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| Angela Merkel, China, Syria: Your Tuesday Briefing | Angela Merkel, China, Syria: Your Tuesday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| The world tilts toward authoritarianism, Angela Merkel grooms a successor and the Colosseum gets snow. Here’s the news: | The world tilts toward authoritarianism, Angela Merkel grooms a successor and the Colosseum gets snow. Here’s the news: |
| • Are we in the era of the strongman? | • Are we in the era of the strongman? |
| Our Beijing correspondent, a veteran of both Washington and Russia, details how China’s move to extend the rule of President Xi Jinping fits into a global shift toward unabashed authoritarianism, unchecked by the U.S. | Our Beijing correspondent, a veteran of both Washington and Russia, details how China’s move to extend the rule of President Xi Jinping fits into a global shift toward unabashed authoritarianism, unchecked by the U.S. |
| Some critics fear that the U.S. has diminished moral authority — and inclination — to oppose the world’s slide toward more hard-line control. | Some critics fear that the U.S. has diminished moral authority — and inclination — to oppose the world’s slide toward more hard-line control. |
| Above, memorabilia showing Mr. Xi and his wife, and his predecessors. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • There is no end to the horror in Syria. | • There is no end to the horror in Syria. |
| The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, appealed for a cease-fire decision to be respected to allow relief aid for 400,000 people trapped in eastern Ghouta, a besieged suburb of Damascus. One resident called it “an uninhabitable hell.” | The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, appealed for a cease-fire decision to be respected to allow relief aid for 400,000 people trapped in eastern Ghouta, a besieged suburb of Damascus. One resident called it “an uninhabitable hell.” |
| Russia ordered a daily humanitarian truce, but it was unclear if the Syrian government would respect it. | Russia ordered a daily humanitarian truce, but it was unclear if the Syrian government would respect it. |
| Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is facing a backlash for bringing a weeping, saluting 6-year-old girl on stage and telling her of the honors if she were to be killed fighting Kurdish militias in Syria. | Meanwhile, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey is facing a backlash for bringing a weeping, saluting 6-year-old girl on stage and telling her of the honors if she were to be killed fighting Kurdish militias in Syria. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Chancellor Angela Merkel appears to be grooming a successor. | • Chancellor Angela Merkel appears to be grooming a successor. |
| Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a former state governor called “mini-Merkel” by the German news media, was elected general secretary of the governing Christian Democrats. | Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, a former state governor called “mini-Merkel” by the German news media, was elected general secretary of the governing Christian Democrats. |
| She is widely seen as having the necessary mix of liberalism and conservatism to unite a restive party base, our correspondents write. | She is widely seen as having the necessary mix of liberalism and conservatism to unite a restive party base, our correspondents write. |
| The party also approved Mrs. Merkel’s coalition deal with the Social Democrats. That party’s results are expected by Sunday. | The party also approved Mrs. Merkel’s coalition deal with the Social Democrats. That party’s results are expected by Sunday. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Is there a good road map for congestion pricing? | • Is there a good road map for congestion pricing? |
| As New York City debates charging drivers for using crowded streets, we look at how it has and hasn’t worked out in London, above, Stockholm and Singapore. | As New York City debates charging drivers for using crowded streets, we look at how it has and hasn’t worked out in London, above, Stockholm and Singapore. |
| Commonalities: eased traffic, lowered pollution. Obstacles: outrage and skepticism from commuters and civic and business leaders. | Commonalities: eased traffic, lowered pollution. Obstacles: outrage and skepticism from commuters and civic and business leaders. |
| Many in Silicon Valley are enamored of ideas of building perfect cities from scratch. But to planners and architects, all of this sounds like newcomers mistaking political problems for engineering puzzles. | Many in Silicon Valley are enamored of ideas of building perfect cities from scratch. But to planners and architects, all of this sounds like newcomers mistaking political problems for engineering puzzles. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In art news, we may soon know more about the life of “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” | • In art news, we may soon know more about the life of “Girl With a Pearl Earring.” |
| That 1665 painting by Johannes Vermeer is the subject of an ambitious and public research project at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague. Above, an X-ray photo of the painting. | That 1665 painting by Johannes Vermeer is the subject of an ambitious and public research project at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague. Above, an X-ray photo of the painting. |
| One mystery that will remain: the identity of the real-life girl, if there even was one. | One mystery that will remain: the identity of the real-life girl, if there even was one. |
| • Tech companies are tracking social media users’ posts, calls, scrolls and clicks in search of behavioral changes that could correlate with disease symptoms. Health insurers are watching the emerging field, digital phenotyping, closely. | • Tech companies are tracking social media users’ posts, calls, scrolls and clicks in search of behavioral changes that could correlate with disease symptoms. Health insurers are watching the emerging field, digital phenotyping, closely. |
| • The French government unveiled a plan to overhaul the state-owned railway operator, SNCF. Unions called for a strike over the scrapping of some employment benefits. | • The French government unveiled a plan to overhaul the state-owned railway operator, SNCF. Unions called for a strike over the scrapping of some employment benefits. |
| • United Parcel Service has sued the E.U.’s antitrust regulators for a decision they made five years ago that blocked its takeover of TNT Express, the Dutch delivery company. | • United Parcel Service has sued the E.U.’s antitrust regulators for a decision they made five years ago that blocked its takeover of TNT Express, the Dutch delivery company. |
| • “Black Panther” may soon join the $1 billion club. The Marvel superhero movie has earned more than $700 million in global ticket sales in 12 days, far outshining the current competition. | • “Black Panther” may soon join the $1 billion club. The Marvel superhero movie has earned more than $700 million in global ticket sales in 12 days, far outshining the current competition. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • In the U.S., the Supreme Court kept the “Dreamers” program alive for now, dealing a temporary setback to President Trump’s efforts to scrap the Obama-era program that shields about 700,000 young immigrants from deportation. [The New York Times] | • In the U.S., the Supreme Court kept the “Dreamers” program alive for now, dealing a temporary setback to President Trump’s efforts to scrap the Obama-era program that shields about 700,000 young immigrants from deportation. [The New York Times] |
| • Mr. Trump asserted that he would have rushed in to stop the Feb. 14 school shooting in Florida, even if he were unarmed at the time of the massacre. [The New York Times] | • Mr. Trump asserted that he would have rushed in to stop the Feb. 14 school shooting in Florida, even if he were unarmed at the time of the massacre. [The New York Times] |
| • European diplomats are creating an add-on agreement to the Iran nuclear deal in the hope that its tighter restrictions would appease U.S. calls for the deal to be scrapped. [The New York Times] | • European diplomats are creating an add-on agreement to the Iran nuclear deal in the hope that its tighter restrictions would appease U.S. calls for the deal to be scrapped. [The New York Times] |
| • The leader of Britain’s main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn, tried to position Labour as the standard-bearer of a “soft” Brexit, narrowing the maneuvering room for Prime Minister Theresa May. [The New York Times] | • The leader of Britain’s main opposition party, Jeremy Corbyn, tried to position Labour as the standard-bearer of a “soft” Brexit, narrowing the maneuvering room for Prime Minister Theresa May. [The New York Times] |
| • A test of populism in government: Austria’s far-right vice chancellor is being sued by the country’s public broadcaster for defamation. [Reuters] | • A test of populism in government: Austria’s far-right vice chancellor is being sued by the country’s public broadcaster for defamation. [Reuters] |
| • In South Africa, Nhlanhla Nene makes a comeback as finance minister in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s first cabinet to lead efforts to revive the country’s economy. [The New York Times] | |
| • Major international music festivals have pledged to split their lineups evenly by gender. [Rolling Stone] | • Major international music festivals have pledged to split their lineups evenly by gender. [Rolling Stone] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Whether you’re finishing winter or heading into it, simple changes can lower your heating bill. | • Whether you’re finishing winter or heading into it, simple changes can lower your heating bill. |
| • One powerful bit of advice for opportunities that come your way: If you don’t love it, don’t do it. | • One powerful bit of advice for opportunities that come your way: If you don’t love it, don’t do it. |
| • Change up fish night by pan-roasting salmon with jalapeño. | • Change up fish night by pan-roasting salmon with jalapeño. |
| • Many Romans took rare snow in cheerful stride. (Above, a snowball fight at the Colosseum.) | |
| But the unexpected cold also caused disruptions. As in other parts of Europe, train transport has been disrupted and many schools remain closed. | |
| • King penguins are threatened as warming seas force them to swim farther to find food, a new study found. | • King penguins are threatened as warming seas force them to swim farther to find food, a new study found. |
| • Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose “Loveless” is an Oscar nominee for best foreign film, is the rare director in Russia who tackles social and political issues. (The awards ceremony is on Sunday.) | • Andrey Zvyagintsev, whose “Loveless” is an Oscar nominee for best foreign film, is the rare director in Russia who tackles social and political issues. (The awards ceremony is on Sunday.) |
| • In Ireland, creating trails like the Great Western Greenway meant persuading farmers to let people traipse through their land. | |
| The effort paid off: The routes are increasingly popular and have even created jobs. | |
| The Leaning Tower of Pisa has had its distinctive tilt since shortly after construction began in the 12th century, but it was on this day in 1964 that the Italian government decided things had gone too far. | The Leaning Tower of Pisa has had its distinctive tilt since shortly after construction began in the 12th century, but it was on this day in 1964 that the Italian government decided things had gone too far. |
| Despite its location in the Piazza dei Miracoli (the Square of Miracles), the tower had become one miracle that needed a little human help to survive. | Despite its location in the Piazza dei Miracoli (the Square of Miracles), the tower had become one miracle that needed a little human help to survive. |
| To prevent the loss of a national treasure — and tourism gold mine — the authorities in Italy asked for suggestions on how to correct the tower’s 13- to 14-foot lean from perpendicular. | To prevent the loss of a national treasure — and tourism gold mine — the authorities in Italy asked for suggestions on how to correct the tower’s 13- to 14-foot lean from perpendicular. |
| But people had been offering advice long before that. | But people had been offering advice long before that. |
| The Times reported in 1972 that, in the previous 60 years, more than 200,000 people had sent letters to the mayor of Pisa with their thoughts on how to save the monument. | The Times reported in 1972 that, in the previous 60 years, more than 200,000 people had sent letters to the mayor of Pisa with their thoughts on how to save the monument. |
| And previous attempts had gone awry, most notably one from Benito Mussolini in 1934. | And previous attempts had gone awry, most notably one from Benito Mussolini in 1934. |
| The Italian dictator decided a leaning tower wasn’t a fitting symbol for his country, so he had holes drilled through the floor and 80 tons of concrete poured into the foundations. | The Italian dictator decided a leaning tower wasn’t a fitting symbol for his country, so he had holes drilled through the floor and 80 tons of concrete poured into the foundations. |
| It promptly lurched another few inches toward the ground. | It promptly lurched another few inches toward the ground. |
| The tower was finally stabilized in 2001, after an 11-year, $26 million restoration project. | The tower was finally stabilized in 2001, after an 11-year, $26 million restoration project. |
| Anna Schaverien contributed reporting. | Anna Schaverien contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
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