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| Trump, Aleppo, Yellen: Your Friday Briefing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • The lobby of Trump Tower in New York is seeing a frenetic parade of visitors as President-elect Donald J. Trump considers candidates for cabinet posts and welcomes advisers and officials. | • The lobby of Trump Tower in New York is seeing a frenetic parade of visitors as President-elect Donald J. Trump considers candidates for cabinet posts and welcomes advisers and officials. |
| The roster for official sitdowns on Thursday alone included Henry A. Kissinger; Adm. Michael S. Rogers, a top national security official; and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who is the first world leader to meet Mr. Trump face-to-face since the election. | The roster for official sitdowns on Thursday alone included Henry A. Kissinger; Adm. Michael S. Rogers, a top national security official; and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who is the first world leader to meet Mr. Trump face-to-face since the election. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Mr. Trump’s 35-year-old son-in-law, Jared Kushner, above center on Monday, is considering an official role with the administration. | |
| The transition team leader, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, is reconnecting with members of Congress in Washington, and may find a surprising welcome among Democrats. Wounded by their electoral defeat, they are considering aligning with Mr. Trump on some populist issues. | The transition team leader, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, is reconnecting with members of Congress in Washington, and may find a surprising welcome among Democrats. Wounded by their electoral defeat, they are considering aligning with Mr. Trump on some populist issues. |
| But civil rights are likely to be an area of sharp division. A prominent Trump supporter set off major alarm bells when he cited World War II-era Japanese-American internment camps as a “precedent” for an immigrant registry, and the specter of race shadows Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a possible cabinet member. | But civil rights are likely to be an area of sharp division. A prominent Trump supporter set off major alarm bells when he cited World War II-era Japanese-American internment camps as a “precedent” for an immigrant registry, and the specter of race shadows Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a possible cabinet member. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “The extraordinary demands that are placed on the United States not just by its own people, but by people around the world, that forces you to focus. That demands seriousness.” | • “The extraordinary demands that are placed on the United States not just by its own people, but by people around the world, that forces you to focus. That demands seriousness.” |
| President Obama’s comments, made standing next to Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin near the end of his last official trip abroad, offered another installment of public reassurance that American leadership would remain strong. He also urged Mr. Trump to “stand up to” the Russian leader, Vladimir V. Putin. | President Obama’s comments, made standing next to Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin near the end of his last official trip abroad, offered another installment of public reassurance that American leadership would remain strong. He also urged Mr. Trump to “stand up to” the Russian leader, Vladimir V. Putin. |
| Mr. Putin and President Xi Jinping of China will be among the leaders at Mr. Obama’s final stop: a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru. | Mr. Putin and President Xi Jinping of China will be among the leaders at Mr. Obama’s final stop: a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Peru. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Russian and Syrian warplanes have destroyed eight hospitals in the last week as they pound rebel-held areas of Aleppo. | |
| Dozens of people are killed each day, and what little food remains is running out. “Life is upside down here,” said a resident. | |
| _____ | |
| • American agricultural scientists announced a discovery that could dramatically change the world’s food supply. | • American agricultural scientists announced a discovery that could dramatically change the world’s food supply. |
| Using genetic engineering to tinker with photosynthesis, they were able to boost a plant’s productivity by as much as 20 percent. One scientist believes gains of 50 percent are possible. | Using genetic engineering to tinker with photosynthesis, they were able to boost a plant’s productivity by as much as 20 percent. One scientist believes gains of 50 percent are possible. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Janet L. Yellen offered a positive assessment of U.S. economic health in her first public comments since the election, strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve Bank would raise interest rates next month. | • Janet L. Yellen offered a positive assessment of U.S. economic health in her first public comments since the election, strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve Bank would raise interest rates next month. |
| • The Dalian Wanda conglomerate announced a $15 billion development project in Shaanxi Province, about half of it dedicated to building a tourism center in Xian, the home of the terra-cotta warriors. | • The Dalian Wanda conglomerate announced a $15 billion development project in Shaanxi Province, about half of it dedicated to building a tourism center in Xian, the home of the terra-cotta warriors. |
| • China’s central bank is ramping up research on the possibility of a “sovereign digital currency.” | • China’s central bank is ramping up research on the possibility of a “sovereign digital currency.” |
| • Troubles grew for the pharmaceutical giant Valeant with the arrest of a former executive in what prosecutors in New York described as a multimillion-dollar fraud and kickback scheme involving the mail-order pharmacy Philidor. | • Troubles grew for the pharmaceutical giant Valeant with the arrest of a former executive in what prosecutors in New York described as a multimillion-dollar fraud and kickback scheme involving the mail-order pharmacy Philidor. |
| • Worried about hacking and/or surveillance? Here are seven steps to protect your digital life. | • Worried about hacking and/or surveillance? Here are seven steps to protect your digital life. |
