Your Tuesday Briefing – The New York Times

Biden’s surprise trip to Ukraine

President Biden made a surprise appearance yesterday at the presidential palace in Kiev. The visit aims to lift the spirits of shocked Ukrainians and a direct challenge to Vladimir Putinthe Russian president, who invaded Ukraine a year ago this week. Biden said: “A year later, Kiev stands firm. “And Ukraine stands firm. Democracy stands.”

The war in Ukraine is about power and the principle of territorial sovereignty, and about whether the Western-designed global order that Americans thought would prevail for decades survives new challenges from Moscow. and Beijing or not. But it has increasingly become a rivalry between Putin and Biden, who have been circling each other for years.

Today, the men are set to give separate speeches, each vowing to stick with the fight. Putin will most likely make the case that he not only saved Ukraine from “Nazis” but also saved Russia from being overrun by NATO. And Biden is expected to shape the fight as a long-term battle between democracy and autocracy, in which autocracy came out victorious in its first year.

Back story: How did Biden create? a surreal and secret journey become a war zone.

Related: Beijing has oppose the US claim that it was ready to give Russia “deadly assistance.” Such a step would be a great change for China and would turn war into The struggle between the three superpowersMy colleague Edward Wong writes in an analysis.

Another earthquake shakes Turkey

Two weeks after the devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northwestern Syria, another earthquake Strong storm hit the same area just after 8pm yesterday, once again buildings collapsed and claimed lives. The latest quake had a magnitude of 6.4 and was centered in one of the areas hardest hit by the February 6 quake and its aftershocks.

At least three people were killed and 213 injured, according to authorities in Turkey, but local officials said many people were trapped in the rubble. In the opposition-controlled area of ​​northwestern Syria, at least 150 people were injured, many of them trampled in panic as they fled to safety, but no deaths have been confirmed. received, according to the White Helmets, a group of vigilantes there.

Since the February 6 earthquake, many people across the region, whose homes are still intact, have had to sleep in tents, shipping containers and other makeshift shelters for fear that their structures will be destroyed. unsafe — a fact that could have saved lives yesterday as more buildings collapsed.

First Person: “Suddenly, I felt like the ground was being pulled under my feet,” said one person in the area. “The earthquake was so strong, I have no words to describe it. I can’t even go straight to the door just a meter away.”

US response: Hours before yesterday’s disaster, Antony Blinken, on his first visit to Turkey as US secretary of state, announced that the US would continue to assist Turkey in its aftermath. earthquake. The United States sent search and rescue teams, heavy equipment, and more than $160 million in humanitarian aid and private donations, and Blinken announced an additional $100 million in aid.

More protests in Israel

Tens of thousands of protesters once again gather in Jerusalem as Israel’s far-right government pushes its plan to limit judicial surveillance and give politicians more influence. Critics say the overhaul will weaken and politicize the country’s courts and undermine Israel’s democratic foundation.

After hours of heated debate, both bills passed at first reading, non-binding after midnight with a 63-vote majority in the 120-seat National Assembly. Forty-seven members voted against it. Ten members are absent. As members of the ruling coalition celebrated, opponents of the judicial overhaul said the day would be marked as a dark day in the annals of the country.

One bill would change the composition of a nine-member committee that selects judges to lessen the influence of legal experts. This change would allow the government of the time to effectively select judges. The other would strip the Supreme Court of the Supreme Court’s right to repeal fundamental laws passed by Parliament. Opponents worry about the speed of the plan’s progress.

React: “Members of the coalition – history will judge you tonight,” Yair Lapid, opposition leader and centrist, wrote on Twitter. “To the damage to democracy, to the damage to the economy, to the damage to security, to the fact that you are dividing the people of Israel and you simply don’t care. heart.”

LATEST NEWS

Around the world

The US military has many possibilities, but finding the remnants of an unidentified flying object scattered across an arctic ice sheet in minus 30-degree weather is not one of them. (The Canadian forces were no better either.)

The failed mission looks like an incomplete ending to the fascinating story of aerial attacks on mysterious objects. And many questions remain unanswered: Are aliens involved? Surveillance device of mysterious origin? Hobby balloons? Or something else entirely?

SPORTS NEWS FROM Ethics

Remembering Christian Atsu at his old church: Football player’s death in earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria shocked the people in NewcastleYou, who know you as a friend.

Should Chelsea worry about relegation? Chelsea have won 2 of the last 14 matches in the Premier League. No team has won less in the same time period. We should not underestimate how bad Chelsea’s play has been.

Barcelona’s revival night: Ferran Torres was the man of the match as Barcelona maintained an eight-point lead in La Liga. His performance marked a transformation.

ARTS AND IDEAS

Rewrite Roald Dahl

British children’s author Roald Dahl, who died in 1990, was openly anti-Semitic. Originally, he wrote that the Oompa Loompa workers in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory were African dwarves. And his works have long been described as antisocial, brutal and anti-feminist.

In keeping with the norms and sensibilities of 2023, new editions of his works, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda” and “James and the Giant Peach,” has been rewritten. Characters are no longer described as “fat” and references to “mother” and “father” have been updated to “parent” or “family”.

The changes drew widespread criticism from prominent literary figures and others, including Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister and author Salman Rushdie, who described them as “innocent censorship.” physical”.

Company spokesman Roald Dahl Story said: “When publishing new editions of books written many years ago, it is normal to revisit the language. “Our overriding principle is to maintain the plot, characters, and irreverent and edgy spirit of the original text.”

For more: “Teller of the Unexpected,” Dahl’s biography released this year, Ignoring controversy while documenting his epic, tragic life.

That’s it for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha

PS The Times won three George Polk awardstwo for covering the war in Ukraine.

There are no new episodes of The Daily. ABOVE “First Person,” A mother struggles with how to help her mentally ill son.

Send feedback, thoughts and anything else to Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.