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| Your Wednesday Briefing | Your Wednesday Briefing |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain said yesterday that despite the record surge in coronavirus cases, the limited restrictions in England were the right approach and would be maintained. | Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain said yesterday that despite the record surge in coronavirus cases, the limited restrictions in England were the right approach and would be maintained. |
| “We have a chance to ride out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again,” Johnson said at a news conference, adding, “We can keep our schools and businesses open, and we can find a way to live with this virus.” | “We have a chance to ride out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again,” Johnson said at a news conference, adding, “We can keep our schools and businesses open, and we can find a way to live with this virus.” |
| The prime minister said he would urge the cabinet to maintain the current coronavirus contingency measures, called Plan B, which were introduced in early December. | The prime minister said he would urge the cabinet to maintain the current coronavirus contingency measures, called Plan B, which were introduced in early December. |
| The plan includes mask mandates, guidance to work from home and the use of vaccine passes, but it falls short of lockdowns. Schools in England reopened Tuesday with masking and testing. | The plan includes mask mandates, guidance to work from home and the use of vaccine passes, but it falls short of lockdowns. Schools in England reopened Tuesday with masking and testing. |
| Hospitals are facing staffing shortages, and field facilities have been set up. Public transportation has been halted because of a shortage of workers. The National Health Service said it was on a “war footing.” | Hospitals are facing staffing shortages, and field facilities have been set up. Public transportation has been halted because of a shortage of workers. The National Health Service said it was on a “war footing.” |
| The numbers: A recent surge has added to the pressure to shut down. About 218,000 new coronavirus cases were reported Tuesday, and hospitalizations have continued to rise. | The numbers: A recent surge has added to the pressure to shut down. About 218,000 new coronavirus cases were reported Tuesday, and hospitalizations have continued to rise. |
| Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic. | Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 tennis player and a vocal vaccination skeptic, was granted a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open this month. | Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 tennis player and a vocal vaccination skeptic, was granted a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open this month. |
| Violence has flared at German protests against pandemic restrictions, The A.P. reports. | Violence has flared at German protests against pandemic restrictions, The A.P. reports. |
| More Americans quit their jobs in November than ever before — 4.5 million resignations, the Labor Department said. | More Americans quit their jobs in November than ever before — 4.5 million resignations, the Labor Department said. |
| Covid vaccinations are not linked to preterm births, a new study reports. | Covid vaccinations are not linked to preterm births, a new study reports. |
| First in Mexico, then in Bolivia, Peru, Honduras and Chile — and perhaps soon in Colombia and Brazil — leftist politicians have won presidencies, often defeating right-wing incumbents. This year, leaders from the left and the center-left are expected to be in power in the six largest economies in the region. | First in Mexico, then in Bolivia, Peru, Honduras and Chile — and perhaps soon in Colombia and Brazil — leftist politicians have won presidencies, often defeating right-wing incumbents. This year, leaders from the left and the center-left are expected to be in power in the six largest economies in the region. |
| The trend has not extended to El Salvador, Uruguay and Ecuador. But Evan Ellis, a professor of Latin American studies, said that in his memory there had never been a Latin America “as dominated by a combination of leftists and anti-U.S. populist leaders.” | The trend has not extended to El Salvador, Uruguay and Ecuador. But Evan Ellis, a professor of Latin American studies, said that in his memory there had never been a Latin America “as dominated by a combination of leftists and anti-U.S. populist leaders.” |
| Yet these new leaders may find it hard to deliver on change. In contrast to the early 2000s, when leftists won critical presidencies in Latin America, the new officeholders are saddled by debt, lean budgets, limited access to credit and, in many cases, tough opposition. | Yet these new leaders may find it hard to deliver on change. In contrast to the early 2000s, when leftists won critical presidencies in Latin America, the new officeholders are saddled by debt, lean budgets, limited access to credit and, in many cases, tough opposition. |
| Global effect: The left’s gains could buoy China and undermine the U.S. as they compete for regional influence, analysts say. The change could also make it more difficult for the U.S. to continue isolating leftist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. | Global effect: The left’s gains could buoy China and undermine the U.S. as they compete for regional influence, analysts say. The change could also make it more difficult for the U.S. to continue isolating leftist regimes in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. |
