Your Tuesday Briefing

> New Zealand, U.S. coronavirus deaths, Kim Jong-un: Here’s what you need to know. ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ3JmxheW91dD1tYXJxdWVlJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1NQkFFXzIwMjAwNDI4JmxpPU1CQUVXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0SyaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0SyaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy9icmllZmluZy9uZXctemVhbGFuZC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy11cy1raW0tam9uZy11bi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfZGtfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Tuesday, April 28, 2020 | [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy9icmllZmluZy9uZXctemVhbGFuZC1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy11cy1raW0tam9uZy11bi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) Supported by Good morning. We’re covering a cautious reopening in New Zealand, a grim U.S. milestone and South Korea’s intelligence about Kim Jong-un. By Carole Landry Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand briefing reporters in Wellington on Monday. Pool photo by Mark Mitchell Cautiously, New Zealand edges toward normalcy Some shops, restaurants and construction sites [are reopening in New Zealand today](~/AAAAAQA~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~), five weeks after the government imposed strict measures to beat back the spread of the coronavirus. The number of infections in the country has dropped below 300. On Monday, only one new case was reported. Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand’s director general of health, said transmission of the virus had been “eliminated” because officials were in the position to test and trace any new outbreak. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that social-distancing rules remained in place. “We’re opening up our economy, but we’re not opening up people’s social lives,” she said. Analysis: New Zealand and Australia have succeeded in flattening the curve and are [on track to eliminate the virus](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNC93b3JsZC9hdXN0cmFsaWEvbmV3LXplYWxhbmQtY29yb25hdmlydXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), in part because of early action and a nonpartisan reliance on science. The public also complied when the information flowing from officials at every level was largely consistent. Related: In Europe, there were also steps toward normalization. Face masks became mandatory on public transport and in most shops [across Germany](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1uZXdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyNsaW5rLTNkZWMzOTIxVwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) on Monday as the country gradually reopens. Switzerland allowed a limited number of businesses to re-start. A funeral home employee in Queens, N.Y.  Bryan R Smith/Reuters U.S. virus death toll reaches 50,000 The United States has, by far, the world’s largest Covid-19 outbreak, with more than 973,000 cases. On Monday, [the death toll reached 50,000](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QWAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvdXMvY29yb25hdmlydXMtbGl2ZS5odG1sP2FjdGlvbj1jbGljayZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZtb2R1bGU9U3BvdGxpZ2h0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcGd0eXBlPUhvbWVwYWdlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), according to data compiled by The Times. Yet a few states — including Colorado, Minnesota and Mississippi — are [beginning to restart their economies](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNi91cy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1yZW9wZW4tc3RhdGVzLS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3Mmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). Even New York State, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, will allow some “low-risk” businesses like construction and manufacturing [to reopen after May 15](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNi9ueXJlZ2lvbi9uZXcteW9yay1jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1yZW9wZW5pbmcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). The pandemic has now killed more than 200,000 people worldwide and has sickened more than 2.9 million. We have [the latest updates](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1uZXdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) on the pandemic, as well as [maps](~/AAAAAQA~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-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) of its spread. ■ Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain [returned to work](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWJyaXRhaW4tYm9yaXMtam9obnNvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3Mmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) on Monday and said the country was “beginning to turn the tide,” but he gave no indication over when and how its lockdown would be lifted. ■ [Oil prices plunged](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4RmAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvYnVzaW5lc3Mvc3RvY2stbWFya2V0LXRvZGF5LWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmh0bWw_YWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3JmluZGV4PTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbGFiZWw9bWFya2V0cyZtb2R1bGU9U3BvdGxpZ2h0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcGd0eXBlPUhvbWVwYWdlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ0eXBlPXN0eWxuLWxpdmUtdXBkYXRlcyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3I2xpbmstNzg4NDRhNzFXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) again