Tough questions for Gen. Milley. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~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)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee)
~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ3JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMTA5MjlXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA [Morning Briefing, Asia Pacific Edition](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VyaWVzL2FzaWEtYXVzdHJhbGlhLW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) September 29, 2021 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvbWVsaW5hLWRlbGtpYz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) By [Melina Delkic](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvbWVsaW5hLWRlbGtpYz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) Writer, Briefings Good morning. Weâre covering Gen. Mark Milleyâs testimony and Japanâs unpredictable party leadership race. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testifying at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times Top U.S. general faces tough questions in Congress Gen. Mark Milley, the most senior U.S. military commander, [defended his actions in the final months of the Trump administration](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMS8wOS8yOC91cy9zZW5hdGUtaGVhcmluZz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3I21pbGxleS10cnVtcC1jaGluYS1wZWxvc2lXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) and warned of the âvery real possibilityâ that Al Qaeda and ISIS could rebuild in Afghanistan, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops. In testimony to lawmakers on Tuesday, Milley insisted that calls he made to his Chinese counterpart last year and a meeting in which he told U.S. generals to alert him if the president tried to launch a nuclear weapon were all part of his job as the countryâs most senior military officer. Top military officers acknowledged publicly for the first time that they had [advised President Biden not to withdraw all U.S. troops](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjgvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvbWlsbGV5LWF1c3Rpbi1hZmdoYW5pc3Rhbi13YXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) from Afghanistan. They said the collapse of the Afghan army took commanders by surprise. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that a reconstituted Al Qaeda or ISIS in Afghanistan âwith aspirations to attack the United States [is a very real possibility.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyMS8wOS8yOC91cy9zZW5hdGUtaGVhcmluZz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3I2lzaXMtYWwtcWFlZGEtYWZnaGFuaXN0YW5XA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA)â He added, âAnd those conditions, to include activity in ungoverned spaces, could present themselves in the next 12 to 36 months.â Drone strike: After a Times investigation found that a U.S. drone strike in Kabul on Aug. 29 killed 10 civilians, senators got a chance to ask top military officials directly [what went wrong](~/AAAAAQA~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~~). Taro Kono, Japan's Covid vaccine minister, announced his candidacy for the election in Tokyo earlier this month.Issei Kato/Reuters Who will be Japanâs next prime minister? Polls show that [the Japanese public favors Taro Kono](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjgvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9qYXBhbi10YXJvLWtvbm8tcHJpbWUtbWluaXN0ZXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), the cabinet minister who oversees Japanâs coronavirus vaccine rollout, to be the next prime minister. He is ahead of other candidates in the race to lead the governing Liberal Democratic Party â which, in effect, is the race to become prime minister. Party [members will vote Wednesday](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QNAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjgvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9qYXBhbi1saWJlcmFsLWRlbW9jcmF0aWMtcGFydHktZWxlY3Rpb24uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to choose a successor to Yoshihide Suga, the current prime minister and party leader. But in the back rooms, Kono, 58, does not have nearly as much support. His reputation as a nonconformist and his left-leaning views on social issues put him out of step with the partyâs conservative elders, who hold considerable sway. Details: Kono has courted public opinion, posting playful tweets and even personally responding to vaccine questions online. He opposes nuclear power and supports same-sex marriage, positions that put him on the wrong side of many party members. Competitors: [Sanae Takaichi](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjAvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9qYXBhbi1lbGVjdGlvbi1zYW5hZS10YWthaWNoaS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), 60, a hard-line conservative, would be Japanâs first female prime minister. She has strong backing from the partyâs right wing and from former prime minister Shinzo Abe. Many party members think Fumio Kishida, 64, a moderate with tepid support in the polls, is the safest choice. The pandemic: Japan is [ending