This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/briefing/belarus-mali-coup-tiktok.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Belarus, Mali Coup, TikTok: Your Wednesday Briefing | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| We’re covering the Belarusian leader’s vow to stand firm, an investigation of a French politician and a coup in Mali. | We’re covering the Belarusian leader’s vow to stand firm, an investigation of a French politician and a coup in Mali. |
| President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus on Tuesday vowed to stand firm against the protesters calling for him to step down after a fraud-tainted election. | President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus on Tuesday vowed to stand firm against the protesters calling for him to step down after a fraud-tainted election. |
| Huddled in Minsk, the capital, with senior military and security officials, he displayed his signature aggressive bravado, calling his opponents “tricksters” and “Nazis” intent on seizing power and awarding medals to members of his brutal security services. Protests continued on Tuesday, but on a smaller scale, as some strikers returned to work. | Huddled in Minsk, the capital, with senior military and security officials, he displayed his signature aggressive bravado, calling his opponents “tricksters” and “Nazis” intent on seizing power and awarding medals to members of his brutal security services. Protests continued on Tuesday, but on a smaller scale, as some strikers returned to work. |
| Bigger picture: Mr. Lukashenko’s rejection of any compromise came as the leaders of Germany, France and the European Union urged President Vladimir Putin of Russia to help ease tensions. Mr. Putin, according to the Kremlin, told Europeans to stay out of the crisis, adding that pressure on the Belarusian leadership would be “unacceptable.” | Bigger picture: Mr. Lukashenko’s rejection of any compromise came as the leaders of Germany, France and the European Union urged President Vladimir Putin of Russia to help ease tensions. Mr. Putin, according to the Kremlin, told Europeans to stay out of the crisis, adding that pressure on the Belarusian leadership would be “unacceptable.” |
| Vodka for the virus: Even before the Aug. 9 election, anger had been mounting in Belarus over the stagnant economy and Mr. Lukashenko’s mishandling of the coronavirus — he had told Belarusians to protect their health by drinking vodka, riding tractors and taking saunas. Belarus has reported about 70,000 coronavirus cases and more than 600 deaths. | Vodka for the virus: Even before the Aug. 9 election, anger had been mounting in Belarus over the stagnant economy and Mr. Lukashenko’s mishandling of the coronavirus — he had told Belarusians to protect their health by drinking vodka, riding tractors and taking saunas. Belarus has reported about 70,000 coronavirus cases and more than 600 deaths. |
| Other coronavirus news: | Other coronavirus news: |
| Sweden has temporarily recalled its diplomats from North Korea, citing increasing difficulties with travel and diplomatic postings, in part because of the pandemic. | Sweden has temporarily recalled its diplomats from North Korea, citing increasing difficulties with travel and diplomatic postings, in part because of the pandemic. |
| Greece has locked down two facilities for migrants where new infections have been traced, after an overcrowded reception center was put under lockdown last week, the government said. | Greece has locked down two facilities for migrants where new infections have been traced, after an overcrowded reception center was put under lockdown last week, the government said. |
| The S&P 500 hit a record, surpassing its February high despite economic devastation from the pandemic and record unemployment. It was fueled by trillions pumped into the financial market by the Federal Reserve. | The S&P 500 hit a record, surpassing its February high despite economic devastation from the pandemic and record unemployment. It was fueled by trillions pumped into the financial market by the Federal Reserve. |
| Norway’s $1.15 trillion wealth fund posted a $21 billion loss in the first half of 2020 and expects more turmoil, as the pandemic is not under control “in any shape or form,” its deputy chief executive said. | Norway’s $1.15 trillion wealth fund posted a $21 billion loss in the first half of 2020 and expects more turmoil, as the pandemic is not under control “in any shape or form,” its deputy chief executive said. |
| Prosecutors in France said on Tuesday that they had begun an investigation of Christophe Girard, a former deputy mayor of Paris, over the possible rape of a young man. | Prosecutors in France said on Tuesday that they had begun an investigation of Christophe Girard, a former deputy mayor of Paris, over the possible rape of a young man. |
