Friday Briefing: India’s election begins

Also, new Western sanctions on Iran, and China’s sinking cities. 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We’re covering India’s momentous elections and a new wave of sanctions against Iran. Plus China’s sinking cities. [a boat on a river filled with people. people are walking on shore carrying large white and blue boxes. ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2luZGlhLTIwMjQtZWxlY3Rpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) These Indian polling officials took a boat to a remote polling location.  Reuters The world’s biggest election begins Voting begins today in a multistage election in India in which hundreds of millions of people will cast ballots. The election will determine whether their country’s powerful prime minister, Narendra Modi, will stay in office for a third term. The vote is seen as a referendum on Modi’s economic record and his increasingly centralized and Hindu-first vision of India. The elections run through June 1, [and results are expected on June 4](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2luZGlhLTIwMjQtZWxlY3Rpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). For insight, I spoke to my colleague Mujib Mashal, the South Asia bureau chief. How likely is a victory for Modi? Modi and his coalition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, have a huge, solid majority. And despite an anti-incumbency ethos in Indian elections, Modi is different — his personal appeal is huge. He’s very popular. And he basically rules as one man, without having to go through regular parliamentary discussions and debates. So the question around this election is: He’s most likely going to win, but will he win the same solid margin that he had, or will it be reduced or he can even be forced into a coalition government? However, there can always be a surprise element in Indian elections. That’s particularly true because Modi has such tight control of the media and information that you may never get an exact sense of what could be percolating on the ground. What is Modi’s pitch? He argues that his 10 years in office have helped India’s stature on the global stage. He says that India is rising as an economic and diplomatic power, and that he’s helping to inject some ambition into the country. And a lot of people say that Modi’s 10 years have brought some stability to the country. But there’s a contradiction in India’s rise. While it’s growing as an economic and diplomatic power, it’s a very unequal growth. The economy is not creating enough jobs for its huge youth population and hundreds of millions of people are still at the mercy of government rations. A lot of his pitch remains along religious lines. He mixes economic and development appeal with a strong Hindu nationalist, Hindu-first appeal. How so? Modi wants India as a developed country. He also wants it to develop according to a Hindu nationalist, a Hindu majoritarian vision. The two things come together in him. At Modi’s campaign events, after talking about his development projects and what he’s given the poor, he makes sure to remind of his Hindu nationalist ideology front and center. He brings it all together in this one simple narrative: He is helping India rise. For him, there’s no contradiction to talk about India’s rise, and, in the same breath, about restoring Hindu pride. How are people feeling about this election? The pride in voting is great — people celebrate the process, which the turnout makes clear. But, increasingly, there’s also this sense that voting itself is overemphasized, and that democracy is not just about voting. It’s also what happens when a kind of strongman like Modi uses his popularity to reshape that democracy between the votes. So some wonder if voting is enough to sustain a democratic tradition when strongman leaders have other designs in mind. [A line of soldiers facing a flatbed truck with drones on it.](~/AAAAAQA~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~) Drones during a military parade in Tehran this week. Vahid Salemi/Associated Press New Western sanctions on Iran The U.S. and Britain [imposed new sanctions on Iranian military leaders](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4RQAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wNC8xOC93b3JsZC9pcmFuLWlzcmFlbC1nYXphLXdhci1uZXdzL25ldy11cy1zYW5jdGlvbnMtdGFyZ2V0LWlyYW5zLWRyb25lLW1hbnVmYWN0dXJlcnMtYW5kLXN0ZWVsLWluZHVzdHJ5P2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnNtaWQ9dXJsLXNoYXJlJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) and weapons manufacturers to punish Tehran for its missile and drone attack on Israel last weekend. The president of the European Council also announced that new E.U. sanctions would be imposed on Iran’s drone and missile programs. The U.S. and European allies have been looking for ways to punish Iran while urging Israel not to retaliate in a manner that could inflame a wider Middle East conflict. Israel’s miscalculation: Officials said they didn’t see a strike on the Iranian target in Syria as a provocation, and did not give Washington a heads-up about it [until right before it happened](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTcvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pcmFuLWlzcmFlbC1hdHRhY2suaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). [Former President Donald J. Trump in a courtroom.