its state-of-emergency measures](~/AAAAAQA~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) on Thursday as the number of new daily coronavirus cases has dropped and the vaccine rollout has reached nearly 60 percent of the population. A 12-year-old got his first Pfizer dose in New Mexico in May. Paul Ratje for The New York Times Pfizer says Covid vaccine is safe for kids Pfizer and BioNTech said on Tuesday that they had submitted data to U.S. regulators that the companies said showed that their coronavirus vaccine is [safe and effective in children ages 5 to 11](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wOS8yOC91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9wZml6ZXItdmFjY2luZS1raWRzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). The companies said that they would submit a formal request to allow a pediatric dose of their vaccine to be administered in the U.S. in the coming weeks. Similar requests will be filed with European regulators and in other countries. About a week ago, Pfizer and BioNTech announced favorable results from their clinical trial with more than 2,200 participants in that age group. Context: About 28 million children ages 5 to 11 would be eligible for the vaccine in the U.S., far more than the 17 million of ages 12 to 15 who became eligible for the vaccine in May. Here are [the latest updates](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbGl2ZS8yMDIxLzA5LzI4L3dvcmxkL2NvdmlkLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXZhY2NpbmU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and [maps](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMS93b3JsZC9jb3ZpZC1jYXNlcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) of the pandemic. THE LATEST NEWS News From Asia An Evergrande development in Dongguan, China.Gilles Sabrié for The New York Times - Xu Jiayin was Chinaâs richest man, a symbol of the countryâs economic rise. Now Beijing has signaled that it will no longer tolerate the strategy that turned his company, Evergrande, into a real estate powerhouse, [pushing it to the precipice](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wOS8yOC9idXNpbmVzcy9jaGluYS1ldmVyZ3JhbmRlLWVjb25vbXkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). - The Taliban [banned women](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4SYAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjcvd29ybGQvYXNpYS90YWxpYmFuLXdvbWVuLWthYnVsLXVuaXZlcnNpdHkuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD05JmNhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbm5fMjAyMTA5MjgmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTQ5MCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD10aGUtbW9ybmluZyZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9ODU0MDk1MTcmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMDgyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9ODMwYzcwY2ZhZTc3NjFhMjllZWU0ZGQ5YzU5MTlkMTImdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) from working or studying at Kabul University. - North Korea [fired a short-range missile](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjcvd29ybGQvYXNpYS9ub3J0aC1rb3JlYS1wcm9qZWN0aWxlLWxhdW5jaC1VTi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), the South Korean military said, just as its envoy to the U.N. called on the U.S. to end its âhostileâ policy toward his country.
- China allowed [an American brother and sister to return home](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4STAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjcvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvY2hpbmEtYW1lcmljYW5zLXJlbGVhc2VkLmh0bWw_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) after three years. Their release comes a few days after a U.S. deal allowed a Huawei executive to go back to China.
- Hong Kongâs world-famous film scene has become the latest form of expression[to be censored](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wOS8yOC93b3JsZC9hc2lhL2hvbmcta29uZy1tb3ZpZS1jZW5zb3IuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) since Beijing imposed a tough new national security law last year. Around the World Cars line up for gas in Reading, England, on Saturday.Steve Parsons/Press Association, via Associated Press - Britain is [facing a gas crisis](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wOS8yOC93b3JsZC9ldXJvcGUvd2h5LXVrLWZ1ZWwtc2hvcnRhZ2UuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~), amid a shortage of truck drivers.
- The defeat of Chancellor Angela Merkelâs Christian Democratic Union in Germany [has left the party in disarray](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjgvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2dlcm1hbnktZWxlY3Rpb24tY2R1LWxhc2NoZXQtbWVya2VsLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and raised worries about the conservative movementâs long-term survival.
- Canada [doubled the number of Afghan refugees](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QFAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjcvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvY2FuYWRhLWFmZ2hhbmlzdGFuLXJlZnVnZWVzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) it planned to take in to 40,000, the Canadian foreign minister said on Tuesday.
