South Korea is tightening restrictions
The Seoul city government will close nightclubs and late-night restaurants starting Tuesday as South Korea tightens guidelines to combat a surge in coronavirus infections.
South Korea’s daily caseload surged over 300 for five days before dropping to 271 on Monday. Most of the recent spike’s new cases were reported in Seoul and nearby cities.
Unlike previous waves that had clustered around multiple churches and outdoor rallies, the current surge has been more common. Officials said it originated in social gatherings where people were without a mask. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has warned that the surge could become the country’s largest wave of infections if the spread is not contained quickly.
Details: The new restrictions include a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people, as well as closing nightclubs, dance halls, casinos and other high-risk venues. Other indoor activities limit the opening times and the number of participants.
China dictates its terms
With the US and others aware of its growing dominance, China wants to become less dependent on the world for its own needs while making the world as dependent on China as possible.
It is a globalization with communist characteristics: the Chinese government promotes the country’s openness to the world, even if it pursues increasingly aggressive and sometimes punitive policies that force countries to obey their rules.
Case study: Last spring, after Australia requested an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus, China silently began blocking one import from Australia after another. Yet Australia joined a new regional free trade agreement brokered by China with 14 Asian nations.
Connected: A supercomputer center used by the Chinese government for surveillance in Xinjiang is operated with chips from the American companies Intel and Nvidia. Both companies said they didn’t know what they termed abuse of their technology.
Has Netanyahu met the Saudi crown prince?
The Israeli news media reported Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was having a secret meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudi Foreign Minister denied that such a meeting took place hours after the reports surfaced. Mr. Netanyahu’s office refused to comment.
If confirmed, it would be the first known meeting between high-level Israeli and Saudi leaders.
Context: Israel and the Trump administration have advocated the idea that diplomatic opening between Saudi Arabia and Israel is only a matter of time. The Saudis have insisted that an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement must first be reached.
If you have 7 minutes, it’s worth it
Children caught in France’s push against extremists
In the past few weeks, French police have been investigating at least 14 children and young people accused of making inappropriate comments during a memorial for a teacher who was beheaded after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. In Albertville, a town in the French Alps, officials detained four 10-year-olds, including Emira Yildirim, with her mother upstairs, for about 10 hours on suspicion of “defending terrorism”.
While France is grappling with a wave of Islamic attacks, people at home and abroad have criticized the government’s response, which some say poses the risk of bringing ordinary French Muslims into conflict with extremists.
The following also happens
Joshua Wong: The Hong Kong activist and two other members of the pro-democracy movement pleaded guilty to a 2019 protest. They were detained immediately and will be sentenced next week.
Biden cabinet: President-elect Joe Biden plans to appoint a former secretary of state, John Kerry, to his climate bazar and to appoint Antony Blinken as secretary of state. The members of the emerging team are known to foreign diplomats and share a belief in international cooperation, but caution in foreign interventions after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Netflix in India scandal: American streaming service is embroiled in religious tension as nationalist leaders decipher scenes on the show “A Suitable Boy”. You are upset about a scene with a Hindu-Muslim couple kissing in front of a Hindu temple.
Sarkozy study: Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, appeared in court on Monday to face charges of corruption and influence. He is charged with trying to illegally obtain information from a judge by offering to get him a job.
Singapore Smiley Face Charge: Jolovan Wham, a civil rights activist, was charged with illegal public gathering for holding up a cardboard sign with a smiley face on it. Mr Wham said the charges against him show that Singapore laws can be applied “in a ridiculous and presumptuous manner”.
Snapshot: Above guys playing video games in Kabul this month. Young Afghans find escape in a video game that almost eerily describes the state of war in their country. The Afghan legislature is trying to ban the game “PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds” because it promotes violence.
Chess someone ?: The Queen’s Gambit, a Netflix show about a child prodigy, has rekindled interest in the game and increased sales of chess sets.
What we read: This Atlantic article on TikTok celebrities and how the app created a new avenue to fame. Dani Blum from the briefings team says, “It’s a fascinating look at how technology intersects with youth culture.”
Now a break from the news
Cook: Turkey escalope Marsala goes well with a mushroom risotto or a pile of rice. They could also be part of your menu if you’re planning a small American Thanksgiving Day.
Read: Barack Obama’s “A Promised Land” and Ayad Akhtar’s “Homeland Elegies” are among the 10 best books of 2020 selected by the editors of The Times Book Review.
Clock: “Black Narcissus,” an FX mini-series, takes up a story about sexual oppression in the Himalayas. It also includes one final TV performance of Diana Rigg, who passed away in September.
We’ll help you relax at home with our collection of ideas to read, cook, watch, and do while you stay home safe.
And now for the background story about …
A headline for the story
In print journalism, the most important events often call for the simplest headlines. MEN WALK ON MOON didn’t require a big twist. But what two or three words would explain the winner of the US presidential election on the New York Times? Our print editors wrote over days of debate over a headline.
We had to prepare for a variety of outcomes. In the event of President Trump’s victory, we preferred TRUMP PREVAILS – nothing special, but it would say a lot in two words.
The Biden options included IT’S BIDEN and BIDEN’S MOMENT. But the consensus was that if Joe Biden won, Mr Trump’s defeat would also be a significant part of the story.
So the best way was to go straight ahead: BIDEN (verb) TRUMP. The next question: which verb?
Defeats? Ousts? Falls?
“Defeat feels a bit boring,” said Dean Baquet, the Times editor-in-chief, and later added, “Ousts feels like a coup.” Some felt that falls were too close to falls.
What we needed was simple. Powerfully simple. BIDEN BEATS TRUMP. Clear and clear, a quick combination of three words with five letters.
That’s it for this briefing. Until next time.
– Melina and Dani
Many thanks
Carole Landry helped write this briefing. Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh took the break from the news. You can reach the team at [email protected].
PS
• We listen to “The Daily”. Our latest episode is about the closure of New York schools after an initially successful reopening.
• Here is our mini crossword puzzle and a clue: Hollywood Walk of Fame symbol (four letters). You can find all of our puzzles here.
• Vox co-founder Ezra Klein becomes the newest podcast host and columnist in our public opinion department.
Comments are closed.