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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Syria, Ahmadinejad, United Airlines: Your Morning Briefing | Syria, Ahmadinejad, United Airlines: 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 Vladimir Putin sat down with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the Kremlin for two hours, despite days of escalating acrimony over Syria. | • President Vladimir Putin sat down with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the Kremlin for two hours, despite days of escalating acrimony over Syria. |
| Mr. Tillerson also met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, above right, on the same day that President Trump gave a pointedly warm welcome to NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, at the White House. | |
| Mr. Trump’s shifts on Russia have created geopolitical whiplash. In the latest, he criticized its support for the Syrian president: “Putin is backing a person that’s truly an evil person, and I think it’s very bad for Russia. I think it’s very bad for mankind.” | Mr. Trump’s shifts on Russia have created geopolitical whiplash. In the latest, he criticized its support for the Syrian president: “Putin is backing a person that’s truly an evil person, and I think it’s very bad for Russia. I think it’s very bad for mankind.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Reports that the Japanese Navy would join a U.S. Navy strike group off the Korean Peninsula added to regional fears of a military strike should North Korea conduct another nuclear test. | • Reports that the Japanese Navy would join a U.S. Navy strike group off the Korean Peninsula added to regional fears of a military strike should North Korea conduct another nuclear test. |
| President Xi Jinping of China took a call from President Trump and urged that the situation be resolved peacefully, CCTV reported, and another state-run outlet warned the North that China would cut off vital oil supplies in the case of a test. | President Xi Jinping of China took a call from President Trump and urged that the situation be resolved peacefully, CCTV reported, and another state-run outlet warned the North that China would cut off vital oil supplies in the case of a test. |
| Above, the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. | Above, the U.S. aircraft carrier Carl Vinson. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Within the Trump administration, two key figures are on the spot. Stephen Bannon, the chief strategist, appears to be in a nose-dive after repeated run-ins with President Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. | • Within the Trump administration, two key figures are on the spot. Stephen Bannon, the chief strategist, appears to be in a nose-dive after repeated run-ins with President Trump’s adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. |
| Mr. Trump has publicly undercut Mr. Bannon, above. Our “Daily” podcast looks at his situation. | Mr. Trump has publicly undercut Mr. Bannon, above. Our “Daily” podcast looks at his situation. |
| And Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, tried to recover from a whopping gaffe, saying his assertion that Hitler, in contrast to the Syrian president, did not use chemical weapons on his people was “inexcusable and reprehensible,” and that the timing — during Passover and the Christian Holy Week — “compounds that kind of mistake.” | And Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, tried to recover from a whopping gaffe, saying his assertion that Hitler, in contrast to the Syrian president, did not use chemical weapons on his people was “inexcusable and reprehensible,” and that the timing — during Passover and the Christian Holy Week — “compounds that kind of mistake.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “No one should ever be mistreated this way.” | • “No one should ever be mistreated this way.” |
| That was the chief executive of United Airlines, trying to quell the outcry over a viral video showing a screaming Asian passenger being dragged off an overbooked airplane. | That was the chief executive of United Airlines, trying to quell the outcry over a viral video showing a screaming Asian passenger being dragged off an overbooked airplane. |
| But consumers threatened a boycott, lawmakers called for an investigation and, in China, the episode reached more than 770 million views on Sina Weibo. | But consumers threatened a boycott, lawmakers called for an investigation and, in China, the episode reached more than 770 million views on Sina Weibo. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • And let our latest 360 video take you to Bama County, the self-described longevity capital of China. | • And let our latest 360 video take you to Bama County, the self-described longevity capital of China. |
| Eat the life-enhancing mushrooms. Drink the “longevity water.” Chat with centenarians and come away feeling hopeful and fresh. | Eat the life-enhancing mushrooms. Drink the “longevity water.” Chat with centenarians and come away feeling hopeful and fresh. |
| Just don’t forget your skepticism: many who are drawn by promises of miracles, leave only with disappointment. | Just don’t forget your skepticism: many who are drawn by promises of miracles, leave only with disappointment. |
| • The Trump business empire has 157 trademark applications pending in 36 countries, drawing a high-stakes lawsuit from a team of constitutional lawyers and ethics lawyers. | • The Trump business empire has 157 trademark applications pending in 36 countries, drawing a high-stakes lawsuit from a team of constitutional lawyers and ethics lawyers. |
| • Tesla excited investors with its upbeat outlook for delivering a mass-market electric car. Now its chief, Elon Musk, must deliver the goods. | • Tesla excited investors with its upbeat outlook for delivering a mass-market electric car. Now its chief, Elon Musk, must deliver the goods. |
| • Cathay Pacific, one of Asia’s biggest full-service airlines, replaced its chief executive officer as it seeks to stem last year’s $74 million loss. | • Cathay Pacific, one of Asia’s biggest full-service airlines, replaced its chief executive officer as it seeks to stem last year’s $74 million loss. |
| • A new ad strategy uses “wake-up” words in TV commercials to trigger viewers’ smart speakers, like Google Home and Amazon’s Echo. | • A new ad strategy uses “wake-up” words in TV commercials to trigger viewers’ smart speakers, like Google Home and Amazon’s Echo. |
| • On the uselessness of job interviews: A management expert argues that recruiters use the process to try to “get to know” people — and it doesn’t work. | • On the uselessness of job interviews: A management expert argues that recruiters use the process to try to “get to know” people — and it doesn’t work. |
| • Coming up: China releases monthly figures for imports, exports and balance of trade. | • Coming up: China releases monthly figures for imports, exports and balance of trade. |
