Living by the Code: In China, Covid-Era Controls May Outlast the Virus

By Chris Buckley, Vivian Wang and Keith Bradsher from NYT World https://ift.tt/puMlVQDBU
via IFTTT The country has instituted a wide range of high-tech controls on society as part of a mostly successful effort to stop the virus. The consequences may endure.

Canadian Trucker Convoy Descends on Ottawa to Protest Vaccine Mandates

By Ian Austen and Vjosa Isai from NYT World https://ift.tt/UqhH6r8KI
via IFTTT The “Freedom Convoy” had driven across Canada to reach the capital. The demonstrations on Saturday were raucous but largely peaceful.

White House Warnings Over Russia Strain Ukraine-U.S. Partnership

By Michael Schwirtz and Andrew E. Kramer from NYT World https://ift.tt/rGpCvzOlU
via IFTTT While Ukraine’s president complained about “acute and burning” warnings from Washington, the Pentagon issued a dire new appraisal asserting Russia has amassed enough troops to invade his entire country.

F.B.I. Secretly Bought Israeli Spyware and Explored Hacking U.S. Phones

By Michael Levenson from NYT World https://nyti.ms/3g3QFVv
via IFTTT Israel used the NSO Group’s software as a tool of diplomacy. The F.B.I. wanted it for domestic surveillance. Then everything soured. Here are highlights of a New York Times Magazine investigation.

Sarah Palin, who is unvaccinated, dined outdoors in New York City days after testing positive.

By Lauren McCarthy from NYT World https://nyti.ms/3o9IcUX
via IFTTT The unvaccinated former Alaska governor returned to Elio’s, the Upper East Side restaurant where she had been seen dining indoors on Saturday despite the city’s requirement that indoor guests show proof of vaccination.

Russia’s Military, Once Creaky, Is Modern and Lethal

By Anton Troianovski, Michael Schwirtz and Andrew E. Kramer from NYT World https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/world/europe/russia-military-putin-ukraine.html?partner=IFTTT
via IFTTT A significantly upgraded military has emerged as a key tool of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy, as he flexes his might around the globe and, most ominously, on the Ukraine border.

Where Is Germany in the Ukraine Standoff? Its Allies Wonder.

By Katrin Bennhold from NYT World https://ift.tt/34dm6tS
via IFTTT Germany’s allies have begun to question what price Berlin is prepared to pay to deter Russia, and even its reliability as an ally, as it wavers on tough measures.

As West Warns of Russian Attack, Ukraine Sends Different Message

By Michael Schwirtz from NYT World https://ift.tt/32uQD5F
via IFTTT The ‘‘stay calm” posture has left analysts guessing about its leadership’s motivation, but some say that after eight years of war, the country simply calculates the risks differently.

Can the West Stop Russia From Invading Ukraine?

By Dan Bilefsky from NYT World https://ift.tt/3KK4C9a
via IFTTT The United States, NATO and Russia have been engaged in a whirlwind of diplomacy aimed at averting the largest military action in Europe since World War II. Here’s a guide to what’s at stake.

French Adventurer Attempting to Row Solo Across the Atlantic Is Missing

By Azi Paybarah from NYT World https://ift.tt/3rIUmW3
via IFTTT Jean-Jacques Savin, 75, activated distress beacons on Thursday and Friday, his team said. On Saturday, the Portuguese Navy found his boat, but not his body, near the Azores.

Britain Pursues More Muscular Role in Standoff With Russia on Ukraine

By Mark Landler from NYT World https://ift.tt/3KuzYR3
via IFTTT With a late-night announcement about Russian meddling in Ukraine, the U.K. signaled its aim to be a player in Europe’s security crisis — even as scandals besiege Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine

By Michael Schwirtz, David E. Sanger and Mark Landler from NYT World https://ift.tt/3KzOjeX
via IFTTT In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details.

English Island Seeks a Landlord-King Who Likes Solitude, Seals and Beer

By Alan Yuhas from NYT World https://ift.tt/3qPYlAC
via IFTTT On Piel Island, winters are wet, travel is limited, and the solitary pub crowns the landlord king or queen under a shower of beer.

Defend Chernobyl During an Invasion? Why Bother, Some Ukrainians Ask.

By Andrew E. Kramer and Tyler Hicks from NYT World https://ift.tt/3tQ8vDw
via IFTTT Ukraine has initiated a defensive strategy for the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, one of the most radioactive places on Earth, which lies on the shortest path between Russia and Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

Three Tiny Islands Have Borne the Brunt of Tonga’s Tsunami

By Natasha Frost from NYT World https://ift.tt/3Amd7lS
via IFTTT The sparsely populated islets of Nomuka, Mango and Fonoifua were hit by waves almost 50 feet high, a Red Cross official said.

