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| Huawei, Brexit, President Trump: Your Monday Briefing | Huawei, Brexit, President Trump: 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. Beijing tries to strike a delicate balance, Britain barrels toward a crucial Brexit vote and Beyoncé performs for India’s richest family. Here’s the latest: | Good morning. Beijing tries to strike a delicate balance, Britain barrels toward a crucial Brexit vote and Beyoncé performs for India’s richest family. Here’s the latest: |
| • The case against President Trump. | • The case against President Trump. |
| In a litany of memos on Friday, prosecutors effectively accused the president of defrauding voters, questioning the legitimacy of his victory. Prosecutors in Manhattan said that during the 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump directed Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, to make illegal hush payments to two women to suppress stories of affairs with him. | In a litany of memos on Friday, prosecutors effectively accused the president of defrauding voters, questioning the legitimacy of his victory. Prosecutors in Manhattan said that during the 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump directed Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, to make illegal hush payments to two women to suppress stories of affairs with him. |
| And the office of the special counsel, Robert Mueller, said that Mr. Trump continued to secretly seek to do business in Russia deep into his presidential campaign, even as Russian agents sought to influence the election. | And the office of the special counsel, Robert Mueller, said that Mr. Trump continued to secretly seek to do business in Russia deep into his presidential campaign, even as Russian agents sought to influence the election. |
| Together, the legal filings laid bare the most direct evidence to date linking Mr. Trump to potentially criminal conduct, and added to an already substantial case that Russia was seeking to sway the 2016 election in his favor. | Together, the legal filings laid bare the most direct evidence to date linking Mr. Trump to potentially criminal conduct, and added to an already substantial case that Russia was seeking to sway the 2016 election in his favor. |
| → Staff shake-ups: The White House chief of staff, John Kelly, will step down by the end of the year, as was long rumored. | → Staff shake-ups: The White House chief of staff, John Kelly, will step down by the end of the year, as was long rumored. |
| → In case you missed it: Two housekeepers at the Trump National Golf Club revealed that they had worked as undocumented immigrants and said many of their colleagues did as well. | → In case you missed it: Two housekeepers at the Trump National Golf Club revealed that they had worked as undocumented immigrants and said many of their colleagues did as well. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • How the Saudi crown prince wooed Jared Kushner. | • How the Saudi crown prince wooed Jared Kushner. |
| In the early months of the Trump administration, Mr. Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser, had private, informal conversations with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, according to three former White House officials. Above, the prince and Mr. Kushner. | In the early months of the Trump administration, Mr. Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser, had private, informal conversations with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, according to three former White House officials. Above, the prince and Mr. Kushner. |
| Despite resistance from senior American officials, the exchanges continued even after Oct. 2, when the dissident Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered at the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. Mr. Kushner has served as the prince’s most important defender inside the White House. | Despite resistance from senior American officials, the exchanges continued even after Oct. 2, when the dissident Jamal Khashoggi was killed and dismembered at the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. Mr. Kushner has served as the prince’s most important defender inside the White House. |
| The prince long cultivated ties with Mr. Kushner, according to documents, text messages and emails reviewed by The Times. The evidence shows that, as early as the month Mr. Trump was elected president, a delegation close to the prince identified Mr. Kushner as the ideal insider, because he had little knowledge of the region, a transactional mind-set and an intense focus on reaching an Israel-Palestine deal. | The prince long cultivated ties with Mr. Kushner, according to documents, text messages and emails reviewed by The Times. The evidence shows that, as early as the month Mr. Trump was elected president, a delegation close to the prince identified Mr. Kushner as the ideal insider, because he had little knowledge of the region, a transactional mind-set and an intense focus on reaching an Israel-Palestine deal. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The Brexit vote looms. | • The Brexit vote looms. |
| Protesters from Britain’s left and right took to the streets over the weekend, offering starkly different visions of the country’s future. Above, pro-Brexit demonstrators. | Protesters from Britain’s left and right took to the streets over the weekend, offering starkly different visions of the country’s future. Above, pro-Brexit demonstrators. |
| Parliament is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on the government’s plans to leave the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May and her team have been scrambling to shore up support for her compromise deal, which they’re painting as the best possible alternative to a potentially disastrous “no deal” exit. | Parliament is scheduled to vote on Tuesday on the government’s plans to leave the European Union. Prime Minister Theresa May and her team have been scrambling to shore up support for her compromise deal, which they’re painting as the best possible alternative to a potentially disastrous “no deal” exit. |
