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| North Korea, Kurds, Bombardier: Your Thursday Briefing | North Korea, Kurds, Bombardier: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • A remote textile plant in North Korea’s east may be secretly producing UDMH, the specialized fuel that has enabled country’s long-range missile launches. | • A remote textile plant in North Korea’s east may be secretly producing UDMH, the specialized fuel that has enabled country’s long-range missile launches. |
| The plant is in Hamhung, which Kim Jong-un visited in 2013, above. | The plant is in Hamhung, which Kim Jong-un visited in 2013, above. |
| The new finding comes from American researchers who used satellite imagery, a technical analysis of the fuel’s production methods, information from a North Korean official who defected, and a set of obscure North Korean technical documents. | The new finding comes from American researchers who used satellite imagery, a technical analysis of the fuel’s production methods, information from a North Korean official who defected, and a set of obscure North Korean technical documents. |
| If true, it may be too late for outside curbs on North Korea’s missile program. | If true, it may be too late for outside curbs on North Korea’s missile program. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The U.S. commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, left, lamented the “lopsided” trade relationship with China, after wrapping up his own meetings with top officials in Beijing ahead of a U.S. trade mission. | • The U.S. commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, left, lamented the “lopsided” trade relationship with China, after wrapping up his own meetings with top officials in Beijing ahead of a U.S. trade mission. |
| Speaking in Hong Kong, he said the talks had revolved around trade and investment imbalances, intellectual property and tariffs. His criticism of China as “one of the most protectionist countries in the world” came as the U.S. set steep new tariffs on Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer. | Speaking in Hong Kong, he said the talks had revolved around trade and investment imbalances, intellectual property and tariffs. His criticism of China as “one of the most protectionist countries in the world” came as the U.S. set steep new tariffs on Bombardier, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer. |
| In the U.S., Mr. Trump unveiled a sweeping tax plan that would slash individual and corporate rates and cut deductions and exemptions — while leaving many of the toughest decisions to be brokered by deeply divided Republicans in Congress. | In the U.S., Mr. Trump unveiled a sweeping tax plan that would slash individual and corporate rates and cut deductions and exemptions — while leaving many of the toughest decisions to be brokered by deeply divided Republicans in Congress. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • China’s slowing economy has opened the door to “business cults” — essentially pyramid schemes that have lured in tens of millions of people with promises of riches or advancement. | • China’s slowing economy has opened the door to “business cults” — essentially pyramid schemes that have lured in tens of millions of people with promises of riches or advancement. |
| Despite a crackdown that began last month, after a 23-year-old college graduate was found dead in Tianjin, the government has warned that the schemes are spreading faster and growing larger. Above, suspected members of one scheme detained in Guangxi province in June. | Despite a crackdown that began last month, after a 23-year-old college graduate was found dead in Tianjin, the government has warned that the schemes are spreading faster and growing larger. Above, suspected members of one scheme detained in Guangxi province in June. |
| For the authorities, a key concern is the intense loyalty some groups inspire, which could threaten the Communist Party’s own grip on society. | For the authorities, a key concern is the intense loyalty some groups inspire, which could threaten the Communist Party’s own grip on society. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Western Australia is in the throes of a methamphetamine epidemic, fueled by the wages of the masses of bored, isolated men drawn to booming mineral mines. | • Western Australia is in the throes of a methamphetamine epidemic, fueled by the wages of the masses of bored, isolated men drawn to booming mineral mines. |
| The increasing use of stronger and more addictive crystal meth, or ice, has driven a sharp rise in deaths. The state has responded with stepped-up interdiction and increased prison terms, but also rehabilitation programs, like the one above in Perth. | The increasing use of stronger and more addictive crystal meth, or ice, has driven a sharp rise in deaths. The state has responded with stepped-up interdiction and increased prison terms, but also rehabilitation programs, like the one above in Perth. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister, can appeal the five-year prison sentence the Supreme Court handed down on Wednesday. She was convicted of mismanaging a rice-subsidy program for farmers. | • Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister, can appeal the five-year prison sentence the Supreme Court handed down on Wednesday. She was convicted of mismanaging a rice-subsidy program for farmers. |
| But she must be physically present in court to do so — and since she fled the country last month, her whereabouts remain unknown. | But she must be physically present in court to do so — and since she fled the country last month, her whereabouts remain unknown. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • India’s tolerance for stray dogs has been on particular display in Mumbai, where the rich lavish them with attention and even the poorest spare them food. | • India’s tolerance for stray dogs has been on particular display in Mumbai, where the rich lavish them with attention and even the poorest spare them food. |
| When a few ducked into a river and came out with blue coats, residents quickly traced the reason: a business that dumped blue dye. Luckily, it rapidly fades. | When a few ducked into a river and came out with blue coats, residents quickly traced the reason: a business that dumped blue dye. Luckily, it rapidly fades. |
| • The planned merger of the rail business of the German industrial giant Siemens and the French train equipment maker Alstom creates a behemoth capable of competing with the expanding, state-backed China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation. | • The planned merger of the rail business of the German industrial giant Siemens and the French train equipment maker Alstom creates a behemoth capable of competing with the expanding, state-backed China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation. |
| • Twitter is testing a version of its service that would double the length of a tweet, to 280 characters. | • Twitter is testing a version of its service that would double the length of a tweet, to 280 characters. |
| • U.S. stocks were strong. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were strong. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • A fire at an ammunition depot in Ukraine that set off gigantic explosions and forced the evacuation of about 30,000 people may have been sabotage by an aerial drone. [The New York Times] | • A fire at an ammunition depot in Ukraine that set off gigantic explosions and forced the evacuation of about 30,000 people may have been sabotage by an aerial drone. [The New York Times] |
| • Bali made extensive emergency plans as Mount Agung’s tremors continued and the volcano began wisping smoke. Almost 100,000 people have now evacuated the area. [The Australian] | • Bali made extensive emergency plans as Mount Agung’s tremors continued and the volcano began wisping smoke. Almost 100,000 people have now evacuated the area. [The Australian] |
| • Representatives of U.N. agencies expect to visit Rakhine today, the state in Myanmar from which almost 500,000 Muslim Rohingya have fled in recent weeks, and the Security Council meets about the crisis. [Straits Times] | |
| • In Alabama, an evangelical firebrand, Roy Moore, won a Republican Senate primary runoff, dealing a blow to President Trump, who backed his more mainstream opponent. [The New York Times] | |
| • Hurricane-ravaged U.S. territories in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are facing increasingly dire conditions. [The New York Times] | • Hurricane-ravaged U.S. territories in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are facing increasingly dire conditions. [The New York Times] |
| • The unity of Spain is at stake as Catalonia prepares to hold a referendum on independence on Sunday that the central government and the courts adamantly oppose. [The New York Times] | • The unity of Spain is at stake as Catalonia prepares to hold a referendum on independence on Sunday that the central government and the courts adamantly oppose. [The New York Times] |
| • Iraq’s prime minister may send troops into the country’s autonomous Kurdish region after it overwhelmingly voted in favor of independence. [The New York Times] | • Iraq’s prime minister may send troops into the country’s autonomous Kurdish region after it overwhelmingly voted in favor of independence. [The New York Times] |
| • Afghan insurgents rained rockets on the international airport in Kabul and near the American Embassy as the top leaders of the Pentagon and NATO met with the Afghan president. [The New York Times] | • Afghan insurgents rained rockets on the international airport in Kabul and near the American Embassy as the top leaders of the Pentagon and NATO met with the Afghan president. [The New York Times] |
| • Delhi’s high court set off a furor by overturning the rape conviction of a movie director on the ground that “a feeble no” could be understood as consent. [The Guardian] | • Delhi’s high court set off a furor by overturning the rape conviction of a movie director on the ground that “a feeble no” could be understood as consent. [The Guardian] |
| • The rapper Macklemore will perform his anthem “Same Love” in support of gay marriage rights in Australia. [Eikon] | • The rapper Macklemore will perform his anthem “Same Love” in support of gay marriage rights in Australia. [Eikon] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Smartphone apps can make your vacation more memorable. | • Smartphone apps can make your vacation more memorable. |
| • What happens to that data your new car collects about you? | • What happens to that data your new car collects about you? |
| • Recipe of the day: Braised halibut with potatoes and saffron involves a simple sear and simmer. | • Recipe of the day: Braised halibut with potatoes and saffron involves a simple sear and simmer. |
| • Recognize home? NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft took this composite shot from 106,000 miles away, as it slingshot past Earth on its way to meet an asteroid next year. Australia is in the lower left, and the southwestern U.S. and Baja California are in the upper right, with the vastness of the Pacific in between. | |
| • An obscure figure skating competition this week in Bavaria, Germany, offers North Korea a chance to qualify its first athletes for the Seoul Olympics — something South Korea desperately wants. | • An obscure figure skating competition this week in Bavaria, Germany, offers North Korea a chance to qualify its first athletes for the Seoul Olympics — something South Korea desperately wants. |
| • Cameron Smith, 34, cemented his status as rugby legend with accolades in Sydney. | • Cameron Smith, 34, cemented his status as rugby legend with accolades in Sydney. |
| • Bruce Springsteen calls “Springsteen on Broadway,” which opens in previews next week, “my first real job.” (He said a lot more, too.) | • Bruce Springsteen calls “Springsteen on Broadway,” which opens in previews next week, “my first real job.” (He said a lot more, too.) |
| Early this morning at Confucius temples across Taiwan, robed officials performed elaborate ceremonies. The reason: Teacher’s Day, a day of honors for those who impart knowledge on what is believed to be the 2,567th birthday of Confucius, the ancient Chinese sage. | Early this morning at Confucius temples across Taiwan, robed officials performed elaborate ceremonies. The reason: Teacher’s Day, a day of honors for those who impart knowledge on what is believed to be the 2,567th birthday of Confucius, the ancient Chinese sage. |
| Many other countries designate a special day to celebrate the teaching profession. India commemorates the birthday of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher and the country’s president in the 1960s. | |
| The U.S. celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week in May. | The U.S. celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week in May. |
| Many countries have their Teacher’s Day next Thursday, thanks to a global effort started in 1994 by Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization, meant to spread respect for the profession. | Many countries have their Teacher’s Day next Thursday, thanks to a global effort started in 1994 by Unesco, the United Nations cultural organization, meant to spread respect for the profession. |
| The world body says that teachers remain underappreciated: “Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.” | The world body says that teachers remain underappreciated: “Strangely one of the most central, vital professionals to society does not receive the respect it deserves in some parts of the world.” |
| So here’s a timeless essay by an American teacher with tips on how to thank a teacher. The gesture won’t be forgotten, she wrote. | So here’s a timeless essay by an American teacher with tips on how to thank a teacher. The gesture won’t be forgotten, she wrote. |
| To her, her students’ cards and letters are “tangible evidence that the work we do truly matters.” | |
| Patrick Boehler contributed reporting. | Patrick Boehler contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Browse past briefings here. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Browse past briefings here. |
| We have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian, European and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | We have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian, European and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
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| 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. |