Your Monday Briefing – The New York Times
Boris Johnson leaves leadership race
Boris Johnson withdraw from the race to succeed Liz Truss as Britain’s prime minister on Sunday night, ending a bizarre attempt to win back the job he lost three months ago in a series of scandals.
Johnson’s withdrawal ends three days of fever in which he once again dominated the political conversation. But his campaign has never really gained momentum, underscoring how much has changed since he won a landslide general election in 2019.
Johnson says he believes he has a path to victory, although the BBC estimates he has only 57 Conservative lawmakers in public support, far below the required 100 threshold on the ballot. In a statementhe said he was “sad to come to the conclusion” that going back to 10 Downing Street was “simply not the right thing to do.”
Progress: The 357 members of Parliament of the Conservative Party and perhaps about 170,000 members who pay dues will choose their next leader, who will then become prime minister, with plans to come to fruition this week. Candidates have until 2pm today to collect nominations.
Who will be Britain’s next prime minister?
Rishi Sunak, former British finance minister, is now the frontrunner for the prime minister after officially announcing yesterday that he is running for office. Sunak’s earlier warnings against Truss’ economic policies have proven correct – and could have given him an easy win this time around. Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Representatives, is the only person so far to announce a candidacy.
Sunak’s political rise was unusually rapid. In early 2020, he became prime minister of Boris Johnson’s Exchequer contest, despite having only held a seat in Parliament since 2015. Sunak then became the nation’s most popular politician after spending hundreds billion pounds for emergency pandemic measures to support workers and businesses.
But his political stardom began to wane earlier this year, amid a policy of turning away from spending and criticism regarding his extreme wealth. Sunak worked at investment bank Goldman Sachs and two hedge funds before becoming a member of Congress and marrying Akshata Murthy, the daughter of one of India’s richest men.
Policy options: The recession flares as Britain confronts existential problems, including low productivity growth as well as trade and labor market disruptions created by Brexit. Financial markets should expect strict discipline in public finances, even as some corners of the Conservative Party unruly call for tax cuts.
Russia and Ukraine seek interests on the front lines
As winter approaches, Russia and Ukraine trapped in the fire of heavy exchange on the front lines with increasingly urgent efforts to achieve benefits, large or small. However, despite attacks from both sides, battlefield positions do not seem to have moved much in recent days.
More than a dozen people died in strikes over the weekend, according to Ukrainian officials. Russia has also launched widespread attacks on power plants and heating stations in what Ukraine says is one of its heaviest attacks in weeks. The government estimates that 1.5 million households are without electricity.
After months of no contact, Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defense, and Sergei Shoigu, his Russian counterpart, held their second discussion in three days, during a call aimed at clarifying red lines that could trigger Russia launched a nuclear attack in Ukraine. Shoigu held other discussions with military officials from Turkey, France and Britain.
In other news from the war:
LATEST NEWS
Around the world
Some younger workers accept the idea of personal branding as a way to create some power and security in their careers. But for the millions of people who make money from their online presence in some form, disadvantages of this type of work is becoming more obvious.
“There is no clear line between my work life and my personal life,” said one influencer, with about half a million followers. “It can be tiring sometimes.”
SPORTS NEWS FROM ATHLETIC
Erik Ten Hag is imposing his authority on Manchester United: His discipline for togetherness and steadfast adherence to a tactical plan shows a the manager tries to develop his power. And the Dutch boss has no regrets about eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo.
60-minute football matches, tee times and timekeeping recommendations: Fans received only average 55 minutes of action every game in the Premier League. Solutions must be found.
USWNT against Vietnam, the Netherlands and the winner of the playoff match at the 2023 World Cup: The four-time world champion will have a rematch in Group E World Cup 2019 against the Netherlands before facing Vietnam.
ARTS AND IDEAS
When the food spreads
If you order this week at a restaurant Exclusively served food, here’s what you’ll get: a salad of “Liz Truss lettuce” mixed with a “special sauce” made by actress and director Olivia Wilde; omelette with only egg yolk; and a Negroni Sbagliato to wash it all down.
Let’s break it down, starting with the salad. The Daily Star, a British newspaper, last week tracked whether Truss, the famous British prime minister, could outlast ready-made products. (She can not.)
A former nanny for Wilde and her ex-husband, actor Jason Sudeikis, said that a “special outfit” played a small role in a major fight between the two. It may, or may not, be the mustard sauce and red wine outlined in Nora Ephron’s autobiographical novel “Heartburn”.
And the yolk omelette, apparently chosen by James Corden’s wife, TV producer Julia Carey, at Balthazar restaurant in New York. It also played a role in a major fight, one the owner says led to Corden being banned from the restaurant.
At least Negroni Sbagliato, for all its bitter notes, has a sweeter origin story. It’s the favorite drink of Emma D’Arcy, who plays Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen in “House of the Dragon” – lazily portrayed, with co-star Olivia Cooke, who plays Queen Alicent Hightower, in a viral clip. Put on!
PLAY, WATCH, EAT
What to cook?
Pair these corn pakoras with Tamarind mango chutney has great taste. (And don’t miss it our other Diwali recipes.)
What to see
“Aftersun,” Charlotte Wells’ feature film debut, is amazing and devastating.
What to read
In “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing”, Matthew Perry is serious about sobriety, mortality, colostomy bags and pickles.
What do you hear?
Taylor Swift’s New Album, “Midnight“Comments on life as a deeply observed character.
Now it’s time to play
This is Small crossword todayand a clue: The word before fair or Fan (four letters).
And this is Wordle today and spelling bee.
You can find all our quizzes here.
That’s it for today’s press conference, and a happy Diwali for those who are celebrating. See you tomorrow. – Natasha
PS The Concorde makes its last commercial flight 19 years ago today.
Start your week with This long narrated reading of Yiyun Li, a novelist beloved for his powerful distillation of grief. And here is the Friday edition of “The DailyAbout the fall of Liz Truss.
You can contact Natasha and the team at riefing@nytimes.com.