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| Neil Gorsuch, Rodrigo Duterte, Nintendo: Your Morning Briefing | Neil Gorsuch, Rodrigo Duterte, Nintendo: Your Morning Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • President Trump nominated a conservative judge from Denver, Neil M. Gorsuch, to the U.S. Supreme Court, presaging yet another political battle in Washington. The 49-year-old nominee’s legal philosophy echoes that of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, whose seat he will fill if confirmed. | |
| In Congress, Democrats sought to delay confirmation for Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks after he fired the acting attorney general for defying his contentious immigration order. A so-called dissent cable objecting to the order is going viral at U.S. embassies, and legal challenges are mounting. | |
| Despite the protests and increased anxieties in corporate America and allies abroad, a broad swath of the U.S. electorate appears to back the president. | Despite the protests and increased anxieties in corporate America and allies abroad, a broad swath of the U.S. electorate appears to back the president. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • President Trump’s impulsive statements and false claims have foreign leaders struggling to figure out if they can depend on the U.S. to honor defense treaties and trade pacts — or to behave reliably if unforeseen issues arise. | • President Trump’s impulsive statements and false claims have foreign leaders struggling to figure out if they can depend on the U.S. to honor defense treaties and trade pacts — or to behave reliably if unforeseen issues arise. |
| In a letter to European leaders, Donald Tusk, a top European official, above, wrote that the E.U. was “in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy.” | In a letter to European leaders, Donald Tusk, a top European official, above, wrote that the E.U. was “in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Bangladesh is moving forward with an internationally criticized plan to transfer Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar from camps located near resorts to a largely uninhabitable island in the Bay of Bengal. | • Bangladesh is moving forward with an internationally criticized plan to transfer Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar from camps located near resorts to a largely uninhabitable island in the Bay of Bengal. |
| The site is hours from the mainland and submerged during the monsoon season. | The site is hours from the mainland and submerged during the monsoon season. |
| The Rohingya say they were not consulted. One observed, “At the end of the day, what we want or don’t want is not going to matter to anyone.” | The Rohingya say they were not consulted. One observed, “At the end of the day, what we want or don’t want is not going to matter to anyone.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Confusion reigned over the whereabouts of a Chinese-born billionaire who Chinese police are said to have taken from his apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong last week. | |
| The billionaire, Xiao Jianhua, is a Canadian citizen who travels on a diplomatic passport from Antigua. His arrest appeared to contravene the “one country, two systems” rule that allows Hong Kong to run its own affairs. | The billionaire, Xiao Jianhua, is a Canadian citizen who travels on a diplomatic passport from Antigua. His arrest appeared to contravene the “one country, two systems” rule that allows Hong Kong to run its own affairs. |
| Posts on his company’s WeChat account that said he was “recuperating abroad” were deleted, and a person close to him said that he had been taken to the mainland. | Posts on his company’s WeChat account that said he was “recuperating abroad” were deleted, and a person close to him said that he had been taken to the mainland. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Relations between the U.S. and the Philippines took another odd turn. | • Relations between the U.S. and the Philippines took another odd turn. |
| “This devil appears to be nailed here. This America, they are building a depot. They are unloading arms in the Philippines now.” | “This devil appears to be nailed here. This America, they are building a depot. They are unloading arms in the Philippines now.” |
| That was President Rodrigo Duterte, using characteristically bombastic language to accuse the U.S. The U.S. ambassador, however, said there was no basis to the claim. | That was President Rodrigo Duterte, using characteristically bombastic language to accuse the U.S. The U.S. ambassador, however, said there was no basis to the claim. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • And in India, a deadly medical mystery had a surprising solution. | • And in India, a deadly medical mystery had a surprising solution. |
| Researchers had suspected that heat stroke, infections or pesticides caused sporadic outbreaks of a disease that struck only children. But a two-year investigation found the truth: compounds in the tropical lychee fruit can be fatal to malnourished children. | Researchers had suspected that heat stroke, infections or pesticides caused sporadic outbreaks of a disease that struck only children. But a two-year investigation found the truth: compounds in the tropical lychee fruit can be fatal to malnourished children. |
| • Take a look at the roaring wheels of China’s e-commerce industry. Our latest 360 video comes from the streets of Beijing, where couriers play a crucial role in one of the world’s largest delivery markets. | • Take a look at the roaring wheels of China’s e-commerce industry. Our latest 360 video comes from the streets of Beijing, where couriers play a crucial role in one of the world’s largest delivery markets. |
| • The planned $880 acquisition of MoneyGram, the U.S. payment processor, by Ant Financial, an online payment spinoff of Alibaba, will test the Trump administration’s stance on Chinese investment. | • The planned $880 acquisition of MoneyGram, the U.S. payment processor, by Ant Financial, an online payment spinoff of Alibaba, will test the Trump administration’s stance on Chinese investment. |
| • Apple returned to growth, reporting higher than expected revenue largely thanks to its latest iPhones. | • Apple returned to growth, reporting higher than expected revenue largely thanks to its latest iPhones. |
| • Nintendo reported that its third-quarter profits more than doubled from last year, citing booming sales of Pokemon software. | • Nintendo reported that its third-quarter profits more than doubled from last year, citing booming sales of Pokemon software. |
| • And a tech tip: If you’re getting peculiar messages about iMessages, remember that criminals never stop trying to get your personal information. | • And a tech tip: If you’re getting peculiar messages about iMessages, remember that criminals never stop trying to get your personal information. |
