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| Donald Trump, Jerusalem, Rafsanjani: Your Morning Briefing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • The stage is set for fierce battles starting tomorrow as the U.S. Senate begins confirmation hearings on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks, even though many have not completed customary background checks or ethics reviews. | • The stage is set for fierce battles starting tomorrow as the U.S. Senate begins confirmation hearings on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s cabinet picks, even though many have not completed customary background checks or ethics reviews. |
| The first focus will be Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, above right, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general. | The first focus will be Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, above right, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “Laughter of the year!” | • “Laughter of the year!” |
| Russian politicians and commentators are ridiculing a U.S. intelligence report that outlines an elaborate plot ordered by President Vladimir V. Putin to alter the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. | Russian politicians and commentators are ridiculing a U.S. intelligence report that outlines an elaborate plot ordered by President Vladimir V. Putin to alter the outcome of the 2016 presidential race. |
| Interviews with supporters of Mr. Trump in two U.S. states found similar opinions. | Interviews with supporters of Mr. Trump in two U.S. states found similar opinions. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Jared Kushner, a New York real estate investor and the son-in-law of Mr. Trump, is close to a major deal with Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese financial giant with close ties to the state. | • Jared Kushner, a New York real estate investor and the son-in-law of Mr. Trump, is close to a major deal with Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese financial giant with close ties to the state. |
| The joint venture, to overhaul a Kushner tower on Fifth Avenue, highlights the ethical thicket Mr. Kushner would face while advising his father-in-law on policy that could affect his bottom line. | The joint venture, to overhaul a Kushner tower on Fifth Avenue, highlights the ethical thicket Mr. Kushner would face while advising his father-in-law on policy that could affect his bottom line. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Two top Samsung executives have been called testify today before South Korea’s Constitutional Court in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye. | • Two top Samsung executives have been called testify today before South Korea’s Constitutional Court in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye. |
| Questions have been raised about whether Samsung, the country’s biggest conglomerate, received political favors for donating to foundations controlled by the presidential adviser at the heart of the scandal, Choi Soon-sil, who is to testify Tuesday. | Questions have been raised about whether Samsung, the country’s biggest conglomerate, received political favors for donating to foundations controlled by the presidential adviser at the heart of the scandal, Choi Soon-sil, who is to testify Tuesday. |
| Separately, Japan’s top diplomats are leaving South Korea in a dispute over a statue, above, placed outside the Japanese consulate in the city of Busan commemorating Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II. | Separately, Japan’s top diplomats are leaving South Korea in a dispute over a statue, above, placed outside the Japanese consulate in the city of Busan commemorating Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Many Chinese are reacting with outrage to the government’s offer to remove state-required IUDs from 18 million women, the latest step in the official abandonment of the one-child policy. | • Many Chinese are reacting with outrage to the government’s offer to remove state-required IUDs from 18 million women, the latest step in the official abandonment of the one-child policy. |
| “We shouldn’t even have had this in the first place, and now the government wants to use it as a form of state benefit for people,” one woman said. “It’s like they are slapping themselves in the face.” | “We shouldn’t even have had this in the first place, and now the government wants to use it as a form of state benefit for people,” one woman said. “It’s like they are slapping themselves in the face.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A Chinese Finance Ministry official said he was confident that economic growth reached 6.7 percent for all of 2016. | • A Chinese Finance Ministry official said he was confident that economic growth reached 6.7 percent for all of 2016. |
| • The European Union’s statistics agency is expected to say that unemployment in the eurozone remained unchanged in November, meaning rates remain astronomical in Spain and other troubled economies. | • The European Union’s statistics agency is expected to say that unemployment in the eurozone remained unchanged in November, meaning rates remain astronomical in Spain and other troubled economies. |
| • Amazon’s anticipated expansion into Australia this year is raising questions over the risk that the the e-commerce giant might damage brick-and-mortar retailers, as it has in the U.S. | • Amazon’s anticipated expansion into Australia this year is raising questions over the risk that the the e-commerce giant might damage brick-and-mortar retailers, as it has in the U.S. |
| • The North American International Auto Show opens in Detroit, but the parade of new cars and trucks will be shadowed by new threats of border taxes. | • The North American International Auto Show opens in Detroit, but the parade of new cars and trucks will be shadowed by new threats of border taxes. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • A truck in Jerusalem rammed into Israeli soldiers getting off a bus, killing at least four and injuring 17 others in an attack that ended several months of relative calm in the city. [The New York Times] | • A truck in Jerusalem rammed into Israeli soldiers getting off a bus, killing at least four and injuring 17 others in an attack that ended several months of relative calm in the city. [The New York Times] |
| • Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former Iranian president who favored closer ties with the West, died at 82. [The New York Times] | • Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former Iranian president who favored closer ties with the West, died at 82. [The New York Times] |
| • Flooding has killed 19 people across 10 Thai provinces, and officials warn of more heavy rains until at least Tuesday. [Bangkok Post] | • Flooding has killed 19 people across 10 Thai provinces, and officials warn of more heavy rains until at least Tuesday. [Bangkok Post] |
| • New South Wales is bracing for days of scorching heat. [Sydney Morning Herald] | • New South Wales is bracing for days of scorching heat. [Sydney Morning Herald] |
| • In Sri Lanka, 10 people were hospitalized in a violent protests at the groundbreaking ceremony of a Chinese project to take over a deep sea port and create a special economic zone. [Forbes] | • In Sri Lanka, 10 people were hospitalized in a violent protests at the groundbreaking ceremony of a Chinese project to take over a deep sea port and create a special economic zone. [Forbes] |
| • Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, passed through the U.S. over the weekend en route to visit Central American allies. But she held no meetings with Trump representatives, averting any further irritation to China. [South China Morning Post] | • Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, passed through the U.S. over the weekend en route to visit Central American allies. But she held no meetings with Trump representatives, averting any further irritation to China. [South China Morning Post] |
| • Beijing’s acting mayor, Cai Qi, is creating an environmental police force. [CCTV] | • Beijing’s acting mayor, Cai Qi, is creating an environmental police force. [CCTV] |
| • China’s toxic air has drawn attention to a Chinese surgeon’s poem, which takes the viewpoint of a hungry lung cancer reveling in the “delicious mist and haze.” [The New York Times] | • China’s toxic air has drawn attention to a Chinese surgeon’s poem, which takes the viewpoint of a hungry lung cancer reveling in the “delicious mist and haze.” [The New York Times] |
| • North Korea kept its tradition of quietly marking the birthday of its leader, Kim Jong-un, who is believed to be 33 or 34. | • North Korea kept its tradition of quietly marking the birthday of its leader, Kim Jong-un, who is believed to be 33 or 34. |
| The only public celebration of the event was in 2014, when the former N.B.A. star Dennis Rodman sang “Happy Birthday” to him in Pyongyang. [Associated Press] | The only public celebration of the event was in 2014, when the former N.B.A. star Dennis Rodman sang “Happy Birthday” to him in Pyongyang. [Associated Press] |
| (In this new section, we’ll help you start your day just right.) | (In this new section, we’ll help you start your day just right.) |
| • If you’re hitting the gym this morning, don’t forget to warm up. It may just save your knees. | • If you’re hitting the gym this morning, don’t forget to warm up. It may just save your knees. |
| • A New Year’s challenge for the mind: Make this the year that you quiet all those negative thoughts swirling around your brain. Here’s how to do it. | • A New Year’s challenge for the mind: Make this the year that you quiet all those negative thoughts swirling around your brain. Here’s how to do it. |
| • Recipe of the day: Don’t order out tonight — make your own takeout-style sesame noodles. | • Recipe of the day: Don’t order out tonight — make your own takeout-style sesame noodles. |
| • In remote western Nepal, a photojournalist documents the outlawed practice of Chaupadi, a monthly banishment for women based on an entrenched, superstitious belief that menstruation renders them impure. | • In remote western Nepal, a photojournalist documents the outlawed practice of Chaupadi, a monthly banishment for women based on an entrenched, superstitious belief that menstruation renders them impure. |
| • A scholar of imperial China who studied the trade in furs, pearls and mushrooms during the 18th and 19th centuries has concluded that Qing dynasty rulers were already fighting environmental degradation. | • A scholar of imperial China who studied the trade in furs, pearls and mushrooms during the 18th and 19th centuries has concluded that Qing dynasty rulers were already fighting environmental degradation. |
| • NASA announced plans for a spacecraft named Psyche to visit an asteroid that appears to be made of metal. “Not only is it unique,” an expert said, “it’s improbable.” | • NASA announced plans for a spacecraft named Psyche to visit an asteroid that appears to be made of metal. “Not only is it unique,” an expert said, “it’s improbable.” |
| If one of your resolutions this year is to eat healthier in the morning, consider porridge. | If one of your resolutions this year is to eat healthier in the morning, consider porridge. |
| The combination of grain and water is comfort served in its most humble form. The dish has also been feeding the world for thousands of years. | The combination of grain and water is comfort served in its most humble form. The dish has also been feeding the world for thousands of years. |
| Congee, a rice-based porridge, has been eaten in China since about 2,500 B.C. Koreans make variations of juk, with pine nut as the main ingredient. | Congee, a rice-based porridge, has been eaten in China since about 2,500 B.C. Koreans make variations of juk, with pine nut as the main ingredient. |
| Upma is a thick porridge made from roasted semolina or rice flour common in south India. And in Ethiopia, genfo, unique for its use of red pepper, is a traditional Sunday breakfast. | Upma is a thick porridge made from roasted semolina or rice flour common in south India. And in Ethiopia, genfo, unique for its use of red pepper, is a traditional Sunday breakfast. |
| On many cold mornings, Americans start their days with oatmeal. The actor Wilford Brimley famously pitched the food’s health benefits in an ad, saying, “It’s the right thing to do.” | On many cold mornings, Americans start their days with oatmeal. The actor Wilford Brimley famously pitched the food’s health benefits in an ad, saying, “It’s the right thing to do.” |
| But Scots may be the most famous consumers of oats. They’ve been a staple of their diets since the Roman Empire. Scotland even hosts a global porridge-making competition — the Golden Spurtle is the top prize. | But Scots may be the most famous consumers of oats. They’ve been a staple of their diets since the Roman Empire. Scotland even hosts a global porridge-making competition — the Golden Spurtle is the top prize. |
| Scotland’s former oldest living woman swore by the dish. Before her death in 2015 at 109, she revealed her secret to longevity. | Scotland’s former oldest living woman swore by the dish. Before her death in 2015 at 109, she revealed her secret to longevity. |
| “A nice warm bowl of porridge every morning,” she said, and “staying away from men.” | “A nice warm bowl of porridge every morning,” she said, and “staying away from men.” |
| 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. |