| But more than 100 lawmakers from her Conservative Party have said they will vote against the deal, a potential threat to Mrs. May’s leadership. Much of the resistance to Mrs. May’s deal is due, in part, to her own choices. “Early on, she expended vast reserves of energy reassuring the hard-line faction of her party that she was on their side,” writes our London-based chief diplomatic correspondent, Ellen Barry. Two and a half years later, she revealed a plan that should have appealed to moderates — but “had few reserves of trust or loyalty to draw upon.” | But more than 100 lawmakers from her Conservative Party have said they will vote against the deal, a potential threat to Mrs. May’s leadership. Much of the resistance to Mrs. May’s deal is due, in part, to her own choices. “Early on, she expended vast reserves of energy reassuring the hard-line faction of her party that she was on their side,” writes our London-based chief diplomatic correspondent, Ellen Barry. Two and a half years later, she revealed a plan that should have appealed to moderates — but “had few reserves of trust or loyalty to draw upon.” |
| → Go deeper: The economic grievances that inspired the Brexit movement in the first place remain unchanged. Our reporter traveled to Sunderland, a deprived northern city that voted 61 percent to 39 percent to leave the E.U. He found many voters frustrated that Mrs. May’s deal would not deliver the windfall they were promised during the campaign. | → Go deeper: The economic grievances that inspired the Brexit movement in the first place remain unchanged. Our reporter traveled to Sunderland, a deprived northern city that voted 61 percent to 39 percent to leave the E.U. He found many voters frustrated that Mrs. May’s deal would not deliver the windfall they were promised during the campaign. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Beijing’s delicate balancing act. | • Beijing’s delicate balancing act. |
| The Chinese government on Sunday summoned the U.S. ambassador, Terry Branstand, pictured above with his wife, to protest the surprise detention of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of the company’s founder. | The Chinese government on Sunday summoned the U.S. ambassador, Terry Branstand, pictured above with his wife, to protest the surprise detention of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of the company’s founder. |
| But the government also appeared intent on maintaining a recent thaw in trade tensions, offering praise for economic relations with the U.S. through a senior adviser. | But the government also appeared intent on maintaining a recent thaw in trade tensions, offering praise for economic relations with the U.S. through a senior adviser. |
| Ms. Meng, who until recently was seen as the polished face of one of China’s most celebrated companies, was arrested in Canada a little over a week ago at the request of the U.S. She is suspected of participating in a scheme to trick financial institutions into making transactions that violated U.S. sanctions against Iran. | Ms. Meng, who until recently was seen as the polished face of one of China’s most celebrated companies, was arrested in Canada a little over a week ago at the request of the U.S. She is suspected of participating in a scheme to trick financial institutions into making transactions that violated U.S. sanctions against Iran. |
| → Coming up: This month, Chinese leaders are preparing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s post-Mao economic reforms with a series of moves to further open the economy. How far they will go hasn’t been clear, and Ms. Meng’s arrest may shift their calculations. | → Coming up: This month, Chinese leaders are preparing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s post-Mao economic reforms with a series of moves to further open the economy. How far they will go hasn’t been clear, and Ms. Meng’s arrest may shift their calculations. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A Monet, a $250 million yacht, a see-through grand piano: The many flamboyant possessions, pictured above, of the Malaysian financier Jho Low, who prosecutors say helped orchestrate the vast money-laundering scheme involving 1MDB, the Malaysian development fund, are being tracked down and seized by the U.S. government. | • A Monet, a $250 million yacht, a see-through grand piano: The many flamboyant possessions, pictured above, of the Malaysian financier Jho Low, who prosecutors say helped orchestrate the vast money-laundering scheme involving 1MDB, the Malaysian development fund, are being tracked down and seized by the U.S. government. |
| • Both Uber and Lyft, faced with economic uncertainty and a wildly gyrating stock market, have moved up their initial public offerings next year. That could influence other tech “unicorns” looking to go public. | • Both Uber and Lyft, faced with economic uncertainty and a wildly gyrating stock market, have moved up their initial public offerings next year. That could influence other tech “unicorns” looking to go public. |
| • “Aquaman” raised $94 million at the box office in China, a big payoff for a risky decision by Warner Bros. to release the movie there before anywhere else. | • “Aquaman” raised $94 million at the box office in China, a big payoff for a risky decision by Warner Bros. to release the movie there before anywhere else. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • The police in France fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters during the fourth weekend of the so-called Yellow Vests antigovernment protests in Paris, above. More than 1,000 people nationwide have been arrested, and copycat demonstrations have taken place in the Netherlands, Hungary and Belgium. [The New York Times] | • The police in France fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters during the fourth weekend of the so-called Yellow Vests antigovernment protests in Paris, above. More than 1,000 people nationwide have been arrested, and copycat demonstrations have taken place in the Netherlands, Hungary and Belgium. [The New York Times] |
| • Japan’s Parliament voted to sharply increase the number of visas for foreign workers, aiming to ease labor shortages as the native work force ages. [The New York Times] | • Japan’s Parliament voted to sharply increase the number of visas for foreign workers, aiming to ease labor shortages as the native work force ages. [The New York Times] |
