The New York Times - Your Friday Briefing

By Amelia Nierenberg

Writer, Briefings

Good morning. We’re covering the U.S. economic recovery gaining momentum and the latest setback for Aleksei Navalny.

The U.S. economy rebounds

In the first three months of 2021, the U.S. shook off some of the lingering effects of the pandemic on its economy. Consumer spending grew 2.6 percent and the first-quarter growth rate reached 6.4 percent. Economists predict overall economic activity could return to prepandemic levels in the current quarter.

The strong G.D.P. showing came a day after President Biden justified his large spending packages in a speech to Congress, saying these were necessary steps to compete with China.

He said there was “no reason why American workers can’t lead the world in the production of electric vehicles and batteries,” combining two of his signature arguments: that the U.S. has the capability to outpace China, and that a green agenda produces jobs.

The U.S. plan: Biden has unveiled two large spending packages, including an infrastructure plan with an emphasis on moving semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. and focusing on 5G networks, artificial intelligence and advanced robotics. Here’s a breakdown.

Go deeper: The central reality of the U.S. economy in 2021 is that it’s profoundly unequal across sectors, unbalanced in ways that have enormous long-term implications for businesses and workers.

Another blow to Navalny

As the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny made his first public appearance since going on a hunger strike, his associates said government pressure had become crushing. They announced plans to disband Navalny’s network of 40 regional offices.

The move seems likely to push domestic resistance against President Vladimir Putin further underground. An aide to Navalny said the decision was inevitable as prosecutors seek to declare his movement an extremist organization.

In court: Navalny made a virtual appearance from prison at a hearing on a different matter. Looking gaunt after a 24-day hunger strike, he addressed the judge. “Your emperor with no clothes has stolen the banner of victory,” he said. “All your authorities are occupiers and traitors.”

Indian vaccinations falter

Starting Saturday, all Indian residents 18 and older will be eligible for a coronavirus vaccine. But doctors say there aren’t enough shots to go around. Only 26 million people, or 2 percent of the population, have been fully vaccinated. There are about 915 million more to go.

Mass vaccinations could be the only way for the country to curb its raging outbreak. The rollout is slowing down as vaccine companies struggle to increase production. Initially, India averaged three million injections a day, but in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said it had administered fewer than 2.2 million.

On Wednesday, the U.S. government authorized families of diplomats to leave India and advised other Americans there to leave “as soon as it is safe to do so.”

Here are the latest updates and maps of the pandemic.

In other virus news:

• Hong Kong eased restrictions at bars and restaurants where staff and customers have had their first shot.
• New York’s mayor hopes to “fully reopen” the city on July 1, allowing restaurants, shops and stadiums to operate at full capacity.
• President Emmanuel Macron outlined plans for France’s gradual reopening after waves of infections forced the country into three national lockdowns.

THE LATEST NEWS

• The highest court in Germany ruled that the government must expand its plan to reduce carbon emissions to zero beyond 2030, to 2050, handing the country’s vocal youth a decisive victory.
• A Spanish company, Iberdrola, has quietly become the world leader in combined wind and solar power outside of China.
• Pope Francis issued a sweeping decree to fight corruption in the Vatican, compelling cardinals and other officials to provide full financial disclosures and refuse any gifts over $50.
• A group of human rights lawyers are asking a panel to bar a horse owned by Dubai’s ruler from racing in the Kentucky Derby because of his alleged role in the disappearance of one of his daughters.

• Federal investigators searched the home and office of Rudy Giuliani, who became Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, as part of a criminal investigation into his dealings in Ukraine.
• New sunny, digital artwork from David Hockney will soon adorn billboards in Tokyo, Seoul, London and New York.
• German researchers have identified the world’s “most Instagrammable bird.”

In Honduras, the life expectancy for transgender women is only 30 to 35 years. Now, as a long-ignored, unsolved murder gets new attention, two advocacy groups are urging a human rights court to force Central American governments to protect transgender people. The case may be about to make legal history.

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ARTS AND IDEAS

The ‘mystery’ of perimenopause

Perimenopause is the onset of menopause, which is when a woman stops menstruating. Over one billion women will have gone through perimenopause by 2025. But few have even heard of it.

“If the experience of perimenopause is this universal, why did almost every single layperson interviewed for this article say something along the lines of: No one told me it would be like this?” my colleague Jessica Grose writes in an article about perimenopause.

Distressing changes, including hair loss, hot flashes, insomnia and memory issues, mark the transition into perimenopause. Many women who experience symptoms fear they are sick, and almost 90 percent turn to their doctors for advice. But like so many health issues that affect women, perimenopause, which is sometimes compared to a second puberty, has long been shrouded in secrecy.

Here’s a guide to how to recognize and treat symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and an interview with a leading expert.

PLAY, WATCH, EAT

This gorgeous asparagus tart is easy to make.

The universe is simpler than we think, the theoretical physicist Michio Kaku argues in “The God Equation.”

“Yasuke,” Netflix’s entrancing new anime series, tells the story of a real-life Black samurai … and some giant robots.

A diverse new generation of players is changing the face of solo guitar.

Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Wall-climbing plants (five letters).

And here is today’s Spelling Bee.

You can find all our puzzles here.

That’s it for today’s briefing. See you next time. — Amelia

P.S. The American Association of People With Disabilities presented its Ally Award to The Times for a series of obituaries about advocates of disability rights.

The latest episode of “The Daily” is about Biden’s speech.

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

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