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| Brexit, Myanmar, Komodo Dragons: Your Thursday Briefing | Brexit, Myanmar, Komodo Dragons: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes 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. Britain takes a crucial step toward Brexit, Bangladesh forcibly returns Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar and Marie Antoinette’s jewels go on the auction block. Here’s what you need to know: | Good morning. Britain takes a crucial step toward Brexit, Bangladesh forcibly returns Rohingya Muslims to Myanmar and Marie Antoinette’s jewels go on the auction block. Here’s what you need to know: |
| • Brexit deal clears one hurdle. | • Brexit deal clears one hurdle. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet approved a draft deal with the European Union on the country’s withdrawal from the bloc, only five months away. | Prime Minister Theresa May’s cabinet approved a draft deal with the European Union on the country’s withdrawal from the bloc, only five months away. |
| While the cabinet vote relieves some of the pressure on the prime minister, the deal must still win the approval of European lawmakers and British Parliament, which seems far from certain. | While the cabinet vote relieves some of the pressure on the prime minister, the deal must still win the approval of European lawmakers and British Parliament, which seems far from certain. |
| Here is live coverage of the cabinet meeting, along with the various sticking points. | Here is live coverage of the cabinet meeting, along with the various sticking points. |
| So how messy could Brexit be? The billion-dollar market for fresh flowers beautifully highlights the potential for disruption. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Rohingya Muslims sent back to Myanmar. | • Rohingya Muslims sent back to Myanmar. |
| The first batch of the 720,000 Rohingya who fled slaughter, rape and village burnings in their homeland are being repatriated today from refugee camps in Bangladesh. | The first batch of the 720,000 Rohingya who fled slaughter, rape and village burnings in their homeland are being repatriated today from refugee camps in Bangladesh. |
| The United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 people were killed last year in the military-led outbreak of ethnic cleansing. | The United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 people were killed last year in the military-led outbreak of ethnic cleansing. |
| Few apart from the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments seem to think the new transfers are a good idea. The U.N. said that at least two men in the refugee camps, pictured above, attempted suicide rather than face the possibility of returning to Myanmar. | Few apart from the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments seem to think the new transfers are a good idea. The U.N. said that at least two men in the refugee camps, pictured above, attempted suicide rather than face the possibility of returning to Myanmar. |
| And human rights groups have expressed concern about the future well-being of returned Rohingyas, calling the move “dangerous and premature.” | And human rights groups have expressed concern about the future well-being of returned Rohingyas, calling the move “dangerous and premature.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A Saudi prince’s enforcers: a poet and a bodyguard. | • A Saudi prince’s enforcers: a poet and a bodyguard. |
| Two men have played pivotal roles in the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, above: Saud el-Qahtani, a poet who became his chief propagandist; and Turki al-Sheikh, a former bodyguard who runs the Saudi sports commission. | Two men have played pivotal roles in the rise of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, above: Saud el-Qahtani, a poet who became his chief propagandist; and Turki al-Sheikh, a former bodyguard who runs the Saudi sports commission. |
| Even Saudi royalty came to fear the prince’s close friends, who were on hand for many of the brazen power plays that marked his rise to dominance. | Even Saudi royalty came to fear the prince’s close friends, who were on hand for many of the brazen power plays that marked his rise to dominance. |
| But now, in the aftermath of the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, their fates are unclear. | But now, in the aftermath of the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, their fates are unclear. |
| Neither was among the 18 arrested in the Saudi Arabia investigation. But Mr. Qahtani lost his title as an adviser to the royal court. And Mr. Sheikh has avoided the spotlight. | Neither was among the 18 arrested in the Saudi Arabia investigation. But Mr. Qahtani lost his title as an adviser to the royal court. And Mr. Sheikh has avoided the spotlight. |
| Saudi watchers consider the men’s fate a bellwether of the royal court’s direction as it grapples with the international outrage over the killing. | Saudi watchers consider the men’s fate a bellwether of the royal court’s direction as it grapples with the international outrage over the killing. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Australians declare an existential crisis over onions and sausages. | • Australians declare an existential crisis over onions and sausages. |
| A hardware store chain, Bunnings Warehouse, made a suggestion for its iconic sausage sandwiches at fund-raising barbecues: put the onions under the sausages. | A hardware store chain, Bunnings Warehouse, made a suggestion for its iconic sausage sandwiches at fund-raising barbecues: put the onions under the sausages. |
| The idea was to avoid onions falling on the ground in their stores, creating a slipping risk. | The idea was to avoid onions falling on the ground in their stores, creating a slipping risk. |
| But the culinary guidance provoked nationwide outrage. One headline said the scandal “Threatens to Tear the Nation Apart.” | But the culinary guidance provoked nationwide outrage. One headline said the scandal “Threatens to Tear the Nation Apart.” |
| For many, the onion slippage scheme represented an attack on personal freedom in a country that prides itself on ingenuity and self-reliance. | For many, the onion slippage scheme represented an attack on personal freedom in a country that prides itself on ingenuity and self-reliance. |
| _____ | _____ |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The Malaysian financier Jho Low, above, accused of masterminding the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, hired a legal team to help him salvage his reputation, according to legal filings that shine a light on a growing P.R. industry catering to wealthy individuals ensnared in international legal fights. | • The Malaysian financier Jho Low, above, accused of masterminding the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, hired a legal team to help him salvage his reputation, according to legal filings that shine a light on a growing P.R. industry catering to wealthy individuals ensnared in international legal fights. |
| • Uber and Lyft are both starting rewards programs in the U.S. that will eventually expand to cities worldwide, in an attempt to retain customers amid growing competition. | • Uber and Lyft are both starting rewards programs in the U.S. that will eventually expand to cities worldwide, in an attempt to retain customers amid growing competition. |
| • SoftBank injected another $3 billion into WeWork, bringing the co-working office company’s valuation to at least $42 billion. | • SoftBank injected another $3 billion into WeWork, bringing the co-working office company’s valuation to at least $42 billion. |
| • U.S. stocks were down. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks were down. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Sri Lanka’s parliament voted to remove Mahinda Rajapaksa, above, as prime minister, weeks after President Maithripala Sirisena unilaterally fired his predecessor and appointed him, setting off a constitutional crisis. It’s unclear what happens next. [The New York Times] | • Sri Lanka’s parliament voted to remove Mahinda Rajapaksa, above, as prime minister, weeks after President Maithripala Sirisena unilaterally fired his predecessor and appointed him, setting off a constitutional crisis. It’s unclear what happens next. [The New York Times] |
| • U.N. human rights officials condemned China for issuing new regulations that seek to provide a legal basis for the mass internment of Uighur Muslims in the western Xinjiang region, calling them a violation of international law. [The New York Times] | • U.N. human rights officials condemned China for issuing new regulations that seek to provide a legal basis for the mass internment of Uighur Muslims in the western Xinjiang region, calling them a violation of international law. [The New York Times] |
| • Passengers on an Air France flight from Paris to Shanghai that was diverted to Siberia after some smoke wafted through the cabin were finally flown out after being stranded there for about three days. [The New York Times] | • Passengers on an Air France flight from Paris to Shanghai that was diverted to Siberia after some smoke wafted through the cabin were finally flown out after being stranded there for about three days. [The New York Times] |
| • President Trump is expected to support a major overhaul of the U.S. criminal justice system, which could lower mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent drug offenses. [The New York Times] | • President Trump is expected to support a major overhaul of the U.S. criminal justice system, which could lower mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent drug offenses. [The New York Times] |
| • Israel’s hard-line defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, resigned after his government agreed to a cease-fire with Hamas after two days of violent clashes in Gaza, a surprise move that could lead to early elections. [The New York Times] | • Israel’s hard-line defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, resigned after his government agreed to a cease-fire with Hamas after two days of violent clashes in Gaza, a surprise move that could lead to early elections. [The New York Times] |
| • GQ named Serena Williams its “woman” of the year — and her fans wanted to know what the quotation marks were about. (The magazine said they were a famous designer’s trademark.) [The New York Times] | • GQ named Serena Williams its “woman” of the year — and her fans wanted to know what the quotation marks were about. (The magazine said they were a famous designer’s trademark.) [The New York Times] |
| • A Chinese couple has been detained and accused of stealing from dozens of Uniqlo stores, and reselling the products to pay for travel. [The South China Morning Post] | • A Chinese couple has been detained and accused of stealing from dozens of Uniqlo stores, and reselling the products to pay for travel. [The South China Morning Post] |
| • Marie Antoinette’s jewels, which haven’t been seen in public for 200 years, are being auctioned off in Geneva. [BBC] | • Marie Antoinette’s jewels, which haven’t been seen in public for 200 years, are being auctioned off in Geneva. [BBC] |
| Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Cook this comforting cheesy white bean-tomato bake. (Sop it up with good bread.) | • Recipe of the day: Cook this comforting cheesy white bean-tomato bake. (Sop it up with good bread.) |
| • Dear cat person: Live in harmony with your feline. | • Dear cat person: Live in harmony with your feline. |
| • Doctors weigh in on the best eye treatments for dark circles, bags and droopy lids. | • Doctors weigh in on the best eye treatments for dark circles, bags and droopy lids. |
| •The Komodo dragons that live on a handful of Indonesian islands are known for their size and ferocity. But scientists have found that they’re actually real homebodies, preferring never to leave the valley where they’re born. “It’s a bit bewildering,” said one researcher. | •The Komodo dragons that live on a handful of Indonesian islands are known for their size and ferocity. But scientists have found that they’re actually real homebodies, preferring never to leave the valley where they’re born. “It’s a bit bewildering,” said one researcher. |
| • In “The Nutcracker” ballet, the Chinese Tea scene portrays dancers in rice-paddy hats, Fu Manchu mustaches and geisha wigs, playing on cultural stereotypes that today seem outdated and offensive. So the New York City Ballet has altered the scene, as part of a broader movement to re-examine how people of color are portrayed in the performing arts. | • In “The Nutcracker” ballet, the Chinese Tea scene portrays dancers in rice-paddy hats, Fu Manchu mustaches and geisha wigs, playing on cultural stereotypes that today seem outdated and offensive. So the New York City Ballet has altered the scene, as part of a broader movement to re-examine how people of color are portrayed in the performing arts. |
| • The original torch of the Statue of Liberty, a 3,600-pound cooper and amber glass structure, has been on display inside the statue’s pedestal since it was replaced in 1986. Our team took 675 photographs of the torch so you can tour it in augmented reality before it moves to a new museum. | • The original torch of the Statue of Liberty, a 3,600-pound cooper and amber glass structure, has been on display inside the statue’s pedestal since it was replaced in 1986. Our team took 675 photographs of the torch so you can tour it in augmented reality before it moves to a new museum. |
| Hong Kong is often in the news, but a few recent headlines are on a surprising topic for one of the most densely populated places on Earth: wildlife. | Hong Kong is often in the news, but a few recent headlines are on a surprising topic for one of the most densely populated places on Earth: wildlife. |
| Wild boars strolled the streets of a busy neighborhood recently. Hundreds of wild cattle and water buffalo roam outlying villages. Snake encounters are a regular feature of local news. Above, a tourist makes a new friend. | Wild boars strolled the streets of a busy neighborhood recently. Hundreds of wild cattle and water buffalo roam outlying villages. Snake encounters are a regular feature of local news. Above, a tourist makes a new friend. |
| And there’s a ready display right out all those skyscraper windows. Black kites, with wingspans of up to five feet, can be seen flying around the Peak on Hong Kong Island, among buildings and out over Victoria Harbor. | And there’s a ready display right out all those skyscraper windows. Black kites, with wingspans of up to five feet, can be seen flying around the Peak on Hong Kong Island, among buildings and out over Victoria Harbor. |
| The birds inhabit much of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Hong Kong’s count surges in the winter because of migration from the north. | The birds inhabit much of Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Hong Kong’s count surges in the winter because of migration from the north. |
| How do they manage? The city still has abundant green space for nesting. And while the kites have been known to hunt just about anything, their favorite meals include carrion from landfills and the harbor, where there are usually a few dead fish to be found. | How do they manage? The city still has abundant green space for nesting. And while the kites have been known to hunt just about anything, their favorite meals include carrion from landfills and the harbor, where there are usually a few dead fish to be found. |
| Austin Ramzy, a reporter based in Hong Kong, wrote today’s Back Story. | Austin Ramzy, a reporter based in Hong Kong, 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. |