👋 Halló!*
Welcome to Wednesday, where Zohran Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor, the death toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi continues to rise in the Philippines and today’s quiz question is about New Zealand’s recently-crowned “bird of the year.” Meanwhile, Johannes Gernert for German weekly Die Zeit explains why he decided to take off his Apple Watch from his wrist — for good.
[*Faroese]
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🗞️ FRONT PAGE
Local French daily L’Alsace devotes its front page to the release of Jacques Paris and Cécile Kohler, who was born in the Alsace eastern region, after more than three years in jail in Iran. The two French teachers were arrested in May 2022 during a tourist trip and were sentenced to lengthy jail sentences on espionage charges that their families always strongly denied. French President Emmanuel Macron announced their release from the infamous Evin prison on Tuesday but it remained uncertain when the Iran authorities would allow them to return home. The couple was among a number of Europeans caught up in what some described as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking by Iran to extract concessions from the West.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• Mamdani becomes new NYC mayor as Democrats sweep key elections. Democrats won three major elections in an early test of Donald Trump’s second term: In New York, left-leaning 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani has become the city’s youngest mayor since 1892, its first Muslim mayor and its first mayor born in Africa. Meanwhile, in Virginia and New Jersey, moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey, respectively won their gubernatorial races with commanding leads, and California voters passed a redistricting referendum that will help the Democrats in next year’s midterm Congressional elections.
• Israel says Hamas has returned remains of hostage. Israel’s military confirmed the return of the remains of Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen from Gaza, under the U.S.-brokered agreement. Israel has accused Hamas of intentionally stalling the return of deceased hostages since the ceasefire started on Oct. 10, while Hamas claims debris has hindered recovery efforts. For more, see this article by La Stampa’s Francesca Mannocchi, translated from Italian and adapted by Worldcrunch: Occupation And Impunity? A Moral Accounting Of Israel’s “Return To Normal.”
• Russia urges encircled Ukrainian troops to surrender. Moscow has asked Ukrainian forces trapped in the Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk to surrender if they wish to survive. Switching from frontal assaults, Russian forces have been resorting to pincer tactics to try and seize full control of Ukraine’s Donbas region, with advances continuing in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk amid Ukraine’s fierce resistance. In German weekly Die Zeit, by Maxim Kireev explains why Posturing Aside, Both Russia and Ukraine Need A Ceasefire Now.
• U.S. government shutdown hits record 36th day as talks stall. The United States entered its 36th day of government shutdown on Wednesday, its longest-ever, with millions missing pay and critical services suspended. President Donald Trump and Congress remain deadlocked over health care funding, as bipartisan senators scramble to end the impasse threatening economic stability and public services.
• Typhoon Kalmaegi death toll rises to 66 in Philippines. Authorities have confirmed that Typhoon Kalmaegi killed at least 66 across the Philippines, with Cebu province among the worst hit. The storm prompted mass evacuations, destroyed thousands of homes and caused widespread power outages, hampering rescue and recovery operations. Typhoon Kalmaegi, which strengthened slightly over the South China Sea, is now on its way to Vietnam.
• Australia adds Reddit to social media ban for under-16s. Australia has announced that both popular online forum Reddit and livestreaming site Kick would be added to its world-first social media ban for children under 16, set to start Dec. 10. With fines up to A$50 million ($32 million) for violations, officials say the ban — which also includes Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Threads — aims at protecting children from harmful content. Read more about Australia’s social media ban here.
• News Quiz! Why have New Zealanders been warned to stay away from the majestic kārearea falcon, which was recently named “bird of the year”?
A. Its piercing shrieks cause hearing loss
B. It dive-bombs people
C. It steals phones
D. It stinks
[Answer below]
📣 VERBATIM
“We don’t want to destroy the economy. We don’t want to destroy the climate. We want to save both at the same time.”
— The European Union’s climate ministers struck a deal watering down a proposed 2040 target for cutting planet-warming emissions in last-minute negotiations in the early hours of Wednesday, as they raced to clinch the deal before the UN COP30 summit in Brazil. The plan sets a new goal to slash EU emissions 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels, but includes flexibilities that will weaken this aim. Poland, Italy, the Czech Republic and others had opposed the target as too restrictive, with Polish Deputy Climate Minister Krzysztof Bolesta expressing concerns it could hit industries’ competitiveness.
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
💥 The strategically important city of Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region, is the scene of intense fighting between Russian attackers and Ukrainian defenders. This is an important test as Vladimir Putin seeks to assert his dominance on the ground, not only over Ukraine but also over Europe.
— FRANCE INTER
📉 Why are birth rates continuing to fall? Beyond old conservative-progressive social debates, we must look at the way screens have changed our daily lives.
— VOLCÁNICAS
⌚ Johannes Gernert’s Apple Watch tracked his every move and kept him disciplined, but also kept him chained. What began as motivation for the German journalist slowly turned into addiction and invasion.
— DIE ZEIT
✍️ Newsletter by Bertrand Hauger & Anne-Sophie Goninet
Quiz Answer: B. Authorities have urged people to steer clear of the kārearea, recently elected New Zealand’s “bird of the year,” after several walkers were dive-bombed near nesting sites. The endangered falcon becomes highly territorial during breeding season, defending its young within a 400-metre radius. Conservationists advise giving the birds space until summer ends.
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