Good morning. We’re covering an upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, and the success of “Squid Game” at the Emmy Awards. |
| Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are united against what they consider to be American hegemony.Pool photo by Alexei Druzhinin |
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Putin and Xi to meet as war shifts |
Putin will most likely go into the meeting looking to Xi as a lifeline. China has emerged as a major purchaser of Russian commodities, which has helped Moscow replenish its coffers and bear the brunt of Western sanctions. But now, Russia is rapidly losing steam in Ukraine, retreating from territory it comfortably held just a few days ago. |
Beijing will enter the conversation cautious as it weighs whether to double down or let Russia navigate the setbacks on its own. Moscow has supported its stance on Taiwan, and China can’t afford a humiliating defeat. |
But Beijing does not want to risk Western sanctions as the war continues to backfire on Russia. And it has its own slowing economy to worry about: Tens of millions of people remain under pandemic lockdowns and frustration is mounting as Xi prepares to secure a third term in power next month. |
Analysis: Tensions between the U.S. and China are fraught as Moscow and Beijing grow closer, a dynamic that’s reminiscent of the Cold War, writes Jane Perlez. |
India: Putin will also meet with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, at the summit to discuss trade and food supplies, Reuters reports. |
- Russian shelling escalated sharply in Bakhmut, a key Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Donbas region. Here’s a map of the invasion.
- Clashes erupted between Armenia and Azerbaijan yesterday in the worst fighting between the countries since a war in 2020.
- The U.S. and the U.K. helped Ukraine plan its rapid advance, crucially before the first snowfall.
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| Australia is home to the western gray kangaroo, which can grow to more than seven feet (two meters).Mark Graham/Associated Press |
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Kangaroo kills a man in Australia |
The authorities believe that the man, identified as Peter Eades, was keeping the wild animal as a pet, which requires a permit in Australia. The police did not respond to questions about whether he had one. |
A wildlife expert said that fatal kangaroo attacks are extremely uncommon because a kangaroo’s first instinct is to flee. The animals will not attack unless they feel cornered. |
Details: Paramedics and the police were called to the scene but could not immediately get to the man because the kangaroo was in the way, the police said. Officers fatally shot the kangaroo, and the man was later pronounced dead at the scene. |
| People celebrating Sri Lanka’s men’s cricket team in Colombo yesterday.Eranga Jayawardena/Associated Press |
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Sri Lanka’s sports triumph amid crises |
The Sri Lankan men’s cricket team on Sunday won the Asia Cup in the T20 format, the game’s shortest version, hours after the country won the equivalent championship in women’s netball. |
Netball: The women’s squad victory was notable because the team had a limited budget to help its players cope with power cuts and fuel shortages. |
| “This was all a lie,” said one South Korean adoptee. “A lie made up for adoption procedure.”Ahn Young-Joon/Associated Press |
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- Nearly 300 South Korean adoptees are calling for the government to investigate their adoptions, which they believe were based on falsified documents, The Associated Press reports.
- In Hong Kong, the death of Queen Elizabeth II has reinvigorated nostalgia for British rule, The Financial Times reports.
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- Stocks plummeted yesterday after fresh data showed the persistence of inflation — and how much the Federal Reserve will need to raise interest rates to combat it.
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- The Justice Department issued about 40 subpoenas in a week, and seized the phones of two top advisers to Donald Trump, as the Jan. 6 inquiry escalated before the midterms.
- The Times found that nearly a fifth of Congressional lawmakers, or their family members, made stock trades in industries that could be affected by their committee work.
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| William Ruto was sworn in as Kenya’s fifth president following a bitter election campaign.Brian Inganga/Associated Press |
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- William Ruto is now Kenya’s president. He limited the access of local television outlets to his inauguration, an ominous sign for press freedom.
- Liz Truss has had a dizzying first week as Britain’s prime minister, as economic problems loom and mourning continues.
- U.S. officials are looking to Mexico as a strategic partner to create a regional manufacturing hub that can rival China. But Mexico may not want to cater to foreign businesses.
- King Charles III of Britain has built up a portfolio worth more than $1 billion, aided by tax breaks, offshore accounts and real estate investments.
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| King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, greeted well-wishers yesterday.Pool photo by Paul Faith |
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Queen Elizabeth II died almost 25 years to the day after Princess Diana’s shocking death. But in the past quarter-century, outrage at the monarchy has smoothed out into a civil, respectful mourning period, writes Sarah Lyall. |
There’s perhaps no better illustration of the change than the public’s reaction to Camilla. Once seen as a homewrecker, she’s now the respected queen consort to her husband, King Charles III. |
The Emmy success of “Squid Game” |
| “Squid Game,” starring Lee Jung-jae (center), was a success thanks to its bright sets and searing critique of capitalism.Noh Juhan/Netflix |
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The show’s star, Lee Jung-jae, won the Emmy for best actor in a drama, the first time the award has gone to an actor in a foreign-language show. Its writer-director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, also won for drama directing. |
“Squid Game” is the latest example of South Korea’s rise as a cultural powerhouse, captivating international audiences with K-pop bands such as BTS, as well as hit TV shows and critically acclaimed movies — some of which also explore inequality and economic struggle. In 2020, “Parasite,” a class satire, became the first foreign-language movie to win the Oscar for best film. |
| Jenny Huang for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne |
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“Lessons,” a new novel by Ian McEwan, is a tale of adolescent lust and adult loss. |
That’s it for today’s briefing. See you next time. — Amelia |
P.S. Katie Baker is joining The Times from BuzzFeed News to cover the social and cultural conflicts dividing the U.S. |
The latest episode of “The Daily” is on Ukraine’s advance. |
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