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| Donald Trump, Gambia, Nikki Haley: Your Morning Briefing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • Scientists reported a new milestone for our changing planet: 2016 was the hottest year on record — and for the first time in the era of global warming, temperatures blew past the previous record three years in a row. | • Scientists reported a new milestone for our changing planet: 2016 was the hottest year on record — and for the first time in the era of global warming, temperatures blew past the previous record three years in a row. |
| “The fact that we’re punching at the ceiling every year now, that is the real indicator that we’re undergoing big changes,” one expert said. | “The fact that we’re punching at the ceiling every year now, that is the real indicator that we’re undergoing big changes,” one expert said. |
| Here is a way to tell how much warmer your city was last year. | Here is a way to tell how much warmer your city was last year. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • President Obama is giving his final news conference as president. Here’s our live coverage and analysis. | |
| His White House offices are being packed up, so that at 12:01 p.m. on Friday, as Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th U.S. president, a swarm of workers can replace the commander in chief’s creature comforts — snacks, clothes, toiletries, artwork and furniture — with those of his successor. | His White House offices are being packed up, so that at 12:01 p.m. on Friday, as Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 45th U.S. president, a swarm of workers can replace the commander in chief’s creature comforts — snacks, clothes, toiletries, artwork and furniture — with those of his successor. |
| Mr. Obama faces one remaining crucial decision: Should he send weapons to Kurdish fighters for the long-awaited assault to retake Raqqa, the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Syria — or leave the choice to Mr. Trump? | Mr. Obama faces one remaining crucial decision: Should he send weapons to Kurdish fighters for the long-awaited assault to retake Raqqa, the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Syria — or leave the choice to Mr. Trump? |
| _____ | |
| In confirmation hearings today on Mr. Trump’s cabinet nominees, Rick Perry, the former Texas governor, will face tough questions today about his qualifications to become energy secretary, the steward of America’s aging nuclear arsenal. | |
| The pick for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, faced doubts about her perceived lack of experience. Wilbur Ross, a billionaire investor up for commerce secretary, took a tough stance on China. And the choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, took a swipe at tough rules enacted by the Obama administration, promising to return to “common sense.” | |
| Here’s the latest. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • With Mr. Trump set to move into the White House, test your knowledge of 10 other presidential palaces around the globe. | • With Mr. Trump set to move into the White House, test your knowledge of 10 other presidential palaces around the globe. |
| You can see their noteworthy designs and read about their intriguing back stories. | You can see their noteworthy designs and read about their intriguing back stories. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The Chinese president’s top economic adviser, a soft-spoken, American-educated technocrat, is preparing for the possibility of a trade war. | • The Chinese president’s top economic adviser, a soft-spoken, American-educated technocrat, is preparing for the possibility of a trade war. |
| • Populist rage over income inequality is a dominant theme of conversation for the global elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, but our analyst says that one solution — bolstering workers’ bargaining power — rarely comes up. | • Populist rage over income inequality is a dominant theme of conversation for the global elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, but our analyst says that one solution — bolstering workers’ bargaining power — rarely comes up. |
| • China, mindful of the toxic smog regularly sweeping major cities, canceled 103 coal-fired plants. | • China, mindful of the toxic smog regularly sweeping major cities, canceled 103 coal-fired plants. |
| • The Japanese hotel chain APA Group has refused to remove from rooms a book written by its C.E.O. that dismisses the 1937 Nanjing massacre as a “fabrication.” | • The Japanese hotel chain APA Group has refused to remove from rooms a book written by its C.E.O. that dismisses the 1937 Nanjing massacre as a “fabrication.” |
| • Governments have found a new, troublingly effective method of censorship, our tech columnist writes: blocking apps. | • Governments have found a new, troublingly effective method of censorship, our tech columnist writes: blocking apps. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia’s refusal to step aside to allow his victorious opponent’s inauguration today threatens to drag the West African nation into bloodshed. [The New York Times] | • President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia’s refusal to step aside to allow his victorious opponent’s inauguration today threatens to drag the West African nation into bloodshed. [The New York Times] |
| • Australian health experts and protective services opened a campaign against child abuse, reports of which have increased sharply in the past few years. [The Age] | • Australian health experts and protective services opened a campaign against child abuse, reports of which have increased sharply in the past few years. [The Age] |
| • A suicide bombing killed scores at a camp in northern Mali housing government soldiers as well as former fighters who had signed a peace agreement. [The Associated Press] | • A suicide bombing killed scores at a camp in northern Mali housing government soldiers as well as former fighters who had signed a peace agreement. [The Associated Press] |