Saudi-Led Airstrikes Kill Scores at a Prison in Yemen

By Vivian Yee from NYT World https://ift.tt/3AktM9q
via IFTTT The strikes, which also knocked out the country’s internet, came after Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked the U.A.E., a key partner in the Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting in Yemen for years.

Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Master and Political Reformer, Dies at 95

By Seth Mydans from NYT World https://ift.tt/3Kxo74r
via IFTTT A monk with global influence and an ally of Martin Luther King, he championed what he called “engaged Buddhism,” applying its principles in pressing for peace.

A son’s plea, after the death of a mother who celebrated catching Covid.

By Hana de Goeij from NYT World https://ift.tt/3nF4I8c
via IFTTT Jak Rek said his mother, Hana Horka, 57, had refused to be vaccinated and sought infection to gain natural immunity.

Biden Strengthens Words on Ukraine After Flustering European Partners

By Michael Crowley and Steven Erlanger from NYT World https://ift.tt/32h1kZD
via IFTTT After the president laid bare divisions over Russian meddling in Ukraine, his administration scrambled to get on the same page with European allies.

80 Years Ago the Nazis Planned the ‘Final Solution.’ It Took 90 Minutes.

By Katrin Bennhold from NYT World https://ift.tt/3nLR03n
via IFTTT As Germany observes the anniversary of the Wannsee Conference, witnesses of the Nazi era are dying and antisemitism is resurgent in Europe and the United States.

An American Airlines flight turns back over the Atlantic because of a passenger mask dispute.

By John Yoon from NYT World https://ift.tt/3FLoBQQ
via IFTTT The London-bound flight was about 500 miles into its 4,400-mile journey when it reversed course and returned to Miami.

An Island Nation Covered in Ash Now Worries About a Covid Intrusion

By Damien Cave, Isabella Kwai and Eric Nagourney from NYT World https://ift.tt/3270gau
via IFTTT Aid workers risk bringing in a virus Tonga has so far kept out. But there are more immediate problems, as its government confirmed in its first statement since the disaster.

China decides not to sell Olympics tickets to the Chinese public.

By Steven Lee Myers from NYT World https://ift.tt/3IaEVfO
via IFTTT

China’s Births Hit Historic Low, a Political Problem for Beijing

By Steven Lee Myers and Alexandra Stevenson from NYT World https://ift.tt/3ftryLx
via IFTTT The demographic crisis, a challenge to the economy, also signals a limit to the reach of the government, which has struggled recently to grow the population.

In Volcano’s Aftermath, an Agonizing Wait for Tonga News

By Natasha Frost from NYT World https://ift.tt/3IgEII7
via IFTTT Overseas Tongans were desperately seeking word from their loved ones after a huge undersea eruption severed communications lines two days ago.

Tonga Shrouded by Ash and Mystery After Powerful Volcano Erupts

By Natasha Frost, Mitra Taj and Eric Nagourney from NYT World https://ift.tt/3Ki1wZK
via IFTTT So far, the only deaths reported occurred 6,000 miles away, in Peru. But outside emergency workers have yet to make their way to the Pacific island nation.

How the ‘Djokovic Affair’ Finally Came to an End

By Damien Cave from NYT World https://ift.tt/33EDKpO
via IFTTT Novak Djokovic lost to a government with powerful laws, determined to make an example out of him.

Russia Issues Subtle Threats More Far-Reaching Than a Ukraine Invasion

By Anton Troianovski and David E. Sanger from NYT World https://ift.tt/3fsO8Uj
via IFTTT If the West fails to meet its security demands, Moscow could take measures like placing nuclear missiles close to the U.S. coastline, Russian officials have hinted.

Americans are just learning what people in East Asia already know about masks.

By Mike Ives from NYT World https://ift.tt/33f3VUx
via IFTTT In some parts of Asia, surgical masks became commonplace during SARS epidemic of 2002-2003.

Underwater Volcano Erupts, Setting Off Tsunami Warnings Across Pacific

By Aina J. Khan from NYT World https://ift.tt/3ttQNp3
via IFTTT The volcano erupted near the remote island nation of Tonga, triggering a chain of warnings and causing strong waves as far away as the United States.

Russia, at an Impasse With the West, Warns It Is Ready to Abandon Diplomacy

By Anton Troianovski and David E. Sanger from NYT World https://ift.tt/3rimJdg
via IFTTT In a third round of talks on Eastern European security this week, both Kremlin and American officials sounded an increasingly pessimistic note.

Prince Andrew Is Stripped of Military Titles as Sexual Abuse Case Proceeds

By Mark Landler from NYT World https://ift.tt/3zVxmqo
via IFTTT Buckingham Palace said Andrew would not undertake any public duties and was defending his case as a private citizen.

Djokovic Admits False Statement on Australia Travel Document

By Yan Zhuang from NYT World https://ift.tt/3qlnEKV
via IFTTT The tennis star also said he had participated in an interview and a photo shoot even after testing positive for the coronavirus, in an apparent violation of rules in his native Serbia.

