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Smith abandons Trump charges, unrest in Pakistan, and tragedy in the Red Sea

 
Today's legal story

Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump

What happened
Special Counsel Jack Smith yesterday officially requested that a federal judge dismiss his office's longstanding indictment against Donald Trump for allegedly working to subvert the 2020 presidential election. 

Who said what
Smith's request is a "final acknowledgment" of his office's prosecutorial dead end and shows he's "bowing to the reality" of a Department of Justice policy against prosecuting sitting presidents, said The New York Times. In his letter to presiding judge Tanya Chutkan, Smith stressed that his request was "not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," but was the result of a DOJ interpretation of the Constitution that the case be "dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated." 

Smith's election subversion case, and his separate indictment against Trump for improper classified documents handling, had been on hold while the courts "awaited word from Smith about how he wanted to proceed in the cases due to Trump's election," said MSNBC. Incoming White House Communications Director Steven Cheung told Fox News that the request for dismissal of both cases was a "major victory for the rule of law."

What next?
Trump is "still working to stave off prosecution in Georgia" for his alleged election subversion actions there, said CNN. Crucially, Smith's filing yesterday "held out the possibility that the charges could be refiled" against Trump following his term in office.

 
 
Today's INTERNATIONAL story

Khan supporters converge on Islamabad

What happened
A police officer was shot dead and dozens of people were injured as clashes between Pakistani authorities and protesters demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan intensified yesterday. Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad has been placed on lockdown for a second day in a row as thousands took to the streets to demand Khan's release and new elections. 

Who said what
Khan has been in prison for more than a year and faces a host of charges ranging from corruption to leaking state secrets that he alleges are politically motivated. He "remains hugely popular despite attempts by the military-backed civilian government to suppress his support," The New York Times said. Police have detained more than 4,000 Khan supporters, and government officials have threatened more arrests if protesters reach Islamabad's "red zone," which has been "sealed off to protect government buildings," Al Jazeera said.

What next?
The ongoing clashes may signal that Pakistan is "nearing a breaking point," The New York Times said. Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, told supporters yesterday that the marches would continue until her husband was freed. 

 
 
Today's middle east Story

Thirteen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinks

What happened
Three bodies have been recovered after a tourist boat capsized in the Red Sea yesterday. Another 13 people remain missing from the vessel, which sank south of the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam.  

Who said what
The boat, Sea Story, was carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a five-day diving trip when distress signals were sent out shortly before dawn yesterday, Egyptian officials said. Two Americans were on board, as well as foreign nationals from the U.K., Germany, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain and Ireland.

It was "not immediately clear" what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motor yacht to sink, said CNN, but the Egyptian Meteorological Authority had advised against maritime activity on Sunday, when the Sea Story set sail, and Monday, due to turbulence and high waves. Sea Story is operator Dive Pro Liveaboard’s "third vessel to experience a serious incident in the Red Sea in as many years," said The Telegraph. 

What next?
A manager of a diving resort close to the rescue operation, who asked not to be named, told AFP it was "unlikely that the missing would be rescued after 12 hours in the water."

 
 

It's not all bad

Contrary to the stereotype that gamers are loners with poor social skills, people who play multiplayer online games develop invaluable workplace skills, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Houston found that participating in games like "Final Fantasy" and "World of Warcraft" enhances teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and self-confidence, with many players viewing workplace challenges as solvable puzzles. The study highlights how gaming fosters personal and professional growth, reshaping perceptions of a pastime routinely dismissed as unproductive.

 
 
Under the radar

The "kingdom of happiness" is not entirely living up to its name as it faces unprecedented emigration, rocketing youth unemployment and dwindling foreign currency reserves. As Bhutan now tries to restore its fortunes, "tourism is seen as a major lever to pull," said the Bangkok Post. 

One in eight people in the tiny Himalayan nation lives in poverty, according to a report from the World Bank. This has led to many residents trying their luck elsewhere. "Last year, 1.5% of the population moved to Australia to work and study," said The Guardian. 

As more people leave, fewer are arriving. Bhutan welcomed 103,000 visitors last year, about two-thirds below its pre-pandemic record reached in 2019, so tourism is considered vital in addressing economic problems. The new target is to return to 300,000 visitors annually. 

But marketing the destination broadly "has its risks," said Bloomberg. As Bhutan appears more frequently on social media feeds, travel influencers are taking note. 

The government and tour operators are "caught with that dilemma" of wanting to boost numbers but paying the "penalty" with the effects, Brent Olson, the founder of Ethos Bhutan, said to Bloomberg. Once that content spreads and "hooks millions of people," they are "like lemmings, and they follow the same path." 

It becomes a "tricky balancing act," and it would not take a lot to "overwhelm" Bhutan's small towns and cultural sites. So there's "no time like now" to head there, said Bloomberg, to avoid crowds of other tourists also "thinking about visiting the Land of the Thunder Dragon." 

 
 
On this day

November 26, 1789

The United States held its first national Thanksgiving. The holiday, issued by a proclamation from President George Washington, served to honor the country's founding and its new Constitution. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of November, and is generally the busiest holiday for travel in the U.S. 

 
 
TODAY'S newspaperS

Special Counsel Jack Smith has dropped two "landmark" criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump, says The Wall Street Journal, a move that has "formally marked the end of an unprecedented chapter in US history." Trump will return to the White House "unburdened by federal efforts to hold him accountable," says The New York Times. The Washington Post looks to the Middle East, where Israel's security cabinet will "weigh" a deal to "end" the "Hezbollah conflict," after "intense negotiations over the past week" brought an agreement "closer."

► See the newspaper front pages

 
 
Tall tale

Wine not?

Pizza Hut might consider temporarily changing its name to the Wine Shack, as the chain unveils a limited-edition tomato-flavored vino. Made from tomatoes infused with basil, the red wine "captures the essence of Pizza Hut's signature flavors in every sip," said the company. It also incorporates a blend of fresh herbs and spices and oakwood, for a taste "reminiscent of a perfectly baked pizza crust." The bottles, produced in partnership with Kansas' Just Beyond Paradise Winery, sell for $25 each.

 
 

Morning Report was written and edited by Theara Coleman, Nadia Croes, Catherine Garcia, Scott Hocker, Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, Justin Klawans, Harriet Marsden, Devika Rao, Rafi Schwartz and Peter Weber, with illustrations by Stephen Kelly and Julia Wytrazek.

Image credits, from top: Saul Loeb and Eva Marie Uzcategui / AFP / Getty Images; Aamir Qureshi / AFP / Getty Images; Xinhua / Shutterstock; Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images