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China’s Economy, India’s Lockdown, Joe Biden: Your Wednesday Briefing China’s Economy, India’s Lockdown, Joe Biden: Your Wednesday Briefing
(4 months later)
Good morning.
We’re covering consumers’ hesitation to spend in China, doubts about next year’s planned Tokyo Olympics and a preview of what it looks like to reopen art galleries.
The manufacturing giant is turning out steel and cellphones again, as its factories hum back to life. But empowering consumers might be harder, now that they are reluctant to spend after job losses, pay cuts and the threat of a resurgence of the virus.The manufacturing giant is turning out steel and cellphones again, as its factories hum back to life. But empowering consumers might be harder, now that they are reluctant to spend after job losses, pay cuts and the threat of a resurgence of the virus.
Retail sales plummeted almost one-sixth in March from a year earlier. And satellite imagery shows that Chinese industrial areas emitted much less light this spring than they did a year ago — a sign that fewer building sites may be floodlit for 24-hour construction and that fewer factories may be operating around the clock.Retail sales plummeted almost one-sixth in March from a year earlier. And satellite imagery shows that Chinese industrial areas emitted much less light this spring than they did a year ago — a sign that fewer building sites may be floodlit for 24-hour construction and that fewer factories may be operating around the clock.
Even a generation of young people accustomed to a strong economy, and known for their American-style shopping sprees, is now taking a thriftier approach.Even a generation of young people accustomed to a strong economy, and known for their American-style shopping sprees, is now taking a thriftier approach.
What’s next: Economists have urged China to help consumers, which other countries have done with spending programs. Beijing has been reluctant to do so because of its debt concerns.What’s next: Economists have urged China to help consumers, which other countries have done with spending programs. Beijing has been reluctant to do so because of its debt concerns.
Quotable: “My spending power has suffered a cliff-like drop,” said one 29-year-old translator in Beijing. “When I find a job, I will start saving money, and I can’t live a wasteful life like before.”Quotable: “My spending power has suffered a cliff-like drop,” said one 29-year-old translator in Beijing. “When I find a job, I will start saving money, and I can’t live a wasteful life like before.”
Here are the latest updates, as well as maps of the pandemic.Here are the latest updates, as well as maps of the pandemic.
China is pushing back against calls for the country to pay compensation for the damage caused by the pandemic. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry accused politicians in the United States of “lying through their teeth.”
A group of Japanese physicians said it would be “exceedingly difficult” for Japan to hold the Tokyo Olympics even next summer, as planned, without a vaccine.
More medical workers are testing positive for the virus in Afghanistan. The infections threaten to overwhelm a stretched health system in a time of raging conflict.
Dr. Lorna Breen, a top emergency room doctor at a Manhattan hospital that treated many coronavirus patients, died by suicide on Sunday, her father and the police said. Her story resonated with readers around the world.
Known infections in the U.S. passed 1 million. The true number of infections is much higher, as many Americans who contracted the virus have not been tested.
European doctors have been warned to look out for a rare inflammatory condition in children that is possibly tied to the new coronavirus. It is a concern as schools begin to reopen under the premise that children are less affected by the virus.
Wall Street lost its rally after a report on declining consumer confidence in the U.S., after Asian markets dropped. European markets closed higher as governments there eased restrictions.
The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.The Times is providing free access to much of our coronavirus coverage, and our Coronavirus Briefing newsletter — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription.
For five weeks, Indians have united in following a nationwide lockdown, the largest and one of the most severe anywhere.For five weeks, Indians have united in following a nationwide lockdown, the largest and one of the most severe anywhere.
But as the central government has started lifting restrictions in areas with few or no known cases of the coronavirus, officials are now struggling to persuade fearful residents, and their leaders, to consider a partial reopening.But as the central government has started lifting restrictions in areas with few or no known cases of the coronavirus, officials are now struggling to persuade fearful residents, and their leaders, to consider a partial reopening.
Residents are afraid to go outside after weeks of harshly enforced restrictions. Divided state leaders are taking different approaches in the reopenings. Some local leaders fear that if they reopen too soon, they risk losing the ability to reimpose rules if the spread accelerates.Residents are afraid to go outside after weeks of harshly enforced restrictions. Divided state leaders are taking different approaches in the reopenings. Some local leaders fear that if they reopen too soon, they risk losing the ability to reimpose rules if the spread accelerates.
What’s next: India’s suffering economy will most likely move the needle, as the country’s public distribution system, which provides food and other handouts to hundreds of millions of people, has been severely stressed.What’s next: India’s suffering economy will most likely move the needle, as the country’s public distribution system, which provides food and other handouts to hundreds of millions of people, has been severely stressed.
Quotable: “Those who outlive this will remember a time when people had an opportunity to earn money, but they feared the very people who would give them the currency note,” said one shop owner.Quotable: “Those who outlive this will remember a time when people had an opportunity to earn money, but they feared the very people who would give them the currency note,” said one shop owner.
Museums and art galleries around the world are shuttered, hemorrhaging staff and asking themselves: What will it take to reopen? And what will this new art world look like?Museums and art galleries around the world are shuttered, hemorrhaging staff and asking themselves: What will it take to reopen? And what will this new art world look like?
Seoul, a dense metropolis of 10 million residents that has had only two coronavirus deaths to date, is offering one possible answer: Art galleries are reopening, but with social distancing in place and masks. Visitors at one recent opening, above, were required to write down their personal information for contact tracing.Seoul, a dense metropolis of 10 million residents that has had only two coronavirus deaths to date, is offering one possible answer: Art galleries are reopening, but with social distancing in place and masks. Visitors at one recent opening, above, were required to write down their personal information for contact tracing.
2020 presidential election: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, adding to a string of endorsements in recent weeks.2020 presidential election: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, adding to a string of endorsements in recent weeks.
Genoa bridge: Nearly two years after 43 people died when a bridge collapsed, its replacement, a symbol of Italian can-do spirit, has arrived.Genoa bridge: Nearly two years after 43 people died when a bridge collapsed, its replacement, a symbol of Italian can-do spirit, has arrived.
Snapshot: Above, scavengers in Indonesia who make a living picking plastic, metal and even bones from one of the world’s largest landfills face additional misery as the global economic slowdown closes recycling centers.Snapshot: Above, scavengers in Indonesia who make a living picking plastic, metal and even bones from one of the world’s largest landfills face additional misery as the global economic slowdown closes recycling centers.
What we’re reading: This meditation in Elle on the Stanley Tucci Negroni video you’ve all seen. The bullet points will make you laugh.What we’re reading: This meditation in Elle on the Stanley Tucci Negroni video you’ve all seen. The bullet points will make you laugh.
Cook: Even our Food editor, Sam Sifton, admits that cooking after weeks of lockdown can be wearing. In his latest newsletter, he suggests some recipes that can help you out of the feeling that you’re performing a chore, like one-pot pasta with chicken and mushrooms.Cook: Even our Food editor, Sam Sifton, admits that cooking after weeks of lockdown can be wearing. In his latest newsletter, he suggests some recipes that can help you out of the feeling that you’re performing a chore, like one-pot pasta with chicken and mushrooms.
Watch: As stand-up comedians move their jokes online, we review the first social distancing special, by Ted Alexandro. His own quarantine hair? A “coronahawk.” Also, the showrunner for “Homeland” has the lowdown on the series finale.Watch: As stand-up comedians move their jokes online, we review the first social distancing special, by Ted Alexandro. His own quarantine hair? A “coronahawk.” Also, the showrunner for “Homeland” has the lowdown on the series finale.
Listen: With Broadway closed, Ben Brantley recommends streaming “Take Me to the World,” a celebration for Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. And here’s how the cast of “Sing Street” made a show from home.Listen: With Broadway closed, Ben Brantley recommends streaming “Take Me to the World,” a celebration for Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday. And here’s how the cast of “Sing Street” made a show from home.
