The Evening: A Harris-Biden joint appearance

Also, Ukraine said it had captured a Russian town.

View in browser|nytimes.com August 15, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Here's the latest at the end of Thursday. A Harris-Biden joint appearance Ukraine's advance in Russia Plus, remembering Gena Rowlands 🇺🇸 2024 The presidential election is 82 days away. Here's the latest from the campaign trail. Eric Lee/The New York Times Biden and Harris showcased the passing of the torch President Biden and Kamala Harris appeared together in Maryland this afternoon for their first public event since Biden ended his bid for re-election. They were there to celebrate the results of a legislative accomplishment: landmark price negotiations that are expected to lower the cost of prescription drugs. More than anything, however, the event felt like the passing of the Democratic torch. Biden, who is seeking to cement his legacy, trumpeted his decades-long push to lower drug prices. But there was no doubt that Harris was the main attraction. The vice president coaxed the energetic crowd into chanting "thank you, Joe," after articulating the real-world impact of Biden's signature health care policies in a way that the president has struggled to. When Harris was done and Biden began to speak, the crowd began to filter out of the venue. For more: We took an inside look at the real reasons Biden decided to end his campaign. Here's what else to know: The candidates for vice president, Tim Walz and JD Vance, have agreed to debate each other on Oct. 1. Donald Trump is seeking to delay his criminal sentencing in Manhattan until after the election. Democrats are leaning into the language of Republicans, and themes like liberty, to argue that Republicans threaten fundamental freedoms. Do you have questions about the election? Send them to us, and we'll find the answers. The body of a Russian soldier was found in the rubble of a Russian border post on Monday. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times Ukraine said it had captured a Russian town President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Ukrainian troops had taken full control of the Russian town of Sudzha. If confirmed, it would be Ukraine's first capture of a Russian town since its incursion in Russian territory began 10 days ago. The broader assault could, according to U.S. officials, eventually impose real costs on the Kremlin, make it harder for Russia to mount a major renewed offensive and help rebuild sagging morale among Ukraine's troops and war-weary population. Self-collection can be done in a doctor's office using only a narrow swab Elizabeth Renstrom for The New York Times A pain-free alternative to the Pap smear will soon arrive Starting this fall, American women will be able to use a simple swab to screen for cervical cancer rather than a Pap smear. The method, an alternative to a procedure that many dread, has been found to be just as effective at preventing cancer. Self-collection has been used in Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden with great success. The F.D.A. is also reviewing an at-home test, which companies say could help reach the 30 percent of U.S. women who do not get screened regularly. A makeshift memorial for actor Matthew Perry following his death, in New York City last year. Mike Segar/Reuters Five people were charged in the death of Matthew Perry Matthew Perry's personal assistant, two doctors and two others have been charged with providing the ketamine that caused his death in October. Three people have already pleaded guilty in the case, officials said, including his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Court documents said that Iwamasa injected Perry with at least 27 shots of ketamine in the five days leading up to his death. In the weeks before, the indictment and officials said, one of the doctors sold roughly $55,000 worth of ketamine to Iwamasa. More top news Middle East: Mediators and Israeli negotiators met in Qatar for a high-stakes push to end the war in Gaza, but Hamas did not participate. Housing: The New York City Council unanimously approved a plan that would radically transform a section of the Bronx, adding thousands of apartments. Mpox: Sweden reported the first case outside Africa of a deadlier form of the virus once called monkeypox. Here's what to know. New Jersey: Gov. Philip Murphy selected George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to finish Senator Robert Menendez's term, passing over the Democratic nominee for Senate, Andy Kim. Regulations: Policies proposed by the Biden administration could make it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions. Climate: In March and April in the U.S., wind beat coal for electricity generation. Wildfire: Six California counties have seen about 40 to 60 percent of their land burned in a decade. These maps show the toll. Taylor Swift: There was tight security in London for the pop star's return to the stage after her Vienna shows were canceled over a terrorist plot. TIME TO UNWIND Gena Rowlands in 2014.  