| Next test: In Colombia, where a presidential election is set for May, Gustavo Petro, a leftist former mayor of Bogotá who once belonged to an urban guerrilla group, is leading in the polls. | Next test: In Colombia, where a presidential election is set for May, Gustavo Petro, a leftist former mayor of Bogotá who once belonged to an urban guerrilla group, is leading in the polls. |
| With just one month before the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, concerns about China’s human rights record loom over the Games. | With just one month before the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, concerns about China’s human rights record loom over the Games. |
| Activists and leaders have raised questions about China’s suppression of civil liberties in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, but the International Olympic Committee has remained tight-lipped. Instead, the I.O.C. has consistently deflected calls to exert more pressure on China — a lucrative market and an important partner for the Olympics. | Activists and leaders have raised questions about China’s suppression of civil liberties in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, but the International Olympic Committee has remained tight-lipped. Instead, the I.O.C. has consistently deflected calls to exert more pressure on China — a lucrative market and an important partner for the Olympics. |
| For months, rights activists have asked the Olympic committee to make sure that Beijing 2022 merchandise had not been made under duress by Uyghurs in Xinjiang. So far, the I.O.C. has been reluctant to do so, according to correspondence reviewed by The Times between the I.O.C. and an anti-forced-labor coalition. | For months, rights activists have asked the Olympic committee to make sure that Beijing 2022 merchandise had not been made under duress by Uyghurs in Xinjiang. So far, the I.O.C. has been reluctant to do so, according to correspondence reviewed by The Times between the I.O.C. and an anti-forced-labor coalition. |
| Context: In years past, the I.O.C. had been willing to prod Russia about unpaid wages and Japanese officials about conditions for construction workers. The committee defended its approach in China. | Context: In years past, the I.O.C. had been willing to prod Russia about unpaid wages and Japanese officials about conditions for construction workers. The committee defended its approach in China. |
| Related: Tesla came under fire from political leaders and human rights groups after announcing it would open a dealership in the Xinjiang region. | Related: Tesla came under fire from political leaders and human rights groups after announcing it would open a dealership in the Xinjiang region. |
| Around the World | Around the World |
| Canada reached a $31.5 billion settlement to repair its child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families separated by the government. Above, a memorial in June for children who died at a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. | Canada reached a $31.5 billion settlement to repair its child welfare system and compensate Indigenous families separated by the government. Above, a memorial in June for children who died at a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. |
| The U.S. arrested a Colombian man accused of participating in the murder of Haiti’s president, making him the first person to face U.S. prosecution in relation to the crime. | The U.S. arrested a Colombian man accused of participating in the murder of Haiti’s president, making him the first person to face U.S. prosecution in relation to the crime. |
| North Korea launched a ballistic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, the South Korean military said. | North Korea launched a ballistic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, the South Korean military said. |
| Hundreds of drivers stuck on roads, some for more than a day, during a snowstorm near Washington, D.C., were finally freed. | Hundreds of drivers stuck on roads, some for more than a day, during a snowstorm near Washington, D.C., were finally freed. |
| Israel agreed to release a Palestinian man who had gone on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment without trial. | Israel agreed to release a Palestinian man who had gone on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment without trial. |
| OPEC and Russia agreed to increase oil output as concerns grew about lagging production. | OPEC and Russia agreed to increase oil output as concerns grew about lagging production. |
| Prosecutors charged a man with arson, theft, housebreaking and possession of explosives in connection with a large fire that gutted South Africa’s Parliament buildings. | Prosecutors charged a man with arson, theft, housebreaking and possession of explosives in connection with a large fire that gutted South Africa’s Parliament buildings. |
| News From Europe | News From Europe |
| Italy’s Parliament said it would convene on Jan. 24 to vote for a new head of state to replace Sergio Mattarella, Reuters reported. | Italy’s Parliament said it would convene on Jan. 24 to vote for a new head of state to replace Sergio Mattarella, Reuters reported. |
| As Queen Elizabeth II prepares to mark 70 years on the throne next month, a sexual abuse case involving her son Prince Andrew casts a shadow on the royal family. (A judge in New York expressed skepticism yesterday of the prince's lawyer’s attempt to block a suit.) | |
| More than 600,000 people in Britain have signed an online petition calling for former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s knighthood to be rescinded over his support for the Iraq war. | |
