Your Wednesday Briefing: Ukraine’s request for an “air shield”

Xi Jinping’s push for an indivisible Chinese identity and a warning for the global economy
Author Headshot

By Daniel E. Slotnik

Metro Reporter

Good morning. We’re covering Ukraine’s request for missile defenses and Xi Jinping’s push for an indivisible Chinese identity.

Zelensky seeks an “air shield for Ukraine”

The aftermath of a missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Tuesday.Nicole Tung for The New York Times

A day after more than 80 missiles pummeled Ukraine, killing at least 19 people, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the Group of 7 nations at an emergency virtual meeting to help his country defend its airspace.

Zelensky asked for antimissile systems, or at least financing for them. “When Ukraine receives a sufficient number of modern and effective air defense systems,” he said, “the key element of Russian terror — missile strikes — will cease to work.”

The G7 leaders pledged “undeterred and steadfast” military and financial support for Ukraine, and warned of “severe consequences” if Russia were to use nuclear, biological or chemical weapons. Separately, NATO’s secretary-general asserted that Russia was “failing” in the war and urged allies to provide Ukraine with more weapons.

The latest: Ukraine’s military said that Russia had fired 28 cruise missiles on Ukrainian territory by midday Tuesday, but that Ukraine’s air defenses had downed 20 of them. A dozen rockets struck the embattled city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least seven people and hitting a school and a medical facility.

Analysis: The missile strikes were not as deadly as they could have been, which raises questions about whether Russia can achieve its military goals. History shows that bombing Kyiv into submission may not work, The New York Times’s Interpreter columnist writes.

Context: The U.N.’s human rights office said the recent attacks on Ukraine appeared to deliberately target critical infrastructure and civilian areas, which constitutes a war crime.

Xi Jinping, China’s president, meeting with members of different ethnic groups in China in 2015.Yao Dawei/Xinhua, via Getty Images

One China, under Xi

Xi Jinping, the president of China, has embraced a vision of national unity that seeks to fuse the country’s ethnic groups into one with a shared heritage dating back 5,000 years.

As Xi prepares to claim a groundbreaking third term in power, he has effectively appointed himself China’s historian in chief, crafting a story — retold in museums, on television shows and in journals — that casts his authoritarian agenda as a fulfillment of ancient values.

Appeals to the motherland have long been a part of the Communist Party’s tool kit, but Xi has taken the approach to new heights, calling for a unified “community of Chinese nationhood” as a bulwark against internal divisions and threats from the West.

Details: The government has increased funding for historical and archaeological research, but it comes with pressure for researchers’ findings to reflect the official narrative. Under Xi, schools have increasingly demanded that pupils be educated almost exclusively in Chinese, rather than in local languages. And nation-building spectacles — grandiose, often far-fetched recreations of ancient rituals — have grown more elaborate and more prominent across China.

Context: At a time when the U.S., Russia, India and other countries have experienced their own resurgent nationalism, Xi’s vision is aimed at inoculating China against unwelcome influences, especially from the West.

Criticism: At its extreme, Xi’s insistence on a singular Chinese identity has led to accusations of cultural genocide from other countries and scholars, who cite the mass detention of Uyghurs and other largely Muslim groups in Xinjiang.

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, second from left, gave a warning about the world economy.Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

World economy headed for “stormy waters,” I.M.F. warns

The International Monetary Fund predicted a harsh worldwide recession if policymakers mishandle the fight against inflation. “The worst is yet to come, and for many people 2023 will feel like a recession,” its closely watched World Economic Outlook report said.

The prediction was published as the world’s top economic officials traveled to Washington for the annual meeting of the World Bank and the I.M.F. It comes as supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine have led to surging food and energy prices, forcing central bankers to raise interest rates.

The I.M.F.’s projection for global growth in 2022 is down from 4.4 percent at the beginning of the year to 3.2 percent, and its projection for global growth in 2023 is down from 3.8 percent at the start of the year to 2.7 percent.

Quotable: “We’re expecting about a third of the global economy to be in a technical recession,” Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, the I.M.F.’s chief economist, said in an interview.

ADVERTISEMENT

THE LATEST NEWS

Asia
A superyacht reportedly owned by the Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov in Hong Kong last week.Tyrone Siu/Reuters
  • Officials in Hong Kong declined to seize a $500 million superyacht believed to belong to a Russian oligarch, triggering concerns that Russia may try to circumvent international sanctions through Hong Kong.
  • South Korea’s military said its missile defense system was capable of intercepting weapons like those North Korea tested extensively this year, The Associated Press reports.
  • Maria Ressa, the Filipino journalist and one of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize winners, plans to appeal her libel conviction in the Philippines’ Supreme Court, according to Reuters.
World News
Cheriss May for The New York Times
What Else Is Happening
A Morning Read
Leonardo Santamaria

A blizzard of research in the last decade on black holes has revealed unexpected connections between divergent views of the universe. “The implications are mind-bending, including the possibility that our three-dimensional universe — and we ourselves — may be holograms, like the ghostly anti-counterfeiting images that appear on some credit cards and drivers licenses,” writes Dennis Overbye, The Times’s cosmic affairs correspondent.

