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| King Bhumibol, Catalonia, Jakarta: Your Friday Briefing | King Bhumibol, Catalonia, Jakarta: Your Friday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • Thailand enters the era of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. | • Thailand enters the era of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. |
| Hundreds of thousands of black-clad mourners lined the streets of Bangkok to witness the funereal procession to the cremation of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Our correspondent said the ceremony had “the gilded pageantry of a bygone era.” | Hundreds of thousands of black-clad mourners lined the streets of Bangkok to witness the funereal procession to the cremation of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Our correspondent said the ceremony had “the gilded pageantry of a bygone era.” |
| The collection of the ashes today opens the way to the new king’s official coronation. | The collection of the ashes today opens the way to the new king’s official coronation. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Washington, President Trump declared America’s opioid crisis a public health emergency. | |
| The move falls short of Mr. Trump’s promise to declare a national emergency, which would have triggered federal funds to fight a scourge that claimed more than 59,000 lives in 2016. | The move falls short of Mr. Trump’s promise to declare a national emergency, which would have triggered federal funds to fight a scourge that claimed more than 59,000 lives in 2016. |
| And the House of Representatives narrowly cleared a budget blueprint that will allow a tax overhaul bill to pass Congress without any Democratic votes. Republicans aim to cut taxes by $1.5 trillion. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The U.S. Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, sidestepping Syria’s battlefield gains, said that President Bashar al-Assad must go. He spoke after meeting in Geneva with the U.N. special envoy on the Syrian crisis, the last stop on a weeklong visit to the Middle East and South Asia. | |
| In neighboring Iraq, the grievances of the Sunni Arab minority allowed the Islamic State to flourish. Our correspondent says that how the Shiite-led government in Baghdad deals with the Sunnis now could have long-term consequences. | |
| The International Committee of the Red Cross, meanwhile, warned against the dehumanizing language often used against the Islamic State, which can suggest its fighters can be treated “as if humanitarian law doesn’t apply.” | The International Committee of the Red Cross, meanwhile, warned against the dehumanizing language often used against the Islamic State, which can suggest its fighters can be treated “as if humanitarian law doesn’t apply.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Catalonia, the region’s separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, ended a period of chaotic wavering and announced that he would allow the Catalan Parliament to decide whether to leave Spain. The vote could come today. | |
| The move virtually ensures that the central government in Madrid will take control. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • We took cameras and recorders to a district in southern India that is getting so hot and dry, it’s nearly uninhabitable. | • We took cameras and recorders to a district in southern India that is getting so hot and dry, it’s nearly uninhabitable. |
| People there face a choice: try to survive or leave? But hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have taken a third choice over the past 30 years — suicide. | People there face a choice: try to survive or leave? But hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have taken a third choice over the past 30 years — suicide. |
| “To us, the field is God,” said a widow. “I’m not angry with the land. I’m only angry with my husband.”. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The final batch of secret documents from the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy is expected to be released at any moment. | |
| Our correspondents note that President Trump may have had his own reasons for allowing their release. | |
| “Of all the presidents since 1963,” a historian said, “this is the one who would mind the least if the release of these documents damaged the C.I.A. and the F.B.I.” | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Mark Halperin, one of the top U.S. political journalists, is out at MSNBC after five women said he sexually harassed them while political director at ABC News. | |
| • Twitter is banning Russia Today and Sputnik, two Kremlin-backed international news outlets, from its advertising. The move comes as rivals’ criticism of big tech — Twitter, Google, Facebook, Amazon and company — is finally gaining lawmakers’ and regulators’ attention. | • Twitter is banning Russia Today and Sputnik, two Kremlin-backed international news outlets, from its advertising. The move comes as rivals’ criticism of big tech — Twitter, Google, Facebook, Amazon and company — is finally gaining lawmakers’ and regulators’ attention. |
| • New arenas, which can cost $1 billion or more, are expanding offerings to include events as diverse as video gaming and kayaking. | • New arenas, which can cost $1 billion or more, are expanding offerings to include events as diverse as video gaming and kayaking. |
| • The National Party of New Zealand must pay Eminem’s publisher $413,000 for copyright infringement. The name of the song it copied: “Eminem Esque.” | • The National Party of New Zealand must pay Eminem’s publisher $413,000 for copyright infringement. The name of the song it copied: “Eminem Esque.” |
| • Downturns: Kobe Steel lost certification for some of its copper products, and Hyundai, South Korea’s largest automaker, reported a 20 percent drop in net profit over weak sales in China. | |
| • U.S. stocks were higher. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were higher. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • In Indonesia, an explosion at a fireworks warehouse on the outskirts of Jakarta killed at least 47 people and injured dozens more. [The New York Times] | • In Indonesia, an explosion at a fireworks warehouse on the outskirts of Jakarta killed at least 47 people and injured dozens more. [The New York Times] |
| • Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator, has warned Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Sen, that he will work to bar Cambodian officials from the U.S. unless a jailed opposition leader, Kem Sokha, is released by Nov. 9. [Phnom Penh Post] | • Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator, has warned Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Sen, that he will work to bar Cambodian officials from the U.S. unless a jailed opposition leader, Kem Sokha, is released by Nov. 9. [Phnom Penh Post] |
| • Australia’s High Court will rule this afternoon on the “Citizenship Seven,” a group of current and former parliamentarians found to have dual citizenship. [SBS] | |
| • Our editorial board weighed in on Australia’s plans for one of the world’s largest coal mines, arguing “it’s the opposite of what Australia, India or the rest of the world needs.” [The New York Times] | • Our editorial board weighed in on Australia’s plans for one of the world’s largest coal mines, arguing “it’s the opposite of what Australia, India or the rest of the world needs.” [The New York Times] |
| • A forensic neuropathologist will look for abnormalities in the remains of the brain of the Las Vegas gunman, Stephen Paddock. [The New York Times] | • A forensic neuropathologist will look for abnormalities in the remains of the brain of the Las Vegas gunman, Stephen Paddock. [The New York Times] |
| • Dag Hammarskjold, the U.N.’s second secretary general, was killed in a plane crash nearly 60 years ago. A new report suggests that the crash might have been no accident. [The New York Times] | • Dag Hammarskjold, the U.N.’s second secretary general, was killed in a plane crash nearly 60 years ago. A new report suggests that the crash might have been no accident. [The New York Times] |
| • Police in Osaka, Japan, finally caught a 74-year-old cat burglar, described as a ninja for his clothes and skills. He was charged with 254 thefts. [Japan Times] | • Police in Osaka, Japan, finally caught a 74-year-old cat burglar, described as a ninja for his clothes and skills. He was charged with 254 thefts. [Japan Times] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: An overnight stay in the fridge makes classic brioche even better. | |
| • You don’t need to drain your battery before recharging, and other tech myths people still believe. | • You don’t need to drain your battery before recharging, and other tech myths people still believe. |
| • Lapdesks, headphones and more: Our latest newsletter focuses on inexpensive ways to improve your home office. | • Lapdesks, headphones and more: Our latest newsletter focuses on inexpensive ways to improve your home office. |
| • Our new Australian food critic will visit cities and towns all over the country. First stop: Doma Cafe, in tiny Federal, New South Wales, where two chefs from Japan offer a vibrant example of Australian culinary ambition. | • Our new Australian food critic will visit cities and towns all over the country. First stop: Doma Cafe, in tiny Federal, New South Wales, where two chefs from Japan offer a vibrant example of Australian culinary ambition. |
| • Tattoos, dreadlocks and fistfuls of cash. Classic rapper trappings flashed at a Chinese hip-hop festival near the southwestern city of Chengdu. | |
| • The demand for a society “built to a more human scale and tied more closely to identity and agency” is visible in Australia and far beyond. So argues our Australia bureau chief’s Amazon-inspired newsletter. | • The demand for a society “built to a more human scale and tied more closely to identity and agency” is visible in Australia and far beyond. So argues our Australia bureau chief’s Amazon-inspired newsletter. |
| On the lunar calendar, Saturday is the ninth day of the ninth month, and a folk holiday in China: the Double Ninth Festival. | On the lunar calendar, Saturday is the ninth day of the ninth month, and a folk holiday in China: the Double Ninth Festival. |
| Also referred to as the Chongyang Festival, the celebration has roots that stretch back centuries. | Also referred to as the Chongyang Festival, the celebration has roots that stretch back centuries. |
| One legend tells of a hero who defeated a disease-spreading river demon in the mountains with the help of chrysanthemum wine and dogwood. | One legend tells of a hero who defeated a disease-spreading river demon in the mountains with the help of chrysanthemum wine and dogwood. |
| Mountain-climbing, chrysanthemums and dogwood displays are still a tradition on the day, which has a focus on good health and longevity. In fact, China designated the date Seniors’ Day in 1989. (Taiwan named it Senior Citizens’ Day in 1966.) | Mountain-climbing, chrysanthemums and dogwood displays are still a tradition on the day, which has a focus on good health and longevity. In fact, China designated the date Seniors’ Day in 1989. (Taiwan named it Senior Citizens’ Day in 1966.) |
| Japan, which adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1872, honors the holiday on the ninth day of September, the ninth month. | Japan, which adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1872, honors the holiday on the ninth day of September, the ninth month. |
| A common link is the chrysanthemum, a flower native to China but that has long been celebrated in Japan. (The country’s royal family is metaphorically referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne.) | A common link is the chrysanthemum, a flower native to China but that has long been celebrated in Japan. (The country’s royal family is metaphorically referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne.) |
| A Times article in 1958 described a centuries-old festival dedicated to the flower: “The ancient court fete became the heritage of lords and nobles. Attired in gorgeous robes, and well provided with sake, they composed poems in honor of the chrysanthemums’ beauty.” | A Times article in 1958 described a centuries-old festival dedicated to the flower: “The ancient court fete became the heritage of lords and nobles. Attired in gorgeous robes, and well provided with sake, they composed poems in honor of the chrysanthemums’ beauty.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| 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. And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | We have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian, European and American mornings. And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
| If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. | If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. |
| 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. |