| A Morning Read | A Morning Read |
| The Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels was where a terrorist cell planned attacks that killed 162 in France and Belgium in 2015. The area came under intense scrutiny, and its Muslim residents were often stigmatized. Six years later, Molenbeek is trying to reinvent itself as a trial takes place. | The Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels was where a terrorist cell planned attacks that killed 162 in France and Belgium in 2015. The area came under intense scrutiny, and its Muslim residents were often stigmatized. Six years later, Molenbeek is trying to reinvent itself as a trial takes place. |
| As he retires after 21 years as the chief classical music critic, Anthony Tommasini reflects on his first article for The Times: a deeply personal essay about a friend. | As he retires after 21 years as the chief classical music critic, Anthony Tommasini reflects on his first article for The Times: a deeply personal essay about a friend. |
| I was a freelance classical music critic for The Boston Globe. A close friend from my class at Yale, Bob Walden, was declining fast from AIDS, and I went to visit him in New York. I’d brought some chicken salad for lunch, though Bob, having shriveled to about 100 pounds, hardly ate. He died on Jan. 1, 1988, at 39. | I was a freelance classical music critic for The Boston Globe. A close friend from my class at Yale, Bob Walden, was declining fast from AIDS, and I went to visit him in New York. I’d brought some chicken salad for lunch, though Bob, having shriveled to about 100 pounds, hardly ate. He died on Jan. 1, 1988, at 39. |
| Despite my sadness, maybe because of it, I needed to write about Bob. During this early, brutal period of AIDS, many were writing about the deaths of their gay friends. But music, specifically Mozart, would be a unifying thread of my article. Bob liked classical music, but used to think that Mozart was above him, which baffled me. | Despite my sadness, maybe because of it, I needed to write about Bob. During this early, brutal period of AIDS, many were writing about the deaths of their gay friends. But music, specifically Mozart, would be a unifying thread of my article. Bob liked classical music, but used to think that Mozart was above him, which baffled me. |
| As we ate lunch on that fall day in 1987, a tape started playing Mozart’s consoling choral motet “Ave verum corpus.” As if chastising his own musical cluelessness, he said, “It’s so damn simple.” | As we ate lunch on that fall day in 1987, a tape started playing Mozart’s consoling choral motet “Ave verum corpus.” As if chastising his own musical cluelessness, he said, “It’s so damn simple.” |
| That’s what I wrote about: Bob’s epiphany about Mozart seemed linked to insights he was making about life, as he approached death. | That’s what I wrote about: Bob’s epiphany about Mozart seemed linked to insights he was making about life, as he approached death. |
| From then on, I kept writing profiles and interviews after joining The Times. And I learned that you can tell people’s stories by describing the music they create. | From then on, I kept writing profiles and interviews after joining The Times. And I learned that you can tell people’s stories by describing the music they create. |
| At Bob’s memorial at St. Michael’s, the organist played “Ave verum corpus,” a request Bob had made. That’s when I started to cry. As Bob learned, and taught me, sometimes things really are as simple as they seem. | At Bob’s memorial at St. Michael’s, the organist played “Ave verum corpus,” a request Bob had made. That’s when I started to cry. As Bob learned, and taught me, sometimes things really are as simple as they seem. |
| What to Cook | What to Cook |
| Coated in panko and sesame seeds, this tofu takes on a splendid crunchiness that contrasts with sautéed spinach. | Coated in panko and sesame seeds, this tofu takes on a splendid crunchiness that contrasts with sautéed spinach. |
| Wellness | Wellness |
| It’s possible to exercise too much. Here’s how to look for the signs of overexertion. | It’s possible to exercise too much. Here’s how to look for the signs of overexertion. |
| What to Watch | What to Watch |
| “Three Minutes: A Lengthening,” a documentary based on a home movie, captures Jewish life in a Polish town before the Nazis arrived. | “Three Minutes: A Lengthening,” a documentary based on a home movie, captures Jewish life in a Polish town before the Nazis arrived. |
| Now Time to Play | Now Time to Play |
| Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Handbag (five letters). | Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Handbag (five letters). |
| And here is the Spelling Bee. | And here is the Spelling Bee. |
| You can find all our puzzles here. | You can find all our puzzles here. |
| That’s it for today’s briefing. Thanks for joining me. — Melina | That’s it for today’s briefing. Thanks for joining me. — Melina |
| P.S. Kathleen Hennessey, the regional politics editor for The Associated Press, is joining The Times as deputy politics editor for enterprise. | P.S. Kathleen Hennessey, the regional politics editor for The Associated Press, is joining The Times as deputy politics editor for enterprise. |
| The latest episode of “The Daily” is about flawed prenatal testing. | The latest episode of “The Daily” is about flawed prenatal testing. |
| You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. | You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com. |
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