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| Zimbabwe, Saad Hariri, Leonardo da Vinci: Your Thursday Briefing | Zimbabwe, Saad Hariri, Leonardo da Vinci: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • The nearly 40-year reign of Robert Mugabe, one of Africa’s last liberation leaders, appeared to be coming to a close as tanks were deployed in the streets of Harare, the capital. | • The nearly 40-year reign of Robert Mugabe, one of Africa’s last liberation leaders, appeared to be coming to a close as tanks were deployed in the streets of Harare, the capital. |
| Mr. Mugabe appears to be under house arrest. Much of the public anger centered on his wife, Grace, amid allegations of graft and plans to install her as his successor. | Mr. Mugabe appears to be under house arrest. Much of the public anger centered on his wife, Grace, amid allegations of graft and plans to install her as his successor. |
| Do you live or did you grow up in Zimbabwe? We’d like to hear from you. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • As diplomats across Europe and the Middle East are scrambling to find a way out of the political crisis in Lebanon, France is taking a leading role. | • As diplomats across Europe and the Middle East are scrambling to find a way out of the political crisis in Lebanon, France is taking a leading role. |
| President Emmanuel Macron invited Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, and his family to come to France, appearing to offer him a way to leave Saudi Arabia, where he has remained under mysterious circumstances since he unexpectedly declared his resignation. | President Emmanuel Macron invited Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, and his family to come to France, appearing to offer him a way to leave Saudi Arabia, where he has remained under mysterious circumstances since he unexpectedly declared his resignation. |
| Concern has mounted that Mr. Hariri may be a de facto prisoner. Somehow, a humiliating moment for Lebanon has become an occasion for national unity, even pride, our correspondent in Beirut writes. | Concern has mounted that Mr. Hariri may be a de facto prisoner. Somehow, a humiliating moment for Lebanon has become an occasion for national unity, even pride, our correspondent in Beirut writes. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Russia may soon make all outside news outlets register as “foreign agents” in a tit-for-tat over the U.S. Justice Department requiring RT to register as such. | • Russia may soon make all outside news outlets register as “foreign agents” in a tit-for-tat over the U.S. Justice Department requiring RT to register as such. |
| Lawmakers approved legislation, but the Senate will still have to endorse it, and President Vladimir Putin would have to sign it into law. | Lawmakers approved legislation, but the Senate will still have to endorse it, and President Vladimir Putin would have to sign it into law. |
| In the U.S., a group of self-made experts has come to advise Congress on disinformation campaigns on social media, including Russia’s. | In the U.S., a group of self-made experts has come to advise Congress on disinformation campaigns on social media, including Russia’s. |
| Separately, researchers found that tens of thousands of English-language messages on Twitter by Russian-language accounts urged British users to vote for “Brexit” last year. | Separately, researchers found that tens of thousands of English-language messages on Twitter by Russian-language accounts urged British users to vote for “Brexit” last year. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Scientists across Europe have been puzzling over a concentration of radioactive pollution detected in September in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. | • Scientists across Europe have been puzzling over a concentration of radioactive pollution detected in September in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. |
| The cloud of ruthenium 106 — an isotope not found in nature — has subsided, but it appeared to have originated in Russia. The state-run operator of Russia’s nuclear industry denied any spillage. | The cloud of ruthenium 106 — an isotope not found in nature — has subsided, but it appeared to have originated in Russia. The state-run operator of Russia’s nuclear industry denied any spillage. |
| German and French nuclear security agencies found no harm to public health. | German and French nuclear security agencies found no harm to public health. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” sold for $450.3 million with fees, shattering the high for any work of art sold at auction. To critics, the astronomical sale attests to the role of salesmanship in art, because of the painting’s damaged condition and questions about its authenticity. | • Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” sold for $450.3 million with fees, shattering the high for any work of art sold at auction. To critics, the astronomical sale attests to the role of salesmanship in art, because of the painting’s damaged condition and questions about its authenticity. |
| Was it worth it? There’s a monotony to the blank-eyed painting, our critic writes. | Was it worth it? There’s a monotony to the blank-eyed painting, our critic writes. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Worries about the future of work amid automation and a shortage of decent-paying jobs are spurring interest in so-called universal basic incomes. The idea is increasingly gaining support across the ideological spectrum as a way to soften the edges of capitalism. | |
| • A Greek offer of a bond swap is seen as a major step toward securing financial independence. | • A Greek offer of a bond swap is seen as a major step toward securing financial independence. |
| • Airbus landed the biggest commercial-plane deal in its history at the Dubai Air Show: an order for 430 planes worth nearly $50 billion from a U.S. investment firm that will supply low-cost carriers. | • Airbus landed the biggest commercial-plane deal in its history at the Dubai Air Show: an order for 430 planes worth nearly $50 billion from a U.S. investment firm that will supply low-cost carriers. |
| • Time Inc. is said to be in talks to sell itself to Meredith, another U.S. publisher, in a deal backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, who are known for supporting conservative causes. | • Time Inc. is said to be in talks to sell itself to Meredith, another U.S. publisher, in a deal backed by the billionaire Koch brothers, who are known for supporting conservative causes. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Flash floods in Greece have killed at least 15 people in the western outskirts of Athens. More rain is expected today. [The New York Times] | • Flash floods in Greece have killed at least 15 people in the western outskirts of Athens. More rain is expected today. [The New York Times] |
| • The Polish government reacted with fury over the beginning of an E.U. process that could bring sanctions against the country for what its critics call violations of democratic standards. [The New York Times] | • The Polish government reacted with fury over the beginning of an E.U. process that could bring sanctions against the country for what its critics call violations of democratic standards. [The New York Times] |
| • Exclusive and little-known, the clubs and bars of the British Parliament have often helped incubate sexual misconduct. [The New York Times] | • Exclusive and little-known, the clubs and bars of the British Parliament have often helped incubate sexual misconduct. [The New York Times] |
| • In Brussels, the police confronted rioters who damaged cars and storefronts in the city center, four days after clashes that injured 22 police officers. [Agence France-Presse] | • In Brussels, the police confronted rioters who damaged cars and storefronts in the city center, four days after clashes that injured 22 police officers. [Agence France-Presse] |
| • In Washington, House Republicans are poised to pass their $1.4 trillion tax cut bill today, but the Senate version of the bill is encountering opposition from within Republican ranks. [The New York Times] | • In Washington, House Republicans are poised to pass their $1.4 trillion tax cut bill today, but the Senate version of the bill is encountering opposition from within Republican ranks. [The New York Times] |
| • Black Cube, the Israeli private investigative firm hired by Harvey Weinstein, used an elaborate ruse involving a fake job interview in another case that has come to light. [The New York Times] | • Black Cube, the Israeli private investigative firm hired by Harvey Weinstein, used an elaborate ruse involving a fake job interview in another case that has come to light. [The New York Times] |
| • In private negotiating sessions at the climate talks in Bonn, career U.S. diplomats have been making headway on technical issues to strengthen the Paris accord, despite President Trump’s opposition. [The New York Times] | • In private negotiating sessions at the climate talks in Bonn, career U.S. diplomats have been making headway on technical issues to strengthen the Paris accord, despite President Trump’s opposition. [The New York Times] |
| • Key German parties remained in disagreement on migration ahead of today’s deadline for concluding exploratory talks on forming a new coalition government. [Politico] | • Key German parties remained in disagreement on migration ahead of today’s deadline for concluding exploratory talks on forming a new coalition government. [Politico] |
| • Astronomers discovered an Earth-size planet near a small red star in our corner of the galaxy that could have conditions favorable for life. [The New York Times] | • Astronomers discovered an Earth-size planet near a small red star in our corner of the galaxy that could have conditions favorable for life. [The New York Times] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Wealth can cause its own anxieties. | • Wealth can cause its own anxieties. |
| • That home office? Show it some love. | • That home office? Show it some love. |
| • Recipe of the day: rich, fudgy chocolate-hazelnut brownies. | • Recipe of the day: rich, fudgy chocolate-hazelnut brownies. |
| • Memories of the Battle of Stalingrad, 75 years ago this year, remain strong in the city that has been rebuilt and is now called Volgograd. | • Memories of the Battle of Stalingrad, 75 years ago this year, remain strong in the city that has been rebuilt and is now called Volgograd. |
| • An unusual arrangement has brought dozens of North Korea’s most promising young soccer players to the medieval Italian town of Perugia. | • An unusual arrangement has brought dozens of North Korea’s most promising young soccer players to the medieval Italian town of Perugia. |
| • Hermès has turned window shopping for handbags and saddles and suitcases into high art at a free exhibition at the Grand Palais museum in Paris. | • Hermès has turned window shopping for handbags and saddles and suitcases into high art at a free exhibition at the Grand Palais museum in Paris. |
| • Our technology reporter in San Francisco shared how she communicates with sources. (She prefers Signal, the encrypted messaging app, and considers email as “pretty much a newsletter graveyard.” Sigh.) | • Our technology reporter in San Francisco shared how she communicates with sources. (She prefers Signal, the encrypted messaging app, and considers email as “pretty much a newsletter graveyard.” Sigh.) |
| “Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” | “Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” |
| A sign bearing these words is hung today in restaurants and cafes across France and around the world, indicating that one of the year’s youngest wines has gone on sale on its traditional annual release date. | A sign bearing these words is hung today in restaurants and cafes across France and around the world, indicating that one of the year’s youngest wines has gone on sale on its traditional annual release date. |
| The practice has a long history. “It’s a time when great gourmets stop drinking the grand crus and revel in the simplicity of a Beaujolais,” the writer and wine expert Frank Schoonmaker told The Times more than half a century ago. | |
| To this day, the young wine’s release offers an excuse to gather with friends to opine on the year’s harvest and savor its fruitiness. | To this day, the young wine’s release offers an excuse to gather with friends to opine on the year’s harvest and savor its fruitiness. |
| (If you have some spare time, do read this essay by the writer Patricia Wells on the Beaujolais savored in Parisian wine bars in 1982.) | (If you have some spare time, do read this essay by the writer Patricia Wells on the Beaujolais savored in Parisian wine bars in 1982.) |
| The Times first mentioned wine from the Beaujolais region in 1873. In 1955, we recommended it as “a good picnic companion.” | The Times first mentioned wine from the Beaujolais region in 1873. In 1955, we recommended it as “a good picnic companion.” |
| “The wines are as light on the wallet as they are in the glass,” our critic, Howard Goldberg, wrote in 1987. “This frivolity makes them ideal quaffing wines for parties until New Year’s Eve, when Champagne takes over. | “The wines are as light on the wallet as they are in the glass,” our critic, Howard Goldberg, wrote in 1987. “This frivolity makes them ideal quaffing wines for parties until New Year’s Eve, when Champagne takes over. |
| “Besides, they are so short-lived they should be pretty much finished by then.” | “Besides, they are so short-lived they should be pretty much finished by then.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| This briefing was prepared for the European morning. Browse past briefings here. | This briefing was prepared for the European morning. Browse past briefings here. |
| We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
| If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. | If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |
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