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| Xi Jinping, Singapore, Republicans: Your Thursday Briefing | Xi Jinping, Singapore, Republicans: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • The unveiling of China’s new leadership, with no younger leader to be groomed as heir apparent, sets President Xi Jinping up as the strongest ruler since Deng Xiaoping — and pushes the country into potentially dangerous political territory. | • The unveiling of China’s new leadership, with no younger leader to be groomed as heir apparent, sets President Xi Jinping up as the strongest ruler since Deng Xiaoping — and pushes the country into potentially dangerous political territory. |
| Here are the men who will help Mr. Xi govern for the next five years, none younger than 60. | Here are the men who will help Mr. Xi govern for the next five years, none younger than 60. |
| We looked behind the official titles he has claimed, so many that some call him “chairman of everything.” | We looked behind the official titles he has claimed, so many that some call him “chairman of everything.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • As many as 250,000 Thais are expected to turn out for the cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej today in an elaborate, $90 million ceremony that caps their year of official mourning. | • As many as 250,000 Thais are expected to turn out for the cremation of King Bhumibol Adulyadej today in an elaborate, $90 million ceremony that caps their year of official mourning. |
| The 50-meter-high royal pyre and pavilion is decorated with nine gilded spires, a great white umbrella and statuary of the king’s favorite pet dogs. | The 50-meter-high royal pyre and pavilion is decorated with nine gilded spires, a great white umbrella and statuary of the king’s favorite pet dogs. |
| King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the monarch’s son, will light the pyre, and his official coronation is expected to follow. A historian of modern Thailand explains the national adoration for the beloved, Buddha-like leader. | King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the monarch’s son, will light the pyre, and his official coronation is expected to follow. A historian of modern Thailand explains the national adoration for the beloved, Buddha-like leader. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Washington, President Trump continued his attacks on Jeff Flake and Bob Corker, two of his harshest Republican critics, who have said they will not run for re-election to the Senate. | • In Washington, President Trump continued his attacks on Jeff Flake and Bob Corker, two of his harshest Republican critics, who have said they will not run for re-election to the Senate. |
| With divisions roiling the Republicans, the prospect of a once-in-a-generation bill to cut taxes increasingly appears to be the last, best hope for the party to find some common ground. | With divisions roiling the Republicans, the prospect of a once-in-a-generation bill to cut taxes increasingly appears to be the last, best hope for the party to find some common ground. |
| But they are unifying in condemnation after revelations that Hillary Clinton’s campaign helped finance a dossier of salacious claims about Mr. Trump, his associates and Russia. | But they are unifying in condemnation after revelations that Hillary Clinton’s campaign helped finance a dossier of salacious claims about Mr. Trump, his associates and Russia. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Fatima, above, was 15 when a Boko Haram fighter strapped a suicide bomb to her. Somehow she and 18 other Nigerian girls survived to their stories. Scores of others have died. | |
| The teenagers described how the armed militants tied suicide belts to their waists, or thrust bombs into their hands, and directed them toward crowded civilian areas. | The teenagers described how the armed militants tied suicide belts to their waists, or thrust bombs into their hands, and directed them toward crowded civilian areas. |
| Some begged ordinary citizens or the authorities to help them. “I came away thinking they were heroes,” our correspondent said. | Some begged ordinary citizens or the authorities to help them. “I came away thinking they were heroes,” our correspondent said. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Australia’s plan to close the Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea next week would expose the asylum seekers there to more danger than they face now, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. | • Australia’s plan to close the Manus Island detention center in Papua New Guinea next week would expose the asylum seekers there to more danger than they face now, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. |
| “There has been an escalation in violence in the last six months and there has been little to no action by police,” the group’s Australia director said. “It’s simply not safe to move them out of the facility.” | “There has been an escalation in violence in the last six months and there has been little to no action by police,” the group’s Australia director said. “It’s simply not safe to move them out of the facility.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • After more than 50 years of conspiracy theories, the final trove of sealed government records on President John F. Kennedy’s assassination is expected to be made public today. | • After more than 50 years of conspiracy theories, the final trove of sealed government records on President John F. Kennedy’s assassination is expected to be made public today. |
| Here’s a look back at decades of unanswered questions, such as whether or not Lee Harvey Oswald, above, acted alone. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Toyota demanded “clarity” about the terms of trade after “Brexit” and warned of damage to its British operations, highlighting the looming dangers to Britain’s largely foreign-owned auto-making sector — and by extension, to other sectors that similarly operate from Britain to supply the European market. | • Toyota demanded “clarity” about the terms of trade after “Brexit” and warned of damage to its British operations, highlighting the looming dangers to Britain’s largely foreign-owned auto-making sector — and by extension, to other sectors that similarly operate from Britain to supply the European market. |
| • Here’s a rundown of the most futuristic cars at the Tokyo Motor Show. | • Here’s a rundown of the most futuristic cars at the Tokyo Motor Show. |
| • Assessing Australia’s tech: Our Sydney bureau chief finds an average internet speed below Thailand’s, but a flourishing start-up scene. | • Assessing Australia’s tech: Our Sydney bureau chief finds an average internet speed below Thailand’s, but a flourishing start-up scene. |
| • Drawing on extensive economic data, a Times Op-Ed argues that China must slow its vigorous growth to catch up with the U.S. as the world’s top economic superpower. | • Drawing on extensive economic data, a Times Op-Ed argues that China must slow its vigorous growth to catch up with the U.S. as the world’s top economic superpower. |
| • U.S. stocks were weaker. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were weaker. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Rex Tillerson, the U.S. secretary of state, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials in India. Above, he visited Gandhi’s grave. [Reuters] | |
| The U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown, revealed that he was investigated and cautioned by Washington over comments he made to women in Samoa. [The New York Times] | |
| • The #MeToo movement prompted a debate at the European Parliament, partly because of widespread reports of sexual harassment within the E.U. bureaucracy. [The New York Times] | • The #MeToo movement prompted a debate at the European Parliament, partly because of widespread reports of sexual harassment within the E.U. bureaucracy. [The New York Times] |
| • A Vietnamese court sentenced a student activist to six years in prison for using social media to promote a multiparty democracy and freedom of the press. His lawyer called the sentence “absurd.” [AP] | • A Vietnamese court sentenced a student activist to six years in prison for using social media to promote a multiparty democracy and freedom of the press. His lawyer called the sentence “absurd.” [AP] |
| • Malaysia’s nine state sultans issued a rare joint statement calling for an investigation into a corruption scandal involving Prime Minister Najib Razak. [Agence France-Presse] | • Malaysia’s nine state sultans issued a rare joint statement calling for an investigation into a corruption scandal involving Prime Minister Najib Razak. [Agence France-Presse] |
| • Kenya holds a second presidential vote today that may be as muddled as its first, discredited one. [The New York Times] | • Kenya holds a second presidential vote today that may be as muddled as its first, discredited one. [The New York Times] |
| • Singapore is the first Asian country judged to hold the world’s most powerful passport, giving its citizens visa-free access to 159 countries. [Business Insider] | • Singapore is the first Asian country judged to hold the world’s most powerful passport, giving its citizens visa-free access to 159 countries. [Business Insider] |
| • Canberra, Australia’s “bush capital,” was named No. 3 on Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities, setting off a wave of sarcasm in the country’s news media. [BBC] | • Canberra, Australia’s “bush capital,” was named No. 3 on Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Cities, setting off a wave of sarcasm in the country’s news media. [BBC] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Here are six spooky travel destinations for the Halloween season. Above, last year’s celebrations in Hong Kong. | |
| • Here’s how to choose a good air purifier. | • Here’s how to choose a good air purifier. |
| • Recipe of the day: Discover the best way to make salmon with our recipe for citrus salmon with herb salsa. | • Recipe of the day: Discover the best way to make salmon with our recipe for citrus salmon with herb salsa. |
| • Two very different hotels in Afghanistan’s Bamian Valley — one with plush executive suites and an extensive menu, the other a two-room mud hut with wasps and 80-cent beans — speak to the fluctuating fortunes of an area seeking a new identity after the destruction of their giant Buddhas. | • Two very different hotels in Afghanistan’s Bamian Valley — one with plush executive suites and an extensive menu, the other a two-room mud hut with wasps and 80-cent beans — speak to the fluctuating fortunes of an area seeking a new identity after the destruction of their giant Buddhas. |
| • In memoriam: Fats Domino, 89, the early rock ’n’ roll star with a boogie-woogie piano. | • In memoriam: Fats Domino, 89, the early rock ’n’ roll star with a boogie-woogie piano. |
| • Albert Einstein’s two-sentence “theory of happiness,” written in lieu of a tip to a Tokyo bellboy in 1922, sold at auction for $1.56 million. | • Albert Einstein’s two-sentence “theory of happiness,” written in lieu of a tip to a Tokyo bellboy in 1922, sold at auction for $1.56 million. |
| “Do I look like a gangster? I’m a businessman!” | “Do I look like a gangster? I’m a businessman!” |
| Such is life in the world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, an installment in the long-running video game series that was originally released 13 years ago today. | Such is life in the world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, an installment in the long-running video game series that was originally released 13 years ago today. |
| The Grand Theft Auto games, an action-adventure series in which players pursue a life of crime, has stretched over 20 years and more than a dozen titles. | The Grand Theft Auto games, an action-adventure series in which players pursue a life of crime, has stretched over 20 years and more than a dozen titles. |
| With $250 million in sales, it’s one of the most successful franchises in video game history, falling behind only famous names like Mario and Pokémon. | |
| The games are known for their nonlinear, open-world style, which allows players to cause random mayhem in fictionalized versions of U.S. cities. | The games are known for their nonlinear, open-world style, which allows players to cause random mayhem in fictionalized versions of U.S. cities. |
| As such, the series has long been accused of glamorizing violence. (In 2009, Guinness World Records labeled it the most controversial video game series ever, citing more than 4,000 news articles.) | As such, the series has long been accused of glamorizing violence. (In 2009, Guinness World Records labeled it the most controversial video game series ever, citing more than 4,000 news articles.) |
| Even so, the series has been a critical success — several titles are among the most well-reviewed games of all time — and celebrated for its soundtracks, voice acting and the sly sense of humor it applies to American culture. | Even so, the series has been a critical success — several titles are among the most well-reviewed games of all time — and celebrated for its soundtracks, voice acting and the sly sense of humor it applies to American culture. |
| As one character notes, guns blazing, “Ain’t the American dream grand!” | As one character notes, guns blazing, “Ain’t the American dream grand!” |
| Thomas Furse contributed reporting. | Thomas Furse contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Browse past briefings here. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Browse past briefings here. |
| We have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian, European and American mornings. And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. | We have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian, European and American mornings. And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here. |
| If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. | If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. |
| 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. |