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| Angela Merkel, Manuel Valls, Iran: Your Wednesday Briefing | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • President-elect Donald J. Trump’s latest disruption involves one of the most hallowed symbols of the American presidency. | • President-elect Donald J. Trump’s latest disruption involves one of the most hallowed symbols of the American presidency. |
| On Twitter and in follow-up comments, Mr. Trump suggested that he could cancel a pending order to upgrade Air Force One, accusing Boeing of inflating development costs. Before the election, he had criticized the aerospace giant for plans to open a 737 plant in China. | On Twitter and in follow-up comments, Mr. Trump suggested that he could cancel a pending order to upgrade Air Force One, accusing Boeing of inflating development costs. Before the election, he had criticized the aerospace giant for plans to open a 737 plant in China. |
| Mr. Trump’s threats to punish U.S. companies that move jobs overseas with 35 percent tariffs is meeting resistance from House Republicans whose help he’ll need to enact his agenda. “I don’t want some kind of trade war,” said one. | Mr. Trump’s threats to punish U.S. companies that move jobs overseas with 35 percent tariffs is meeting resistance from House Republicans whose help he’ll need to enact his agenda. “I don’t want some kind of trade war,” said one. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A poll shows that 56 percent of Americans think Mr. Trump uses Twitter too much. | • A poll shows that 56 percent of Americans think Mr. Trump uses Twitter too much. |
| One way to gauge what Mr. Trump is thinking is to look at who and what he’s insulting on Twitter. His criticism of Republicans has shrunk of late, while barbs at journalists and the media have spiked. | One way to gauge what Mr. Trump is thinking is to look at who and what he’s insulting on Twitter. His criticism of Republicans has shrunk of late, while barbs at journalists and the media have spiked. |
| Here’s the latest on the transition. | Here’s the latest on the transition. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “America is our enemy; we have no doubt about this.” | • “America is our enemy; we have no doubt about this.” |
| Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, took a harsh tone, under pressure from hard-liners who argue that the United States cannot be trusted to keep its end of the landmark nuclear deal. | Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, took a harsh tone, under pressure from hard-liners who argue that the United States cannot be trusted to keep its end of the landmark nuclear deal. |
| He insisted that Iran would not allow Mr. Trump to “rip up” the landmark nuclear deal and warned of consequences if President Obama signs a 10-year extension of sanctions approved by the Senate last week. | He insisted that Iran would not allow Mr. Trump to “rip up” the landmark nuclear deal and warned of consequences if President Obama signs a 10-year extension of sanctions approved by the Senate last week. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • An impeachment vote appears inevitable in South Korea, despite President Park Geun-hye’s offer to step down in April over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal. | • An impeachment vote appears inevitable in South Korea, despite President Park Geun-hye’s offer to step down in April over a corruption and influence-peddling scandal. |
| A Friday vote for impeachment would not immediately force Ms. Park from office, but her powers would be suspended while a constitutional court takes up to six months to decide if the move is warranted. | A Friday vote for impeachment would not immediately force Ms. Park from office, but her powers would be suspended while a constitutional court takes up to six months to decide if the move is warranted. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Saudi Arabia has voiced support for American efforts to nourish Afghanistan’s democracy, but it has also lavishly funded Sunni extremism under various guises. | • Saudi Arabia has voiced support for American efforts to nourish Afghanistan’s democracy, but it has also lavishly funded Sunni extremism under various guises. |
| Our special report examines how the kingdom manages to be on both sides of the conflict. | Our special report examines how the kingdom manages to be on both sides of the conflict. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for civil unrest as grief sweeps through a population of some 78 million over the death of the revered and queenly leader known as Amma, or Mother. | • The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is bracing for civil unrest as grief sweeps through a population of some 78 million over the death of the revered and queenly leader known as Amma, or Mother. |
| Jayalalithaa Jayaram, 68, died of a heart attack in her fifth term as chief minister, a reign in which she quelled all competition, leaving no obvious successor. | Jayalalithaa Jayaram, 68, died of a heart attack in her fifth term as chief minister, a reign in which she quelled all competition, leaving no obvious successor. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The United States Supreme Court unanimously backed Samsung in its high-profile patent design dispute with Apple, potentially sparing the South Korean smartphone giant penalties of nearly $400 million. | • The United States Supreme Court unanimously backed Samsung in its high-profile patent design dispute with Apple, potentially sparing the South Korean smartphone giant penalties of nearly $400 million. |
| • One of China’s celebrity investors, Xu Xiang, has pleaded guilty to insider trading and stock manipulation, in a case believed to be the start of a government crackdown on the financial sector. | • One of China’s celebrity investors, Xu Xiang, has pleaded guilty to insider trading and stock manipulation, in a case believed to be the start of a government crackdown on the financial sector. |
| • China releases data on its foreign exchange reserves, of particular note after Mr. Trump’s criticism of Chinese monetary policies. | • China releases data on its foreign exchange reserves, of particular note after Mr. Trump’s criticism of Chinese monetary policies. |
| • The Reserve Bank of India is expected to cut interest rates, aiming to lift an economy stalled by the cancellation of large denomination notes. | • The Reserve Bank of India is expected to cut interest rates, aiming to lift an economy stalled by the cancellation of large denomination notes. |
| • U.S. stocks were up. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were up. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • The “Ghost Ship,” the California warehouse where 36 people died in a fire last week, was a motley art space with a troubling history. [The New York Times] | • The “Ghost Ship,” the California warehouse where 36 people died in a fire last week, was a motley art space with a troubling history. [The New York Times] |
| • Australian students have fallen one and a half years behind Singapore’s top-ranked students in science, and more than two years behind in math. [Canberra Times] | • Australian students have fallen one and a half years behind Singapore’s top-ranked students in science, and more than two years behind in math. [Canberra Times] |
| • Kofi Annan, the former head of the United Nations, visited Myanmar and said he was “deeply concerned” about the plight of Rohingya Muslims. [The New York Times] | • Kofi Annan, the former head of the United Nations, visited Myanmar and said he was “deeply concerned” about the plight of Rohingya Muslims. [The New York Times] |
| • Xi Jinping will be the first Chinese president to attend the World Economic Forum at Davos next month. [Forbes] | • Xi Jinping will be the first Chinese president to attend the World Economic Forum at Davos next month. [Forbes] |
| • Secretive investigations using threats, pressure and torture to secure confessions have tarnished China’s anti-corruption campaign, according to Human Rights Watch. [The New York Times] | • Secretive investigations using threats, pressure and torture to secure confessions have tarnished China’s anti-corruption campaign, according to Human Rights Watch. [The New York Times] |
| • Radiation in fish caught off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture fell below detectable levels for the first time since the 2011 nuclear disaster. [Asahi Shimbun] | • Radiation in fish caught off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture fell below detectable levels for the first time since the 2011 nuclear disaster. [Asahi Shimbun] |
| • Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany should ban full-face veils and protect its borders, a bid to ease criticism of her immigration policies as she seeks re-election. [The New York Times] | • Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany should ban full-face veils and protect its borders, a bid to ease criticism of her immigration policies as she seeks re-election. [The New York Times] |
| • France is forming a new government under its former interior minister, after Prime Minister Manuel Valls handed in his resignation to run as a Socialist candidate for president. [The New York Times] | • France is forming a new government under its former interior minister, after Prime Minister Manuel Valls handed in his resignation to run as a Socialist candidate for president. [The New York Times] |
| • South Korea blamed North Korea for hacking its military’s intranet, leading to leaks of state secrets. [The Korea Herald] | • South Korea blamed North Korea for hacking its military’s intranet, leading to leaks of state secrets. [The Korea Herald] |
| • In Hong Kong, a pair of rainbow-colored lions have stirred up a debate over L.G.B.T. rights. [South China Morning Post] | • In Hong Kong, a pair of rainbow-colored lions have stirred up a debate over L.G.B.T. rights. [South China Morning Post] |
| • The TWA terminal at New York’s Kennedy International Airport, a cathedral of modernist architecture, will become the entrance to a hotel in a $265 million project. | • The TWA terminal at New York’s Kennedy International Airport, a cathedral of modernist architecture, will become the entrance to a hotel in a $265 million project. |
| • Beyoncé, with nine nods for her album “Lemonade,” leads the nominations for the 59th annual Grammy Awards. Other nominees include Adele, Drake, Rihanna and Justin Bieber. | • Beyoncé, with nine nods for her album “Lemonade,” leads the nominations for the 59th annual Grammy Awards. Other nominees include Adele, Drake, Rihanna and Justin Bieber. |
| • Whether a woman’s name changes after marriage can be a personal choice, but also a matter of culture, political environment and law. | • Whether a woman’s name changes after marriage can be a personal choice, but also a matter of culture, political environment and law. |
| We’re asking women around the world to let us know if they kept or changed their names, and why. | We’re asking women around the world to let us know if they kept or changed their names, and why. |
| • Our daily 360 video takes you aboard a riverboat courtroom as it braves choppy currents, malarial mosquitoes and the threat of pirates to provide justice in the Amazon. | • Our daily 360 video takes you aboard a riverboat courtroom as it braves choppy currents, malarial mosquitoes and the threat of pirates to provide justice in the Amazon. |
| The standoff over an oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in the American Midwest took a turn this week when the Army Corps of Engineers said it would reconsider the pipeline’s route. | The standoff over an oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in the American Midwest took a turn this week when the Army Corps of Engineers said it would reconsider the pipeline’s route. |
| The Corps has helped shape American infrastructure since its establishment in 1802 as the “world’s largest public engineering, design and construction management agency.” | The Corps has helped shape American infrastructure since its establishment in 1802 as the “world’s largest public engineering, design and construction management agency.” |
| As a part of the Department of the Army, its early projects involved forts. But the Corps’ most notable legacy may be making Great Lakes harbors safer and reducing river obstacles, a boon to the growing nation’s economy. | As a part of the Department of the Army, its early projects involved forts. But the Corps’ most notable legacy may be making Great Lakes harbors safer and reducing river obstacles, a boon to the growing nation’s economy. |
| The Standing Rock protest stems from the pipeline’s planned routing under the Missouri River, raising Native American fears of an environmental catastrophe. When those happen, the Corps often responds, as it did in the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989. | The Standing Rock protest stems from the pipeline’s planned routing under the Missouri River, raising Native American fears of an environmental catastrophe. When those happen, the Corps often responds, as it did in the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska in 1989. |
| The Corps has often been credited with a marvel that it didn’t actually build: the original Panama Canal, which transformed global trade. | The Corps has often been credited with a marvel that it didn’t actually build: the original Panama Canal, which transformed global trade. |
| The canal’s construction was, however, overseen by a famous member of the Corps, Gen. George Washington Goethals. | The canal’s construction was, however, overseen by a famous member of the Corps, Gen. George Washington Goethals. |
| When he died in 1929, officials called the canal “a monument to one of the world’s greatest engineers.” He was buried at the U.S. Military Academy in New York, overlooking the Hudson River. | When he died in 1929, officials called the canal “a monument to one of the world’s greatest engineers.” He was buried at the U.S. Military Academy in New York, overlooking the Hudson River. |
| Sean Alfano contributed reporting. | Sean Alfano 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. |