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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Aleppo, Fidel Castro, Mosul: Your Thursday Briefing | Aleppo, Fidel Castro, Mosul: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • President-elect Donald J. Trump announced via Twitter that he would take steps to separate from his business empire. Skeptics said he was unlikely to go far enough to avert conflicts of interest. Above, Mr. Trump dined Tuesday with Mitt Romney, right, a candidate for secretary of state. | • President-elect Donald J. Trump announced via Twitter that he would take steps to separate from his business empire. Skeptics said he was unlikely to go far enough to avert conflicts of interest. Above, Mr. Trump dined Tuesday with Mitt Romney, right, a candidate for secretary of state. |
| The president-elect’s reliance on social media has raised a question for news organizations: Is everything Mr. Trump posts on Twitter news? | The president-elect’s reliance on social media has raised a question for news organizations: Is everything Mr. Trump posts on Twitter news? |
| He plans to hold rallies in states that were crucial to his victory, beginning in Cincinnati today. | He plans to hold rallies in states that were crucial to his victory, beginning in Cincinnati today. |
| John Brennan, the C.I.A. director, warned that Mr. Trump’s pledge to scrap the Iran nuclear deal would be “disastrous” and could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. | John Brennan, the C.I.A. director, warned that Mr. Trump’s pledge to scrap the Iran nuclear deal would be “disastrous” and could lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Mr. Trump unveiled his economic team of investment titans, including Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary. Mr. Mnuchin (pronounced mi-NEW-chin) has deep ties to Hollywood and Wall Street but no government experience. | • Mr. Trump unveiled his economic team of investment titans, including Steven Mnuchin as Treasury secretary. Mr. Mnuchin (pronounced mi-NEW-chin) has deep ties to Hollywood and Wall Street but no government experience. |
| The choice for national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, an outspoken critic of political Islam, has described China, North Korea, Russia, Cuba and Venezuela as pro-jihadist anti-Western conspirators. | The choice for national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, an outspoken critic of political Islam, has described China, North Korea, Russia, Cuba and Venezuela as pro-jihadist anti-Western conspirators. |
| Here’s a list of those picked for cabinet positions and other candidates — including Sarah Palin for Veterans Affairs. And here’s the latest on the transition. | Here’s a list of those picked for cabinet positions and other candidates — including Sarah Palin for Veterans Affairs. And here’s the latest on the transition. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Iraqi security forces retaking territory from the Islamic State are uncovering mass graves on a despairingly regular basis. Most of the dead were executed recently, after the campaign for Mosul began. | • Iraqi security forces retaking territory from the Islamic State are uncovering mass graves on a despairingly regular basis. Most of the dead were executed recently, after the campaign for Mosul began. |
| In Syria, thousands of desperate people are fleeing eastern Aleppo following grim warnings of being “annihilated” as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad gain ground. | In Syria, thousands of desperate people are fleeing eastern Aleppo following grim warnings of being “annihilated” as forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad gain ground. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The pilot of the chartered plane that crashed in Colombia, killing almost all aboard, including members of a Brazilian soccer team, had radioed controllers that he was running out of fuel. | |
| “Fuel emergency,” he said in one of his last transmissions. | |
| Above, fans mourned at the team’s home stadium. | |
| _____ | |
| • America’s uncertain policy has given China a leading role in addressing climate change. | • America’s uncertain policy has given China a leading role in addressing climate change. |
| But worries about power supplies are pushing China to mine and burn more coal. | But worries about power supplies are pushing China to mine and burn more coal. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The United Nations capped North Korea’s coal exports, stiffening sanctions that have so far failed to throttle the country’s nuclear program. | • The United Nations capped North Korea’s coal exports, stiffening sanctions that have so far failed to throttle the country’s nuclear program. |
| The penalty required the approval of China, North Korea’s principle patron and coal customer, which wants to express its displeasure without upending the country’s economy or creating flows of refugees across its borders. | The penalty required the approval of China, North Korea’s principle patron and coal customer, which wants to express its displeasure without upending the country’s economy or creating flows of refugees across its borders. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • OPEC reached a deal to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day, its first cut in eight years, sending oil prices soaring. | • OPEC reached a deal to cut production by 1.2 million barrels a day, its first cut in eight years, sending oil prices soaring. |
| • China releases its purchasing managers index, or P.M.I., data for November, providing some insight into how the country’s manufacturing sector is faring. | • China releases its purchasing managers index, or P.M.I., data for November, providing some insight into how the country’s manufacturing sector is faring. |
| • Samsung Electronic’s stock reached its highest in 40 years after it announced it was looking into a plan to convert itself into a holding company. | • Samsung Electronic’s stock reached its highest in 40 years after it announced it was looking into a plan to convert itself into a holding company. |
| • Valeant shares dropped more than 7 percent on reports that talks to sell its Salix gastrointestinal-drugs division to Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. had fallen apart. | • Valeant shares dropped more than 7 percent on reports that talks to sell its Salix gastrointestinal-drugs division to Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. had fallen apart. |
| • An outbreak of bird flu has hit South Korea hardest, forcing the cull of millions of poultry. | • An outbreak of bird flu has hit South Korea hardest, forcing the cull of millions of poultry. |
| • Banks across India are preparing for the worst as 20 million people are expected to line up for payday next week amid cash shortages. | • Banks across India are preparing for the worst as 20 million people are expected to line up for payday next week amid cash shortages. |
