Thursday: Theresa May wins no-confidence vote

Michael Cohen sentenced, Hungary's courts, chocolate spill View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Thursday, December 13, 2018 [NYTimes.com »]( Europe Edition [Your Thursday Briefing]( By PENN BULLOCK Good morning. Theresa May lives to govern another day, Michael Cohen gets prison time and China holds its fire on trade. Here’s the latest: [The British prime minister, Theresa May, preparing to give a speech after winning the confidence vote on Wednesday in London.]The British prime minister, Theresa May, preparing to give a speech after winning the confidence vote on Wednesday in London. Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Theresa May prevails in a no-confidence vote The British prime minister survived the greatest threat yet to her leadership, [winning a confidence motion]( called by lawmakers in her own Conservative Party. But it was something of a hollow victory. Mrs. May had to promise her party that [she would not stand for re-election]( and while she got the support of 200 Conservative lawmakers, 117 voted against her. That sizable opposition could still imperil the parliamentary prospects of her Brexit proposal, experts said. Impact: Under Conservative Party rules, Mrs. May can’t be challenged again for a year, which will [give her some time and solid ground](. Outlook: Mrs. May’s Brexit plan will probably fail to pass. Our interactive explores [what happens then](. ______ [President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen leaving court after receiving his sentence in New York on Wednesday.]President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen leaving court after receiving his sentence in New York on Wednesday. Stephanie Keith for The New York Times Michael Cohen is sentenced to three years in prison [The punishment for President Trump’s former lawyer]( was partly for his role in a hush-money scandal that could threaten Mr. Trump’s presidency. Mr. Cohen said in court that Mr. Trump directed him before the 2016 election to arrange payments to a pornographic film actress and a former Playboy model, who claimed they had affairs with Mr. Trump. [Here are some key takeaways]( from the sentencing. Another angle: Prosecutors announced that the tabloid publisher [American Media Inc.]( which played an important role in the scheme, was cooperating. Quote of note: “I blame myself for the conduct which has brought me here today,” Mr. Cohen told the court, “and it was my own weakness and a blind loyalty to this man that led me to choose a path of darkness over light.” Go deeper: Rudy Giuliani is serving as Mr. Trump’s lead personal lawyer while also [soliciting business overseas]( raising ethics questions. “I’m probably the most ethical person you ever met,” he told us. ______ [On the left, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary listening to the deputy chairman of the Hungarian Parliament, Janos Latorcai, speaking on Wednesday in Budapest.]On the left, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary listening to the deputy chairman of the Hungarian Parliament, Janos Latorcai, speaking on Wednesday in Budapest. Attila Kisbenedek/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Viktor Orban locks in control of Hungary’s courts The Hungarian Parliament, controlled by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s far-right party, [approved the creation of a parallel court system]( that will go into operation within a year. What it means: The old court system will function with a shrunken purview. The new system, known as the administrative courts, will handle politically sensitive matters like election law, corruption and the right to protest. Mr. Orban’s justice minister will hire the judges. Analysis: The government says the plan is well within European and international standards. Critics say it takes a wrecking ball to judicial independence, which was already weak in Hungary. Reaction: Some lawmakers delayed the vote by blowing whistles for more than two hours, and about 2,000 protesters marched through Budapest. But anger was more focused on another piece of legislation, denounced as “the slave law,” which allows companies to force employees to work the equivalent of roughly one extra day per week. ______ [A Huawei shop in Beijing this week.]A Huawei shop in Beijing this week. Thomas Peter/Reuters China is cooling trade tensions, for now The Chinese government has [tempered its approach to U.S. trade negotiations]( even after Canada, prompted by the U.S., arrested a top executive at the Chinese tech giant Huawei. China has set aside the issue of the arrest, while following through on trade concessions to the U.S. — and it may have no choice. With its economy in a sharp downturn and the trade war worsening its position, China is negotiating from weakness and aiming for lasting calm. Looking ahead: If the executive is extradited to the U.S., President Xi Jinping of China could feel pressure to escalate. President Trump [raised the possibility of intervening in the case]( if doing so helped achieve “the largest trade deal ever made.” Experts told us his intercession would be legal but would set a dangerous precedent for executive power. For you: Mr. Trump’s