on Monday, with the American benchmark hurtling toward $10 a barrel, amid fears of a global glut in crude. [U.S. stocks rose](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4RmAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvYnVzaW5lc3Mvc3RvY2stbWFya2V0LXRvZGF5LWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmh0bWw_YWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrJmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3JmluZGV4PTAmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbGFiZWw9bWFya2V0cyZtb2R1bGU9U3BvdGxpZ2h0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcGd0eXBlPUhvbWVwYWdlJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ0eXBlPXN0eWxuLWxpdmUtdXBkYXRlcyZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3I2xpbmstNzg4NDRhNzFXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and global markets rallied as governments around the world discussed how to reopen businesses and get their economies back on track. ■ Afghanistan [will release 12,000 prisoners](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1uZXdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyNsaW5rLTNkZWMzOTIxVwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), in addition to the 10,000 already being freed, as the pandemic spreads across the country and prisons remain overcrowded. ■ Health care workers, stigmatized as vectors of contagion because of their work, have [been assaulted and abused](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy9oZWFsdGgtd29ya2Vycy1hdHRhY2tlZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3Mmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) in several countries. In the Philippines, attackers doused a nurse with bleach, blinding him. ■ Scientists at the Jenner Institute at Oxford University are planning to schedule tests of [a new coronavirus vaccine](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXZhY2NpbmUtdXBkYXRlLW94Zm9yZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3Mmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) involving more than 6,000 people by the end of May, leaping ahead in the worldwide race for a vaccine to stop the virus. The Times is providing [free access to much of our coronavirus coverage](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3cy1ldmVudC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj10b3BOZXdzJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), and our [Coronavirus Briefing newsletter](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvY29yb25hdmlydXMtYnJpZWZpbmc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) — like all of our newsletters — is free. Please consider [supporting our journalism with a subscription](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uP2NhbXBhaWduSWQ9OTdGTFUmY2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249dG9wTmV3cyZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Kim Jong-un inspecting a military drill, in a photo released in March by North Korea’s state-run news media. Korean Central News Agency, via Associated Press South Korea says reports of Kim Jong-un illness are untrue The South Korean official responsible for the country’s policy on the North [rejected rumors](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNi93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2tpbS1qb25nLXVuLWhlYWx0aC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXRvcE5ld3Mmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) that the regime’s leader is gravely ill. “Our government has enough information-gathering capabilities to say confidently that there is nothing unusual” about Mr. Kim’s health, said Kim Yeon-chul, the South Korean unification minister. The minister said the government’s National Security Council had carefully assessed a complex range of sources before making its determination. He did not go into details, citing the sensitivity of intelligence work. Context: It is unusual for South Korean officials to publicly dispute news media reports about the North. Normally, officials neither confirm nor deny such information. Recent reports had suggested that Mr. Kim was seriously ill or had become “brain-dead” after botched heart surgery. The North Korean leader last appeared in public on April 11. If you have 6 minutes, this is worth it A game whose score didn’t matter Sopan Deb and his father, Shyamal Kanti Deb, playing tennis in Kolkata. Sopan Deb, a Times writer, grew up in the U.S. with a love of sports that wasn’t shared by his father, an immigrant from India. Sopan writes: “Like many South Asian parents of his generation living in the United States, his focus was on survival and trying to get to the next day. On behalf of their children, it was on professional and scholastic pursuits. Anything else was a distraction.” Their relationship faded, and his father returned to India. But 30 years later, [they found common ground on a tennis court](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvc3BvcnRzL3Rlbm5pcy90ZW5uaXMtaW1taWdyYW50LWluZGlhLXBhcmVudGluZy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWxvbmdSZWFkJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in Kolkata. PAID POST: A MESSAGE FROM CAMPAIGN MONITOR TEST: Email Marketing 101: Never Sacrifice Beauty for Simplicity A drag-and-drop email builder, a gallery of templates and turnkey designs, personalized customer journeys, and engagement segments. It's everything you need to create stunning, results-driven email campaigns in minutes. And with Campaign Monitor, you have access to it all, along