| • American drug regulators approved large-scale clinical trials to study MDMA, the illegal party drug better known as Ecstasy, as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. | • American drug regulators approved large-scale clinical trials to study MDMA, the illegal party drug better known as Ecstasy, as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. |
| • U.S. markets were mixed as energy prices rose and technology and health care shares fell. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. markets were mixed as energy prices rose and technology and health care shares fell. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • China’s 30 million “missing girls” may simply have not been registered, not aborted or killed after birth, American and Chinese researchers say. [The Washington Post] | • China’s 30 million “missing girls” may simply have not been registered, not aborted or killed after birth, American and Chinese researchers say. [The Washington Post] |
| • The United States and China overtook Russia in space launches this year. [Moscow Times] | • The United States and China overtook Russia in space launches this year. [Moscow Times] |
| • Nancy Pelosi retained leadership of Democrats in the House of Representatives, fending off a challenge driven by the party’s election losses. [The New York Times] | • Nancy Pelosi retained leadership of Democrats in the House of Representatives, fending off a challenge driven by the party’s election losses. [The New York Times] |
| • South Korean lawmakers are considering whether to allow the embattled president, Park Geun-hye, to step down in April. [The New York Times] | • South Korean lawmakers are considering whether to allow the embattled president, Park Geun-hye, to step down in April. [The New York Times] |
| • India’s highest court ruled that national anthem must play before films in all movie theaters, to inspire “a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism.” [The New York Times] | • India’s highest court ruled that national anthem must play before films in all movie theaters, to inspire “a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism.” [The New York Times] |
| • Another high court ruling allows women to pray in Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah mosque for the first time since 2011. [Thomson Reuters Foundation] | • Another high court ruling allows women to pray in Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah mosque for the first time since 2011. [Thomson Reuters Foundation] |
| • The Times first wrote Fidel Castro’s obituary in 1959, and it required more work hours over the years than any other we’ve published. Sixteen Times journalists recount their work on the historic article. | • The Times first wrote Fidel Castro’s obituary in 1959, and it required more work hours over the years than any other we’ve published. Sixteen Times journalists recount their work on the historic article. |
| “The years of preparation paid off,” one said. | “The years of preparation paid off,” one said. |
| Separately, our latest 360 video shows students paying tribute to Mr. Castro at the University of Havana, where he immersed himself in radical politics in the 1940s. | Separately, our latest 360 video shows students paying tribute to Mr. Castro at the University of Havana, where he immersed himself in radical politics in the 1940s. |
| • A few months ago, our reporter Diaa Hadid chronicled her first hajj for readers. This week, she shares her experience of returning to Alexandria, Egypt, where her mother was raised. | • A few months ago, our reporter Diaa Hadid chronicled her first hajj for readers. This week, she shares her experience of returning to Alexandria, Egypt, where her mother was raised. |
| “As the country has plunged into a downward spiral, Alexandria is even more diminished,” she writes. “Once Egypt’s exuberant gateway to Europe, the city has been neglected for decades.” | “As the country has plunged into a downward spiral, Alexandria is even more diminished,” she writes. “Once Egypt’s exuberant gateway to Europe, the city has been neglected for decades.” |
| • Magnus Carlsen has two reasons to celebrate. | |
| The Norwegian retained his title as world chess champion after beating the Russian challenger, Sergey Karjakin, in a four-game tie-breaker. | |
| He also turned 26. | |
| More than 30 years ago, a cow set a record for the most milk produced in 24 hours. | More than 30 years ago, a cow set a record for the most milk produced in 24 hours. |
| Ubre Blanca (White Udder) was said to yield more than 100 liters that day. Her master was Fidel Castro. | Ubre Blanca (White Udder) was said to yield more than 100 liters that day. Her master was Fidel Castro. |
| The supercow is one of many tales Cubans will remember as they say goodbye to their longtime leader this weekend. | The supercow is one of many tales Cubans will remember as they say goodbye to their longtime leader this weekend. |
| Ubre Blanca was part of Mr. Castro’s effort to solve a milk shortage. Long before Dolly the sheep or goats engineered to produce silk, Mr. Castro used artificial insemination to combine the Asian Zebu’s hardiness with a Holstein’s high yield. | Ubre Blanca was part of Mr. Castro’s effort to solve a milk shortage. Long before Dolly the sheep or goats engineered to produce silk, Mr. Castro used artificial insemination to combine the Asian Zebu’s hardiness with a Holstein’s high yield. |
| Ubre Blanca was born in 1972 to instant stardom. Daily reports of her progress became news, though in the end, she was more or less the only success from the breeding experiment. | Ubre Blanca was born in 1972 to instant stardom. Daily reports of her progress became news, though in the end, she was more or less the only success from the breeding experiment. |
| Mr. Castro had a love for all things dairy, which included “Cuban Camembert” and a quest to build an ice cream parlor, Coppelia, to rival the American restaurant chain Howard Johnson’s. | Mr. Castro had a love for all things dairy, which included “Cuban Camembert” and a quest to build an ice cream parlor, Coppelia, to rival the American restaurant chain Howard Johnson’s. |
| His ice cream obsession was also the closest the United States got to a successful assassination attempt – poison was to be slipped into Mr. Castro’s milkshake, but froze to the side of the freezer instead. | His ice cream obsession was also the closest the United States got to a successful assassination attempt – poison was to be slipped into Mr. Castro’s milkshake, but froze to the side of the freezer instead. |
| As for Ubre Blanca, she died in 1985. A government official saluted her, saying, | |
| “She gave her all for the people.” | |
| _____ | _____ |
| 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. |