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| Debbie Reynolds, Israel, Jacqueline Sauvage: Your Thursday Briefing | Debbie Reynolds, Israel, Jacqueline Sauvage: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • John Kerry, the departing U.S. secretary of state, dropped the diplomatic niceties and used one of his last speeches in office to rebuke Israel, warning that it was undermining any hope of a two-state solution to its conflict with the Palestinians. | • John Kerry, the departing U.S. secretary of state, dropped the diplomatic niceties and used one of his last speeches in office to rebuke Israel, warning that it was undermining any hope of a two-state solution to its conflict with the Palestinians. |
| Mr. Kerry spoke knowing that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump may well abandon decades of American policy toward Israel. | Mr. Kerry spoke knowing that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump may well abandon decades of American policy toward Israel. |
| Hours earlier, Mr. Trump had posted on Twitter that the Obama administration had treated its ally in the Middle East with “total disdain and disrespect.” | Hours earlier, Mr. Trump had posted on Twitter that the Obama administration had treated its ally in the Middle East with “total disdain and disrespect.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Debbie Reynolds, the Hollywood star best known for the 1952 musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” died at 84, a day after the death of her daughter, the actress Carrie Fisher. | • Debbie Reynolds, the Hollywood star best known for the 1952 musical “Singin’ in the Rain,” died at 84, a day after the death of her daughter, the actress Carrie Fisher. |
| “She’s now with Carrie and we’re all heartbroken,” her son said. | “She’s now with Carrie and we’re all heartbroken,” her son said. |
| Here’s a look at six movies for which Ms. Reynolds will be remembered. | Here’s a look at six movies for which Ms. Reynolds will be remembered. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • If Mr. Trump’s pick for energy secretary, former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, is confirmed, he will oversee a department that runs America’s nuclear weapons labs. He will also most likely be pressed to resume the testing of nuclear weapons. | • If Mr. Trump’s pick for energy secretary, former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, is confirmed, he will oversee a department that runs America’s nuclear weapons labs. He will also most likely be pressed to resume the testing of nuclear weapons. |
| Some experts fear that testing the U.S. arsenal for the first time since 1992 would risk an arms race. Others wonder whether the weapons still work. | Some experts fear that testing the U.S. arsenal for the first time since 1992 would risk an arms race. Others wonder whether the weapons still work. |
| And the president-elect suggested that the controversy over alleged Russian interference with the U.S. election should be laid to rest. “We ought to get on with our lives,” Mr. Trump said. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “Toni Erdmann,” a hilarious and uncharacterizable movie, is upending Germany’s perhaps undeserved reputation for humorlessness, our culture correspondent writes. | • “Toni Erdmann,” a hilarious and uncharacterizable movie, is upending Germany’s perhaps undeserved reputation for humorlessness, our culture correspondent writes. |
| It tells a story of the clash between the 1968 generation and its capitalist children, as a workaholic German management consultant posted to Bucharest is visited by her father, a music teacher. | It tells a story of the clash between the 1968 generation and its capitalist children, as a workaholic German management consultant posted to Bucharest is visited by her father, a music teacher. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Each December, predictions of next year’s hottest food items barrel forth. We’re hearing jackfruit, sorghum and harissa could have their moments in 2017. | • Each December, predictions of next year’s hottest food items barrel forth. We’re hearing jackfruit, sorghum and harissa could have their moments in 2017. |
| Here’s a look at similar predictions over the last 20 years (remember bubble tea?) and a deeper exploration of the often dubious work of food-trend forecasting. | Here’s a look at similar predictions over the last 20 years (remember bubble tea?) and a deeper exploration of the often dubious work of food-trend forecasting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The chart above shows the number of major deals that came undone over the last two decades. In terms of volume, this was the biggest year for busted transactions since the financial crisis. | • The chart above shows the number of major deals that came undone over the last two decades. In terms of volume, this was the biggest year for busted transactions since the financial crisis. |
| • The world’s wealthiest people ended 2016 more than $237 billion richer than they were at its start. The gains were led by Warren Buffett, the investor, who added $11.8 billion. | • The world’s wealthiest people ended 2016 more than $237 billion richer than they were at its start. The gains were led by Warren Buffett, the investor, who added $11.8 billion. |
| • “Clean tech” companies, which try to harness natural processes for industrial use, are aiming for a comeback. | • “Clean tech” companies, which try to harness natural processes for industrial use, are aiming for a comeback. |
| • And here are five resolutions for a simpler tech life, including password hygiene and getting rid of unused devices. | • And here are five resolutions for a simpler tech life, including password hygiene and getting rid of unused devices. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Jacqueline Sauvage became a French symbol of domestic abuse when she went to prison for killing her husband, who had subjected her to decades of violence. President François Hollande granted her a full pardon on Wednesday. [The New York Times] | • Jacqueline Sauvage became a French symbol of domestic abuse when she went to prison for killing her husband, who had subjected her to decades of violence. President François Hollande granted her a full pardon on Wednesday. [The New York Times] |
