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| Xi Jinping, Jeff Flake, Glyphosate: Your Wednesday Briefing | Xi Jinping, Jeff Flake, Glyphosate: Your Wednesday Briefing |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • In China, all eyes were on the new lineup of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist Party’s top rung. No new member has the background to become the heir apparent to President Xi Jinping. | • In China, all eyes were on the new lineup of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist Party’s top rung. No new member has the background to become the heir apparent to President Xi Jinping. |
| Challenging Mr. Xi could now amount to ideological heresy, as the party’s revised Constitution effectively puts him on par with Mao. | Challenging Mr. Xi could now amount to ideological heresy, as the party’s revised Constitution effectively puts him on par with Mao. |
| Globally, Mr. Xi has positioned his country as a stable alternative to an increasingly inward-looking U.S. Domestically, his unease with the rise of outspoken entrepreneurs could end up hurting economic growth. | Globally, Mr. Xi has positioned his country as a stable alternative to an increasingly inward-looking U.S. Domestically, his unease with the rise of outspoken entrepreneurs could end up hurting economic growth. |
| Separately, the fate of a Chinese-born Swedish publisher who disappeared in Thailand two years ago and reappeared in a Chinese jail took another strange twist: he’s missing. | Separately, the fate of a Chinese-born Swedish publisher who disappeared in Thailand two years ago and reappeared in a Chinese jail took another strange twist: he’s missing. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Washington, feuds between President Trump and Senate Republicans dominated the news cycle. | • In Washington, feuds between President Trump and Senate Republicans dominated the news cycle. |
| Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona strongly criticized “the coarseness of our leadership” in a much-noted speech, in which he announced that he would not run for re-election. | Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona strongly criticized “the coarseness of our leadership” in a much-noted speech, in which he announced that he would not run for re-election. |
| Also, the Senate approved a $36.5 billion package to aid recovery efforts from recent hurricanes and wildfires. A month after Hurricane Maria hit the island, Puerto Ricans are still being forced to get creative to survive. | Also, the Senate approved a $36.5 billion package to aid recovery efforts from recent hurricanes and wildfires. A month after Hurricane Maria hit the island, Puerto Ricans are still being forced to get creative to survive. |
| Mr. Trump signed an executive order resuming the admission of refugees to the United States under tighter security screening. | Mr. Trump signed an executive order resuming the admission of refugees to the United States under tighter security screening. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party paid for research that was included in a dossier compiled by Christopher Steele, above, a former British spy, on President Trump’s ties to Russia, according to a new court filing. | • The Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party paid for research that was included in a dossier compiled by Christopher Steele, above, a former British spy, on President Trump’s ties to Russia, according to a new court filing. |
| Meanwhile, YouTube is drawing scrutiny in the U.S. over its once-cozy relationship with RT, a state-owned Russian news channel. | Meanwhile, YouTube is drawing scrutiny in the U.S. over its once-cozy relationship with RT, a state-owned Russian news channel. |
| And Britain’s Parliament is asking internet giants including Facebook about potential efforts by Moscow to influence voters in last year’s referendum on leaving the European Union. | And Britain’s Parliament is asking internet giants including Facebook about potential efforts by Moscow to influence voters in last year’s referendum on leaving the European Union. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Nicaragua announced that it will join the Paris Climate Accord, leaving only Syria and the U.S. opposed to it. | • Nicaragua announced that it will join the Paris Climate Accord, leaving only Syria and the U.S. opposed to it. |
| Extreme weather like this summer’s heat wave in Europe is making olive oil production far more erratic across the Mediterranean. (Above, an olive harvest near Florence.) And a group of winemakers expects the lowest global harvest in grapes since 1961 this year. In France, the harvest is said to be the smallest since 1945. | Extreme weather like this summer’s heat wave in Europe is making olive oil production far more erratic across the Mediterranean. (Above, an olive harvest near Florence.) And a group of winemakers expects the lowest global harvest in grapes since 1961 this year. In France, the harvest is said to be the smallest since 1945. |
