Friday Briefing: Putin’s re-election

Also, a top U.S. senator calls for Israeli elections. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~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)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0TNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Continue reading the main story](#) [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzQ3JmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyNDAzMTQmdGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTRXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0TzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc2VyaWVzL2FzaWEtYXVzdHJhbGlhLW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) March 15, 2024 [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYW1lbGlhLW5pZXJlbmJlcmc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) By [Amelia Nierenberg](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvYW1lbGlhLW5pZXJlbmJlcmc_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) Writer, Briefings Good morning. We’re speaking with our Moscow bureau chief about Russia’s presidential election. Plus, Australia’s snake catchers. [A crowded street with a billboard of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s face.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3J1c3NpYS1lbGVjdGlvbi1leHBsYWluZWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) The Kremlin has ensured that Vladimir Putin faces no real competition. Anatoly Maltsev/EPA, via Shutterstock Why Russia’s election matters Russians [begin voting for president](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3J1c3NpYS1lbGVjdGlvbi1leHBsYWluZWQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) today, but there is no suspense about the result: Vladimir Putin, 71, is certain to be declared the overwhelming victor. The election, which will take place over three days, is held as the war in Ukraine rages on and the Russian opposition tries to turn grief from Aleksei Navalny’s death into momentum to protest Putin. The three other candidates on the ballot do not pose a challenge. Since he was first appointed in 2000, Putin has consolidated power and changed the constitution to extend his rule. If Putin lasts two more terms, until 2036, he will surpass the 29-year rule of Joseph Stalin. “This election is a ritual,” Anton Troianovski, our Moscow bureau chief, told me. “It’s a very important ritual to the functioning of Putin’s state and system of power. But you also shouldn’t expect it to change all that much.” Here’s more from my conversation with Anton. What is Russia trying to accomplish with this election? Anton: The goal is to bestow a new degree of public legitimacy on Putin for his fifth term — and, very importantly, to portray Putin’s invasion of Ukraine as having overwhelming public support. The Kremlin has always used these elections — even though they are not free and fair — to say that Putin has all this power because all these people support him. So we expect them to announce, when polls close on Sunday, that there was more than 60 percent turnout — and that more than 70 percent of people voted for Putin. After that, there will probably be a big Putin victory speech. What is the mood like among Russian voters? I don’t think anybody is biting their nails awaiting the first exit polls on Sunday night. But where you do see a lot of apprehension is around the question of what happens after the election. Perhaps the biggest thing that Russians fear is mobilization: another military draft. There was one in September 2022, which set off this exodus of people trying to flee the country. It was the most chaotic time in the country, at large, since the war began. At this point, analysts say it doesn’t seem very likely that that is going to happen. That’s because Russia has the initiative on the battlefield. But there’s also the issue of repression. Will there be another wave of repression? Of arrests? Of new and repressive laws that are passed after the election? That’s also a possibility. This election is important for Putin. He needs the show of public approval for him and his war. How has Aleksei Navalny’s death changed the election? Navalny’s death simultaneously produced a lot of despair and a lot of hope among Russians who are opposed to Putin. Despair, because he was sort of the one figure that people could imagine as the president of a more democratic, post-Putin Russia. Hope, because there was this tremendous outpouring of grief after he died, including in Russia, where, by many estimates, tens of thousands of people came out to his funeral and to his gravesite in the days after his funeral. People inside Russia knew that there were many who were opposed to the war, but you almost never saw them display that publicly. His funeral became this message: That there are still critics of Putin, critics of the war inside Russia, who are able to make their voices heard if they see the right occasion to do that. How do Navalny’s supporters intend to protest this time? Russia, right now, is more repressive than it has ever been in the post-Soviet period. The question is: In this environment, can the Russian opposition still use the election in some way to send a message of dissent? One of the last things that Navalny published on his Instagram page before he died was a call for a protest at the ballot box on the last day of voting, Sunday, March 17, at noon. The idea is: There’s no law against going to vote. In fact, the government wants you to vote. And there’s no law against showing up at any given time, either. So why doesn’t everyone who is against Putin and against the war show up at noon on March 17? Navalny’s team hopes that we’ll see these huge lines and that will show the government how many people are against the war. But turnout is going to be hard to measure, given that Russia has tens of thousands of polling stations. [Senator Chuck Schumer among a group of people.