As Its Population Soars to 40, Rum Isle Glimpses a Future in the Mist

By Unknown Author from NYT World https://ift.tt/31KhLgM
via IFTTT With four new families recently arriving, the remote and rainy island in the Hebrides is experiencing its version of a population surge, although residents new and old concede living here isn’t easy.

Aung San Suu Kyi Gets 4 Years for Greeting a Crowd and Having Walkie-Talkies

By Richard C. Paddock from NYT World https://ift.tt/3tbOpTD
via IFTTT Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader was convicted on three more counts under Covid and telecommunications rules, which her defenders said were politically motivated.

Saudi Princess Is Released, but Other Royals Are Still Locked Up

By Ben Hubbard from NYT World https://ift.tt/3qhziXf
via IFTTT The Saudi government has not said why it detained or freed Princess Basmah bint Saud, a daughter of a former king who has criticized the country’s policies.

Russia Warns That U.S. Doesn’t Understand Its Goals on Ukraine

By Anton Troianovski and David E. Sanger from NYT World https://ift.tt/3q7u6Vt
via IFTTT Before the two countries met amid rising tensions over Ukraine, a senior Russian official and the U.S. Secretary of State set a pessimistic tone.

Cliff Collapses on Boaters in Brazil, Killing 10

By Ernesto Londoño from NYT World https://ift.tt/3JYcGT9
via IFTTT The tragedy in Minas Gerais state gripped the nation because it was captured on videos that showed an immense slab of rock smashing into pleasure boats.

Fugitive Italian Killer Finally Meets His Match: Google Maps

By Elisabetta Povoledo from NYT World https://ift.tt/3q6o33q
via IFTTT Investigators had tracked the man to a town in Spain, and an image found online confirmed that the police were on the right track.

Airlines Strand Passengers Who Partied on Flight Without Masks

By Maria Cramer from NYT World https://ift.tt/3n5v6aY
via IFTTT A group of Canadian social media influencers and others flouted Covid-19 rules on a flight to Cancún, Mexico, resulting in airlines leaving many of them without a way home.

An 85-year-old man in India says he got 12 Covid vaccine shots, and still wants more.

By Hari Kumar and Mujib Mashal from NYT World https://ift.tt/3F5CTeM
via IFTTT The retired postman said he gamed the offline vaccination drive to keep boosting regularly — long before booster shots were a thing anywhere.

Grichka and Igor Bogdanoff, Twins in an Uneasy Spotlight, Die at 72

By Clay Risen from NYT World https://ift.tt/3JSJtJc
via IFTTT In France they were science-loving TV celebrities (molded by plastic surgery) whose own research was suspect, maybe a hoax. They died within days of each other.

Pope Scolds Couples Who Choose Pets Over Kids

By Elisabetta Povoledo from NYT World https://ift.tt/3eSUBYy
via IFTTT Expressing concern about global birthrates, Francis said such couples were acting in a selfish way that diminished humanity.

Why Novak Djokovic Was Blocked From Entering Australia

By Austin Ramzy from NYT World https://ift.tt/3G1RRnC
via IFTTT The men’s No. 1 tennis player had received an exemption to the country’s vaccine requirements. Then the federal government stepped in.

Revolt in Kazakhstan: What’s Happening, and Why It Matters

By Dan Bilefsky from NYT World https://ift.tt/31um5R3
via IFTTT As protests in the oil-rich Central Asian country gain momentum, the events threaten to reverberate across the region.

Russia-Allied Forces to Intervene as Unrest Sweeps Kazakhstan

By Valerie Hopkins and Ivan Nechepurenko from NYT World https://ift.tt/3HzfFQ0
via IFTTT The Kazakh president requested the peacekeeping troops as an uprising, sparked by a gas price increase in the resource-rich Central Asian nation, headed toward a fifth day.

Macron says France should make life miserable for the unvaccinated.

By Norimitsu Onishi from NYT World https://ift.tt/3mZ7WmA
via IFTTT The French government is moving to bar unvaccinated people from eligibility for France’s health pass, with a presidential election looming.

A variant found in France is not a concern, the W.H.O. says.

By Shashank Bengali from NYT World https://ift.tt/3HT7AWL
via IFTTT The so-called I.H.U. variant contains numerous mutations of the coronavirus, but experts say it has shown little sign of spreading so far.

Macron says France should make life miserable for the unvaccinated.

By Aurelien Breeden from NYT World https://ift.tt/3qPV4QH
via IFTTT The French government is moving to bar unvaccinated people from eligibility for France’s health pass, with a presidential election looming.

Prince Andrew’s Uncertain Legal Fate Casts Shadow on Britain’s Royals

By Mark Landler from NYT World https://ift.tt/3Gba821
via IFTTT As Queen Elizabeth II prepares to mark 70 years on the throne this year, a sexual abuse case in a Manhattan court involving her son could mean more turmoil for the royal family.