The New York Times - Wednesday Briefing: Turmoil in Haiti

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story

March 13, 2024

By Amelia Nierenberg Writer, Briefings

Good morning. We’re covering uncertainty in Haiti and a new U.S. weapons package for Ukraine.

Plus, Gen Z dumps dating apps.

Gangs have taken over much of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Odelyn Joseph/Associated Press

Kenya put a planned force for Haiti on hold

Kenya said it would pause a plan to send 1,000 police officers to Haiti until the Caribbean country forms a new government. On Monday, Ariel Henry, Haiti’s prime minister, agreed to step down, once a new transitional government is formed. It is unclear when that will happen.

Henry’s announcement came after days of violent gang attacks on police stations, prisons, the main airport, seaport and other state institutions. The gangs had threatened civil war if he did not resign.

Henry’s decision has brought more uncertainty to an already chaotic situation. The U.S. on Monday announced that it would provide $100 million to support the Kenya-led, multinational force, which has been backed by the U.N. But a Kenyan spokesman said: “You don’t just deploy police to go on the Port-au-Prince streets without a sitting administration.”

Henry: He is stranded in Puerto Rico, after traveling to Kenya to finalize the deal. Many Haitians saw his power as illegitimate.

Caribbean leaders: They met for discussions in Jamaica to try to create a transitional council that would lead Haiti. But a leader said on Monday that no plan had been finalized.

Ukrainian soldiers are rationing the shells they have without a fresh supply of munitions and artillery. Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

The U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine

The Biden administration announced a stopgap plan to send up to $300 million in weapons to Ukraine, the first new aid package for the country since funding ran out in late December. The weapons will keep advancing Russian troops at bay — but only for a few weeks, an official said.

Still, Ukraine is in particular need of air defense systems. Russia has continued to bombard towns, particularly in the east. The aid will include air defense interceptors, artillery rounds and armor systems, senior defense officials said.

Will more aid come? It is still unclear. The Senate has passed an emergency aid bill, which includes $60.1 billion for Ukraine, but Republicans in the House have refused to put the measure to a vote.

Bernie Sanders was one of the senators who said that arming Israel violated U.S. law because it was blocking humanitarian aid. Kent Nishimura for The New York Times

Senators urged Biden to stop arming Israel

Eight senators — seven Democrats and an independent, Bernie Sanders — urged President Biden in a letter to stop giving Israel offensive weapons for the war against Hamas until it lifts restrictions on U.S.-backed humanitarian aid going into Gaza.

The letter could come at an auspicious time. Biden is openly frustrated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and has warned him against invading Rafah, in southern Gaza. Some U.S. officials have said that Biden appears to be slowly reconsidering his aversion to limits on how Israel can use the weaponry it buys.

ADVERTISEMENT

A protest against the citizenship law. Biju Boro/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

U.S. Politics

Travel and Sports

Andrea Chronopoulos

Dating apps have changed our love lives. But about a decade after they went mainstream, they have hit a wall: Not enough young people are buying subscriptions. Paying for access to people feels “a little skeezy,” a professor who studies the apps said.

Lives lived: Eric Carmen sang for the Raspberries before his soft-rock crooning made him a mainstay of 1980s music, with hits like “All By Myself.” He died at 74.

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

There are about 900 hanoks in Seoul’s centuries-old Bukchon Hanok Village. Jun Michael Park for The New York Times

Restoring Korea’s hanoks

Seoul has undergone rapid urbanization amid the economic boom of the last 25 years or so, and the number of hanoks — traditional Korean homes — has fallen. In 2006, there were about 22,000 in South Korea’s capital. In 2020, there were only about 8,000.

But the hanoks that are still nestled between Seoul’s towers and hip coffee shops have devoted fans. Craftsmen work to maintain them, an act of devotion to a slowly vanishing piece of history.

ADVERTISEMENT

Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist; Hadas Smirnoff. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgepeth.

Bake: This fluffy Dutch baby pancake comes together in just about five minutes.

Listen: “Bright Future,” an album from Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief, is a model for staying soft, and open, in a cruel world.

Watch: “Kuessipan,” a coming-of-age story set in Quebec, is one of the best international movies to stream right now.

Compete: Play the four best strategy board games.

Illuminate: Turning out the lights when you leave a room doesn’t actually save much energy.

Play Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Amelia

Send suggestions to briefing@nytimes.com.

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 Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

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