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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. | • 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 next week but leave asylum seekers on Papua New Guinea would expose them to more danger than they face now, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. | |
| Above, a recent protest in Sydney urging that the asylum seekers be allowed into Australia. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • 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. | 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. [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] | |
| • Australia’s Labor leader, Bill Shorten, called a raid on the offices of the Australian Workers Union a “grubby effort” by the government to smear its political opponents. [ABC] | |
| • 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 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. | 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. |