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvbnlyZWdpb24vdHJ1bXAtdHJpYWwtanVyb3ItaW5mb3JtYXRpb24tanVkZ2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal. Pool photo by Brendan Mcdermid A jury of 12 was seated in Trump’s criminal trial Twelve [jurors were selected](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QhAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wNC8xOC9ueXJlZ2lvbi90cnVtcC1odXNoLW1vbmV5LXRyaWFsL3RydW1wLXRyaWFsLXRoaXJkLWRheT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZzbWlkPXVybC1zaGFyZSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) for Donald Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan. Seven new jurors were added yesterday, hours after two others were abruptly excused. Jury selection will continue so that alternates can be chosen. The judge had said he wanted as many as six alternates. The alternates will sub in for the 12 jurors if they fall ill or are otherwise unable to continue at some point during the six-week trial. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzUyJmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyNDA0MTgmdGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MThXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) MORE TOP NEWS [Figures carrying damaged items in a muddy courtyard.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9hZmdoYW5pc3Rhbi1wYWtpc3Rhbi1yYWluLWZsb29kaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) A damaged house after a flash flood in Afghanistan this week. Hedayatshah Hedayat/Reuters - Extreme weather: Rainstorms have [killed more than 130 people](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9hZmdoYW5pc3Rhbi1wYWtpc3Rhbi1yYWluLWZsb29kaW5nLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More heavy rains are expected next week. - Global health: Nearly 1.5 million girls in Africa will miss the chance to be vaccinated against HPV because of a problem with the drugmaker Merck’s [dose production](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC9oZWFsdGgvaHB2LXZhY2NpbmUtYWZyaWNhLW1lcmNrLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). - Trade: Cheap exports from China are threatening President Biden’s trillion-dollar effort to [invigorate manufacturing](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvY2hpbmEtZXhwb3J0cy1iaWRlbi1pbmR1c3RyaWFsLWFnZW5kYS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) and speed a transition to cleaner energy sources. - U.S. elections: Members of the Kennedy family [endorsed President Biden yesterday](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9iaWRlbi1rZW5uZWR5cy1yZmstanIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), rejecting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as he worries Democrats with an independent bid. - ByteDance: Sealed court records show that a Republican megadonor’s firm played [an unexpectedly big role](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvYnVzaW5lc3MvdGlrdG9rLWJ5dGVkYW5jZS1qZWZmLXlhc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) in the birth of TikTok’s parent company. - Southern Africa: An estimated 20 million people are facing what the U.N. calls “acute hunger” during [one of the worst droughts in four decades](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC9jbGltYXRlL2Ryb3VnaHQtc291dGhlcm4tYWZyaWNhLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). - Tajikistan: Experts say that [half of the recruits in ISIS-K](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QFAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3RhamlraXN0YW4taXNpcy1rLXRlcnJvcmlzbS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~), an Islamic State affiliate, are believed to have come from the Central Asian country. Here’s [why it’s a recruiting ground](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvaXNpcy1rLXRhamlraXN0YW4uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). - Germany: Two dual citizens of Russia and Germany have been arrested on suspicion of being part of a plot [to sabotage aid to Ukraine](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2dlcm1hbnktcnVzc2lhLXNweWluZy1hcnJlc3RzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) by trying to blow up military infrastructure. - Australia: The police [made an arrest](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvYXVzdHJhbGlhL3N5ZG5leS1jb2NhaW5lLWJlYWNoZXMtYXJyZXN0Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) after packages of cocaine washed ashore near Sydney for months. - Royals: Prince Harry officially became a [U.S. resident](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3ByaW5jZS1oYXJyeS11cy1yZXNpZGVuY2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). MORNING READ [a photo of many people in a classroom, all with the same turquoise-colored outfit. many of the women are wearing white hijabs. four are identified, with white text on the screen with “cousin killed” “lost three friends” “lost 27 family members” “killed along with her family.”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QPAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9nYXphLXVuaXZlcnNpdHktY2xhc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) The New York Times A group of graduates in Gaza finished training at a university dentistry program just one week before the war began. Instead of starting new jobs, they found themselves plunged into endless days of burying the dead and fearing for the living. My colleagues reached out to them to see [what their lives look like now](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QPAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9nYXphLXVuaXZlcnNpdHktY2xhc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). CONVERSATION STARTERS - How to begin a creative life: We spoke to 150 artists to ask [about the process of starting something](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QQAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvdC1tYWdhemluZS9tdXNpYy1hcnQtZmFzaGlvbi1iZWdpbm5pbmdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). - Boy rooms: Male 20-somethings are [showing their messy apartments](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xNy9zdHlsZS9ib3ktcm9vbS1yYWNoZWwtY29zdGVyLW55Yy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) in a video series that poses the implicit question, “You live like this?” - Venice Biennale: One of the world’s premier art shows opens tomorrow. We had [a backstage look](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYXJ0aWNsZS92ZW5pY2UtYmllbm5hbGUtMjAyNC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) before it begins. We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. [Subscribe to The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ4JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyNDA0MTgmdGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MThXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) CLIMATE [A person in a red suit and hat stands in a trench in an empty lot with skyscrapers in the background. ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC9jbGltYXRlL2NoaW5hLXNpbmtpbmctc2VhLWxldmVsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) In 100 years, a quarter of China’s urban coastal land could sit below sea level, the study found. Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times China’s sinking cities Nearly [half of China’s major cities are losing elevation](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC9jbGltYXRlL2NoaW5hLXNpbmtpbmctc2VhLWxldmVsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), a new study found. Beijing is among the places that are sinking the fastest. Researchers said a major culprit was the sheer weight of buildings and infrastructure. Others include the pumping of water from aquifers underneath the cities, as well as oil drilling and coal mining. These activities leave space underground where soil and rocks can compact or collapse. RECOMMENDATIONS [roast skin-on chicken, peas and carrots, shot from above](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QUAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzEwMjUyOTItc2hlZXQtcGFuLWhlcmJ5LXJvYXN0LWNoaWNrZW4td2l0aC1wZWFzLWFuZC1jYXJyb3RzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Roast: Use a bag of frozen peas and carrots for this affordable [sheet-pan chicken dinner](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QUAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzEwMjUyOTItc2hlZXQtcGFuLWhlcmJ5LXJvYXN0LWNoaWNrZW4td2l0aC1wZWFzLWFuZC1jYXJyb3RzP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). Travel: Yoshida, in Japan, is known for its steel. Now, tourists can [come to help produce it](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wNC8xOC90cmF2ZWwveW9zaGlkYS1qYXBhbi1zdGVlbC1mdXJuYWNlLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Read: Marjane Satrapi, the author of the graphic novel “Persepolis,” is publishing a new illustrated book about [Iran’s recent protests](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP4QmAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDQvMTgvYm9va3MvbWFyamFuZS1zYXRyYXBpLW9uLXJlc2lzdGFuY2UtaW4taXJhbi1hLXJlYWwtcmV2b2x1dGlvbi1pcy1jdWx0dXJhbC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDQxOCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMjA1Mjcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTY0MTU2JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgpmICGKIWYT92eXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). Play [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), the [Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), [Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) and [Sudoku](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zdWRva3UvZWFzeT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDA0MTgmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTIwNTI3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2NDE1NiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZiAhiiFmE_dnl1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). Find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRoBA8hP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwNDE4Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEyMDUyNyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjQxNTYmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmYgIYohZhP3Z5dSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). That’s it for this week. I’ll see you on Monday. — Amelia We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) Need help? 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