France, Yemen, Farout
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[The New York Times](
[The New York Times](
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
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Europe Edition
[Your Tuesday Briefing](
By ALISHA HARIDASANI GUPTA
Good morning.
A new direction for President Macron, striking details about Russiaâs meddling effort and an unseen front in Yemenâs civil war. Hereâs the latest:
[The Russian disinformation effort utilized Facebook as well as other social media platforms.]The Russian disinformation effort utilized Facebook as well as other social media platforms.
Jon Elswick/Associated Press
Among Russiaâs 2016 targets: African Americans
A deeper look at Russiaâs extraordinary social media influence campaign during the 2016 presidential election revealed efforts to target African Americans and suppress Democratic voter turnout, according to [two new reports commissioned by the Senate](.
The reports also showed that Russia utilized every digital surface available, including Instagram where its efforts were as effective or more effective than activity on Facebook.
Why it matters: The sweeping reports add new color to the known outlines of Russiaâs disinformation campaign, confirming earlier findings that it was designed to boost then-candidate Donald Trump and widen fissures in American society.
Go deeper: The 2016 effort could be âthe Pearl Harbor of the social media age,â [our columnist writes]( ushering in âa new era of perpetual conflict.â Indeed, Russian interference has not stopped, and other countries, including Iran and China, have demonstrated similar capabilities.
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[U.S. markets don't seem to be heading toward an uplifting end to 2018.]U.S. markets don't seem to be heading toward an uplifting end to 2018.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
U.S. markets hit a new low.
The S&P 500 [sank to its lowest level of the year]( as investors anticipated a Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.
The benchmark index has now lost almost 5 percent for the year and if it doesnât rebound by the end of year, the losses could represent Wall Streetâs worst year since the 2008 financial crisis. Other indexes were also sharply down.
âEvery part of the market has been acting like things are a lot slower,â one expert said.
More U.S. business news: CBS announced that its former chief executive, [Les Moonves]( who was forced out in September after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, will not receive his $120 million exit payout.
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[Yellow Vest protesters near Hénin-Beaumont on Saturday. ]Yellow Vest protesters near Hénin-Beaumont on Saturday.
Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York Times
President Macronâs new reality
Less than two weeks ago, Franceâs president was faced with the fury and frustrations of the âYellow Vestsâ protests, a crisis that threatened his survival in office.
Though the movement has already started to simmer down â after a terror attack in Strasbourg and promises of quick economic relief â the âYellow Vestsâ may have [altered the direction of Mr. Macronâs presidency](.
Mr. Macron has been forced to backtrack on some tax increases and rethink upcoming changes to pensions and unemployment laws, which could steer him away from his promise to revolutionize Franceâs economy.
Another angle: The anti-government protests have been mostly concentrated in the glitziest neighborhoods of Paris, damaging the cityâs landmarks, setting cars on fire and smashing store fronts. That has hit hard the [luxury goods industry]( â Franceâ top export â during its most important time of year.
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[The "Al Amira", a fishing boat with at least 25 visible bullet holes now stranded in the seaside village of Kudah, just outside Khokha.]The "Al Amira," a fishing boat with at least 25 visible bullet holes now stranded in the seaside village of Kudah, just outside Khokha.
Tyler Hicks/The New York Times
In Yemen, fishermen come under fire too
Most of the criticism of the Yemen war is focused on airstrikes, carried out by the Saudi-led coalition, which have targeted weddings, funerals and a school bus.
But our reporter found that the conflict is also [unfolding at sea](. In August and September, at least six Yemeni fishing boats were attacked by warships, helicopters and a fighter jet, killing 50 civilians.
Though both warring sides have carried out maritime attacks, experts said there was little doubt that the Saudi-led coalition was responsible for the violence against fishermen.
Speaking of Saudi Arabia: In an unusually strong statement, the kingdom [lashed out]( at the U.S. Senate for holding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the death of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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Hereâs what else is happening
Trumpâs conflicts of interest: The president still owns and profits from properties in the U.S. and around the world, which two lawsuits claim [violates the Constitution](.
Brexit: Prime Minister Theresa May insisted there wouldnât be a second referendum on Britainâs withdrawal from the E.U., saying it would âbreak faith with the British people.â But [her options]( seem to be dwindling.
[Mourners gathered before the burial of slain marchers. The unraveling security situation has rattled citizens across the country.]Mourners gathered before the burial of slain marchers in Nigeria.Â
Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters
Nigeria: The countryâs officials said its soldiers acted in self-defense when they fatally shot protesters in the capital city of Abuja in October. Our close [examination of video footage and interviews]( witnesses shows the soldiers opening fire on unarmed demonstrators, sometimes shooting indiscriminately.
Hungary: At least [four lawmakers were assaulted]( after they visited the headquarter of the state news media in Budapest. The politicians were there to request an end to wall-to-wall coverage of the far-right prime minister, Viktor Orban. The episode came after almost a week of protests against the governmentâs increasingly authoritarian turn.
Poland: The president, who dismissed several Supreme Court judges as part of his effort to overhaul the judicial system, signed a law that would reinstate them, after [condemnation from the E.U](.
Still no chairman: Nissanâs board met but [did not name a replacement]( for Carlos Ghosn, who was charged with underreporting his compensation. âWe shouldnât hurry,â the automakerâs chief executive said of picking a replacement.
Goldman Sachs charged: Malaysia filed [criminal charges]( against three subsidiaries of the Wall Street giant for its role in a vast multibillion-dollar investment fraud involving the state investment fund known as 1MDB.
Call me, maybe?: The estranged father of Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, called on Queen Elizabeth to help mend his relationship with his daughter. In a television interview, he further appealed to his daughter to [respond to his text]( messages.
World War I restored: The director Peter Jackson applied new colorization technology to bring century-old footage of World War I to life in the new documentary, [âThey Shall Not Grow Old.â](
Farout: Thatâs the nickname for [a]( object]( found circling the sun. How far out is it? More than three times farther than Pluto.
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Smarter Living
Tips for a more fulfilling life.
Julia Gartland for The New York Times
Recipe of the day: Dinner can be ready in 10 minutes with [hot honey shrimp](. (Sign up for the[Five Weeknight Dishes]( newsletter for more recipe recommendations.)
Stop procrastinating and [write that nonfiction book.](
Want to know what your petâs doing while youâre away? [Here are the best spycams](.
Back Story
Today, Keith Richards turns 75.
There are many who consider this achievement nothing short of a miracle. His career has been littered with one near-death experience after the other.
Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In 1965, he was electrocuted onstage in Sacramento. He recalled lying in the hospital and [overhearing a doctor saying]( âWell, they either wake up or they donât.â
While in the throes of a heroin addiction in the 1970s, he barely escaped several house fires. He fell asleep at the wheel. He popped in and out of jail on drug possession charges.
In 2006, he fell out of a palm tree in Fiji, fracturing his skull. Two years later, he taunted death once more, snorting his dead fatherâs ashes. âAshes to ashes, father to son,â he wrote in his memoir.
But Richards appears to have mellowed out: Last week he said he has [mostly stopped drinking alcohol](. âIt was time to quit,â he sad. âJust like all the other stuff.â
Hereâs to the next 75.
Andrew Chow, from our Culture Desk, wrote todayâs Back Story.
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