Lives Lived

The actress Angela Lansbury captivated Hollywood in her youth, became a Broadway musical sensation in middle age and then drew millions of fans as a widowed mystery writer on the long-running television series “Murder, She Wrote.”

Subscribe Today

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer.

ARTS AND IDEAS

A game of inches

Maddie Malhotra for The New York Times

Amari Cooper, the Cleveland Browns wide receiver, had Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on his heels. But leaning on his insider scouting report, Awuzie found his footing and countered.

Pawn to f3.

Awuzie and Cooper were playing in an online chess tournament exclusively for current and former National Football League players. Chess’s gridiron acolytes include A-list quarterbacks (Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals), ascendant rookies (the Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux) and well-regarded retirees (the Cardinals receiving great Larry Fitzgerald).

Fitzgerald, who has become an unofficial ambassador for chess in the N.F.L., said he played in the summer tournament to “help with the negative stigma football players have — they’re not intelligent, not thinkers, they’re barbarians.”

The athletes say the matches offer them deep contemplation away from their fast-paced profession. In some cases, they think chess helps them on the gridiron. “It teaches me to be intentional about every snap, about everything,” Cooper said.

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

What to Cook
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.

Mayonnaise underpins a sweet and tangy sauce warmed through with chili powder in this recipe for roasted chicken thighs with tangy apricots and carrots.

What to Read

E.M. Tran’s daring debut novel, “Daughters of the New Year,” is a family story that travels backward from 2016 to A.D. 40, introducing readers to women warriors at every step.

Where to Travel

Three daylong train trips from Florence let you bask in the glory of autumn in Tuscany and taste specialties like chestnuts and truffles.

Now Time to Play

Play the Mini Crossword, and a clue: Only flying mammal (three letters).

Here are the Wordle and the Spelling Bee.

That’s all this morning. Have a great day. — Dan

P.S. The word “penguinhood,” meaning penguin youth, appeared for the first time in The Times yesterday in a story about the children’s television show “Pingu.”

The latest episode of “The Daily” is on the rise of the single family home.

You can reach Dan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

ADVERTISEMENT

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences.

Subscribe to The Times

Connect with us on:

facebooktwitterinstagram

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

LiveIntent LogoAdChoices Logo

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

Key phrases

Older messages

Your Tuesday Briefing: Russia’s retaliatory strikes on Ukraine

Monday, October 10, 2022

Plus North Korea's underwater missile silos and trouble in the Metaverse View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition October 11, 2022 Author

Your Monday Briefing: Russia strikes a Ukrainian city after attack on a key bridge

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Funerals for rampage victims in Thailand and a Covid spike in China View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition October 10, 2022 Author Headshot

Your Friday Briefing: School shooting in Thailand

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Plus growing dissent in Russia and China's debt diplomacy View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition October 7, 2022 Author Headshot By

Your Thursday Briefing: U.S. believes Ukrainians were behind a killing in Russia

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Plus arming Taiwan to deter China and OPEC cuts oil production View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition October 6, 2022 Author Headshot By

Your Wednesday Briefing: Ukraine’s southern gains

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Plus Elon Musk's bid for Twitter and North Korea's missile launch. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition October 5, 2022 Author

You Might Also Like

Trump Would Need New Tactics to Steal the 2024 Election

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Columns and commentary on news, politics, business, and technology from the Intelligencer team. Intelligencer early and often Trump Would Need New Tactics to Steal the 2024 Election Many avenues Trump

Let’s go fast

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Plus: The worst cleaning tool we've ever tried ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Friday Briefing: Sam Bankman-Fried gets 25 years

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Plus, three video game adventures for the weekend. View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story Ad Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition March 29, 2024 Author Headshot By Justin Porter

Elevate Your Events: Exclusive Discount Inside!

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Explore the future of events at #NWES2024, April 3-4 in Seattle! GeekWire is pleased to present this message to our Pacific NW readers. Explore the future of events at #NWES2024, April 3-4 in Seattle!

Framing a Pitch

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Opening Day Edition ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

☕ We’ll be watching you

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Tag Heuer's watchmaking apprenticeship program. March 28, 2024 Retail Brew PRESENTED BY Listrak Hey hey, everyone. It seems people are unsure whether 7-Eleven's hot dog-flavored sparkling water

Inside Spokane’s push to build the next great U.S. tech hub 

Thursday, March 28, 2024

New app allows Amazon One palm-tech signup | Women's clothing startup sees pockets of opportunity ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: The GeekWire Awards return May 9, 2024: Celebrate the

☕ Double or nothing

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Why GroupM is doubling its clients' investment in women's sports. March 28, 2024 Marketing Brew PRESENTED BY Iterable Happy Thursday. In honor of National Gelato Day, Talenti created the

Kahneman Quotes, The Future of Creativity, and the Magic of How I Built This

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ten stories that have given us creative inspiration this week ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Rejection Dust

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Are you, like Toni Morrison, looking for something more interesting to read? Rejection Dust By Caroline Crampton • 28 Mar 2024 View in browser View in browser The Dust Of God Sam Kriss | Numb At The