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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| George Michael, Philippines, Shinzo Abe: Your Morning Briefing | George Michael, Philippines, Shinzo Abe: Your Morning Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • President Obama has promised to deal the Islamic State crippling blows in Iraq and Syria before he leaves office. | • President Obama has promised to deal the Islamic State crippling blows in Iraq and Syria before he leaves office. |
| Yet as the deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin made clear last week, battlefield losses do not seem to diminish the group’s power to inspire mayhem around the world. | Yet as the deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin made clear last week, battlefield losses do not seem to diminish the group’s power to inspire mayhem around the world. |
| Our reporter went on an Air Force jet that hunts for targets in the looming offensive to seize Raqqa, the Islamic State’s capital, in Syria. | Our reporter went on an Air Force jet that hunts for targets in the looming offensive to seize Raqqa, the Islamic State’s capital, in Syria. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The politics of apology will be on display as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pays respects at the Pearl Harbor Memorial with President Obama. | • The politics of apology will be on display as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pays respects at the Pearl Harbor Memorial with President Obama. |
| Japan’s Foreign Ministry previously said he would be the first sitting prime minister to visit the site, but it now appears he is the fourth. | Japan’s Foreign Ministry previously said he would be the first sitting prime minister to visit the site, but it now appears he is the fourth. |
| Critics in China, South Korea and elsewhere say the visit ignores Japan’s wartime aggression closer to home. | Critics in China, South Korea and elsewhere say the visit ignores Japan’s wartime aggression closer to home. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The United States is the world’s leader in weapons sales, a report shows, accounting for $40 billion worth of deals or half of the entire global market. France was second with $15 billion in deals. | • The United States is the world’s leader in weapons sales, a report shows, accounting for $40 billion worth of deals or half of the entire global market. France was second with $15 billion in deals. |
| The most significant overseas sales for the United States last year included new agreements with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and South Korea. | The most significant overseas sales for the United States last year included new agreements with Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and South Korea. |
| China reached $6 billion in weapons sales, up from its 2014 total of over $3 billion. | China reached $6 billion in weapons sales, up from its 2014 total of over $3 billion. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • As pressure mounts over possible conflicts of interest, President-elect Donald J. Trump has said he is formulating plans to extricate himself from his family’s business. Above, Mr. Trump with his son Donald Jr., left, and Tiah Joo Kim, the Malaysian developer, in 2013. | • As pressure mounts over possible conflicts of interest, President-elect Donald J. Trump has said he is formulating plans to extricate himself from his family’s business. Above, Mr. Trump with his son Donald Jr., left, and Tiah Joo Kim, the Malaysian developer, in 2013. |
| Yet an examination of the company underscores the complex challenges of taking Mr. Trump out of the Trump Organization. | Yet an examination of the company underscores the complex challenges of taking Mr. Trump out of the Trump Organization. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • "It was the hardest performance I’ve ever given in my life.” | • "It was the hardest performance I’ve ever given in my life.” |
| Those were the words of a 21-year-old George Michael after Wham! the pop duo he formed with Andrew Ridgeley became the first Western band to perform in China in 1985. | Those were the words of a 21-year-old George Michael after Wham! the pop duo he formed with Andrew Ridgeley became the first Western band to perform in China in 1985. |
| Mr. Michael, a pop superstar, was found dead this weekend at his home in Britain. His manager said the musician, who was 53, died of heart failure. | Mr. Michael, a pop superstar, was found dead this weekend at his home in Britain. His manager said the musician, who was 53, died of heart failure. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In China, where the government owns all land, a group of residents in Wenzhou will not have to pay a fee to extend the rights to the land under their homes. The temporary decision could set a precedent that helps homeowners across the country. | • In China, where the government owns all land, a group of residents in Wenzhou will not have to pay a fee to extend the rights to the land under their homes. The temporary decision could set a precedent that helps homeowners across the country. |
| • A new program in New York is helping international entrepreneurs get temporary visas to establish their businesses. “It is an amazing and crucial opportunity,” said Namisha Bahl, 26, of India, who founded a website for women. | • A new program in New York is helping international entrepreneurs get temporary visas to establish their businesses. “It is an amazing and crucial opportunity,” said Namisha Bahl, 26, of India, who founded a website for women. |
| • The Dow has risen 14.4 percent this year, to 19,933.81, and there are just four more days to claim the 20,000 milestone for 2016. | • The Dow has risen 14.4 percent this year, to 19,933.81, and there are just four more days to claim the 20,000 milestone for 2016. |
| • The number of foreign tourists who visited South Korea this year is expected to set a record. | • The number of foreign tourists who visited South Korea this year is expected to set a record. |
| • The Year’s Best Apps. A news curator based on what friends are reading, an easy-to-access universe of NPR audio and an upgraded beer-tracking app are among our top picks. | • The Year’s Best Apps. A news curator based on what friends are reading, an easy-to-access universe of NPR audio and an upgraded beer-tracking app are among our top picks. |
| • United States and European markets were closed because of the Christmas holiday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • United States and European markets were closed because of the Christmas holiday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Russia is discounting the likelihood of terrorism causing a plane to crash into the Black Sea on Sunday. All 92 people on board, including members of a famed military choir, were killed. [The New York Times] | • Russia is discounting the likelihood of terrorism causing a plane to crash into the Black Sea on Sunday. All 92 people on board, including members of a famed military choir, were killed. [The New York Times] |
