First Thing: Burning Man revelers begin exodus from festival after road reopens

Organisers of event in Nevada desert have asked people to stagger their exits after thousands were stranded over weekend. Plus, Has US learned to cope with extreme heat?

Good morning.

Burning Man attenders began their slow exodus from the campsite in the northern Nevada desert after muddy roads that left tens of thousands of partygoers stranded for days dried up enough to make travel possible.

Festival organisers said they started to let traffic flow out of the main road around 2pm local time (2200 BST) on Monday – even as they continued to ask revellers to delay their exit to Tuesday to ease traffic. As of Monday afternoon, they said about 64,000 people remained at the festival site.

Organisers also requested that participants did not walk out of the Black Rock desert as some others had done throughout the weekend.

The festival had been closed to vehicles after more than a half-inch (1.3cm) of rain fell on Friday, causing flooding and foot-deep mud.

At least one fatality had been reported at this year’s event, but organisers said the death of a man in his 40s was not weather-related. The sheriff of nearby Pershing County said he was investigating but had not identified the man or a cause of death.

G20 must forge agreement to increase tax on rich, say campaigners

Developed and emerging economies must use a summit this weekend to forge an international agreement to increase wealth taxes on the global rich, campaigners have said.

In an open letter to the G20 before its meeting in Delhi, the group of almost 300 millionaires, economists and politicians say urgent action is needed to prevent extreme wealth “corroding our collective future”.

The letter, whose signatories include the Disney heiress Abigail Disney and the artists Brian Eno and Richard Curtis, urges the G20 to demonstrate the same global cooperation it showed in ensuring multinational companies pay a minimum level of tax to agree collectively to tax wealth.

With deep divisions between members of the G20, little is expected of this weekend’s summit, but those pushing for a wealth tax said it was time for leaders to listen to public opinion.

What does the letter say? “Much work has already been done. There is an abundance of policy proposals on wealth taxation from some of the world’s leading economists. The public wants it. We want it. Now all that’s missing is the political will to deliver it. It’s time for you to find it,” the letter reads.

Drone attack causes damage in Moscow suburbs, says mayor

Russia shot down at least three Ukraine-launched drones early this morning that were targeting the country’s capital, the Russian defence ministry said.
The ministry said that its air defence systems destroyed two drones over the Kaluga and Tver regions, which border the Moscow region, as well as one closer to the capital, over the Istra district of the Moscow region.
The Moscow mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said the drones “were trying to carry out an attack on Moscow” and that a consumer services facility was damaged in the Istra district, which is located 65km (40 miles) north-west of the Kremlin.
There was no damage or casualties elsewhere, the mayor and defence ministry said. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.

Drone attacks on Russian targets, especially in Crimea – annexed by Moscow in 2014 – and in regions bordering Ukraine, have become almost a daily occurrences since two drones were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May.

What else is happening? Kim Jong-un will reportedly travel to Russia this month to meet Vladimir Putin and discuss the possibility of supplying weapons to the Kremlin for the war in Ukraine. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said details of the expected meeting were still unclear, but added that it was likely to take place in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, given its proximity to North Korea.

In other news …

The French government has said it is preparing a new decree against meaty terms like “steak”, “grill” and “spare ribs” being used to describe plant-based products. The new draft decree, which applies only to products made and sold in France, bans a list of 21 meat names to describe protein-based products.

The author of a new biography of Joe Biden has said it “wouldn’t be a total shock” if the president cancels his re-election bid by the end of the year. Franklin Foer made his comments amid widespread questions about Biden’s age and competency.

The Spain men’s national football team have condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” of Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish football federation (RFEF). Rubiales has been provisionally suspended by Fifa pending an investigation into his behaviour at the World Cup final when he kissed the Spain player Jenni Hermoso on the lips.

Two people have been detained after using an excavator to dig a hole in the Great Wall of China, said the state broadcaster CCTV. Police in Shanxi province followed tracks made by machinery used to dig a shortcut through a segment of the wall, causing “irreversible damage” to the Ming-era structure.

Stat of the day: Thirteen-year wage dispute between NYC and Staten Island ferry workers set to end

One of the lengthiest wage disputes in the US is reported to be drawing to an end, as Staten Island ferry captains, mates and engineers appeared to be reaching a deal after 13 years without a union contract with New York City. A deal between the marine engineers’ beneficial association, which represents 150 ferry workers, that has eluded negotiators since 2010, was set be announced Monday, according to the Daily News. Crew members working the distinctive orange ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan have said that low pay and low morale had left them without enough staff to keep the ferries operating on schedule. Staten Island ferry captains are paid about $20,000 less a year than the state average for water transportation workers, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Don’t miss this: Think reparations are impossible? The story of Japanese Americans proves otherwise

Kay Ochi still remembers the small, brown envelope her family received from the US Department of Justice more than 30 years ago. It looked like any other piece of official government mail, with a Washington DC postmark. But inside was a printed letter, signed by President George HW Bush – and two checks for $20,000, one for each of her parents. Her parents were among the 82,000 Japanese Americans who received redress after being forced into concentration camps during the second world war under the guise of national security, in one of the darkest chapters in modern US history. The payments were the culmination of a hard-fought, 20-year movement, driven by sansei, or third-generation Japanese Americans, like Ochi seeking justice for their elders. Now, decades later, their victory is taking on new weight as Black Americans fight for reparations of their own.

Climate check: Has the US learned to cope with extreme heat? Next summer could be even hotter

It’s been a record-breaking summer of heatwaves across large parts of the US and the world, and trying to stay cool and safe has been an unprecedented challenge. There has been a rise in heat-related fatalities; companies and organizations have been under greater pressures to protect workers; and officials from small towns to the White House have been scrambling to respond. All of this could be the start of the “new normal”.

Climate scientists say the heat and other extreme weather is in line with three decades of scientific prediction amid humanity’s relentless carbon emissions. It might, in fact, be the tip of the iceberg compared with what is to come. If you think this year has been too hot, then 2024 might be an unpleasant experience. Climate scientists have warned that the trends are pointing to next year being the hottest ever recorded.

Last Thing: Taiwan presidential hopeful offers pets for pregnancies in push to boost birthrate

A billionaire presidential hopeful in Taiwan has proposed boosting the plummeting birthrate by offering couples free pets if they have a baby. Terry Gou, the founder of Apple-supplier Foxconn, announced his intention to seek the presidency as an independent candidate last week. Gou told attenders at a Taipei city temple on Friday that the declining birthrate could be addressed by giving new parents a cat or dog. Taiwan has one of the world’s lowest birthrates, with many people citing the high cost of living, difficulties in accessing childcare, and traditional gender expectations. The rapid ageing of the population threatens the economy and military defence of Taiwan. Meanwhile pet ownership is skyrocketing, with anecdotal reports suggesting many couples are choosing animals over children. Gou however, felt people could be motivated to take on both.

Sign up

First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email [email protected]