Today's Headlines: South Korea President Declares Martial Law, Then Backs Down

Justice Dept.'s Apolitical Tradition Is Challenged by 2 Presidents

View in browser December 4, 2024, 4:10 a.m. Eastern time Top News South Korea President Declares Martial Law, Then Backs Down Soon after President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration on Tuesday, lawmakers voted to defy him, prompting the president to say he was lifting his order. Justice Dept.'s Apolitical Tradition Is Challenged by 2 Presidents The post-Watergate norm that political leaders should steer clear of criminal cases is being tested from opposite ends of the political spectrum. In Angola, Biden Warns That Slavery's History Should Not Be Erased In becoming the first American leader to visit Angola, President Biden said it was important not to forget the ugly legacy of the human trade that originally defined relations with Africa. Editors' Picks Opinion | 'This Is the Land of Wolves Now': Two Columnists Get to the Heart of Biden's Pardon While the pardon is legal, the rule of law isn't maintained by merely keeping to the letter of the law. Undersea Surgeons The cables at the heart of the lightspeed, globe-spanning internet run across the grimy, perilous, inaccessible deeps of the sea, in places no one ever sees or visits – until the cables break. World An Indigenous Group in Quebec Tries to Keep the Caribou Alive The Canadian government is threatening to use emergency measures to protect three caribou herds at risk of dying out in Quebec. Gladiator for a Night at the Colosseum? Some Romans Are Up in Arms. An initiative by officials at the monument in a partnership with Airbnb has prompted an outcry among those who feel it will demean a cultural treasure. From Chinese Patriot to American Spy: The Unusual Life of John Leung He had been hailed by Chinese state media as a model for his efforts to promote Beijing's interests in the United States. He was in fact an F.B.I. informant. See more world news U.S. Inside the Supreme Court Ethics Debate: Who Judges the Justices? In private meetings and memos, the justices made new rules for themselves — then split on whether they could, or should, be enforced. One City's Attempt to Change How Domestic Violence Is Tackled San Antonio has long had a high rate of family violence. An unusual court is trying to intervene before the violence turns deadly. Children Worked Dangerous Shifts at Iowa Slaughterhouse, Inquiry Finds Qvest Sanitation was ordered to pay nearly $172,000 after the Labor Department found it had employed 11 children to clean equipment on overnight shifts at a pork processing plant in Sioux City, Iowa. See more U.S. news Politics Bloomberg Says Kennedy Would Be 'Beyond Dangerous' as Health Secretary Michael R. Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and a public health advocate, is asking Senate Republicans to persuade President-elect Donald J. Trump to "rethink" Kennedy's nomination. Martial Law in South Korea Tests Biden and a Key U.S. Alliance The Biden administration has hailed South Korea as a model democracy and bolstered military ties as it relies on the country as a bulwark against North Korea, China and Russia. Trump's Pick to Lead D.E.A. Withdraws, Citing 'Gravity' of Job The announcement by Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff with virtually no experience in the kinds of complex international investigations the agency handles, comes just three days after his selection. See more political news Business Developing Countries Face Record Debt Costs Amid Interest Rate Surge The World Bank warned in a new report that poor countries will be stuck in economic "purgatory" without debt relief. U.S. Moves to End a Minimum Wage Waiver for Disabled Workers A plan by the Biden administration would phase out a provision that allows employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. Discounts and Deals Led to a Holiday Weekend That 'Exceeded Expectations' An estimated 197 million people shopped from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, the National Retail Federation said, fewer than last year but surpassing the group's expectations. See more business news Technology The Furious Contest to Unseat Nvidia as King of A.I. Chips Amazon, Advanced Micro Devices and several start-ups are beginning to offer credible alternatives to Nvidia's chips, especially for a phase of A.I. development known as "inferencing." You Want That Gift to Arrive Today? This Is What It Takes. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target have figured out that if they get you your online order today, you will probably spend more tomorrow. Google Worried Israeli Contract Could Enable Human Rights Violations The tech giant, which has defended the deal to employees who oppose supplying Israel's military with technology, feared the project might damage its reputation. See more technology news Arts Brooklyn Museum Shows Off All the Glitter, Glam and Greed The new "Solid Gold" exhibition is a celebration of bling through the ages and around the world. But is eye candy enough? Venice Biennale Names Koyo Kouoh as Next Curator Kouoh, who was born in Cameroon and currently leads one of Africa's most important art museums, will organize the 61st edition, in 2026. Arts Galas Show That Extravagance Never Goes Out of Style They are costly, labor-intensive and seemingly dated, but cultural organizations say black-tie dinners remain essential to pleasing donors and paying the bills. See more arts news New York Eric Adams Suggests the Biden Pardon Proves He Was Also Targeted The mayor has argued that he was indicted because he criticized border policies. He also said that he has rights that migrants do not because "the Constitution is for Americans." Earn $800,000? You Might Get Financial Aid at an Elite N.Y.C. School. The average tuition of $65,000 a year at private schools has separated New York's truly rich, who can afford to pay full tuition, from its merely wealthy. Jurors Set to Weigh Penny's Fate in Choking Case That Divided New York Prosecutors in Daniel Penny's manslaughter trial finished closing arguments Tuesday. The trial has touched on fears about crime and the city's failure to help its most troubled residents. See more New York news Food McDonald's E. Coli Outbreak Declared Over Federal health agencies closed their investigations into the bacterial outbreak that sickened 104 people and was linked to onions on the fast-food chain's signature Quarter Pounders. 'Everybody Is Drinking Guinness.' We Know Why. Guinness, the beer of Irish pubs and Irish men, has endeared itself to chug-happy Americans eager to "split the 'G.'" See more food news Real Estate The Art of Decorating Holiday Mantels The interior designer Bunny Williams shares tips on how she styles the five fireplaces in her Connecticut home. A Home Library Can Tell Your Life Story These interior designers have strategies for creating personal spaces for reading, whether it is in a dedicated room or a welcoming corner in your house. See more real estate news Fashion & Style In a First, Transgender Woman Wins Model of the Year Alex Consani is a star, on TikTok and on the runway. In her speech at the Fashion Awards in London, she acknowledged the struggles of other pioneers. She Met Hunter Biden One Night at a Club. Then She Fell in Love. A chance meeting in December 2017 plunged Zoë Kestan, a downtown "it" girl and social media star, headlong into an unpredictable affair. See more fashion news T Magazine The Freaks Who Rule New York From a masked artist to a Broadway pioneer, these are the one-of-a-kind creative forces shaping the culture today. Take the Middle Seat on an Airplane and Be Purified It's exposure therapy to the full spectrum of mistreatment modern life inflicts on us. Video | How to Be a Freak The writer and performer Julia Fox gives a tutorial on being yourself and finding your fellow freaks. See more on T Magazine Obituaries Morton I. Abramowitz, Diplomat Who Made Refugees a Priority, Dies at 91 As ambassador to Thailand and Turkey, and later as president of the Carnegie Endowment, he pushed for making human rights central to foreign policy. Thirman Milner, Hartford Mayor Who Broke Race Barrier, Dies at 91 He grudgingly transitioned from civil rights to politics and became the first popularly elected Black mayor in New England. Debbie Nelson, Eminem's Mother, Dies at 69 The two had a fraught relationship that was immortalized in many of Eminem's earliest hits. See more Obituaries Opinion The Ezra Klein Show It's the Corruption, Stupid The politician discusses what lessons he thinks Democrats have forgotten. 1 HR 12 MIN LISTEN Bret stephens Can Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Again? The former Clinton and Obama aide has a gift for constructing winning coalitions. Guest Essay What Kash Patel Could Do to the F.B.I. The true danger is almost less about the pick and more about what it says of Trump's approach to his second term. Guest Essay How Private Funds Could Hurt Americans Under Trump The fund managers who backed Donald Trump's candidacy have welcomed his victory with calls for new directions in policy. Guest Essay May It Please the Court: Trans Health Saved My Life Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents has personal implications. The Opinions Five Opinion Writers on What Biden Should Do in His Final Days as President Protecting land and appointing judges could go a long way toward bolstering Biden's legacy. 21 MIN LISTEN See more Opinion Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Today's Headlines from The New York Times. To stop receiving Today's Headlines, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018