| • A 360 video captures grim scenes in Manila that lie at the heart of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fierce antidrug campaign. [The New York Times] | • A 360 video captures grim scenes in Manila that lie at the heart of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fierce antidrug campaign. [The New York Times] |
| • “I am not Leung Chun-ying 2.0.” Carrie Lam, a top official under Hong Kong’s outgoing chief executive is differentiating herself as she begins her rival campaign. [Hong Kong Free Press] | • “I am not Leung Chun-ying 2.0.” Carrie Lam, a top official under Hong Kong’s outgoing chief executive is differentiating herself as she begins her rival campaign. [Hong Kong Free Press] |
| • Russia said the asylum of Edward J. Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who leaked secrets of U.S. surveillance, would be extended for “a couple more years.” [The New York Times] | • Russia said the asylum of Edward J. Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor who leaked secrets of U.S. surveillance, would be extended for “a couple more years.” [The New York Times] |
| • How hot is the housing market in Auckland, New Zealand? Two neighboring houses flipped a total of five times in four days. [The Guardian] | • How hot is the housing market in Auckland, New Zealand? Two neighboring houses flipped a total of five times in four days. [The Guardian] |
| • Japan is trying to standardize eight crucial pictograms that indicated the functions of the country’s high-tech toilets, which have proven a particular obstacle for tourists. [The Asahi Shimbun] | • Japan is trying to standardize eight crucial pictograms that indicated the functions of the country’s high-tech toilets, which have proven a particular obstacle for tourists. [The Asahi Shimbun] |
| • Try this at work today: Studies have found that lunchtime strolls can perceptibly improve people’s moods and ability to handle stress. | • Try this at work today: Studies have found that lunchtime strolls can perceptibly improve people’s moods and ability to handle stress. |
| • A few sage pieces of advice on how to improve your love life. | • A few sage pieces of advice on how to improve your love life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Try this version of coconut noodles, which one food writer described as “so easy, the worst cook in the world could make it.” | • Recipe of the day: Try this version of coconut noodles, which one food writer described as “so easy, the worst cook in the world could make it.” |
| • A huge eruption of Mt. Fuji in the year 864 inspired Japanese to begin worshiping the volcano as a god. A mystical grove that sprang up on its lava-covered flanks still evokes an almost reverential fear and, increasingly, inspires filmmakers. | • A huge eruption of Mt. Fuji in the year 864 inspired Japanese to begin worshiping the volcano as a god. A mystical grove that sprang up on its lava-covered flanks still evokes an almost reverential fear and, increasingly, inspires filmmakers. |
| • And in horse racing, a sport with few black participants, a horse that was rode, trained and owned by black men won a major race on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “It seems like it was bound for us to win that race,” the jockey said. | • And in horse racing, a sport with few black participants, a horse that was rode, trained and owned by black men won a major race on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “It seems like it was bound for us to win that race,” the jockey said. |
| It’s high summer in Australia, and beachgoers are hunting for ways to deter one of the world’s most feared predators: the shark. | It’s high summer in Australia, and beachgoers are hunting for ways to deter one of the world’s most feared predators: the shark. |
| Parts of the coastline are hot spots, particularly New South Wales. Last month, a 65-year-old surfer was attacked by what was believed to be a great white shark. And a recent video of a bull shark charging an Australian spearfisherman off Queensland caused a sensation. | Parts of the coastline are hot spots, particularly New South Wales. Last month, a 65-year-old surfer was attacked by what was believed to be a great white shark. And a recent video of a bull shark charging an Australian spearfisherman off Queensland caused a sensation. |
| Attacks are still rare. Nevertheless, shark repellents crowd the market. | Attacks are still rare. Nevertheless, shark repellents crowd the market. |
| Some chemical sprays mimic the smell of dead sharks, which living sharks avoid. There are also magnetic bands reputed to mess with their electroreceptors. A type of surfboard wax infused with strong-smelling coconut and clove oils is supposed to offend their sensitive olfactory organs. | Some chemical sprays mimic the smell of dead sharks, which living sharks avoid. There are also magnetic bands reputed to mess with their electroreceptors. A type of surfboard wax infused with strong-smelling coconut and clove oils is supposed to offend their sensitive olfactory organs. |
| Experts warn that some repellents are not formally tested and that using them may offer swimmers and surfers a false sense of protection. Dr. Charlie Huveneers, a shark expert at Flinders University in Adelaide, said, “We’ll never be able to test a deterrent in every situation and motivation level of sharks.” | Experts warn that some repellents are not formally tested and that using them may offer swimmers and surfers a false sense of protection. Dr. Charlie Huveneers, a shark expert at Flinders University in Adelaide, said, “We’ll never be able to test a deterrent in every situation and motivation level of sharks.” |
| That’s true everywhere. A Florida teenager was attacked in December despite wearing a shark-repelling bracelet. His mother is seeking a refund. | That’s true everywhere. A Florida teenager was attacked in December despite wearing a shark-repelling bracelet. His mother is seeking a refund. |
| For full protection, there’s just one option: staying on land. | For full protection, there’s just one option: staying on land. |
| Des Shoe contributed reporting. | Des Shoe 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. |