Chris Pizzello/Invision, via Associated Press Remembering Gena Rowlands Gena Rowlands, the elegant and intense actress who often played intoxicated, deranged or otherwise on-the-verge characters, died at 94. Her family said that she had been living with Alzheimer's disease for five years. Rowlands was nominated twice for Oscars for best actress, for performances in movies in which she was directed by John Cassavetes, her husband, including "A Woman Under the Influence." Together, the couple made "some of the greatest, truest films about women," Manohla Dargis writes in an appreciation of one of her most memorable scenes. Here's a look at Rowlands's life in photos, and a list of 10 of her best performances available to stream. Desiree Rios for The New York Times You, too, can run a marathon Running 26.2 miles doesn't just sound like a lot — it really is an impressive feat of endurance and athleticism. But with the right preparation, it can be an attainable goal for most runners. So my colleagues pulled together a plan to structure your training. It will take months or even years, but for many people crossing the finish line makes it all worth it. For those with more limited mobility, you can still build strength while sitting in a chair. Ash Adams for The New York Times Dinner table topics Remote Alaska: In the northernmost city in the U.S., almost everything arrives from the skies. Nashville hustle: Lainey Wilson, the flourishing country star, struggled for years to break through. Beauty in Puglia: An Italian nobleman's villa was restored to its former glory by a design scion. Showing leg: At weddings, more grooms and guests are wearing shorts. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: The Filipino dessert halo-halo, which means mix-mix in Tagalog, is fun to make. Watch: These are the best movies and TV shows coming to Netflix this month. Read: Tom Wolfe's best work turned sociology into art. Tend: Our gardening columnist has some advice for beginners. Travel: Here's what to do if you have 36 hours in Provincetown, Mass. Hunt: Which Bay Area home under $1 million would you buy? Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Logan Moffitt/TikTok How many ways can you eat a cucumber? You can slice up a cucumber and mix it with salt and vinegar; you can chop it up and cover it in spice; it even goes well in a sandwich with cream cheese or alongside smoked salmon. Just ask Logan Moffitt, who has made so many social media videos about the fruit that his fans simply call him "cucumber guy." Before many of his videos, Moffitt reminds viewers, "sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber." In case you feel the same way, we have 26 cool and crunchy cucumber recipes. Have a delectable evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Philip Pacheco was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. 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Bangladesh’s Youth Revolt Takes Charge

'Where students run the streets,' plus: the Nobel laureate guiding Bangladesh; what to make of the US economy?; new gender divides in US politics; and 'seventy miles in hell' …

View this email in your browser  Insights, analysis and must reads from CNN's Fareed Zakaria and the Global Public Square team, compiled by Global Briefing editor Chris Good   Seeing this newsletter as a forward? Sign up here.   August 15, 2024 Bangladesh's Youth Revolt Takes Charge Earlier this month, youth-heavy protests drove Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina to flee after 15 years in power. What began as protests over jobs quotas came to represent broad-based economic and political angst.   Now, "the streets of this country of 170 million people are run by students," Mujib Mashal and Saif Hasnat report for The New York Times. "A car carrying New York Times journalists was stopped by a boy who looked no older than 12. He asked to see a driver's license. In another corner of the city where some of the worst violence had taken place, Salman Khan, 17, and two other students manned a roundabout, occasionally pulling aside the fanciest of cars. What exactly were they looking for? 'Black money, black money,' Mr. Khan said, explaining that many of Ms. Hasina's senior officials were on the run."   "Students have not only manned roads," Krutika Pathi and Shonal Ganguly write for The Diplomat, "two who led the charge against Hasina are settling into the interim government" as ministers.   The task ahead is monumental, observers agree. Led since 2009 by Hasina and her Awami League, Bangladesh's economy is in shambles. At Project Syndicate, M. Niaz Asadullah noted in June as protests percolated: "Bangladesh needs to absorb millions of unemployed and underemployed young people into the labor market. Currently, more than one-third of university graduates remain unemployed within a year or two of graduation. Worse, roughly 40% of Bangladeshi youth—twice the global average—are not in education, employment, or training."   Bangladesh's political system is also viewed dimly: The Economist writes that the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, "suffers from many of the problems the [Awami League] does, including dynastic power politics, cronyism and its own record of oppression when in power." The new ministers and the protesters want to reform the whole system before a vote is held, Pathi and Ganguly write for The Diplomat, but the transitional government seems to lack a mandate for that.   Fareed will examine Bangladesh's protests and transition in greater depth on Sunday's GPS, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m ET. … Guided by an 84-Year-Old Nobel Laureate Guiding this youthful surge for change is a much more seasoned figure: the 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Known as the "banker to the poor," Yunus helped pioneer microfinance, a way of helping low-income people become entrepreneurs. The military installed him as chief adviser—in other words, leader—of a quickly established interim government soon after Hasina's flight.   "[C]lad in a simple kurta and vest," Yunus flew in from Paris to assume "what can objectively be described as the job from hell," John Reed writes for the Financial Times. He has appealed for calm amid recrimination against the old order. For Yunus, returning to fill this role "is surely sweet vindication," the FT's Reed writes. "Hasina's government had pursued a legal vendetta against him and his operations, slandering him as a 'bloodsucker' of the poor," and a court sentenced him in absentia. Yunus has compared this sea change "to 'a second liberation', referring to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971," Reed writes. What Should We Make of the US Economy? This month, the US economy has seen disappointing jobs numbers and encouraging inflation statistics. So, is the story good or bad?   Last week, The Wall Street Journal's Jon Kamp, Rachel Wolfe, Ruth Simon, and Justin Baer noted US consumer confidence "remains guarded." Times aren't desperate, but Americans are treading lightly. One Houston financial planner said some of his clients had considered working longer before retirement—but pointed out that he "isn't hearing the level of worry that erupted during the 2007-09 recession, the pandemic, or the 2023 collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, as he talks to clients. 'It's not panic, it's curiosity,' he said." One small business relayed similarly mixed signals: "Nick Vaughn, managing partner of Kitchen & Bath Galleries in Chapel Hill, N.C., said the company will be cautious about extending credit to new customers, and doesn't expect to step up capital expenditures or add to its staff of 18, unless it finds an exceptional candidate. At the same time, Vaughn said the pipeline for design work there has never been stronger."   What does this complicated picture mean, politically? Beneath the topline numbers, The Economist writes, members of a key political constituency—those who've suffered under globalization and deindustrialization—are faring better than they had been. Since former President Donald Trump took office in 2017, the "wage premium" advantaging college graduates "has steadily shrunk. In recent years wage growth among poorer Americans has easily outpaced that enjoyed by richer folk. A man without a high-school diploma, in full-time work, now earns about $40,000 a year on average. And more of them are in a position to do so. In 2022 and 2023 just 5.1% of men without a high-school education were unemployed, in line with the lowest rate since records began in the early 1990s. Labour-force participation is near an all-time high. America's left-behind are still relatively poor. But things are clearly moving in the right direction."   In an election, it's the economy in key battleground states that can influence the result. At Bloomberg Businessweek, Shawn Donnan, Stuart Paul, Nazmul Ahasan, and Christopher Cannon write: "Most battleground states more acutely felt the recent surge in the cost of living. States like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have lagged the nation in their recoveries from the 2020 recession. … Some of the swing-state counties that will decide the election have been among the slowest to recover from the pandemic downturn." New Gender Divides in US Politics The gender gap in US politics is nothing new: For a long time, women have skewed to the left and men to the right. On Sunday's GPS, however, Fareed heard from The Atlantic's Derek Thompson that two new developments are worth watching. The gender gap is widening among younger voters, Thompson pointed out, and a different kind of split has emerged, as the parties themselves differ sharply over how they view gender's role in society. Pick of the Day Find out what China's rise means for the rest of the world From conflicts to breakthroughs, we're providing the context you need. Get the Meanwhile in China newsletter for the latest headlines and biggest stories in China. Click here to sign up 'Seventy Miles in Hell' Long thought mostly impassable, the Darién Gap—a stretch of thick jungle on the Colombia–Panamá border that separates South from Central America—is now a significant migration route for people seeking to enter the US. In the spring of 2023, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reported on the harrowing and sometimes deadly journey migrants take.  In The Atlantic, Caitlin Dickerson details the dangerous trek. Following the path herself, Dickerson recounts heartbreaking anecdotes. "We stepped over jaguar tracks and passed a Bothrops, the deadliest viper in South America, coiled around a branch near our ankles," Dickerson writes. "In a ravine, we saw what looked like the scene of a person's bad fall: a tennis shoe, a skull, and the bones of a leg with a bandage wrapped around the knee like a tourniquet."   Dickerson hears from a mother whose son was swept away by a fast-rising river. She hears tales of people who never came out of the jungle or were left behind by others in their hungry, desperate groups. Of one trip through the gap, Dickerson writes: "The next morning, we faced the route's hardest obstacles, a series of rock faces. Ropes had been strung across some of them, but it was impossible to know which were secure enough to hold on to. … When it was an 8-year-old girl named Katherine's turn, she slipped and fell into the rocky river about 15 feet below. Her mother, who had been right behind her, stood frozen while one of the porters jumped into the water after her. Katherine emerged crying but uninjured. We started hiking again almost immediately—no one wanted to contemplate the near miss any longer than they had to." What did you think of today's newsletter? Send ideas, questions and feedback to globalbriefing@cnn.com   You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for Fareed's Global Briefing. To stop receiving this newsletter, unsubscribe or sign up to manage your CNN account    Get CNN web alerts  |  Sign up for a free CNN account   ® © 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. 1050 Techwood Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30318