We’re covering the latest twist in the Jeffrey Epstein story, a highly charged rape case in India and pink seesaws at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Breaking
The U.S placed sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seeming to cut off a clear avenue for new talks with Iran.
The latest in the Epstein saga: a baby ranch
The wealthy financier, who was charged in July with the sexual trafficking of minors, told scientists and other acquaintances of his plans to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating scores of women at his sprawling New Mexico ranch, according to an exclusive Times report.
Although there is no evidence it ever came to fruition, it reflected Jeffrey Epstein’s longstanding fasciation with transhumanism, a modern-day version of eugenics.
Mr. Epstein, who used his wealth to cultivate relationships with a wide range of business, political and scientific luminaries, also claimed to be bankrolling efforts to identify “a mysterious particle that might trigger the feeling that someone is watching you.”
How we know: The Times reviewed public documents and interviewed more than a dozen of his acquaintances, including two award-winning scientists and an adviser to wealthy individuals, who said he had told them about his vision.
What’s next: A federal judge set a tentative trial date for Mr. Epstein for mid-2020, in New York.
In India, a rape case turns into a political firestorm
A young woman who accused a prominent Indian politician of rape had received dozens of death threats against her and her family. This week, a truck smashed into her car head on, killing her two aunts and leaving her in critical condition.
Her family and women’s rights advocates say that the man accused of rape, Kuldeep Singh Sengar — a state-level politician and member of India’s governing party — is trying to kill his accuser, and that the crash was a deliberate attempt on her life.
The saga has become a test case for the abuse of power, prompting walkouts in Parliament and a homicide investigation.
Quotable: “This girl made 33 complaints in the past one year to authorities, but no action was taken against anybody,’’ said the head of the Delhi Commission for Women. “In our country, a girl is raped by a man once and then the entire system is raping her.”
Separately: Indian lawmakers approved a bill to end the Muslim practice in which men can divorce their wives instantly by saying “talaq,” the Arabic word for divorce, three times.
Round 2 of debates: Can Joe Biden up his game?
After other moderate candidates faltered last night in the first installment of the two-part debate, the hopes of jittery moderates now rest on the former vice president.
Mr. Biden spent much of the first debate in June defending his record on matters of race. Tonight, the spotlight will be focused on the dynamic between him and Senator Kamala Harris, his challenger in the last debate.
Last night: Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren formed an ideological tag team to defend their shared agenda, particularly on health care. Experts weighed in on who won the night.
The details: The debate starts at 8 p.m. Eastern. You can watch on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International and streaming platforms. The Times will also have live coverage.
The Fed cuts rates
The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, in a widely expected move intended to fend off a slowdown in the U.S. economy.
The quarter-point cut came as U.S.-China trade negotiations in Shanghai ended with no deal in sight, adding to fears about the ongoing trade war and the global economy.
Even as the U.S. economy reaches record expansion, persistently low inflation was a major factor behind the decision.
In Europe: Economic growth in the countries that use the euro slowed considerably in the second quarter, putting pressure on the European Central Bank to prevent a possible recession.
If you have 6 minutes, this is worth it
The man behind China’s propaganda machine
Hu Xijin presides over the Global Times, a Communist Party-controlled tabloid that some media scholars call China’s Fox News. Diplomats, investors and political pundits look to the nationalist provocateur for hints on what Beijing might be thinking.
But he was not always a model of party loyalty, demonstrating with protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Now he says he was misled by pro-democracy intellectuals.
Here’s what else is happening
Al Qaeda: Osama bin Laden’s son, who was seen as a potential future leader of the terrorist group, is dead, U.S. officials said. Hamza bin Laden, who repeatedly threatened to attack the U.S., was killed at some point in the past two years but other details, including where and how he died, are not yet known.
Taiwan: The Chinese government announced it would temporarily stop issuing travel permits to the self-governing island — a move that appeared intended to influence upcoming elections there.
New Zealand: Thousands of protesters are backing Indigenous groups who oppose a construction company’s plans to build homes on land that they consider sacred.
India’s “Coffee King”: V.G. Siddhartha, a tycoon who beat Starbucks to dominate India’s retail coffee industry but faced personal financial troubles, was found dead in a river on Wednesday, the police said.
Iran: Mohammad Ali Najafi, a former mayor of Tehran who once served as vice president of the country, was sentenced to death in the killing of his wife, state-run news outlets reported.
Dubai: Princess Haya, the estranged sixth wife of the ruler of Dubai who fled to the United Kingdom with their two children several months ago, asked a London court to protect her child from being forced into marriage.
Snapshot: Above, children and adults from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border playing on seesaws. Two architects inserted the seesaws through the steel slats of a fence along parts of the border, bridging the two countries for a brief moment over the weekend.
Prince Harry: The Duke of Sussex said he and his wife will have a maximum of two children for the sake of the planet, breaking with royal tradition.
What we’re listening to: The “Land of the Giants” podcast from Vox. Mike Isaac, a tech reporter, recommends its scrutiny of “the powerful technology companies that play a role in nearly every aspect of our daily lives, starting with a seven-part exploration of Amazon’s logistics and shipping empire.”
Now, a break from the news
Cook: Mucver (pronounced MOOSH-vair) are zucchini pancakes popular in Turkey. They deserve a delicious yogurt dipping sauce.
Listen: Chance the Rapper’s long-awaited new album, “The Big Day,” finds the artist reveling in the joy of married life. The album’s “most striking lyrical moment,” our critic writes, “is the most somber.”
Watch: The second season of “Derry Girls,” the wildly popular show on Netflix about life during Northern Ireland’s “Troubles” of the 1990s, which brings levity to a conflict zone.
Read: Yuval Noah Harari’s book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” is now available in Russian — but it is heavily censored, with mentions of the fighting in Ukraine and Crimea removed and criticism of the Russian government toned down or cut.
Smarter Living: If you’re a parent trying to prepare meals for the week, we can help make the task a little less daunting, by anticipating any hurdles, being a little selfish and scheduling some “non-cooking days.”
We also have some advice on how to repair your skin’s protective film of natural oils, amino acids and sweat, known as the acid mantle.
And now for the Back Story on …
A legendary cricket competition
The battle for the Ashes resumes today. It’s one of the oldest and most fiercely contested sporting honors in the world, and it began as a joke.
England lost at home to Australia for the first time in 1882, and a newspaper printed an obituary for English cricket, concluding: “The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” (Cremation was a big news topic in Britain that year.)
When England then toured Australia, promising to “return with the Ashes,” the captain was handed a tiny urn.
England and Australia have fought for the Ashes in 70 series since, usually every two years, with the countries alternating as hosts. With five games lasting up to five days each, it’s a spectacle that fills a summer.
Australia took the last series, 4-0, with one tie (yes, a five-day game can still end without a winner). But no matter who triumphsthis time, the urn will remain in a museum display case in London — it’s considered too fragile to wave around.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— Alisha
Thank you Remy Tumin helped compile today’s briefing. Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford wrote the break from the news. Peter Robins, an editor in our London newsroom, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at [email protected].
P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is a conversation with Senator Kamala Harris. • Here’s our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Doggie doctor (three letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • Adrienne Carter, a longtime Business editor at the Times, is leaving the section to become the paper’s Asia editor, based in Hong Kong.
Alisha Haridasani Gupta writes the Morning Briefing. @alisha__g
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Home » Analysis & Comment » Your Thursday Briefing
Your Thursday Briefing
Good morning.
We’re covering the latest twist in the Jeffrey Epstein story, a highly charged rape case in India and pink seesaws at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Breaking
The U.S placed sanctions on Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seeming to cut off a clear avenue for new talks with Iran.
The latest in the Epstein saga: a baby ranch
The wealthy financier, who was charged in July with the sexual trafficking of minors, told scientists and other acquaintances of his plans to seed the human race with his DNA by impregnating scores of women at his sprawling New Mexico ranch, according to an exclusive Times report.
Although there is no evidence it ever came to fruition, it reflected Jeffrey Epstein’s longstanding fasciation with transhumanism, a modern-day version of eugenics.
Mr. Epstein, who used his wealth to cultivate relationships with a wide range of business, political and scientific luminaries, also claimed to be bankrolling efforts to identify “a mysterious particle that might trigger the feeling that someone is watching you.”
How we know: The Times reviewed public documents and interviewed more than a dozen of his acquaintances, including two award-winning scientists and an adviser to wealthy individuals, who said he had told them about his vision.
What’s next: A federal judge set a tentative trial date for Mr. Epstein for mid-2020, in New York.
In India, a rape case turns into a political firestorm
A young woman who accused a prominent Indian politician of rape had received dozens of death threats against her and her family. This week, a truck smashed into her car head on, killing her two aunts and leaving her in critical condition.
Her family and women’s rights advocates say that the man accused of rape, Kuldeep Singh Sengar — a state-level politician and member of India’s governing party — is trying to kill his accuser, and that the crash was a deliberate attempt on her life.
The saga has become a test case for the abuse of power, prompting walkouts in Parliament and a homicide investigation.
Quotable: “This girl made 33 complaints in the past one year to authorities, but no action was taken against anybody,’’ said the head of the Delhi Commission for Women. “In our country, a girl is raped by a man once and then the entire system is raping her.”
Separately: Indian lawmakers approved a bill to end the Muslim practice in which men can divorce their wives instantly by saying “talaq,” the Arabic word for divorce, three times.
Round 2 of debates: Can Joe Biden up his game?
After other moderate candidates faltered last night in the first installment of the two-part debate, the hopes of jittery moderates now rest on the former vice president.
Mr. Biden spent much of the first debate in June defending his record on matters of race. Tonight, the spotlight will be focused on the dynamic between him and Senator Kamala Harris, his challenger in the last debate.
Last night: Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren formed an ideological tag team to defend their shared agenda, particularly on health care. Experts weighed in on who won the night.
The details: The debate starts at 8 p.m. Eastern. You can watch on CNN, CNN en Español, CNN International and streaming platforms. The Times will also have live coverage.