focus on trade and tariffs has been decades in the making, transforming him from a businessman into “Tariff Man.” [A superhero comic tells the tale](. ______ Here’s what else is happening Manhunt in France: Officials said the deadly shooting at a Strasbourg Christmas market that killed two people [was an act of terrorism]( and hundreds of police officers hunted the fugitive assailant, a man described as a career criminal and Islamic extremist. How the mighty fall: A Chinese oil tycoon, Ye Jianming, established high-profile connections in Washington — up to the family of former Vice President Joseph Biden — and brokered business deals in far-flung places like North Korea. Now Mr. Ye is in Chinese custody and his [empire is crashing down](. [A group of permanent representatives to the United Nations and other diplomats during an early morning run in Central Park.]A group of permanent representatives to the United Nations and other diplomats during an early morning run in Central Park. Ashley Gilbertson for The New York Times World peace on the run: U.N. diplomats from around the globe go on [weekly pre-dawn jogs]( through Central Park in New York, putting aside their hierarchical titles and policy disagreements and focusing instead on shared concerns, from aching joints to parenting. Catholic shake-up: The Vatican [removed two cardinals]( implicated in sexual abuse cases from a powerful council, including George Pell of Australia, who has been facing charges of sexual abuse in secretive Australian legal proceedings. Parkland findings: A Florida state commission investigating [the mass shooting at a school]( in Parkland, Florida, found that sheriff’s deputies — more than a half-dozen — who raced to the school and heard gunshots remained outside the building. Backtracking: Days after Britain said it would suspend its so-called [“golden visas,”]( which give wealthy investors a fast track to residency, the government said the program remained in force without providing an explanation. U.S. deportation policy: Dozens of Cambodian immigrants in the U.S., many of whom fled the Khmer Rouge, [are expected to be deported]( over the next few days, according to human rights organizations and an American official. [A photo ID card issued to Vladimir Putin by the Stasi when he would have been 33.]A photo ID card issued to Vladimir Putin by the Stasi when he would have been 33. BStU A familiar face: Germany released an old Stasi ID card that [belonged to a young Vladimir Putin]( when he was a Soviet intelligence agent in East Germany. Willy Wonka’s nightmare: Liquid chocolate [escaped from a German factory,]( caking a street and requiring firefighters to dig up the “sweet danger with shovels and muscle power,” officials said. ______ Smarter Living Tips for a more fulfilling life. Julia Gartland for The New York Times Recipe of the day: Harness the savory-sweet flavors of Korean barbecue with this [recipe for meatballs](. It’s healthy to get enough sleep, but [not too much sleep](. Here’s what we know about [diet and weight loss](. Back Story Maybe the world is not so small after all — even in an age of mass culture. In Spain, drumming parties called [tamboradas]( go around the clock for days. Across Georgia, athletes perform [chidaoba]( — wrestling accompanied by music. And in Kazakhstan, horse farmers celebrate the new breeding season with [songs, dances and games](. [The art of Syrian shadow play was recently recognized by the United Nations.]The art of Syrian shadow play was recently recognized by the United Nations. Louai Beshara/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The cultural agency of the U.N. recently added [these traditions, and more,]( to its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The idea is to recognize and preserve unique and impalpable rituals that are passed down through generations. Unesco acknowledges music and dance, hunting practices and traditional crafts, knowledge about nature and the universe — in short, the things that tell us who we are. Traditions in danger of vanishing are given a special designation. This year those included [traditional Egyptian hand puppetry]( and [Syrian shadow play](. [You can browse hundreds of examples]( many with videos, at Unesco’s website. Jean Rutter wrote today’s Back Story. ______ Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. [Check out this page]( to find a Morning Briefing for your region. (In addition to our European edition, we have Australian, Asian and U.S. editions.) [Sign up here]( to receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights, and [here’s our full range of free newsletters](. What would you like to see here? Contact us at [europebriefing@nytimes.com](mailto:europebriefing@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback%20(Europe)). LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. FOLLOW NYT [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nytimes]( Prefer a different send time? Sign up for the [Americas]( or [A]( and Australia]( editions. | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps for just $0.99. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Morning Briefing: Europe Edition newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018