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvc2NodW1lci1uZXRhbnlhaHUtaXNyYWVsLWVsZWN0aW9ucy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) ”Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Senator Chuck Schumer said. Kenny Holston/The New York Times A top senator called for new Israeli leadership Chuck Schumer — the leader of the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. — [excoriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QLAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvdXMvcG9saXRpY3Mvc2NodW1lci1uZXRhbnlhaHUtaXNyYWVsLWVsZWN0aW9ucy5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) and called for elections to replace him, five months into the war in Gaza. Schumer’s speech in the Senate was the sharpest critique yet from a top U.S. elected official, saying the Israeli leader had become an obstacle to peace and “lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel.” In the region: President Mahmoud Abbas [picked an insider](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QpAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wMy8xNC93b3JsZC9pc3JhZWwtaGFtYXMtd2FyLWdhemEtbmV3cy9hYmJhcy1jaG9vc2VzLXByaW1lLW1pbmlzdGVyP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnNtaWQ9dXJsLXNoYXJlJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) to be the next prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, rejecting international calls to empower an independent leader. [People with their faces covered, holding long guns while sitting on a step and the sidewalk.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvaGFpdGktZ2FuZ3MtYXJpZWwtaGVucnkuaHRtbC8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) Gang members this week in Port-au-Prince. Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters Why everything changed in Haiti Ariel Henry, Haiti’s prime minister, held on to power even as gangs terrorized the country and kidnapped civilians. But when Henry signed a deal with Kenya to bring 1,000 police officers to the streets, the [gangs united](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QEAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvaGFpdGktZ2FuZ3MtYXJpZWwtaGVucnkuaHRtbC8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). They forced him to agree to relinquish power — and are now trying to become a legitimate political force in talks brokered by foreign governments about Haiti’s future. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjczNzUyJmxpPU1CQUUmbT1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkNyZwPU1CQUVfMjAyNDAzMTQmdGU9MSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTRXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) MORE TOP NEWS [A rocket launches into the sky ](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4Q9AWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wMy8xNC9zY2llbmNlL3N0YXJzaGlwLXNwYWNleC1sYXVuY2gvaGVyZS1pcy13aGF0LXRvLWtub3ctYWJvdXQtdGh1cnNkYXlzLXNwYWNleC1sYXVuY2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmc21pZD11cmwtc2hhcmUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) A version of the rocket will eventually carry NASA astronauts to the moon. Eric Gay/Associated Press - SpaceX: Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, traveled halfway around the earth on a test flight [but was lost on re-entry](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4Q9AWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2xpdmUvMjAyNC8wMy8xNC9zY2llbmNlL3N0YXJzaGlwLXNwYWNleC1sYXVuY2gvaGVyZS1pcy13aGF0LXRvLWtub3ctYWJvdXQtdGh1cnNkYXlzLXNwYWNleC1sYXVuY2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmc21pZD11cmwtc2hhcmUmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). - Donald Trump: Less than two weeks before he is set to go on trial on criminal charges, prosecutors proposed [a delay of up to 30 days](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QOAmh0dHBzOi8vbmwubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZi9hL3F4TllrVUxqVm1oWlljdlVSNmoyX0F-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). - Chile: [Wildfires threaten](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QGAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTMvd29ybGQvYW1lcmljYXMvY2hpbGUtd2lsZGZpcmVzLXZhbHBhcmFpc28uaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) the Valparaíso region just weeks after other blazes in the area killed more than 100 people. - Ukraine: Stalled on the battlefield, it is [targeting Russia’s oil refineries](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3VrcmFpbmUtZHJvbmUtc3RyaWtlLXJ1c3NpYS1vaWwuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). - The Netherlands: Geert Wilders, the hard-right leader, said he would [forgo becoming prime minister](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QSAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTMvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL2dlZXJ0LXdpbGRlcnMtbmV0aGVybGFuZHMtcHJpbWUtbWluaXN0ZXIuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) — for now — to increase his chances of forming a right-wing coalition. What Else Is Happening [A man with a sparkler on a dark night.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTMvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pcmFuLWZpcmUtZmVzdGl2YWwtcHJvdGVzdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) A man in Tehran celebrating Chaharshanbeh Suri, before Nowruz, which is on the first day of spring. Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times - Iran: Dancing in public, which is banned, is used as protest. An annual fire festival [allowed thousands to express defiance](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTMvd29ybGQvbWlkZGxlZWFzdC9pcmFuLWZpcmUtZmVzdGl2YWwtcHJvdGVzdC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). - Palm oil: The E.U. plans to ban imports linked to deforestation. Indonesia’s economic minister called it “[regulatory imperialism](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvYnVzaW5lc3MvZWNvbm9teS9tYWxheXNpYS1wYWxtLW9pbC1ldXJvcGVhbi11bmlvbi5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~).” - Climate: A boom in data centers and factories is [straining U.S. electric grids](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjQvMDMvMTMvY2xpbWF0ZS9lbGVjdHJpYy1wb3dlci1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) and propping up fossil fuels. - Britain: Critics fear that a new legal definition of [extremism](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3VrLWV4dHJlbWlzbS1wbGFuLWZyZWUtc3BlZWNoLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) that the government plans to use to blacklist groups could curb speech. MORNING READ [A man is wrangling a python in his left hand, and holding a large cloth bag in his right.