| • Germany detained a 40-year-old Tunisian suspected of being an accomplice of Anis Amri, the man believed to have carried out the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market last week. [The New York Times] | • Germany detained a 40-year-old Tunisian suspected of being an accomplice of Anis Amri, the man believed to have carried out the truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market last week. [The New York Times] |
| • The Czech Republic said it would set up an “antifake news” unit to counteract what it called Russian interference ahead of its general election next year. [The Guardian] | • The Czech Republic said it would set up an “antifake news” unit to counteract what it called Russian interference ahead of its general election next year. [The Guardian] |
| • Romania’s Social Democrats nominated Sorin Grindeanu, a regional politician, to be the next prime minister. The president rejected the party’s first choice, who would have been the first woman and the first Muslim to hold the office. [Associated Press] | • Romania’s Social Democrats nominated Sorin Grindeanu, a regional politician, to be the next prime minister. The president rejected the party’s first choice, who would have been the first woman and the first Muslim to hold the office. [Associated Press] |
| • The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitors hostilities in Ukraine, acknowledged that it had been hacked. [BBC] | • The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which monitors hostilities in Ukraine, acknowledged that it had been hacked. [BBC] |
| • Arkansas detectives investigating a murder are seeking access to audio that may have been recorded on an Amazon Echo device, in a move that raises new questions about electronic privacy. [The New York Times] | • Arkansas detectives investigating a murder are seeking access to audio that may have been recorded on an Amazon Echo device, in a move that raises new questions about electronic privacy. [The New York Times] |
| • For the first time, Madrid will ban half of all cars from its city center today, to curb air pollution. [El País] | • For the first time, Madrid will ban half of all cars from its city center today, to curb air pollution. [El País] |
| • Ukraine wants investors to harvest solar power in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. [Kyiv Post] | • Ukraine wants investors to harvest solar power in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. [Kyiv Post] |
| • Take a ride in the Flying Scotsman, a beloved British steam engine recently renovated and brought out of retirement, in the 360 video above. | • Take a ride in the Flying Scotsman, a beloved British steam engine recently renovated and brought out of retirement, in the 360 video above. |
| • Women who took fish oil during the last three months of pregnancy significantly lowered the risk that their children would develop asthma, a new study found. | • Women who took fish oil during the last three months of pregnancy significantly lowered the risk that their children would develop asthma, a new study found. |
| • In memoriam: Hans Tietmeyer, an architect of the euro, and Lella Vignelli, the Italian designer, who once said: “If you do it right, it will last forever.” | • In memoriam: Hans Tietmeyer, an architect of the euro, and Lella Vignelli, the Italian designer, who once said: “If you do it right, it will last forever.” |
| • Five-minute walks every hour during the workday can lift your mood, combat lethargy and even dull hunger pangs, a study suggests. | • Five-minute walks every hour during the workday can lift your mood, combat lethargy and even dull hunger pangs, a study suggests. |
| • And here’s a departing Times sports correspondent reflecting on the pleasures and trepidations of expat life in Paris. | • And here’s a departing Times sports correspondent reflecting on the pleasures and trepidations of expat life in Paris. |
| In case you missed it, an unusual bit of music history was made this year. | In case you missed it, an unusual bit of music history was made this year. |
| The “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” song by the Japanese comedian Kazuhito Kosaka — better known by his stage name Pikotaro — went from YouTube to a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. At 45 seconds, it’s the shortest song ever to appear on the list. | The “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” song by the Japanese comedian Kazuhito Kosaka — better known by his stage name Pikotaro — went from YouTube to a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. At 45 seconds, it’s the shortest song ever to appear on the list. |
| And the video has been watched more than 100 million times since its release this summer. | And the video has been watched more than 100 million times since its release this summer. |
| The lyrics, while unlikely to win the artist a Nobel Prize in Literature, proved catchy: “I have a pen, I have a apple. Uh! Apple pen!” Many imitations have appeared online, including one by the late-night host Stephen Colbert. | The lyrics, while unlikely to win the artist a Nobel Prize in Literature, proved catchy: “I have a pen, I have a apple. Uh! Apple pen!” Many imitations have appeared online, including one by the late-night host Stephen Colbert. |
| “But there is one thing I need to say: There is someone who in one of the videos actually stabs an apple with a pen,” Mr. Kosaka recently said. “That’s a waste.” | “But there is one thing I need to say: There is someone who in one of the videos actually stabs an apple with a pen,” Mr. Kosaka recently said. “That’s a waste.” |
| Mr. Kosaka is relishing his newfound popularity, but he’s wary of becoming just a one-hit wonder. He’s said he is working on new music, but this time about citrus fruits. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |