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| California Fires, D.I.Y. Drugs, Alibaba: Your Monday Briefing | California Fires, D.I.Y. Drugs, Alibaba: Your Monday Briefing |
| (about 3 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. Fires engulf California, expensive pharmaceuticals in China prompt desperate solutions and Singles Day tops its own record. Here’s what you need to know: | Good morning. Fires engulf California, expensive pharmaceuticals in China prompt desperate solutions and Singles Day tops its own record. Here’s what you need to know: |
| • California is burning. | • California is burning. |
| At least 23 people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed in the most destructive fire in the state’s modern history, engulfing large swaths in the north. | At least 23 people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed in the most destructive fire in the state’s modern history, engulfing large swaths in the north. |
| In Southern California, two more died in fires near Los Angeles that forced evacuations in Malibu and Thousand Oaks, a city that was still reeling from a mass shooting last week. | In Southern California, two more died in fires near Los Angeles that forced evacuations in Malibu and Thousand Oaks, a city that was still reeling from a mass shooting last week. |
| Once a seasonal worry, fires have recently become a near-constant terror in California. | Once a seasonal worry, fires have recently become a near-constant terror in California. |
| President Trump blamed the infernos on “gross mismanagement of the forests,” drawing outrage from local leaders. | President Trump blamed the infernos on “gross mismanagement of the forests,” drawing outrage from local leaders. |
| Thousands of firefighters are working to contain the blazes, but their efforts are being complicated by a forecast of strong winds. | Thousands of firefighters are working to contain the blazes, but their efforts are being complicated by a forecast of strong winds. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Desperate Chinese patients turn to D.I.Y. drugs. | • Desperate Chinese patients turn to D.I.Y. drugs. |
| Despite the country’s socialized health care system, treatment for some conditions, like cancer, remains inaccessible for much of the population. | Despite the country’s socialized health care system, treatment for some conditions, like cancer, remains inaccessible for much of the population. |
| First, many foreign-made drugs are unavailable, stuck in a slow-moving government approval process that can take up to seven years. On top of that, China’s near-universal health insurance offers shallow coverage. Patients have to put up about 30 percent of medical expenses out of pocket, and their insurance doesn’t always cover the cost of increasingly expensive drugs. | First, many foreign-made drugs are unavailable, stuck in a slow-moving government approval process that can take up to seven years. On top of that, China’s near-universal health insurance offers shallow coverage. Patients have to put up about 30 percent of medical expenses out of pocket, and their insurance doesn’t always cover the cost of increasingly expensive drugs. |
| So sick people in China and their loved ones sometimes turn to other options: smuggling cheap knockoffs of Western pharmaceuticals from India, above, or making drugs at home with ingredients and instructions found online. | So sick people in China and their loved ones sometimes turn to other options: smuggling cheap knockoffs of Western pharmaceuticals from India, above, or making drugs at home with ingredients and instructions found online. |
| → In Iran, a different kind of pressure is making pharmaceuticals tough to find: reimposed sanctions by the U.S. | → In Iran, a different kind of pressure is making pharmaceuticals tough to find: reimposed sanctions by the U.S. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Young Chinese Communists go missing. | • Young Chinese Communists go missing. |
| At least a dozen student activists are missing, according to their friends, who said unidentified men in at least five cities rounded them up, beating several of them. | At least a dozen student activists are missing, according to their friends, who said unidentified men in at least five cities rounded them up, beating several of them. |
| It was unclear what happened to them, but it appeared to be the latest turn in the government’s ramped-up efforts to quash dissent. | It was unclear what happened to them, but it appeared to be the latest turn in the government’s ramped-up efforts to quash dissent. |
| The activists, ardent supporters of Marx and Mao, had taken part in the most visible student protests in years, pictured above, campaigning for workers’ rights. | The activists, ardent supporters of Marx and Mao, had taken part in the most visible student protests in years, pictured above, campaigning for workers’ rights. |
| Their effort put the ruling Communist Party, which prides itself on upholding socialist ideals even as it embraces capitalist practices, in an awkward position. | Their effort put the ruling Communist Party, which prides itself on upholding socialist ideals even as it embraces capitalist practices, in an awkward position. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The Philippines goes after a Duterte critic. | • The Philippines goes after a Duterte critic. |
| The government said it was ready to charge the online news start-up Rappler with tax evasion, along with its founder, the veteran journalist Maria Ressa, above. | The government said it was ready to charge the online news start-up Rappler with tax evasion, along with its founder, the veteran journalist Maria Ressa, above. |
| Rappler denied the charges, calling the case a “clear form of continuing intimidation and harassment” of the news media. | Rappler denied the charges, calling the case a “clear form of continuing intimidation and harassment” of the news media. |
| Rappler has been a harsh critic of President Rodrigo Duterte since he took office in 2016, scrutinizing his administration’s brutal war on drugs and combating misinformation that officials close to Mr. Duterte published on Facebook. | Rappler has been a harsh critic of President Rodrigo Duterte since he took office in 2016, scrutinizing his administration’s brutal war on drugs and combating misinformation that officials close to Mr. Duterte published on Facebook. |
| The president has accused the news organization of being foreign-owned, without any evidence, and often derided it as “fake news,” echoing President Trump’s language. In January, the Philippine government revoked Rappler’s license. | The president has accused the news organization of being foreign-owned, without any evidence, and often derided it as “fake news,” echoing President Trump’s language. In January, the Philippine government revoked Rappler’s license. |
| _____ | _____ |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A former Goldman Sachs banker involved in the 1MDB scandal told a U.S. federal judge that he had “conspired with other employees and agents” at the bank to help loot billions of dollars from the Malaysian state-run investment fund. He pleaded guilty to related charges in August. | • A former Goldman Sachs banker involved in the 1MDB scandal told a U.S. federal judge that he had “conspired with other employees and agents” at the bank to help loot billions of dollars from the Malaysian state-run investment fund. He pleaded guilty to related charges in August. |
| • Alibaba made more than $30 billion in sales during its 24-hour Singles Day shopping event, surpassing last year’s record. But the party may not last. | • Alibaba made more than $30 billion in sales during its 24-hour Singles Day shopping event, surpassing last year’s record. But the party may not last. |
| • Facebook said it would drop forced arbitration in sexual harassment cases, a day after Google announced similar plans amid pressure from its employees. | • Facebook said it would drop forced arbitration in sexual harassment cases, a day after Google announced similar plans amid pressure from its employees. |
| • A Thai businessman is buying Fortune magazine for $150 million. He promised to invest in the magazine’s geographic expansion, editorial talent and digital capabilities. | • A Thai businessman is buying Fortune magazine for $150 million. He promised to invest in the magazine’s geographic expansion, editorial talent and digital capabilities. |
| • Coming this week: Vice President Mike Pence heads to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and the U.S. International Trade Commission will submit a report to President Trump on the fate of the new Nafta deal with Mexico and Canada. | • Coming this week: Vice President Mike Pence heads to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, and the U.S. International Trade Commission will submit a report to President Trump on the fate of the new Nafta deal with Mexico and Canada. |
| • U.S. stocks were down on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were down on Friday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • World War I ended 100 years ago: As world leaders gathered in Paris to mark the anniversary of the armistice, President Emmanuel Macron of France used the occasion to denounce the resurgence of nationalism. [The New York Times] | • World War I ended 100 years ago: As world leaders gathered in Paris to mark the anniversary of the armistice, President Emmanuel Macron of France used the occasion to denounce the resurgence of nationalism. [The New York Times] |
| • Top Saudi intelligence officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked a group of businessmen last year about using private companies to assassinate enemies of the kingdom, according to people familiar with the discussions. [The New York Times] | • Top Saudi intelligence officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked a group of businessmen last year about using private companies to assassinate enemies of the kingdom, according to people familiar with the discussions. [The New York Times] |
| • The chart-topping K-pop band BTS was dropped from a Japanese TV show amid backlash over a T-shirt worn by one of its members that featured a historical image of a billowing mushroom cloud over Nagasaki. [The New York Times] | • The chart-topping K-pop band BTS was dropped from a Japanese TV show amid backlash over a T-shirt worn by one of its members that featured a historical image of a billowing mushroom cloud over Nagasaki. [The New York Times] |
| • North and South Korea started taking down guard posts along their heavily fortified border, working to further diffuse tensions. [The South China Morning Post] | • North and South Korea started taking down guard posts along their heavily fortified border, working to further diffuse tensions. [The South China Morning Post] |
