New coronavirus circumstances are surging within the U.S., prompting governors and mayors to as soon as once more reintroduce restrictions. Federal officers say that the brand new Omicron variant of the coronavirus now accounts for three-quarters of new cases in the country.

In Europe, countries are split between imposing new measures to curb the unfold, because the Netherlands and Denmark have performed, or adopting a wait-and-see strategy. France has dominated out lockdowns, curfews or closures, betting on its excessive vaccine and booster protection. Britain has but to announce whether or not it would impose a lockdown earlier than Christmas.

In all of those international locations, financial and political issues — simply days earlier than the vacations — are additionally guiding governments, amid uncertainty about simply how huge a danger the variant poses. Epidemiologists have warned that even when Omicron is ultimately proven to trigger much less extreme sickness, its fast unfold may nonetheless ship enormous numbers of individuals to hospitals.

Quotable: “It’s annoying, however this yr there’s at the very least extra of a Christmas spirit than final yr, once we had a curfew,” stated one Parisian. “We couldn’t exit and luxuriate in Christmas decorations.’’

A surprising navy victory this month for Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s embattled prime minister, was made possible by a fleet of combat drones, just lately acquired from international allies who hope to maintain him in energy. The drones pummeled Tigrayan rebels, erasing months of battlefield beneficial properties and ensuing of their withdrawal.

Over the previous 4 months, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iran have quietly provided the Ethiopian chief with a few of the newest armed drones, even because the U.S. and African governments urged a cease-fire and peace talks, in line with Western diplomats who spoke on the situation of anonymity.

The motives of Abiy’s allies fluctuate: Some hope to make cash, whereas others purpose to realize an edge in a strategic area or to again a winner within the spiraling battle that has engulfed Africa’s second most populous nation.

Response: Debretsion Gebremichael, the Tigrayan chief, has referred to as for a cease-fire adopted by peace talks. “We belief that our daring act of withdrawal might be a decisive opening for peace,” he wrote in a letter to the U.N. secretary common.

Paperwork reviewed by The Occasions have revealed in stark element how Beijing taps private businesses to generate content material on demand, draw followers, observe critics and supply different companies for data campaigns. That operation more and more performs out on worldwide social media platforms like Fb and Twitter, which the Chinese language authorities blocks at residence.

The recordsdata — a part of a request for bids from contractors that was posted by the police in Shanghai — provide a uncommon glimpse into how China works to unfold propaganda and sculpt opinion on world social media, together with by using pretend accounts and thru focused campaigns towards on-line critics of the state. The paperwork had been taken offline after The Occasions contacted the Chinese language authorities about them.

The request recommended that police officers understood the necessity for sturdy engagement with the general public by profiles-for-hire. The deeper engagement lends the pretend personas credibility at a time when social media firms are more and more taking down accounts that appear inauthentic or coordinated.

Telltale indicators: Bot networks which have been linked to China’s authorities stand out for his or her lack of engagement with different accounts, specialists say. Although they can be utilized to troll others and increase the variety of likes on official authorities posts, most have little affect individually as a result of they’ve few followers.

A toddler with a rash. A farmer with ringworm. A person with a throat an infection. Every visited Joe Gallagher, a publican and seventh son within the Irish village of Pullough in County Offaly, who laid his palms on the affected areas, carried out the signal of the cross and recited some prayers.

He is only one of a whole bunch of individuals throughout Eire who’re stated to have “the remedy,” an strategy to well being care that interweaves home remedies with mysticism, superstition, religion and a sprinkle of magic.

Life on set: His favourite moments had been the mundane ones, “like getting our hobbit ft taken off as a result of we needed to vacate set because it began to snow” and weekend surf journeys “with the opposite hobbits and Orlando” Bloom, who performed the elf Legolas.

On the present movie panorama: “Peter and the bigger staff had been allowed to make the flicks the best way that they wished to make them with out a lot exterior perspective,” Wooden stated, referring to the trilogy’s 16 consecutive months of filming in New Zealand. “I don’t know if he would be capable to make them in the identical manner now.”

Keepsakes: Wooden saved a pair of bushy hobbit ft. “I’m positive over time they may degrade as a result of I don’t suppose latex lasts without end,” he stated. “However they had been in good condition the final time I appeared.”

That’s it for in the present day’s briefing. Thanks for becoming a member of me. — Natasha

P.S. Leah Askarinam is becoming a member of the On Politics newsletter from Nationwide Journal.

The newest episode of “The Daily” is about a youngster in Afghanistan who fled a compelled marriage to a Taliban member.

You may attain Natasha and the staff at briefing@nytimes.com.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR