Your Friday Briefing: A Coronation Preview

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Tomorrow, King Charles III will be crowned in Westminster Abbey. It will be the first coronation in England for 70 years.

Charles has been king since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died seven months ago. Since ascending to the throne, he has worked to make the monarchy more accessible, progressive and inclusive, royal watchers say.

As king, Charles faced a difficult task. He walks the tightrope between tradition and modernity, which he reflects in his personal life. He has been divorced – and remarried. They eat healthy and care about climate change. But tomorrow’s ritual will serve as a reminder that, in a secular, multiethnic, digital-age society, the crown is an anachronism.

The British, some more concerned with the cost-of-living crisis, have not necessarily opposed the king’s idea. But many, especially young people, find the trappings of royalty to be irrelevant.

Around the Commonwealth, there are some calls for reshuffling, but independence is not the highest priority for Canada, Australia or New Zealand.

Details: Celebrations start at 11am in London, or 8pm in Sydney and 6pm in Hong Kong. Learn more about coronation in our FAQ

For more: See these unforgettable photos from Charles’ life.

Readers consider: We asked you to share your thoughts on the royal family. Here’s what two readers from Australia had to say:

I really have no interest in this dysfunctional, ancient, parasitic institution. The uppermost interest in the British monarchy is that Australia breaks away and becomes a republic! — Karen Houghton, Brisbane

When I found out I was only a year older than Prince Charles, I longed for the royal family but was never an ardent royalist. Once I became a republican, but many world presidents over the decades, especially in recent years, have changed my views. — With B.

Chinese security officials have in recent weeks made unannounced visits to the Chinese offices of several foreign businesses, and they appear to be particularly focused on US consulting firms, such as Bain & Company.

Separately, Chinese lawmakers have expanded counterespionage laws, which the U.S. ambassador said could make illegal “worldly” research conducted by companies before they offer investment deals.

While the investigation has led to new uncertainty, US-based lawyers say they have recently heard from two US companies trying to leave China. “The message is: ‘We don’t care about the economy. What’s important is that we have queues.'”

Analysis: The move appears to reflect calls from Xi Jinping, China’s leader, to strengthen national security and close the flow of potentially sensitive information to the government and foreign investors.

related: China’s internet regulator has banned videos and posts about poverty and the harsh economic reality. Behind the ban is a government that wants all talk about China to be positive, writes columnist Li Yuan.

A Times investigation examines how corruption in Turkey’s construction boom undermines safety. More than 50,000 people died as buildings collapsed, collapsed or were toppled during the February 6 earthquake.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is running for re-election this month, has used construction as a vessel for growth and a symbol of Turkey’s progress. But under his leadership, developers made payments to avoid bureaucratic approvals, taking priority over security.

In one example, a developer got zoning approval for an apartment complex in Antakya after donating more than $200,000 to a local soccer club, where the mayor is honorary president.

The project failed inspection, but the developer used political influence to open the door. About 65 people were killed when the apartment complex collapsed during the earthquake.

  • The US has categorically denied involvement in drone strikes on the Kremlin after Russia accused Washington of telling Ukraine where to attack.

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky went to The Hague and called for an independent tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes.

Eating highly processed foods, such as cereals and frozen meals, is associated with increased risk of diabetes, obesity and even cancer. But new research shows that they are also linked to anxiety, depression and cognitive decline.

Scientists are still trying to figure out why, but most research is focused on gut health. The link between food and mental health also works in both directions: People who are anxious or depressed tend to eat unhealthy foods, the nutrition professor says.

For more: Do you know how to identify ultraprocessed foods? Take our quiz.

One of the handbags shown above is made by Chanel. It costs $10,200. Others, too, are not made by Chanel. That’s $390.

But can you tell the difference?

I definitely can’t. Some of these realistic fakes, known as “superfakes,” are even professional dupes. They “became so good that they had etchings on the inside, or nine stitches instead of eight,” one authenticator told The Times.

Verisimilitude is upending luxury fashion, which depends on quality and exclusivity to justify high prices. These bags are mostly made in China, using quality materials and skilled labor. So that means they are not, in fact, fake?

“If you believe that fashion is really all about artifice,” wrote Amy Wang in The Times Magazine, “then there is an argument to be made that superfake handbags, blunt and front to the buyer in terms of trickery, are the most honest things that are not colored at all.” “

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