| • President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka dissolved the country’s Parliament and called for new elections in January, deepening a two-week-old constitutional crisis over who is the legitimate prime minister of the island nation. [The New York Times] | • President Maithripala Sirisena of Sri Lanka dissolved the country’s Parliament and called for new elections in January, deepening a two-week-old constitutional crisis over who is the legitimate prime minister of the island nation. [The New York Times] |
| • Australian police officers fatally shot a man in Melbourne who stabbed three people, killing one, in what the authorities described as a terrorist act. [The New York Times] | • Australian police officers fatally shot a man in Melbourne who stabbed three people, killing one, in what the authorities described as a terrorist act. [The New York Times] |
| Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Start the week with savory-sweet pasta aglio olio with butternut squash. | • Recipe of the day: Start the week with savory-sweet pasta aglio olio with butternut squash. |
| • Relax. Being patient is as easy as realizing everything will be O.K. | • Relax. Being patient is as easy as realizing everything will be O.K. |
| • Embrace your funk. There’s an upside to feeling down. | • Embrace your funk. There’s an upside to feeling down. |
| • The Victoria’s Secret fashion show will once again feature dramatic wings, diamanté bodysuits and cleavage. But as other companies embrace body positivity and female empowerment, the brand’s signature style seems increasingly out of touch, writes our fashion director. | • The Victoria’s Secret fashion show will once again feature dramatic wings, diamanté bodysuits and cleavage. But as other companies embrace body positivity and female empowerment, the brand’s signature style seems increasingly out of touch, writes our fashion director. |
| • Gillian Flynn, the author of “Gone Girl” and “Sharp Objects,” built an enormous following, especially among women, by portraying women at their worst — which some critics call radical and empowering. | • Gillian Flynn, the author of “Gone Girl” and “Sharp Objects,” built an enormous following, especially among women, by portraying women at their worst — which some critics call radical and empowering. |
| • Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo, sometimes called the Canadian Kardashians, rose to Instagram fame by flaunting Hermès bags, private jets and fancy cars, all courtesy of the billionaire boyfriends they cycled through. But that lifestyle took a dark turn after the sisters ended up in a jail in Nigeria and on Interpol’s red-notice list. | • Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo, sometimes called the Canadian Kardashians, rose to Instagram fame by flaunting Hermès bags, private jets and fancy cars, all courtesy of the billionaire boyfriends they cycled through. But that lifestyle took a dark turn after the sisters ended up in a jail in Nigeria and on Interpol’s red-notice list. |
| Today, representatives of major Pacific nations will gather in Papua New Guinea for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting. | Today, representatives of major Pacific nations will gather in Papua New Guinea for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting. |
| To prepare, the tiny nation has not only imported a fleet of gleaming Maseratis, but also unveiled a six-lane boulevard near the Parliament House built via Chinese loans. | To prepare, the tiny nation has not only imported a fleet of gleaming Maseratis, but also unveiled a six-lane boulevard near the Parliament House built via Chinese loans. |
| It is just one of China’s many efforts to compete for global influence. | It is just one of China’s many efforts to compete for global influence. |
| Some are white elephants, like the little-used $1 billion Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka. | Some are white elephants, like the little-used $1 billion Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka. |
| Then there’s the world’s longest sea bridge, pictured above — 34 miles linking Hong Kong with Macau and the mainland city of Zhuhai. | Then there’s the world’s longest sea bridge, pictured above — 34 miles linking Hong Kong with Macau and the mainland city of Zhuhai. |
| Perhaps China’s best-known construction oddities are within China: ghost cities — see the desert city of Ordos — and empty airports. The Changhai Airport at one point serviced one route. | Perhaps China’s best-known construction oddities are within China: ghost cities — see the desert city of Ordos — and empty airports. The Changhai Airport at one point serviced one route. |
| “Call in two to three days to check if there’s a flight,” an airport official told Reuters in 2015. “The plane’s under maintenance.” | “Call in two to three days to check if there’s a flight,” an airport official told Reuters in 2015. “The plane’s under maintenance.” |
| Amy Qin wrote today’s Back Story. | Amy Qin wrote today’s Back Story. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Sign up here to get it by email in the Australian, Asian, European or American morning. You can also receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. Sign up here to get it by email in the Australian, Asian, European or American morning. You can also receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights. |
| And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. | And our Australia bureau chief offers a weekly letter adding analysis and conversations with readers. |
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| 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. |