| If the world’s nations take no action on global warming, extremely hot days are expected to become much more commonplace. | If the world’s nations take no action on global warming, extremely hot days are expected to become much more commonplace. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Anne Frank’s diary will be read at soccer matches across Italy this week amid a national outcry when some fans in Rome used the Holocaust victim’s image to taunt their rivals. (Above, Inter’s captain Mauro Icardi signs a copy of the book at a match in Milan.) | • Anne Frank’s diary will be read at soccer matches across Italy this week amid a national outcry when some fans in Rome used the Holocaust victim’s image to taunt their rivals. (Above, Inter’s captain Mauro Icardi signs a copy of the book at a match in Milan.) |
| In other sports news, the two best teams in North American baseball — the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros — clashed in Game 1 of the 113th World Series. The Dodgers prevailed. | In other sports news, the two best teams in North American baseball — the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros — clashed in Game 1 of the 113th World Series. The Dodgers prevailed. |
| And as the tennis season nears its end, there’s a hidden agenda among players: year-end rankings and the bonuses that go with them. | And as the tennis season nears its end, there’s a hidden agenda among players: year-end rankings and the bonuses that go with them. |
| • The European Parliament demanded a five-year phase out of glyphosate-based herbicides. E.U. member countries are deliberating today on a Commission proposal to extend the license for glyphosate by 10 years. | • The European Parliament demanded a five-year phase out of glyphosate-based herbicides. E.U. member countries are deliberating today on a Commission proposal to extend the license for glyphosate by 10 years. |
| • In the U.S., a projection of the work force in 2026 foresees greater polarization by wages, education and geography. | • In the U.S., a projection of the work force in 2026 foresees greater polarization by wages, education and geography. |
| • An “army” of lobbyists met with U.S. lawmakers in a show of force against President Trump’s efforts to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement. | • An “army” of lobbyists met with U.S. lawmakers in a show of force against President Trump’s efforts to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Iraqi troops and Kurdish separatists clashed in two towns where Kurds said they repulsed attacks and killed and captured Iraqi soldiers. Above, Kurdish forces withdraw from a checkpoint near Irbil. [The New York Times] | • Iraqi troops and Kurdish separatists clashed in two towns where Kurds said they repulsed attacks and killed and captured Iraqi soldiers. Above, Kurdish forces withdraw from a checkpoint near Irbil. [The New York Times] |
| • Russia blocked an extension of the mandate of a U.N. panel investigating chemical weapons attacks in Syria. [The New York Times] | • Russia blocked an extension of the mandate of a U.N. panel investigating chemical weapons attacks in Syria. [The New York Times] |
| • Kenya’s Supreme Court agreed to hear a last-minute petition that may delay the rerun of the country’s presidential election scheduled for Thursday. [The New York Times] | • Kenya’s Supreme Court agreed to hear a last-minute petition that may delay the rerun of the country’s presidential election scheduled for Thursday. [The New York Times] |
| • Alternative for Germany, the first far-right party to sit in the country’s legislature in decades, began its tenure by challenging the Parliament’s tradition of consensus. [The New York Times] | • Alternative for Germany, the first far-right party to sit in the country’s legislature in decades, began its tenure by challenging the Parliament’s tradition of consensus. [The New York Times] |
| • Ksenia Sobchak, a Russian socialite, opened her presidential campaign by saying that she wanted to eradicate corruption, but she declined to elaborate on fund-raising, saying only that she has deep-pocketed financial backers. [The New York Times] | • Ksenia Sobchak, a Russian socialite, opened her presidential campaign by saying that she wanted to eradicate corruption, but she declined to elaborate on fund-raising, saying only that she has deep-pocketed financial backers. [The New York Times] |
| • The fallout from Harvey Weinstein’s decline after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced has also put the spotlight on Fabrizio Lombardo, an associate of the movie producer in Italy. [The New York Times] | |