| • Wall Street was lower. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Wall Street was lower. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Right-wing Israeli politicians, emboldened by the Trump administration, want to annex a settlement of 41,000 people. Palestinians say that would end any possibility of a two-state solution. [The New York Times] | • Right-wing Israeli politicians, emboldened by the Trump administration, want to annex a settlement of 41,000 people. Palestinians say that would end any possibility of a two-state solution. [The New York Times] |
| • With an eye on Jakarta’s gubernatorial election next month, Indonesia’s highest Islamic clerical body is to issue an edict against fake news. [Sydney Morning Herald] | • With an eye on Jakarta’s gubernatorial election next month, Indonesia’s highest Islamic clerical body is to issue an edict against fake news. [Sydney Morning Herald] |
| • Documents discovered in Iraq offer a chilling picture of the Islamic State’s rapidly advancing armed drone program, cobbled out of readily accessible technology. [The New York Times] | • Documents discovered in Iraq offer a chilling picture of the Islamic State’s rapidly advancing armed drone program, cobbled out of readily accessible technology. [The New York Times] |
| • In Thailand, an ornamental crayfish with rare colors was sold for almost $30,000 to a restaurant owner who plans to breed more to bring luck to his business. [Bangkok Post] | • In Thailand, an ornamental crayfish with rare colors was sold for almost $30,000 to a restaurant owner who plans to breed more to bring luck to his business. [Bangkok Post] |
| • Australia, vying for influence with China, will help Papua New Guinea finance next year’s APEC summit meeting. [ABC] | • Australia, vying for influence with China, will help Papua New Guinea finance next year’s APEC summit meeting. [ABC] |
| • The Lunar New Year often highlights the plight of China’s “bare branches,” men left involuntary bachelors in part because of family-planning policies. [Hong Kong Free Press] | • The Lunar New Year often highlights the plight of China’s “bare branches,” men left involuntary bachelors in part because of family-planning policies. [Hong Kong Free Press] |
| • The Boy Scouts of America will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, allowing transgender boys to join. [The New York Times] | • The Boy Scouts of America will begin accepting members based on the gender listed on their application, allowing transgender boys to join. [The New York Times] |
| • Who knew hair-washing could be so ... complicated? | • Who knew hair-washing could be so ... complicated? |
| • After a painful breakup, a young woman finds healing in honesty — with both her former boyfriend and herself. | • After a painful breakup, a young woman finds healing in honesty — with both her former boyfriend and herself. |
| • Recipe of the day: If you’ve got an hour tonight, try this simple take on roast chicken. | • Recipe of the day: If you’ve got an hour tonight, try this simple take on roast chicken. |
| • Margaret Court, 74, remains outspoken about her achievements and her values. Asked about the possibility that Serena Williams might finally match her record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the Australian cited her total when doubles and mixed titles were added: “Nobody will ever hit my 62.” | • Margaret Court, 74, remains outspoken about her achievements and her values. Asked about the possibility that Serena Williams might finally match her record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the Australian cited her total when doubles and mixed titles were added: “Nobody will ever hit my 62.” |
| • Cannibalism, scientists now judge, is not aberrant behavior, but exists in hundreds, possibly thousands of species, vertebrate and invertebrate. There’s even a form of in utero cannibalism in the sand tiger shark. | • Cannibalism, scientists now judge, is not aberrant behavior, but exists in hundreds, possibly thousands of species, vertebrate and invertebrate. There’s even a form of in utero cannibalism in the sand tiger shark. |
| • From Bertolt Brecht, who fled Nazi Germany, to Viet Thanh Nguyen, who escaped Vietnam in 1975, we look at major contributions to American literature by refugees. | • From Bertolt Brecht, who fled Nazi Germany, to Viet Thanh Nguyen, who escaped Vietnam in 1975, we look at major contributions to American literature by refugees. |
| Avalanches have made news in recent weeks. One in central Italy buried a hotel and killed 29 people. Another in California seriously injured a group of hikers. | Avalanches have made news in recent weeks. One in central Italy buried a hotel and killed 29 people. Another in California seriously injured a group of hikers. |
| High-tech is trying to help snow adventurers survive avalanches with tools to add to the basic shovel and probe. | High-tech is trying to help snow adventurers survive avalanches with tools to add to the basic shovel and probe. |
| The big danger is being buried and running out of air. So there are backpacks with airbags that cause the churning snow to drive the wearer toward the surface. | The big danger is being buried and running out of air. So there are backpacks with airbags that cause the churning snow to drive the wearer toward the surface. |
| For someone trapped beneath the snow, a product called an AvaLung can be a lifesaver. It’s a breathing tube that snakes through a backpack, so that inhales are far from the ice block formed by the melting power of exhales. | For someone trapped beneath the snow, a product called an AvaLung can be a lifesaver. It’s a breathing tube that snakes through a backpack, so that inhales are far from the ice block formed by the melting power of exhales. |
| But one of the most recommended tools, the avalanche transceiver, isn’t all that new. | But one of the most recommended tools, the avalanche transceiver, isn’t all that new. |
| In the ’60s, the scientist Edward LaChapelle developed an early version, which John Lawton, another researcher, later improved. | In the ’60s, the scientist Edward LaChapelle developed an early version, which John Lawton, another researcher, later improved. |
| That led to the Skadi, an audio transmitter inside a plastic box that was nicknamed “the hot dog” and fit inside a jacket pocket. | That led to the Skadi, an audio transmitter inside a plastic box that was nicknamed “the hot dog” and fit inside a jacket pocket. |
| The Times in 1969 heralded its arrival, noting that the Skadi could eventually replace a much different tool: the avalanche dog. | The Times in 1969 heralded its arrival, noting that the Skadi could eventually replace a much different tool: the avalanche dog. |
| 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. |
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