The Fed cuts rates
The Fed lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis, in a widely expected move intended to fend off a slowdown in the U.S. economy.
The quarter-point cut came as U.S.-China trade negotiations in Shanghai ended with no deal in sight, adding to fears about the ongoing trade war and the global economy.
Even as the U.S. economy reaches record expansion, persistently low inflation was a major factor behind the decision.
In Europe: Economic growth in the countries that use the euro slowed considerably in the second quarter, putting pressure on the European Central Bank to prevent a possible recession.
If you have 6 minutes, this is worth it
The man behind China’s propaganda machine
Hu Xijin presides over the Global Times, a Communist Party-controlled tabloid that some media scholars call China’s Fox News. Diplomats, investors and political pundits look to the nationalist provocateur for hints on what Beijing might be thinking.
But he was not always a model of party loyalty, demonstrating with protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Now he says he was misled by pro-democracy intellectuals.
Here’s what else is happening
Al Qaeda: Osama bin Laden’s son, who was seen as a potential future leader of the terrorist group, is dead, U.S. officials said. Hamza bin Laden, who repeatedly threatened to attack the U.S., was killed at some point in the past two years but other details, including where and how he died, are not yet known.
Taiwan: The Chinese government announced it would temporarily stop issuing travel permits to the self-governing island — a move that appeared intended to influence upcoming elections there.
New Zealand: Thousands of protesters are backing Indigenous groups who oppose a construction company’s plans to build homes on land that they consider sacred.
India’s “Coffee King”: V.G. Siddhartha, a tycoon who beat Starbucks to dominate India’s retail coffee industry but faced personal financial troubles, was found dead in a river on Wednesday, the police said.
Iran: Mohammad Ali Najafi, a former mayor of Tehran who once served as vice president of the country, was sentenced to death in the killing of his wife, state-run news outlets reported.
Dubai: Princess Haya, the estranged sixth wife of the ruler of Dubai who fled to the United Kingdom with their two children several months ago, asked a London court to protect her child from being forced into marriage.
Snapshot: Above, children and adults from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border playing on seesaws. Two architects inserted the seesaws through the steel slats of a fence along parts of the border, bridging the two countries for a brief moment over the weekend.
Prince Harry: The Duke of Sussex said he and his wife will have a maximum of two children for the sake of the planet, breaking with royal tradition.
What we’re listening to: The “Land of the Giants” podcast from Vox. Mike Isaac, a tech reporter, recommends its scrutiny of “the powerful technology companies that play a role in nearly every aspect of our daily lives, starting with a seven-part exploration of Amazon’s logistics and shipping empire.”
Now, a break from the news
Cook: Mucver (pronounced MOOSH-vair) are zucchini pancakes popular in Turkey. They deserve a delicious yogurt dipping sauce.
Listen: Chance the Rapper’s long-awaited new album, “The Big Day,” finds the artist reveling in the joy of married life. The album’s “most striking lyrical moment,” our critic writes, “is the most somber.”
Watch: The second season of “Derry Girls,” the wildly popular show on Netflix about life during Northern Ireland’s “Troubles” of the 1990s, which brings levity to a conflict zone.
Read: Yuval Noah Harari’s book “21 Lessons for the 21st Century” is now available in Russian — but it is heavily censored, with mentions of the fighting in Ukraine and Crimea removed and criticism of the Russian government toned down or cut.
Smarter Living: If you’re a parent trying to prepare meals for the week, we can help make the task a little less daunting, by anticipating any hurdles, being a little selfish and scheduling some “non-cooking days.”
We also have some advice on how to repair your skin’s protective film of natural oils, amino acids and sweat, known as the acid mantle.
And now for the Back Story on …
A legendary cricket competition
The battle for the Ashes resumes today. It’s one of the oldest and most fiercely contested sporting honors in the world, and it began as a joke.
England lost at home to Australia for the first time in 1882, and a newspaper printed an obituary for English cricket, concluding: “The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” (Cremation was a big news topic in Britain that year.)
When England then toured Australia, promising to “return with the Ashes,” the captain was handed a tiny urn.
England and Australia have fought for the Ashes in 70 series since, usually every two years, with the countries alternating as hosts. With five games lasting up to five days each, it’s a spectacle that fills a summer.
Australia took the last series, 4-0, with one tie (yes, a five-day game can still end without a winner). But no matter who triumphs this time, the urn will remain in a museum display case in London — it’s considered too fragile to wave around.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— Alisha
Thank you
Remy Tumin helped compile today’s briefing. Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford wrote the break from the news. Peter Robins, an editor in our London newsroom, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at [email protected].
P.S.
• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is a conversation with Senator Kamala Harris.
• Here’s our Mini Crossword, and a clue: Doggie doctor (three letters). You can find all our puzzles here.
• Adrienne Carter, a longtime Business editor at the Times, is leaving the section to become the paper’s Asia editor, based in Hong Kong.
Alisha Haridasani Gupta writes the Morning Briefing. @alisha__g
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