| The announcement came days after The New York Times published an article in which Aniss Hmaïd, now 46, accused Mr. Girard of abusing him sexually when Mr. Hmaïd was 16 years old and coercing him into sex about 20 times during a decade-long relationship. Mr. Girard, who has been criticized for his longstanding support of the pedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff, has denied the allegations. | The announcement came days after The New York Times published an article in which Aniss Hmaïd, now 46, accused Mr. Girard of abusing him sexually when Mr. Hmaïd was 16 years old and coercing him into sex about 20 times during a decade-long relationship. Mr. Girard, who has been criticized for his longstanding support of the pedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff, has denied the allegations. |
| What’s next: The development has put pressure on Mr. Girard, a longtime power broker in politics and culture in Paris, to resign from his current post as a city councilor. It has also put Mayor Anne Hidalgo, his former boss, in an awkward position. Whether the statute of limitations for sex crimes involving children applies in this case is a complicated question. | What’s next: The development has put pressure on Mr. Girard, a longtime power broker in politics and culture in Paris, to resign from his current post as a city councilor. It has also put Mayor Anne Hidalgo, his former boss, in an awkward position. Whether the statute of limitations for sex crimes involving children applies in this case is a complicated question. |
| As the Chinese-owned video app negotiates a deal to avoid being banned in the U.S., The Financial Times reports that a surprising new suitor has emerged: Oracle, the Silicon Valley giant better known for business software than for social networking. | As the Chinese-owned video app negotiates a deal to avoid being banned in the U.S., The Financial Times reports that a surprising new suitor has emerged: Oracle, the Silicon Valley giant better known for business software than for social networking. |
| Oracle has held preliminary talks with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, according to the FT report. Its aim is to buy TikTok’s operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the same assets that Microsoft has publicly said it was negotiating to acquire. | Oracle has held preliminary talks with ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, according to the FT report. Its aim is to buy TikTok’s operations in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the same assets that Microsoft has publicly said it was negotiating to acquire. |
| Oracle, despite having little experience with consumer-facing businesses, does have an advantage: close ties to the White House. Its co-founder and its chief executive are among the few prominent Trump supporters in Silicon Valley. Other potential TikTok suitors include Twitter. | Oracle, despite having little experience with consumer-facing businesses, does have an advantage: close ties to the White House. Its co-founder and its chief executive are among the few prominent Trump supporters in Silicon Valley. Other potential TikTok suitors include Twitter. |
| Go deeper: The net effect of the Trump administration’s battle with Chinese tech could be a splintering of the internet. | Go deeper: The net effect of the Trump administration’s battle with Chinese tech could be a splintering of the internet. |
| Kim McCoy, above, used to run three to 10 miles after her 12-hour nursing shifts, and as much as 30 miles on her days off. She trained her way up to a 340-mile ultramarathon across the Deep South. But about 270 miles into it, a horrific accident cost her a leg. She was struck by an S.U.V. while running across a four-lane highway. | Kim McCoy, above, used to run three to 10 miles after her 12-hour nursing shifts, and as much as 30 miles on her days off. She trained her way up to a 340-mile ultramarathon across the Deep South. But about 270 miles into it, a horrific accident cost her a leg. She was struck by an S.U.V. while running across a four-lane highway. |
| As ultrarunning — any race longer than a 26.2-mile marathon — has become more popular, the sport’s hard-core practitioners have pushed the limits. Our reporter recounts Ms. McCoy’s harrowing experience and asks whether the race she had joined was a test of rigor or of recklessness. | As ultrarunning — any race longer than a 26.2-mile marathon — has become more popular, the sport’s hard-core practitioners have pushed the limits. Our reporter recounts Ms. McCoy’s harrowing experience and asks whether the race she had joined was a test of rigor or of recklessness. |
| Mali attack: The military staged a coup on Tuesday and arrested the president, who resigned. The West African nation had been convulsed by weeks of protest over accusations that the president had stolen an election. | Mali attack: The military staged a coup on Tuesday and arrested the president, who resigned. The West African nation had been convulsed by weeks of protest over accusations that the president had stolen an election. |
| Russia and Trump: President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort kept in close touch with a longtime colleague whom Senate investigators identified as a Russian intelligence officer, according to a bipartisan report. | Russia and Trump: President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort kept in close touch with a longtime colleague whom Senate investigators identified as a Russian intelligence officer, according to a bipartisan report. |
| Hariri assassination verdict: A U.N.-backed tribunal found a member of Hezbollah guilty and acquitted three men charged as accomplices in the 2005 bombing that killed Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. | Hariri assassination verdict: A U.N.-backed tribunal found a member of Hezbollah guilty and acquitted three men charged as accomplices in the 2005 bombing that killed Rafik Hariri, the former prime minister of Lebanon. |
| U.S. presidential campaign: Bill Clinton and Jill Biden were among the speakers on the second night of the Democratic convention, and Joe Biden was formally nominated as the party’s challenger to President Trump. Here’s a recap of the first night, which kicked off with Michelle Obama. | U.S. presidential campaign: Bill Clinton and Jill Biden were among the speakers on the second night of the Democratic convention, and Joe Biden was formally nominated as the party’s challenger to President Trump. Here’s a recap of the first night, which kicked off with Michelle Obama. |
| Snapshot: Above, the bulk carrier MV Wakashio after running aground near Blue Bay Marine Park in Mauritius. The captain of the Japanese-owned ship, which spilled about 1,000 tons of oil into the Indian Ocean, has been arrested, his lawyer said on Tuesday. The spill is endangering world-renowned coral reefs and lagoons. | Snapshot: Above, the bulk carrier MV Wakashio after running aground near Blue Bay Marine Park in Mauritius. The captain of the Japanese-owned ship, which spilled about 1,000 tons of oil into the Indian Ocean, has been arrested, his lawyer said on Tuesday. The spill is endangering world-renowned coral reefs and lagoons. |
| In memoriam: Gisèle Halimi, a French lawyer, activist and author who championed feminist causes and helped shift French laws and attitudes about abortion and women’s rights, died on July 28. She was 93. | In memoriam: Gisèle Halimi, a French lawyer, activist and author who championed feminist causes and helped shift French laws and attitudes about abortion and women’s rights, died on July 28. She was 93. |
| European football: For a corporation to own a soccer club — like RB Leipzig, whose owner is Red Bull — runs against everything most German fans hold dear. So how do its most ardent supporters square their beliefs with their passion? | European football: For a corporation to own a soccer club — like RB Leipzig, whose owner is Red Bull — runs against everything most German fans hold dear. So how do its most ardent supporters square their beliefs with their passion? |
| What we’re reading: This Atlantic article about how the pandemic brought America to a breaking point. “This piece has the historical, global and sociological context I’ve been craving for months,” says Caitlin Dickerson, an immigration reporter, “which is why it was so devastating to read. ICYMI, it’s essential.” | What we’re reading: This Atlantic article about how the pandemic brought America to a breaking point. “This piece has the historical, global and sociological context I’ve been craving for months,” says Caitlin Dickerson, an immigration reporter, “which is why it was so devastating to read. ICYMI, it’s essential.” |
| Cook: The beauty of this chaat — a tangy, sweet, fiery and crunchy Indian snack — is that it’s built for customization. | Cook: The beauty of this chaat — a tangy, sweet, fiery and crunchy Indian snack — is that it’s built for customization. |
| Watch: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are back together in “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” the long-awaited third film in the series about the dopey Southern California dudes. | Watch: Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are back together in “Bill & Ted Face the Music,” the long-awaited third film in the series about the dopey Southern California dudes. |
| Do: Whether it’s antique ceramic plates or framed insect specimens, there’s an art to arranging your collection to keep it from looking like clutter. Here are some tips. | Do: Whether it’s antique ceramic plates or framed insect specimens, there’s an art to arranging your collection to keep it from looking like clutter. Here are some tips. |
| For more ideas on what to read, cook, watch or do to make staying at home fun, have a look at our At Home section. | For more ideas on what to read, cook, watch or do to make staying at home fun, have a look at our At Home section. |
| Hannah Beech, our Southeast Asia bureau chief, has been writing about a wave of protests in Thailand, where people are demanding an end to the military’s role in government and reform of the monarchy. She shared some of her insights with us. | Hannah Beech, our Southeast Asia bureau chief, has been writing about a wave of protests in Thailand, where people are demanding an end to the military’s role in government and reform of the monarchy. She shared some of her insights with us. |
| Protests are not rare in Thailand, but they’ve been rare since the latest coup in 2014. Thailand’s political cycle is depressing: Governments are elected by the people, and eventually there’s a crackdown or a coup. Street protests have been met by fatal interventions by the security forces, with students killed on the streets of Bangkok on numerous occasions. | Protests are not rare in Thailand, but they’ve been rare since the latest coup in 2014. Thailand’s political cycle is depressing: Governments are elected by the people, and eventually there’s a crackdown or a coup. Street protests have been met by fatal interventions by the security forces, with students killed on the streets of Bangkok on numerous occasions. |
| That explains why, while the rallies in recent days, which culminated in Sunday’s outpouring, were festive, they were also tinged with anxiety. The country has a bad record of massacring those who dare to speak up. | That explains why, while the rallies in recent days, which culminated in Sunday’s outpouring, were festive, they were also tinged with anxiety. The country has a bad record of massacring those who dare to speak up. |
| Often, the protests have been anti-government, but this latest movement is unusual because it’s the first time that demonstrators have publicly called for reforms to the monarchy. Thailand is bound by some of the world’s strictest lèse-majesté laws, which can land critics of the palace in jail for up to 15 years. | Often, the protests have been anti-government, but this latest movement is unusual because it’s the first time that demonstrators have publicly called for reforms to the monarchy. Thailand is bound by some of the world’s strictest lèse-majesté laws, which can land critics of the palace in jail for up to 15 years. |
| For people to go out on the street and whisper that something needs to be done about a largely absent king who has consolidated financial and military power is pretty extraordinary. For someone to use a microphone to say that at a public rally is unprecedented. | For people to go out on the street and whisper that something needs to be done about a largely absent king who has consolidated financial and military power is pretty extraordinary. For someone to use a microphone to say that at a public rally is unprecedented. |
| Yesterday’s briefing email had an outdated subject line. It should have read “Your Tuesday Briefing,” of course, not “Your Monday Briefing.” | Yesterday’s briefing email had an outdated subject line. It should have read “Your Tuesday Briefing,” of course, not “Your Monday Briefing.” |
| Also, it gave incorrect coronavirus case numbers for three European countries. In the past week, about 16,000 new cases, not 20,000, were reported by France; 7,000, not 3,000, by Britain; and 3,000, not 7,000, by Italy, according to data collected by The New York Times. | Also, it gave incorrect coronavirus case numbers for three European countries. In the past week, about 16,000 new cases, not 20,000, were reported by France; 7,000, not 3,000, by Britain; and 3,000, not 7,000, by Italy, according to data collected by The New York Times. |
| That’s it for today. See you next time. | That’s it for today. See you next time. |
| — Isabella | — Isabella |
| Thank youTo Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. | Thank youTo Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. |
| P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about what was behind the U.A.E.-Israel deal. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Revved engine sound (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Damien Cave, our Sydney bureau chief, discussed the latest lockdown in Melbourne with CBC. | P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about what was behind the U.A.E.-Israel deal. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Revved engine sound (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Damien Cave, our Sydney bureau chief, discussed the latest lockdown in Melbourne with CBC. |