| • U.S. stocks were weaker. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were weaker. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Iran’s firebrand former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unexpectedly registered to run in May’s presidential election, a move that could appeal to hard-liners who want to curtail accommodations to the West. [The New York Times] | • Iran’s firebrand former president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, unexpectedly registered to run in May’s presidential election, a move that could appeal to hard-liners who want to curtail accommodations to the West. [The New York Times] |
| • In Italy, the death of a female vineyard worker set off months of soul-searching over what the authorities, labor experts and union organizers call an elaborate system of modern slavery. [The New York Times] | • In Italy, the death of a female vineyard worker set off months of soul-searching over what the authorities, labor experts and union organizers call an elaborate system of modern slavery. [The New York Times] |
| • Officials with India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party denounced a member of its youth wing for offering a bounty for the “severed head” of the chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee. [BBC] | • Officials with India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party denounced a member of its youth wing for offering a bounty for the “severed head” of the chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee. [BBC] |
| • Chinese nationals have been posing as Buddhist monks in Tokyo to prey on foreign tourists, and the Japanese police suspect they are part of a crime ring. [The Asahi Shimbun] | • Chinese nationals have been posing as Buddhist monks in Tokyo to prey on foreign tourists, and the Japanese police suspect they are part of a crime ring. [The Asahi Shimbun] |
| • Cassandra Hsiao, a Malaysia-born teenager who grew up in the U.S., is dealing with sudden fame after being accepted by all eight Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford and Johns Hopkins, thanks in part to her essay about learning English as an immigrant. [South China Morning Post] | • Cassandra Hsiao, a Malaysia-born teenager who grew up in the U.S., is dealing with sudden fame after being accepted by all eight Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford and Johns Hopkins, thanks in part to her essay about learning English as an immigrant. [South China Morning Post] |
| • Is running a part of your morning routine? Good news: It may be extending your life. | • Is running a part of your morning routine? Good news: It may be extending your life. |
| • Adults who sleep less lose the ability to more effectively ward off ailments. | • Adults who sleep less lose the ability to more effectively ward off ailments. |
| • Recipe of the day: Succulent chicken with mixed mushrooms and cream is as timeless as they come. | • Recipe of the day: Succulent chicken with mixed mushrooms and cream is as timeless as they come. |
| • Lorde, the New Zealand-born superstar, is back. Four years after her debut album, the pop prodigy offers “Melodrama,” a testimonial to heartbreak and solitude. | • Lorde, the New Zealand-born superstar, is back. Four years after her debut album, the pop prodigy offers “Melodrama,” a testimonial to heartbreak and solitude. |
| • Saber-toothed cats had battle scars. Researchers analyzed tens of thousands of bones retrieved from tar pits to understand the painful price of being a Pleistocene predator. | • Saber-toothed cats had battle scars. Researchers analyzed tens of thousands of bones retrieved from tar pits to understand the painful price of being a Pleistocene predator. |
| • Finally, if you want to get engaged in Fiji, you’ll be needing a sperm whale tooth. The tabua, as it is known, is associated with good luck and even supernatural powers. Tough whaling laws are making the traditional talismans tough to come by. | • Finally, if you want to get engaged in Fiji, you’ll be needing a sperm whale tooth. The tabua, as it is known, is associated with good luck and even supernatural powers. Tough whaling laws are making the traditional talismans tough to come by. |
| If you happen to be in Thailand this morning, don’t bother taking a shower: You’ll get soaked anyway as soon as you step outside. | If you happen to be in Thailand this morning, don’t bother taking a shower: You’ll get soaked anyway as soon as you step outside. |
| Songkran, the water festival that celebrates the Buddhist New Year, officially begins today and continues for several days. In some parts of the country the water-flinging has already begun. | Songkran, the water festival that celebrates the Buddhist New Year, officially begins today and continues for several days. In some parts of the country the water-flinging has already begun. |
| The celebration, traditionally a time of purification, retains some of its Buddhist beginnings. Many Thais return home for the holiday and observe water cleansing rituals. | The celebration, traditionally a time of purification, retains some of its Buddhist beginnings. Many Thais return home for the holiday and observe water cleansing rituals. |
| But the purifying symbol of water has exploded into a countrywide party. People play with water guns and dump buckets of waters from the beds of pickup trucks. Some even bring out the fire hoses. | But the purifying symbol of water has exploded into a countrywide party. People play with water guns and dump buckets of waters from the beds of pickup trucks. Some even bring out the fire hoses. |
| Even last year’s drought couldn’t stop the festivities, though some government officials asked festival goers to downgrade to spray bottles, which befuddled one university student. | Even last year’s drought couldn’t stop the festivities, though some government officials asked festival goers to downgrade to spray bottles, which befuddled one university student. |
| “Are you kidding me?” said Krit Pongchaiassawin. “I would just get laughed off the street.” | “Are you kidding me?” said Krit Pongchaiassawin. “I would just get laughed off the street.” |
| Some Thai traditionalists are worried that the festivities have strayed too far from their origins. This year a government official warned merry makers not to “wear revealing clothes” or dance suggestively. Such transgressions will result in a fine of about $145. | Some Thai traditionalists are worried that the festivities have strayed too far from their origins. This year a government official warned merry makers not to “wear revealing clothes” or dance suggestively. Such transgressions will result in a fine of about $145. |
| Evan Gershkovich contributed reporting. | Evan Gershkovich contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| This briefing was prepared for the Asian morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, European and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | This briefing was prepared for the Asian morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, European and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| 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. |