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvYXVzdHJhbGlhL3NuYWtlcy1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) An Australian snake catcher handles a nonvenomous carpet python.  David Maurice Smith for The New York Times Business is booming for [snake catchers in Australia](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvd29ybGQvYXVzdHJhbGlhL3NuYWtlcy1jbGltYXRlLWNoYW5nZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~), because of global warming. Snakes are brumating — a sort of hibernation for reptiles — for shorter periods and staying active longer into the night, which is leading to more run-ins with humans. Conversation Starters - Street style: Some of the best looks at Paris Fashion Week [weren’t on the runways](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QCAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMDkvc3R5bGUvcGFyaXMtZmFzaGlvbi13ZWVrLXN0cmVldC1zdHlsZS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTcmZW1jPWVkaXRfbWJhZV8yMDI0MDMxNCZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMTc2MjUmbmw9bW9ybmluZy1icmllZmluZyUzQS1hc2lhLXBhY2lmaWMtZWRpdGlvbiZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTYwODE3JnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0Qgpl42ll82UeQTAXUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~). - Social Q’s: A sister seeks advice on how to get her unemployed brother to move [out of their father’s house](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xMy9zdHlsZS9wYXJlbnRhbC1zdXBwb3J0LXNpYmxpbmdzLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). 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[Subscribe to The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)[.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3Vic2NyaXB0aW9uL2FsbC1hY2Nlc3M_Y2FtcGFpZ25JZD04Skg3TCZjYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) ARTS AND IDEAS [With a wide grin, cartoon face gazes at dozens of tiny books in their hands on a yellow background.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xNC9ib29rcy9mdW5ueS1ub3ZlbHMtaHVtb3IuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) The funniest novels since Catch-22 Our book critics have put together a list of [22 of the funniest novels written in English](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xNC9ib29rcy9mdW5ueS1ub3ZlbHMtaHVtb3IuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) since Joseph Heller’s “Catch-22” was published in 1961. That novel was funny about something American novels hadn’t been funny about before: war. These 22 books are not knee-slappers. Instead, the authors apply the tools of satire to whole other categories of human experience, from race and gender to dating, aging, office cubicles and book publishing itself. RECOMMENDATIONS [Slices of chocolate cake with white icing on plates with a glass of dark beer in the background.](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4TPAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzE4NzUtY2hvY29sYXRlLWd1aW5uZXNzLWNha2U_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) Sang an for The New York Times. Cook: Nigella Lawson’s [chocolate Guinness cake](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4TPAWh0dHBzOi8vY29va2luZy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS9yZWNpcGVzLzE4NzUtY2hvY29sYXRlLWd1aW5uZXNzLWNha2U_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) is a rich classic. Watch: The [final concert of Ryuichi Sakamoto](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tLzIwMjQvMDMvMTQvbW92aWVzL3J5dWljaGktc2FrYW1vdG8tb3B1cy1yZXZpZXcuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), the Japanese virtuoso, is captured in an aching meditation on mortality and legacy. Groom: Treat and prevent [hangnails](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyNC8wMy8xMy93ZWxsL2xpdmUvZ2V0LXJpZC1vZi1oYW5nbmFpbHMuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). Play [Spelling Bee](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zcGVsbGluZy1iZWU_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), the [Mini Crossword](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0ThaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vY3Jvc3N3b3Jkcy9nYW1lL21pbmk_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~), [Wordle](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXMvd29yZGxlL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) and [Sudoku](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0TgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vcHV6emxlcy9zdWRva3UvZWFzeT9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD03JmVtYz1lZGl0X21iYWVfMjAyNDAzMTQmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTE3NjI1Jm5sPW1vcm5pbmctYnJpZWZpbmclM0EtYXNpYS1wYWNpZmljLWVkaXRpb24mcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE2MDgxNyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZeNpZfNlHkEwF1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). Find [all our games here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRn1eppP0TSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vZ2FtZXM_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9NyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9tYmFlXzIwMjQwMzE0Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTExNzYyNSZubD1tb3JuaW5nLWJyaWVmaW5nJTNBLWFzaWEtcGFjaWZpYy1lZGl0aW9uJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNjA4MTcmdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmXjaWXzZR5BMBdSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~). Thanks for reading. We hope you have a great weekend! — Amelia Email us at [briefing@nytimes.com](mailto:briefing@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback). 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