with award-winning support around the clock. It's beautiful email marketing done simply. [Learn More](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QoAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNhbXBhaWdubW9uaXRvci5jb20vZW1haWwtbWFya2V0aW5nLXNvZnR3YXJlLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPTA0MDIxOSZ1dG1fY29udGVudD1uYXRpdmUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1kaXNwbGF5JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9bnl0VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Here’s what else is happening Iran nuclear deal: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is preparing a legal argument that the U.S. [remains a participant in the Iran nuclear accord](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjYvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC91cy1pcmFuLW51Y2xlYXItZGVhbC1wb21wZW8uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj13aGF0RWxzZSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) that President Trump has renounced. The move is meant to pressure the United Nations Security Council to extend an arms embargo or reimpose international sanctions on Iran. Stalin-era mass graves: A Russian amateur historian [who discovered mass graves of Stalin’s victims](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjcvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3J1c3NpYS1oaXN0b3JpYW4tc3RhbGluLW1hc3MtZ3JhdmVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249d2hhdEVsc2Umc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) in a forest in Karelia was jailed on what his supporters dismiss as fabricated charges of pedophilia. His work has highlighted the suffering inflicted on Russia by its own rulers. Benjamin Lowy Snapshot: Above, [Easter Island](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy90cmF2ZWwvZWFzdGVyLWlzbGFuZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), where around 1,000 monolithic statues dot the landscape. The beauty of the island, which is some 2,200 miles off the coast of Chile, is the latest in our series “The World Through a Lens,” in which photojournalists transport you virtually. Sympathy cards: Next to shelves full of birthday cards at U.S. stores, [sympathy cards for the loss of a loved one](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy9idXNpbmVzcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy1zeW1wYXRoeS1jYXJkcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) are nearly sold out. Even online, sales are at record levels, suppliers say. What we’re reading: [This essay in The Paris Review](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlcGFyaXNyZXZpZXcub3JnL2Jsb2cvMjAyMC8wNC8yNy93aGF0LXJvdXNzZWF1LWtuZXctYWJvdXQtc29saXR1ZGUvP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPXdoYXRFbHNlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) about solitude and writing. “Toward the end of his life, Jean-Jacques Rousseau sought to absent himself from society,” writes Kathleen Flynn, an editor on our Upshot team. “Gavin McCrea, one of my favorite novelists, looks at how this experiment went wrong, and yet succeeded magnificently.” ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzUyJmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMDA0MjhXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NDE1NzM1JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMDA0MjhXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NTQ2ODA1JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMDA0MjhXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA Now, a break from the news Melissa Clark Cook: It’s the combination of herbs, chile, lime juice and fish sauce that [make the Thai dish larb so appealing](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNy9kaW5pbmcvcG9yay1sYXJiLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). You can use chopped-up mushrooms, vegan meat or even chopped fish fillets in place of ground meat. Watch: If you’ve finished “Unorthodox” and are looking for a new show, our television critic [Margaret Lyons has ideas](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8wOC9hcnRzL3RlbGV2aXNpb24vdGhlLWxlZnRvdmVycy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). We’ve also ranked [the best movies on Netflix right now](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjAvYXJ0cy90ZWxldmlzaW9uL2Jlc3QtbW92aWVzLW9uLW5ldGZsaXguaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWsmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA). (Speaking of which, it can be confusing to figure out which streaming service you really want. [We’re on the case](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNC9tb3ZpZXMvc3RyZWFtaW5nLXZvZC1ndWlkZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~).) Cope: Take a virtual [walk down Park Avenue in New York City with Michael Kimmelman](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjIvYXJ0cy9kZXNpZ24vbnljLXNreXNjcmFwZXJzLXZpcnR1YWwtdG91ci12aXJ1cy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), our architecture critic. Then [make a posy](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8yNC90LW1hZ2F6aW5lL3Bvc2llcy1wbGFndWUtcGFuZGVtaWMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1hQnJlYWsmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), because flowers are beautiful and bring joy. (To start at the beginning of the process, here’s [how to build a garden bed](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjQvcmVhbGVzdGF0ZS90aGUtZWFzaWVyLXdheS10by1tYWtlLWEtZ2FyZGVuLWJlZC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWFCcmVhayZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~).) [At