| • The police in New South Wales are offering a reward of 1 million Australian dollars for information leading to the perpetrators in the death of a gay mathematician from the U.S. who was forced off a cliff 30 years ago in what was only recently deemed a hate crime. [The New York Times] | • The police in New South Wales are offering a reward of 1 million Australian dollars for information leading to the perpetrators in the death of a gay mathematician from the U.S. who was forced off a cliff 30 years ago in what was only recently deemed a hate crime. [The New York Times] |
| • Celebrities including Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé descended on the Indian city of Udaipur for the pre-wedding festivities of Isha Ambani, whose father is India’s richest man. [Reuters] | • Celebrities including Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé descended on the Indian city of Udaipur for the pre-wedding festivities of Isha Ambani, whose father is India’s richest man. [Reuters] |
| • A successor for Angela Merkel’s party: The Christian Democrats chose Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to take up the leadership position the current German chancellor is leaving. Like Ms. Merkel, she is a moderate centrist with a wry sense of humor. [The New York Times] | • A successor for Angela Merkel’s party: The Christian Democrats chose Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to take up the leadership position the current German chancellor is leaving. Like Ms. Merkel, she is a moderate centrist with a wry sense of humor. [The New York Times] |
| • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, who came into office promising to combat climate change, is now seeing resistance to his carbon tax initiative. [The New York Times] | • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, who came into office promising to combat climate change, is now seeing resistance to his carbon tax initiative. [The New York Times] |
| Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Looking for homey comfort food? Make one-pot rice and beans for dinner. | • Recipe of the day: Looking for homey comfort food? Make one-pot rice and beans for dinner. |
| • Here’s how to pamper yourself with five cheap(ish) things. | • Here’s how to pamper yourself with five cheap(ish) things. |
| • Stress is ever-present. Fortunately, there’s yoga. | • Stress is ever-present. Fortunately, there’s yoga. |
| • Aphids use their long legs to flee danger and find new hosts. Along the way, they usually pick up young, uninvited hitchhikers. | • Aphids use their long legs to flee danger and find new hosts. Along the way, they usually pick up young, uninvited hitchhikers. |
| • Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” has quickly turned into the best-selling book of the year. The memoir takes readers on an “intimate tour of everyday African-American life and ambition,” writes Isabel Wilkerson, our former Chicago bureau chief, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her book on the Great Migration. The book is “refined and forthright, gracefully written and at times laugh-out-loud funny.” | • Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” has quickly turned into the best-selling book of the year. The memoir takes readers on an “intimate tour of everyday African-American life and ambition,” writes Isabel Wilkerson, our former Chicago bureau chief, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her book on the Great Migration. The book is “refined and forthright, gracefully written and at times laugh-out-loud funny.” |
| •The Spanish city of Cádiz is taking on an ambitious task: relocating 5,000 pigeons to a countryside location. The mission was initiated after a complaint that the birds were keeping tourists away from cafe terraces. | •The Spanish city of Cádiz is taking on an ambitious task: relocating 5,000 pigeons to a countryside location. The mission was initiated after a complaint that the birds were keeping tourists away from cafe terraces. |
| This evening in Stockholm, Nobel laureates will feast on a banquet with Swedish royalty after receiving their Nobel Prizes. It’s one of many traditions associated with the 117-year-old honors. | This evening in Stockholm, Nobel laureates will feast on a banquet with Swedish royalty after receiving their Nobel Prizes. It’s one of many traditions associated with the 117-year-old honors. |
| But another — in which laureates are awoken at the Grand Hotel Stockholm by girls in white carrying candles — may be fading into history. | But another — in which laureates are awoken at the Grand Hotel Stockholm by girls in white carrying candles — may be fading into history. |
| The ceremony reflects an annual Swedish custom honoring St. Lucia, who represents the triumph of light over darkness. Above, the Nobel laureate in chemistry William Knowles receiving the Queen of Lights in 2001. | |
| But a manager at the hotel said that this year’s edition was canceled “due to fire risk” in the laureates’ rooms. A version will still take place in the lobby and one of the hotel’s restaurants. | But a manager at the hotel said that this year’s edition was canceled “due to fire risk” in the laureates’ rooms. A version will still take place in the lobby and one of the hotel’s restaurants. |
| Not every Nobel Laureate has enjoyed the wake-up call. | Not every Nobel Laureate has enjoyed the wake-up call. |
| When white-clad maidens came to the American novelist Saul Bellow in 1976, for example, he was irritated. | When white-clad maidens came to the American novelist Saul Bellow in 1976, for example, he was irritated. |
| “I scowled, and then my face formed the smile which is obligatory on such occasions,” he later told a biographer. | “I scowled, and then my face formed the smile which is obligatory on such occasions,” he later told a biographer. |
| Mike Ives, a reporter in our Hong Kong office, wrote today’s Back Story. | Mike Ives, a reporter in our Hong Kong office, wrote today’s Back Story. |
| _____ | _____ |
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| 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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