Monday Briefing | November 9
A handout picture taken on November 1, 2015 and released on November 3, 2015 by Russia's Emergency Ministry shows the wreckage of a A321 Russian airliner in Wadi al-Zolomat, a mountainous area of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Picture by Maxim Grigoryev|Russia's Emergency Ministry|AFP
Stories to follow
Russia plane crash in Egypt
Speculation and recrimination followed the loss of 224 lives in last weekend’s crash of Russian airliner shortly after take-off from Sharm el-Sheikh, in Egypt. On Wednesday Britain suspended flights from Sharm el-Sheikh, saying a bomb may have been put on board; and began bringing tourists home. Others share that suspicion, but Egypt protective of its tourism industry, continued to dismiss any possibility of terrorism.
China and Taiwan’s historic meeting
On Saturday, the leaders of China and Taiwan held historic talks in Singapore—their first in more than 60 years. The event carefully avoided titles and symbols of state, and the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, said the meeting showed that China and Taiwan were “one family with blood that is thicker than water.” But voters in Taiwan are increasingly wary of Beijing’s embrace. Their meeting comes as Xi hopes to cement his place among China’s pantheon of great leaders and as Ma tries to shape his legacy before stepping down next year due to term limits.
Fed interest rates rise
An increase in American interest rates by the end of the year looked more likely after Friday’s employment report. The economy added 271,000 jobs in October, well-above economists’ expectation; the unemployment rate fell to 5% from 5.1% in September.
Upcoming events
City on a Grid: How New York Became New York
November 10, 2015/11/8 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue (at 103rd Street) New York, NY 10029
Ethics in Contemporary War
November 10, 2015
12:30pm to 2:00pm
Columbia University Morningside Campus International Affairs Building Saltzman Seminar Room 1302
Gathering Storms in Asia and Latin America: Outlook and Policy Challenges
November 10, 2015
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Columbia University Morningside Campus International Affairs Building, Room 1501
The Program Board’s Special Screening of Piled Higher and Deeper: The PhD Movie
November 17, 2015
7:30pm -9:30pm
Global Center for Spiritual Life in GC 95 Lecture Hall
Perspectives from Inside a Tumultuous Middle East: Syria-Iraq-ISIS-Russia and Iran
November 18, 2015
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Merrill House
In your spare time
Aung San Suu Kyi, the Myanmar opposition leader, and millions of Burmese have cast their votes in what is being touted as the country’s first free election in 25 years this Sunday. Read Suu Kyi’s book Freedom from Fear if you are interested in Burmese politics, Southeast Asia and human rights.
This week’s Monday Briefing was brought to you by Xing Lu
