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Fidel Castro, Donald Trump, Park Geun-hye: Your Monday Briefing Fidel Castro, François Fillon, Narendra Modi: Your Monday Briefing
(35 minutes later)
Good morning.Good morning.
Here’s what you need to know:Here’s what you need to know:
• A recount effort in the United States presidential election that began in Wisconsin may extend this week to two more states narrowly lost by Hillary Clinton.• A recount effort in the United States presidential election that began in Wisconsin may extend this week to two more states narrowly lost by Hillary Clinton.
President-elect Donald J. Trump dismissed the effort as a “scam.”President-elect Donald J. Trump dismissed the effort as a “scam.”
Mr. Trump’s business dealings around the globe are raising widespread concerns over conflicts of interest. One example: his business partnership with a real-estate developer named as the Philippines’ special envoy to the United States.Mr. Trump’s business dealings around the globe are raising widespread concerns over conflicts of interest. One example: his business partnership with a real-estate developer named as the Philippines’ special envoy to the United States.
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• The Cuban government is rolling out plans for a nine-day period of “Duelo Nacional,” or national pain, after the death of Fidel Castro, 90.• The Cuban government is rolling out plans for a nine-day period of “Duelo Nacional,” or national pain, after the death of Fidel Castro, 90.
The country, which defied the United States for nearly half a century before hostilities eased, remains firmly in the grip of his brother, Raúl Castro.The country, which defied the United States for nearly half a century before hostilities eased, remains firmly in the grip of his brother, Raúl Castro.
The capital, Havana, has been quiet, but Cuban exiles celebrated in Miami.The capital, Havana, has been quiet, but Cuban exiles celebrated in Miami.
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• The Vatican has begun talks with Beijing to ease tensions dating back to 1949, when the ascendant Communist Party expelled Catholic missionaries from China.• The Vatican has begun talks with Beijing to ease tensions dating back to 1949, when the ascendant Communist Party expelled Catholic missionaries from China.
Some fear that the pope’s eagerness to reach a deal could lead to a settlement giving too many concessions to China’s hard-line president, Xi Jinping.Some fear that the pope’s eagerness to reach a deal could lead to a settlement giving too many concessions to China’s hard-line president, Xi Jinping.
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• South Korea’s political crisis escalated after a weekend protest against President Park Geun-hye that appeared to be the largest yet.• South Korea’s political crisis escalated after a weekend protest against President Park Geun-hye that appeared to be the largest yet.
A looming impeachment vote over an influence-peddling scandal, expected by the end of next week, could come as early as Friday. The president was named in the indictment of a music-video director who has been swept into the scandal, involving Ms. Park’s longtime friend and adviser, Choi Soon-sil.A looming impeachment vote over an influence-peddling scandal, expected by the end of next week, could come as early as Friday. The president was named in the indictment of a music-video director who has been swept into the scandal, involving Ms. Park’s longtime friend and adviser, Choi Soon-sil.
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• Black Friday sales were up 18 percent over last year, to $5.3 billion, according to industry analysts, while visits to brick-and-mortar stores dipped.• Black Friday sales were up 18 percent over last year, to $5.3 billion, according to industry analysts, while visits to brick-and-mortar stores dipped.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the radio to soothe Indians distressed by his ban on large banknotes, pledging that the difficulties caused by the ban would ease soon.
• Oil prices have been volatile ahead of Wednesday’s OPEC meeting in Vienna, given the uncertainty over the possibility of a deal on production curbs.• Oil prices have been volatile ahead of Wednesday’s OPEC meeting in Vienna, given the uncertainty over the possibility of a deal on production curbs.
• A California startup thinks it may have found the secret to growing truffles, though several American efforts to farm it before have failed.• A California startup thinks it may have found the secret to growing truffles, though several American efforts to farm it before have failed.
• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• Days before the Australian government will report to Unesco on the health of the Great Barrier Reef, reports emerged that damage to the reef may be worse than initially thought. [The Brisbane Times]• Days before the Australian government will report to Unesco on the health of the Great Barrier Reef, reports emerged that damage to the reef may be worse than initially thought. [The Brisbane Times]
• Australia’s Parliament, in its last week before recess, will focus on the so-called backpacker tax, the tax rate paid by seasonal workers, who are often young travelers. [The Guardian]• Australia’s Parliament, in its last week before recess, will focus on the so-called backpacker tax, the tax rate paid by seasonal workers, who are often young travelers. [The Guardian]
• China’s government has pledged to expand land use rights for homeowners, giving residents more control over properties they buy. [South China Morning Post]
• A major surfing competition in a small fishing village in Taiwan challenged long-held anxieties about the sea and cross-straits dangers. [The Guardian]• A major surfing competition in a small fishing village in Taiwan challenged long-held anxieties about the sea and cross-straits dangers. [The Guardian]
• The vice president of Afghanistan, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, reportedly punched a political rival at a sporting event and later had the man taken hostage. [The New York Times]• The vice president of Afghanistan, Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, reportedly punched a political rival at a sporting event and later had the man taken hostage. [The New York Times]
• High turnout was reported in a runoff between two former prime ministers of France, François Fillon and Alain Juppé, who are vying to represent the country’s center-right party. [Reuters]
• U.S. officials say they will close a protest camp that has drawn thousands of Native Americans opposed to an oil pipeline. [The New York Times]• U.S. officials say they will close a protest camp that has drawn thousands of Native Americans opposed to an oil pipeline. [The New York Times]
• China’s government has pledged to expand land use rights for homeowners, giving residents more control over properties they buy. [South China Morning Post]
• A computer science student in the nation of Georgia says he was just looking for ad dollars when he started purveying the kind of fake news that played a role in the U.S. election. [The New York Times]• A computer science student in the nation of Georgia says he was just looking for ad dollars when he started purveying the kind of fake news that played a role in the U.S. election. [The New York Times]
That banana you might be having for breakfast is probably a Cavendish, the most widely available variety of one of the world’s most popular fruits.That banana you might be having for breakfast is probably a Cavendish, the most widely available variety of one of the world’s most popular fruits.
But a deadly fungus is on the march, and the Cavendish’s lack of genetic diversity is raising fears of a possible “bananapocalypse.”But a deadly fungus is on the march, and the Cavendish’s lack of genetic diversity is raising fears of a possible “bananapocalypse.”
The killer, a strain of Panama Disease called Tropical Race 4, has spread to China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia’s Northern Territory, and has recently been found in Africa and the Middle East.The killer, a strain of Panama Disease called Tropical Race 4, has spread to China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia’s Northern Territory, and has recently been found in Africa and the Middle East.
With its yellow peel and seedless fruit, the Cavendish makes up 95 percent of bananas sold worldwide, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.With its yellow peel and seedless fruit, the Cavendish makes up 95 percent of bananas sold worldwide, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.
The previous dominant variety, the Gros Michel, was decimated by another form of the fungus in the 1950s. Growers turned to the Cavendish, whose strength lies more in disease resistance than flavor. (One expert said it “had been considered something close to junk.”)The previous dominant variety, the Gros Michel, was decimated by another form of the fungus in the 1950s. Growers turned to the Cavendish, whose strength lies more in disease resistance than flavor. (One expert said it “had been considered something close to junk.”)
The Cavendish is thought to have arrived in England in the 1800s from Mauritius, taking its name from the family in whose greenhouse it was cultivated. Missionaries eventually carried it to the Pacific islands.The Cavendish is thought to have arrived in England in the 1800s from Mauritius, taking its name from the family in whose greenhouse it was cultivated. Missionaries eventually carried it to the Pacific islands.
One scientist sees a silver lining in newly urgent efforts to save the seeds from wild bananas. “Race 4 is a threat,” he says, “but it’s also an opportunity to start growing more diversity.”One scientist sees a silver lining in newly urgent efforts to save the seeds from wild bananas. “Race 4 is a threat,” he says, “but it’s also an opportunity to start growing more diversity.”
Remy Tumin contributed reporting.Remy Tumin contributed reporting.
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Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.Photographs may appear out of order for some readers. Viewing this version of the briefing should help.
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.