| • The American dollar and oil prices rose, and U.S. markets were higher. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • The American dollar and oil prices rose, and U.S. markets were higher. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Islamic State fighters in Mosul, taking advantage of cloudy weather that neutralized U.S. air support, launched deadly counterattacks at advancing Iraqi forces. Above, Iraqis fleeing the city. [The Associated Press] | |
| • Iran was accused by human rights groups of using stage-managed confessions to justify a mass hanging of Sunni prisoners in August. [The New York Times] | • Iran was accused by human rights groups of using stage-managed confessions to justify a mass hanging of Sunni prisoners in August. [The New York Times] |
| • Melbourne has been featured in a new propaganda video by the Islamic State that alternates images of the Australian city’s landmarks with beheadings, corpses and missiles. [Sydney Morning Herald] | • Melbourne has been featured in a new propaganda video by the Islamic State that alternates images of the Australian city’s landmarks with beheadings, corpses and missiles. [Sydney Morning Herald] |
| • Turkey’s clampdown on free speech has pushed the country ahead of China as the world’s biggest jailer of journalists. [The New York Times] | • Turkey’s clampdown on free speech has pushed the country ahead of China as the world’s biggest jailer of journalists. [The New York Times] |
| • Thousands of protesters rallied in Taiwan against legislation that would make the government the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. [Channel News Asia] | • Thousands of protesters rallied in Taiwan against legislation that would make the government the first in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. [Channel News Asia] |
| • Chinese civil society groups are calling for greater reproductive freedom for single women, aiming to boost the country’s fertility rate, the lowest in the world. [The New York Times] | • Chinese civil society groups are calling for greater reproductive freedom for single women, aiming to boost the country’s fertility rate, the lowest in the world. [The New York Times] |
| • Anti-South Korea and anti-U.S. propaganda leaflets, some depicting President Park Guen-hye with fangs, are showing up in Seoul suburbs. [NKnew.org] | • Anti-South Korea and anti-U.S. propaganda leaflets, some depicting President Park Guen-hye with fangs, are showing up in Seoul suburbs. [NKnew.org] |
| • China’s music scene is booming, and Douban.com plays an indispensable part. The website receives 270 million visitors each month to stream songs and interact with artists. | • China’s music scene is booming, and Douban.com plays an indispensable part. The website receives 270 million visitors each month to stream songs and interact with artists. |
| • In Japan, Tomokazu Miura, 64, and former idol singer Momoe Yamaguchi, 57, were voted the most ideal married couple for the 11th consecutive year. | |
| • India’s family laws discourage divorce, and sometimes it comes down a judge to determine what constitutes “mental cruelty.” (One hint: don’t call your husband a “fat elephant.”) | |
| • Today’s 360 video is about Capt. Thomas J. Keating Jr. He guides about 150 ships in and out of New York Harbor each year. Join him aboard one of the world’s largest ocean liners. | • Today’s 360 video is about Capt. Thomas J. Keating Jr. He guides about 150 ships in and out of New York Harbor each year. Join him aboard one of the world’s largest ocean liners. |
| Brazil is celebrating an important holiday on Sunday, though it’s one that may be unfamiliar outside the country: Black Consciousness Day. | Brazil is celebrating an important holiday on Sunday, though it’s one that may be unfamiliar outside the country: Black Consciousness Day. |
| Slavery existed in Brazil until 1888, making it the last country in the Americas to abolish the practice. More than 5 million slaves were sent to Brazil through the Atlantic trade, compared with about 300,000 in mainland North America, according to one of the most thoroughly researched academic estimates. | Slavery existed in Brazil until 1888, making it the last country in the Americas to abolish the practice. More than 5 million slaves were sent to Brazil through the Atlantic trade, compared with about 300,000 in mainland North America, according to one of the most thoroughly researched academic estimates. |
| Today the nation has more residents of African heritage than any other country outside Africa. | Today the nation has more residents of African heritage than any other country outside Africa. |
| The population has historically been underrepresented in government, but a rise in citizens identifying as black or mixed race is helping to chip away at economic and educational inequalities. | The population has historically been underrepresented in government, but a rise in citizens identifying as black or mixed race is helping to chip away at economic and educational inequalities. |
| Black Consciousness Day was established in 2003, featuring the “Freedom Walk” — parades around the country meant to show the size of the black population. | Black Consciousness Day was established in 2003, featuring the “Freedom Walk” — parades around the country meant to show the size of the black population. |
| The date, Nov. 20, was set for the anniversary of the death of Zumbi dos Palmares, one of the great black heroes of the Americas. He led a small kingdom founded by runaway slaves. He was killed by the Portuguese in 1695, after they overran his republic | The date, Nov. 20, was set for the anniversary of the death of Zumbi dos Palmares, one of the great black heroes of the Americas. He led a small kingdom founded by runaway slaves. He was killed by the Portuguese in 1695, after they overran his republic |
| But the power of his story has only grown as the country embraces its African heritage. | But the power of his story has only grown as the country embraces its African heritage. |
| A researcher with the Afro-Brazil Museum in São Paulo sees more progress ahead: “We Brazilian blacks are finally learning to be black.” | A researcher with the Afro-Brazil Museum in São Paulo sees more progress ahead: “We Brazilian blacks are finally learning to be black.” |
| Sean Alfano contributed reporting. | Sean Alfano contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help. | Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help. |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at asiabriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at asiabriefing@nytimes.com. |