Home has our full collection of ideas](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L2F0LWhvbWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YUJyZWFrJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) on what to read, cook, watch, and do while staying safe at home. And now for the Back Story on … How social distancing became the strategy Until a vaccine or some other treatment is found, maintaining distance between people is among the best tools to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The idea is quite literally medieval, but the modern form owes a lot to former U.S. President George W. Bush, some dedicated researchers and a 14-year-old girl’s science project. We spoke with Eric Lipton, our investigative reporter, who wrote about [how the policy on social distancing](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjIvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvc29jaWFsLWRpc3RhbmNpbmctY29yb25hdmlydXMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1iYWNrU3Rvcnkmc2VnbWVudF9pZD0yNjA4OSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKACwuSKde-b6fOFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) came about in the U.S. Former President George W. Bush led efforts to prepare the U.S. response to pandemics. Jason Reed/Reuters What was the genesis of this story? I worked on an earlier article about [the failures of the Trump administration’s response](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMC8wNC8xMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy10cnVtcC1yZXNwb25zZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfTUJBRV9wXzIwMjAwNDI3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTE3OTg3Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWN0aW9uPWJhY2tTdG9yeSZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTI2MDg5JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgoALC5Ip175vp84Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). And I was communicating with a bunch of the scientists raising early alarms on what we know as [the Red Dawn emails](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMTEvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvY29yb25hdmlydXMtcmVkLWRhd24tZW1haWxzLXRydW1wLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YmFja1N0b3J5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). In the process of getting to know some of them, I learned about the Bush administration’s urgent focus on the probability of a pandemic. What were the lessons from the 1918 flu? Different teams of researchers compared the toll in St. Louis — which moved relatively quickly to close schools, churches, theaters, saloons, sporting events and other public gathering spots — to the toll in Philadelphia. That city went ahead in September 1918 with a long-planned parade to promote war bonds that drew hundreds of thousands of spectators. The difference showed in the death tolls. “Timing matters,” said one researcher. How did a 14-year-old girl’s science project play into this history? She was fascinated by social networks and how they worked. And her dad was this super-advanced scientist in New Mexico. She did a class project in which she built a computer model of social networks at her Albuquerque high school. Her dad piggybacked on her work and together they looked at what effect breaking up school networks would have on knocking down a contagious disease. The outcome was startling. By closing the schools in a hypothetical town of 10,000 people, only 500 people got sick. If they remained open, half of the population would be infected. A correction: [Monday’s briefing](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4QNAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjAvMDQvMjYvYnJpZWZpbmcvd3VoYW4tY29yb25hdmlydXMta2ltLWpvbmctdW4ta2FzaG1pci1yYW1hZGFuLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9NQkFFX3BfMjAyMDA0MjcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTc5ODcmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlY3Rpb249YmFja1N0b3J5JnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) misspelled the surname of a Times photo editor. He is Mikko Takkunen, not Takkunnen. That’s it for this briefing. See you next time. — Carole Thank you To Melissa Clark for the recipe, and to Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the rest of the break from the news. Andrea Kannapell, our Briefings editor, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing+pm@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_MBAE_p_20200427§ion=endNote). 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[You can find all of our puzzles here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP0TPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1lbmROb3RlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). • The Times and Verizon are giving every high school in the U.S. [free access to Times journalism](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgic0uP4Q9AWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGNvLmNvbS9wcmVzcy90aGUtbmV3LXlvcmstdGltZXMtY29tcGFueS1hbmQtdmVyaXpvbi1hcmUtb2ZmZXJpbmctMTQtbWlsbGlvbi1oaWdoLXNjaG9vbC1zdHVkZW50cy1mcmVlLWFjY2Vzcy10by10aW1lcy1qb3VybmFsaXNtLz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X01CQUVfcF8yMDIwMDQyNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xNzk4NyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VjdGlvbj1lbmROb3RlJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MjYwODkmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCgAsLkinXvm-nzhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) through July 6. 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