you missed: Ebullient England defeated Croatia 4-2 thanks to two goals from Harry Kane, one from Jude Bellingham and one from Marcus Rashford. In the same Group L, Ghana defeated Panama 1-0. In Group K, a Portugal side starring Cristiano Ronaldo could only draw 1-1 against the Democratic Republic of the Congo. João Neves found the net for Portugal, meaning Ronaldo’s bid to become the first man to score in six different World Cups goes on. In the same group, Uzbekistan came out fighting in its first-ever World Cup appearance but lost 3-1 to Colombia.
🗓 What to watch today: Czechia and South Africa kick off the day at noon ET. Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina play at 3 p.m., followed by Canada and Qatar at 6 p.m., and Mexico and South Korea at 9 p.m. See the full schedule.
📩 Join the excitement: Sign up for The Sports Desk newsletter for more in-depth World Cup coverage.
Prime Day is only a few days away and tons of early deals have already hit the market. So far, we’ve spotted Apple AirPods Pro 3 at their lowest price ever, smartwatches for up to 50% off, and tons more tech deals that are actually worth buying now. Not sure if you should shop now or wait? We spoke to experts to find out which Prime Day sales you should shop — and which to skip.
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