| • In Indonesia, a court will decide whether a blasphemy trial against the governor of Jakarta will proceed. Gov. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, is accused of insulting the Quran. [Reuters] | • In Indonesia, a court will decide whether a blasphemy trial against the governor of Jakarta will proceed. Gov. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, is accused of insulting the Quran. [Reuters] |
| • A conference for Chinese Catholics begins Tuesday in Beijing after a six-year hiatus, the latest sign of warming ties with the Vatican. [Agence France-Presse and The New York Times] | |
| • A super typhoon blew out of the Philippines after sending more than one million people to evacuation centers on Christmas Day. [Manila Times] | • A super typhoon blew out of the Philippines after sending more than one million people to evacuation centers on Christmas Day. [Manila Times] |
| • China and São Tomé and Príncipe resumed diplomatic relations in a victory for Beijing after the African island nation abruptly broke away from Taiwan last week. [Associated Press] | • China and São Tomé and Príncipe resumed diplomatic relations in a victory for Beijing after the African island nation abruptly broke away from Taiwan last week. [Associated Press] |
| • Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia sent a public plea to the incoming Trump administration to forgive more than $300 million of debt accrued during the Vietnam War. [The Cambodia Daily] | • Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia sent a public plea to the incoming Trump administration to forgive more than $300 million of debt accrued during the Vietnam War. [The Cambodia Daily] |
| • Chinese warships led by the country’s lone aircraft carrier passed Taiwan and entered the top half of the South China Sea, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. [Reuters] | • Chinese warships led by the country’s lone aircraft carrier passed Taiwan and entered the top half of the South China Sea, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said. [Reuters] |
| • Haitians. Africans. Asians. The border between the United States and Baja California is suddenly teeming with migrants. [Los Angeles Times] | • Haitians. Africans. Asians. The border between the United States and Baja California is suddenly teeming with migrants. [Los Angeles Times] |
| • The largest Hmong New Year festival in the United States kicks off in Fresno, Calif., drawing thousands of people from across the nation. [Fresno Bee] | • The largest Hmong New Year festival in the United States kicks off in Fresno, Calif., drawing thousands of people from across the nation. [Fresno Bee] |
| • Professional wrestling has grand plans for China. World Wrestling Entertainment is using video streaming to bypass state controls and reach fans though computers and mobile devices. It’s also looking for beefy local talent. | • Professional wrestling has grand plans for China. World Wrestling Entertainment is using video streaming to bypass state controls and reach fans though computers and mobile devices. It’s also looking for beefy local talent. |
| • Tom Slingsby, the Australian who is among the world’s top sailors, prefers to sleep on dry land after a day at sea. But he is going against his own grain to race in “the Hobart,” which can be a rough, sleepless ride on the way to Tasmania. | • Tom Slingsby, the Australian who is among the world’s top sailors, prefers to sleep on dry land after a day at sea. But he is going against his own grain to race in “the Hobart,” which can be a rough, sleepless ride on the way to Tasmania. |
| • “The Mikado,” the 131-year-old Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, set in an imaginary Japan, hopes to please fans while not being offensive. Recent revivals haven’t been so lucky. | • “The Mikado,” the 131-year-old Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, set in an imaginary Japan, hopes to please fans while not being offensive. Recent revivals haven’t been so lucky. |
| Christmas is over, but reminders of the holiday are most likely scattered around your home and office, or perhaps hiding inside a coat pocket. We’re talking about candy canes, whose ubiquity is matched by the legends surrounding their creation. | Christmas is over, but reminders of the holiday are most likely scattered around your home and office, or perhaps hiding inside a coat pocket. We’re talking about candy canes, whose ubiquity is matched by the legends surrounding their creation. |
| One tale dates the candy to 1670, when a choirmaster at a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, needed a way to keep children entertained during long Christmas services. | One tale dates the candy to 1670, when a choirmaster at a cathedral in Cologne, Germany, needed a way to keep children entertained during long Christmas services. |
| He asked a local confectioner to bend hard candy into the shape of a shepherd’s cane. | He asked a local confectioner to bend hard candy into the shape of a shepherd’s cane. |
| About 200 years later, a German-Swedish immigrant is said to have brought the tradition to America, decorating his Christmas tree with the canes, which were all white. | About 200 years later, a German-Swedish immigrant is said to have brought the tradition to America, decorating his Christmas tree with the canes, which were all white. |
| In 1920, a Georgia candy maker developed a way to hand-twist colors into the canes, giving them their traditional red and white look, according to one account. | In 1920, a Georgia candy maker developed a way to hand-twist colors into the canes, giving them their traditional red and white look, according to one account. |
| The sweets were already popular back then, and today they are part of a seasonal candy juggernaut that rakes in over $7 billion a year, according to an industry trade group. | The sweets were already popular back then, and today they are part of a seasonal candy juggernaut that rakes in over $7 billion a year, according to an industry trade group. |
| So what to do with the extra peppermint sticks? Perhaps crush them to use on ice cream or cookies. | So what to do with the extra peppermint sticks? Perhaps crush them to use on ice cream or cookies. |
| Or save them: Not only has the candy been around for centuries, it can last up to three years. | Or save them: Not only has the candy been around for centuries, it can last up to three years. |
| ____ | ____ |
| Remy Tumin contributed reporting. | Remy Tumin contributed reporting. |
| 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. |