Monday Briefing | November 9 - Journal of Political Inquiry

Photo: President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/07/world/americas/Biden-foreign-policy.html

Stories to Follow:

The main story on everyone’s mind this week is the U.S. election. Joe Biden has been declared the winner, and world leaders are paying attention, with many hoping this will signal a major shift in US foreign policy. Biden will face a long list of foreign policy challenges when he takes office, from Brexit to the ongoing tensions with China.

Tropical Storm Eta is approaching Florida and Cuba, after already causing devastation in Central America. Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala were especially badly affected, with over 160 feared dead. Rescuers in Guatemala are working to save survivors of a devastating mudslide which buried a remote village on Thursday.

Tensions are rising in Ethiopia as observers fear it may be on the brink of civil war. The Ethiopian government ordered airstrikes on the northern region of Tigray, in response to an alleged attack on a federal military base by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which controls the region. The TPLF is the former ruling party of Ethiopia, which was removed from power in 2018.

Happening This Week:

NYU Athletics is continuing to offer virtual classes, including Abs/Core, Shredded Abs, HIIT, Tempo Strength, Total Body, Hatha Yoga, Gentle Yoga/Meditation, Hip Hop Dance, Zumba, and Cardio Kickboxing. Take a break from studying to take care of yourself this week!

Bryant Park has opened its ice skating rink for the season. Admission is free if you bring your own skates, but you can rent skates at the rink for $21-$36, depending on the day. This year, skate time must be reserved online in advance to reduce overcrowding, so go ahead and mark your calendar. If ice skating isn’t your thing, there are plenty of booths set up in the Winter Village at Bryant Park that offer fun shopping options and yummy winter treats.

In Your Free Time:

Allie Brosh, famous in the early 2010s for her fun and relatable cartoon “Hyperbole and a Half” (the source of the ~all the things! meme), has returned after six years with a new book. Check out Solutions and Other Problems, or just enjoy reading through the archive at her blog.

This week’s Monday Briefing was brought to you by Elizabeth Bailey.