- U.S. Senate Republicans [blocked a bill](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4SZAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9uZXdzbGV0dGVyL2RYWjBsM29oTlZfVzBaUllYTmQzNXd-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~~) that would avert a government shutdown and prevent the country from defaulting on its debt. A Morning Read Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary, at the G7 Summit in Biarritz, France, in 2019.Erin Schaff/The New York Times Stephanie Grisham, the former Trump White House press secretary, is releasing a tell-all book that accuses former President Trump of abusing his staff, placating dictators like Vladimir Putin of Russia, and making sexual comments about a young aide. Her publisher calls the book âthe most frank and intimate portrait of the Trump White House yet.â We have some [highlights from the manuscript](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjgvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvc3RlcGhhbmllLWdyaXNoYW1zLWJvb2stdHJ1bXAuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Subscribe Today We hope youâve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. [Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TnaHR0cDovL3d3dy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9zdWJzY3JpcHRpb24_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD05OVE5OSZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-0) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzUyJmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMTA5MjlXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA ARTS AND IDEAS Footage from the Final Fantasy video game at the Royal Albert Hall in London.Alex Ingram for The New York Times A grand stage for video game music At a recent concert in the Royal Albert Hall in London, nearly 6,000 attendees gathered [wearing a mix of suits, ties and video game character cosplay](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4RtAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9uZXdzbGV0dGVyLzV6ZFlCM0xiWDNPaWw4aWFHMGh1WkF-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_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). They had come to see an orchestra and choir perform music from Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997. The music in the first installment of the Final Fantasy series in 1987 was limited to a handful of electronic sounds. But technology evolved, and by the late 1990s, the games featured live orchestral recordings. Nobuo Uematsu, who composed scores for the first nine installments of Final Fantasy, has drawn on influences as varied as Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Celtic music and classical music. The soundtracks to the Final Fantasy series are enormously popular: Since 2007, there have been more than 200 official concerts across 20 countries. At the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics this summer, some athletes marched to Final Fantasy songs. On YouTube, fans post covers, tutorials and their own compositions. âThere are some melodies I composed almost 30 years ago Iâve almost forgotten,â Junya Nakano, who worked with Uematsu on the score for Final Fantasyâs 10th installment, said. âBut fans are still playing them.â PLAY, WATCH, EAT What to Cook David Malosh for The New York Times Youâll want to eat [this shrimp gratin](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4SKAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzEwMjI1NzMtc2hlZXQtcGFuLXNocmltcC1ncmF0aW4_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) straight out of the pan. What to Read In [Jonathan Franzenâs new novel, âCrossroads,â](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjcvYm9va3MvcmV2aWV3LWpvbmF0aGFuLWZyYW56ZW4tY3Jvc3Nyb2Fkcy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) the members of a suburban Chicago family headed by a pastor confront crises of faith and morality. World Through a Lens In southern Mexico, the Zapotec people have long accepted â and celebrated â gender nonconformity. Our travel section has [these portraits of the community.](~/AAAAAQA~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~) Now Time to Play Hereâs [todayâs Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), and a clue: Plump up, as a pillow (five letters). And here is [todayâs Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). [You can find all our puzzles here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TVaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcz9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyMTA5MjkmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9NDE1MjQmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9NzAxMjAmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmFSyIJTYRKfSMhSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Thatâs it for todayâs briefing. And a correction: Yesterdayâs briefing incorrectly described the number of women running to be Japanâs next prime minister. There are two, not four. See you next time. â Melina P.S. The Times [introduced the Headway team](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0Y28uY29tL3ByZXNzL2ludHJvZHVjaW5nLXRoZS1oZWFkd2F5LXRlYW0vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDIxMDkyOSZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD00MTUyNCZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD03MDEyMCZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA), which will investigate significant national and international challenges through the lens of progress. The latest episode of â[The Daily](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0TTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vdGhlZGFpbHk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjEwOTI5Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTQxNTI0Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTcwMTIwJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgphUsiCU2ESn0jIUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)â includes a conversation with an Afghan general. Sanam Yar wrote the Arts and Ideas section. You can reach Melina and the team at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing+pm@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback). [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-1) [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-2) ADVERTISEMENT ~/AAAAAQA~/RgRjNgfIP0RxaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ4JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyMTA5MjlXA255dEIKYVLIglNhEp9IyFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA Need help? 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