| • Albert Einstein’s handwritten theory of happiness sold for $1.3 million at an auction in Jerusalem. [Associated Press] | • Albert Einstein’s handwritten theory of happiness sold for $1.3 million at an auction in Jerusalem. [Associated Press] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Baked chicken tenders will please children and adults alike. | • Recipe of the day: Baked chicken tenders will please children and adults alike. |
| • Here are nine ways to become a better investor. | • Here are nine ways to become a better investor. |
| • The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Thomas Adès’s “The Exterminating Angel” features highly unusual instruments, like tiny violins and slamming doors. Watch and listen to their performance in our latest 360 video, above. | • The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of Thomas Adès’s “The Exterminating Angel” features highly unusual instruments, like tiny violins and slamming doors. Watch and listen to their performance in our latest 360 video, above. |
| • A new study confirms research by Jane Goodall, who found about 60 years ago that chimpanzees had personality traits similar to those found in humans. | • A new study confirms research by Jane Goodall, who found about 60 years ago that chimpanzees had personality traits similar to those found in humans. |
| • Some guide dogs are being trained to help guide visually impaired runners in road races — and maybe, one day, in a marathon. | • Some guide dogs are being trained to help guide visually impaired runners in road races — and maybe, one day, in a marathon. |
| • In Marrakesh, the textile designer Valerie Barkowski has found arid beauty and timeless serenity. “In Europe it’s cold and you are surrounded by elaborate elegance,” she says. “Here, how much do you really need?” | • In Marrakesh, the textile designer Valerie Barkowski has found arid beauty and timeless serenity. “In Europe it’s cold and you are surrounded by elaborate elegance,” she says. “Here, how much do you really need?” |
| If you live in an urban area, you’ve likely come across — or been bumped into by — people who walk with their eyes glued to their phones. | If you live in an urban area, you’ve likely come across — or been bumped into by — people who walk with their eyes glued to their phones. |
| In Honolulu, those “smartphone zombies” can now face fines of up to $99. | In Honolulu, those “smartphone zombies” can now face fines of up to $99. |
| A law goes into effect there today that bans pedestrians from crossing the road while looking at their devices. The Hawaiian capital passed the measure as an effort to reduce accidents caused by “distracted walking.” | A law goes into effect there today that bans pedestrians from crossing the road while looking at their devices. The Hawaiian capital passed the measure as an effort to reduce accidents caused by “distracted walking.” |
| The ban is thought to be the first of its kind among major U.S. cities. | The ban is thought to be the first of its kind among major U.S. cities. |
| “Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass — that perhaps common sense would prevail,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. “But sometimes we lack common sense.” | “Sometimes I wish there were laws we did not have to pass — that perhaps common sense would prevail,” Mayor Kirk Caldwell said. “But sometimes we lack common sense.” |
| Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. climbed to 5,987 in 2016 — the highest since 1990 — and a report cites smartphone-related distraction as a potential factor. | Pedestrian deaths in the U.S. climbed to 5,987 in 2016 — the highest since 1990 — and a report cites smartphone-related distraction as a potential factor. |
| Several cities have attempted to tackle pedestrians’ urge to tweet, text and swipe. | Several cities have attempted to tackle pedestrians’ urge to tweet, text and swipe. |
| An announcement on Hong Kong’s escalators advises: “Don’t keep your eyes only on your mobile phone.” | An announcement on Hong Kong’s escalators advises: “Don’t keep your eyes only on your mobile phone.” |
| And temporary “text walking lanes” have been set up in Washington, Philadelphia and Antwerp, Belgium. But in most cases, pedestrians didn’t notice the markings. They were too consumed by their phones. | And temporary “text walking lanes” have been set up in Washington, Philadelphia and Antwerp, Belgium. But in most cases, pedestrians didn’t notice the markings. They were too consumed by their phones. |
| Sara Aridi contributed reporting. | Sara Aridi contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| This briefing was prepared for the European morning. Browse past briefings here. | This briefing was prepared for the European morning. Browse past briefings here. |
| We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
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| What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |