Your Tuesday Briefing – The New York Times

Inside Russia’s Brutal Ukraine Prison

Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians, mostly men with military experience or of combat age, have disappeared since the war in Ukraine began in February. In some cases, they were detained by the Russian military or its proxies, held in basements, police stations and filter camps in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, and eventually sent to prison. imprisoned in Russia.

In interviews with The Times, detainees detailed how they were moved from place to place, beaten and repeatedly electrocuted during questioning. Others were shot, they said. No one knows exactly how many people have been sent to Russian prisons, although the United Nations has recorded 287 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention and says the total is almost certain. more than.

One former prisoner said that interrogations seeking information on Ukrainian military positions and groups are often pointless, as force would be used before he could answer a question. “They don’t believe anything you say, even if you tell the truth,” he said. “You can’t prove your innocence.”

In other news from the war:

• Brittney Griner, American basketball star, appeal her conviction on drug trafficking. A senior Russian diplomat spoke of a possible prisoner swap.

• The factories in Ukraine are move weststay away from Russian bombs, causing a land fever.

Kenya announces new president

William Ruto, former vice president of Kenya, is declared the winner yesterday in the country’s presidential electionseems to have ended an unpredictable battle, with millions of Kenyans eagerly watching as the results unfolded. Read our profile of Ruto.

Kenya’s three most recent elections have been marred by contested outcomes that have led to court cases and street violence. Those crises have prompted the election commission to go to great lengths to secure a clean vote this time – it posted images on its website showing results from more than 46,000 polling stations. But the losing candidate, Raila Odinga, dismissed the result even before it was announced. His top aides said the election had been “mismanaged” and called for those in charge to be arrested.

After the winner was announced, a pandemic broke out in the hall where the votes were counted, sending chairs and fists flying. Four of the seven election commissioners refused to verify the vote and stormed out, casting doubt on an outcome that would almost certainly take to court. A spokesman said Odinga plans to speak to the nation today.

By the numbers: Ruto received 50.49 percent of the vote, compared with 48.85 percent for Odinga, a difference of only 233,211 votes but enough to avoid an outflow.

UK approves Covid boost targeting variants

England became the first country yesterday allows a coronavirus vaccine to target two variants, the original virus, and Omicron, the variant that became dominant during the winter. Half of each dose of vaccine produced by Moderna will target the original variant, and the other half will target Omicron.

In a statement, Moderna said it was working with UK health officials to distribute the new vaccine. It is unclear when the photos will be available to the public. The drug’s maker said it has completed regulatory submissions for the vaccine in Australia, Canada and the EU. They expect more licensing decisions in the coming weeks.

More than 75 per cent of people in the UK are fully immunized and 60 per cent have received a booster dose. By comparison, in the US, 67 percent of the population is fully immunized and only 32 percent gets a booster dose. Globally, 64 percent of the population is fully immunized.

Result: In clinical trials in adults, the researchers found that the vaccine, an updated version of Moderna’s original Covid shot, produced a good immune response to the two variants, as well as to sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5.

Worker productivity tools, once common in lower-paying jobs, are being used for more old-fashioned roles. The companies say these tools can bring efficiency and accountability. But in interviews, the workers described as being watched as “Disappointing”, “insulting” and “toxic”.

In one case, an employee who forgot to turn on their time tracking tool had to complain to get paid. “You were supposed to be a trusted member of your team, but there was never any confidence that you were working for the team,” said one former executive.

ARTS AND IDEAS

The center is edible

As reported by T Magazine, Alice Cavanaugh says a recent entertainment trend is challenging what a table – and the food on it – looks like and does.

The new dinner party isn’t just about good food: It can be tempting and even a little bizarre. “Abandon, or at least aside, flowers and crockery; in their place is a change in decorating ideas,” she wrote. Think bread cubes and bulgur that recall the faded splendor of ancient ruins, or plants made of asparagus and langoustines.

Treating food as garnish has a long historical precedent. In ancient Greece, parties were a way to impress others with one’s wealth and status. And in 1932, the controversial Italian poet and art theorist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, founder of the Futurist movement, described a food presentation that would please all five senses.

That’s it for today’s briefing. Thanks for joining me. – Natasha

PS The Times’s Pam Belluck Won the Victor Cohn Award for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting for her coverage of Covid-19.

The latest episode of “The Daily“Is about a US tax loophole for a select group of Wall Street.

You can contact Natasha and the team at [email protected].