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Good morning.

We’re overlaying chaos in Washington, a victory for Democrats within the U.S. Senate and détente in British political backbiting.

Lawmakers had been evacuated amid mayhem that shook the core of American democracy, earlier than the police, bolstered by the F.B.I. and Nationwide Guard members in tactical gear, retook the Capitol complicated after greater than three hours. A woman who was shot inside the Capitol died, police officers mentioned. Data was not launched about who could have shot her.

Each chambers of Congress resumed the electoral count last night, shelling out with lots of the objections deliberate earlier. Vice President Mike Pence had already notified Mr. Trump that he couldn’t and wouldn’t upend the proceedings. Nonetheless, the disruption of the depend injected uncertainty into the largely procedural action.

Worldwide response: The remainder of the world watched the once-unimaginable scene unfolding in Washington with dismay for what it mentioned each concerning the U.S. and about different nations.

“This isn’t merely a U.S. nationwide concern, however it shakes the world, at least all democracies,” mentioned Peter Beyer, Germany’s coordinator for trans-Atlantic affairs. Stéphane Séjourné, a member of the European Parliament, wrote on Twitter: “That is what occurs whenever you sow hatred.”

Twitter ban: The social media website locked Mr. Trump’s account after he printed inaccurate and inflammatory tweets throughout the day. Twitter mentioned the account could be completely suspended if he continued violating its insurance policies towards violent threats and election misinformation. Fb later took the identical step.

Workers resignations: Within the hours after President Trump took to social media to overtly condone violence on the Capitol, White House officials began submitting their resignations, with extra anticipated to observe swimsuit. Stephanie Grisham, the previous White Home press secretary who was the chief of employees for Melania Trump, the primary woman, was amongst those that resigned.

Victories within the two runoff elections within the state of Georgia, which had been overshadowed by the violence in Washington, will reshape the steadiness of energy in Congress.

Although the Democrats will have the thinnest of advantages within the Home and the Senate, the place Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will break the 50-50 tie, they are going to management committees in addition to laws and nominations delivered to the ground.

The end result prompted some Republicans responsible President Trump for dissuading voters together with his assertions that Georgia’s elections had been rigged. Mr. Trump’s single time period within the White Home will conclude with Republicans having misplaced the presidency, the Home and the Senate on his watch.

Atlanta protest: The unrest in Washington unfold to state capitals throughout the nation, together with Atlanta, the place a gathering of protesters led to the evacuation of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and a few of his employees members.

Mr. Raffensperger had been closely criticized by Trump supporters — and had obtained threats of violence towards him and his spouse — for certifying the outcomes of Georgia’s presidential election, delivering the state’s 16 electoral votes to Mr. Biden.

So dire is the public health crisis now confronting Britain that it has briefly stilled the political debates which have raged for the reason that virus emerged within the nation 11 months in the past.

When Prime Minister Boris Johnson went to Parliament with a few of his hardest measures but to fight the coronavirus, the chamber’s unruly backbenches had been quiet.

Mr. Johnson received overwhelming approval of the laws to impose a brand new nationwide lockdown, which he mentioned might stay in pressure till March 31, though some measures could possibly be relaxed earlier than then.

E.U. vaccine: The European Union drug regulator approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine after shifting up a choice that had been scheduled for later in January. It had licensed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for the 27 E.U. member international locations in December.

Seven years in the past, the European Union embarked on a trade deal with China within the perception that engagement with Beijing was one of the simplest ways to change its conduct and make it a dedicated stakeholder within the worldwide system.

Immediately, a number of weeks after the deal was sealed, it’s seen as creating doubts about Europe’s willingness to work with the U.S. on a joint technique towards Beijing. And it has handed China an essential victory.

Julian Assange: A choose in London declined to release the WikiLeaks founder on bail whereas he awaits a ultimate decision within the case to extradite him to the U.S. to face costs of violating espionage legal guidelines.

Russian hack: American intelligence companies and personal cybersecurity investigators are inspecting whether or not a tool developed by the software company JetBrains, which relies within the Czech Republic, was used to realize entry to private and non-private networks within the U.S.

Hong Kong arrests: The police arrested 53 elected pro-democracy officials and activists, the most important roundup but beneath the brand new nationwide safety regulation imposed by Beijing. These arrested had been focused for his or her efforts to decide on candidates for the town’s legislative elections.

Snapshot: Above proper, a dwarf giraffe in Namibia. With a median top of roughly 16 ft, giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. However now scientists are finding out 8- and 9-foot giraffes that are apparently suffering from dwarfism, a bone situation that’s not often noticed amongst wild animals and has by no means been seen earlier than in giraffes.

BBC management: Richard Sharp, a former Goldman Sachs banker and adviser to the British authorities, is predicted to be named the next chairman of the BBC at a time when its goal and funding are beneath evaluation. And June Sarpong, the BBC’s new director of creative diversity, is in a job that locations her on the heart of a political battlefield.

What we’re studying: This Oprah Magazine profile of Stacey Abrams, the politician and activist who shot to prominence for her profitable voter rights efforts in Georgia. In case you’ve by no means heard of her, this can be a good place to begin.

Cook dinner: This risotto with peas and sausage is versatile. For vegetarians, the broth doesn’t must be rooster. Omit the butter and cheese, and also you’re in vegan territory.

Watch: The documentary “My Rembrandt” seems at artwork collectors whose pursuits in Rembrandt have taken on faintly obsessive dimensions.

Do: Is a nicer backyard amongst your New 12 months’s objectives? Upfront of the rising season, it’s useful for gardeners to acknowledge what went mistaken the earlier 12 months and determine what to do instead.

There’s no should be bored. At Home has ideas on what to learn, prepare dinner, watch and do whereas staying secure at house.

The Chinese language artist and human rights activist spoke to our Books desk concerning the Cultural Revolution, the books on his thoughts and extra. His new guide, “Human Move: Tales From the International Refugee Disaster,” got here out in December, following up on his 2017 documentary on the global migrant crisis.

What’s the final nice guide you learn?

The final nice guide I learn was “Everlasting Report,” by Edward Snowden.

Are there any traditional novels that you simply solely just lately learn for the primary time?

I ended studying traditional novels earlier than I used to be 24 years outdated.

Describe your splendid studying expertise (when, the place, what, how).

My splendid studying expertise was once I was dwelling in exile at a detention camp with my father, Ai Qing, throughout the Cultural Revolution. At the moment, we burned all of his books to keep away from additional political persecution. I used to be not but 10 years outdated; I consider it was 1967.

It confirmed in me how highly effective these phrases printed on paper, and the pictures in between, could possibly be. My sister helped me once I requested her to deliver me extra books. She despatched me books equivalent to “Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism,” by Vladimir Lenin, and “The Communist Manifesto,” by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx. I fully disassociated with the ideas in these books, however I can nonetheless really feel the facility of the language and logic construction.

What’s your favourite guide nobody else has heard of?

I’ve a guide known as the “Yingzao Fashi,” which was a Track dynasty-era building guide initially written 1,000 years in the past.

What guide, if any, most affected your determination to develop into a visible artist or contributed to your creative improvement?

I might say that Ludwig Wittgenstein’s and Franz Kafka’s works have been influential, and, for those who embody artists, [Marcel] Duchamp’s writing as nicely. It’s only a few, however nonetheless, shining mental minds.

That’s it for this briefing. See you subsequent time.

— Victoria

Thanks
To Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh for the break from the information. You’ll be able to attain the group at briefing@nytimes.com.

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