We have lots more suggestions of fun and interesting things to do, or read, or cook, or watch on our At Home page.We have lots more suggestions of fun and interesting things to do, or read, or cook, or watch on our At Home page.
Taylor Lorenz covers internet culture for The Times. In the latest On Tech newsletter, Taylor talked to Shira Ovide about influencers’ power, the mix of opportunity and stress they face during the pandemic, and her STRONG FEELINGS that internet companies are failing us.Taylor Lorenz covers internet culture for The Times. In the latest On Tech newsletter, Taylor talked to Shira Ovide about influencers’ power, the mix of opportunity and stress they face during the pandemic, and her STRONG FEELINGS that internet companies are failing us.
Shira: Why should we care about influencers?Shira: Why should we care about influencers?
Taylor: Influencers are part of a massive industry that drives retail, marketing, entertainment and more. Companies’ marketing deals with influencers are projected to be far larger than advertising sales for the entire newspaper industry in the United States. The products you see in Target and Walmart are often the influencers’ own products, use their names, are developed with them or are promoted by them.Taylor: Influencers are part of a massive industry that drives retail, marketing, entertainment and more. Companies’ marketing deals with influencers are projected to be far larger than advertising sales for the entire newspaper industry in the United States. The products you see in Target and Walmart are often the influencers’ own products, use their names, are developed with them or are promoted by them.
People who say they don’t follow influencers might have scrolled through updates from an Instagram mommy blogger, taken a cruise after seeing someone’s YouTube review or bought needlepoint kits from a person they follow online. Those are probably all influencers!People who say they don’t follow influencers might have scrolled through updates from an Instagram mommy blogger, taken a cruise after seeing someone’s YouTube review or bought needlepoint kits from a person they follow online. Those are probably all influencers!
How will this crisis change how we and social media stars behave online?How will this crisis change how we and social media stars behave online?
It might cull influencers who seem out of touch, like those showing off lavish lifestyles. More of us are likely to adapt what young people are already doing. They’re ditching the hyper-perfect aesthetic online, and embracing the chaos of livestreaming and TikTok, where humor and personality matter more than beautiful pictures.It might cull influencers who seem out of touch, like those showing off lavish lifestyles. More of us are likely to adapt what young people are already doing. They’re ditching the hyper-perfect aesthetic online, and embracing the chaos of livestreaming and TikTok, where humor and personality matter more than beautiful pictures.
How do you feel about people spending more time online now?How do you feel about people spending more time online now?
I worry about the lack of healthy boundaries, and internet companies don’t make it easy to escape. These sites need an option to pause activity, and a universal “away” message to signal that you’re taking a break. I deactivate my Twitter account on many weekends so people can’t message me. Many people do that with Instagram. That’s a sign that people want easier ways to tune out and come back.I worry about the lack of healthy boundaries, and internet companies don’t make it easy to escape. These sites need an option to pause activity, and a universal “away” message to signal that you’re taking a break. I deactivate my Twitter account on many weekends so people can’t message me. Many people do that with Instagram. That’s a sign that people want easier ways to tune out and come back.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— Melina
Thank youTo Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.Thank youTo Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about coronavirus testing around the world.• Here’s our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Starter of a Zoom meeting (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Tara Parker-Pope, the founding editor of our health site Well, hosts a Q. and A. with Lisa Damour, a psychologist, and a group of teenagers on how they’re managing stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. R.S.V.P. here for the call, at 4 p.m. Eastern (6 a.m. in Sydney), or catch up with it afterward here.P.S.• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about coronavirus testing around the world.• Here’s our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Starter of a Zoom meeting (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.• Tara Parker-Pope, the founding editor of our health site Well, hosts a Q. and A. with Lisa Damour, a psychologist, and a group of teenagers on how they’re managing stress and anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic. R.S.V.P. here for the call, at 4 p.m. Eastern (6 a.m. in Sydney), or catch up with it afterward here.