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| Your Wednesday Briefing: Verizon, Alpha Centauri, Kobe Bryant | Your Wednesday Briefing: Verizon, Alpha Centauri, Kobe Bryant |
| (about 1 hour 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. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • White House zeros in on ISIS. | • White House zeros in on ISIS. |
| President Obama convenes his National Security Council at the C.I.A. today, to discuss the Islamic State. While the militants’ strength has grown in Europe, their territory in Iraq and Syria has shrunk, and the fight to stop them could be nearing a crucial turning point. | President Obama convenes his National Security Council at the C.I.A. today, to discuss the Islamic State. While the militants’ strength has grown in Europe, their territory in Iraq and Syria has shrunk, and the fight to stop them could be nearing a crucial turning point. |
| A partial cease-fire in Syria is coming under new strains, as the government holds parliamentary elections today. | A partial cease-fire in Syria is coming under new strains, as the government holds parliamentary elections today. |
| • On the campaign trail. | • On the campaign trail. |
| Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will speak today at the 25th Anniversary Convention of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in New York. | Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will speak today at the 25th Anniversary Convention of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network in New York. |
| Mr. Sanders received his first endorsement from a fellow senator, Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, today. | Mr. Sanders received his first endorsement from a fellow senator, Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, today. |
| Donald J. Trump is calling the primary system “rigged,” as Ted Cruz is gaining ground with Republican delegates. | Donald J. Trump is calling the primary system “rigged,” as Ted Cruz is gaining ground with Republican delegates. |
| • Fire season isn’t going away. | • Fire season isn’t going away. |
| As climate change parches more areas of the U.S., wildfires are increasing in frequency, and their season is starting earlier and lasting longer. Last year’s toll of 10.1 million acres was the highest on record. | As climate change parches more areas of the U.S., wildfires are increasing in frequency, and their season is starting earlier and lasting longer. Last year’s toll of 10.1 million acres was the highest on record. |
| Severe drought is also crippling Zambia, a country that was once an African success story. | Severe drought is also crippling Zambia, a country that was once an African success story. |
| • Gay rights in focus. | • Gay rights in focus. |
| North Carolina’s governor says he wants to slightly modify a law he signed last month that many consider to be anti-gay. | North Carolina’s governor says he wants to slightly modify a law he signed last month that many consider to be anti-gay. |
| And a judge ruled today against a gay couple in China’s first same-sex marriage court case. The men had sued a government office after it refused to grant them the right to marry. | And a judge ruled today against a gay couple in China’s first same-sex marriage court case. The men had sued a government office after it refused to grant them the right to marry. |
| • Congressional waste. | • Congressional waste. |
| We’re eagerly awaiting today’s release of the annual “Pig Book,” a database of pork-barrel spending cataloged by Citizens Against Government Waste. Here’s the one from 2015. | We’re eagerly awaiting today’s release of the annual “Pig Book,” a database of pork-barrel spending cataloged by Citizens Against Government Waste. Here’s the one from 2015. |
| • Tens of thousands of Verizon workers on the East Coast are on strike today, after the company and two labor unions failed to reach a new contract agreement. Here’s a guide to which services may be disrupted. | • Tens of thousands of Verizon workers on the East Coast are on strike today, after the company and two labor unions failed to reach a new contract agreement. Here’s a guide to which services may be disrupted. |
| • U.S. financial regulators have found that the bankruptcy contingency plans of five big banks are “not credible.” | |
| • European privacy regulators said today that a new trans-Atlantic data agreement doesn’t offer their citizens sufficient privacy protections. The decision may cause trouble for global companies that collect and manage online data. | • European privacy regulators said today that a new trans-Atlantic data agreement doesn’t offer their citizens sufficient privacy protections. The decision may cause trouble for global companies that collect and manage online data. |
| • We’ve got last-minute tips for filing U.S. taxes, and extra guidance if you’re part of the gig economy. | • We’ve got last-minute tips for filing U.S. taxes, and extra guidance if you’re part of the gig economy. |
| • U.S. stocks rose about 2 percent on Tuesday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • U.S. stocks rose about 2 percent on Tuesday. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Simply the best. | • Simply the best. |
| The N.H.L.’s Stanley Cup playoffs begin today. While the Washington Capitals dominated this season as few have in the past, the team with the most regular-season victories rarely raises the trophy. | The N.H.L.’s Stanley Cup playoffs begin today. While the Washington Capitals dominated this season as few have in the past, the team with the most regular-season victories rarely raises the trophy. |
| In the N.B.A., the Warriors are going for a record 73rd win, and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will probably play his final game. | In the N.B.A., the Warriors are going for a record 73rd win, and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers will probably play his final game. |
| • The 1 percent’s 1 percent. | • The 1 percent’s 1 percent. |
| The children of some of China’s wealthiest citizens are making Vancouver, British Columbia, their home. | The children of some of China’s wealthiest citizens are making Vancouver, British Columbia, their home. |
| Ethnic Chinese make up nearly 20 percent of the metropolitan population, and the wealth of the young superrich is causing an affordable-housing crisis. It’s also keeping high-end stores and luxury car dealerships brimming with business. | Ethnic Chinese make up nearly 20 percent of the metropolitan population, and the wealth of the young superrich is causing an affordable-housing crisis. It’s also keeping high-end stores and luxury car dealerships brimming with business. |
| • Reaching for the stars. | • Reaching for the stars. |
| President Obama hosts the White House Science Fair today, and deeper space exploration is one of the projects being highlighted. | President Obama hosts the White House Science Fair today, and deeper space exploration is one of the projects being highlighted. |
| And a Russian tech billionaire wants to send a fleet of probes the size of smartphones to the Alpha Centauri star system, 4.37 light-years away. | And a Russian tech billionaire wants to send a fleet of probes the size of smartphones to the Alpha Centauri star system, 4.37 light-years away. |
| • Genetically modified crops flatline. | • Genetically modified crops flatline. |
| For the first time, the world’s farmers have decreased their use of genetically modified crops. | For the first time, the world’s farmers have decreased their use of genetically modified crops. |
| • A struggle over “We shall overcome.” | • A struggle over “We shall overcome.” |
| A nonprofit group that works with orphans and the poor has sued the music publishers who control “We Shall Overcome,” seeking a judgment that the song is not under copyright and is in the public domain. | A nonprofit group that works with orphans and the poor has sued the music publishers who control “We Shall Overcome,” seeking a judgment that the song is not under copyright and is in the public domain. |
| • Books on wheels. | • Books on wheels. |
| It’s National Bookmobile Day, and some independent bookstores are using vehicles to bring hardcovers and paperbacks to areas without bookstores. | It’s National Bookmobile Day, and some independent bookstores are using vehicles to bring hardcovers and paperbacks to areas without bookstores. |
| • Recipe of the day. | • Recipe of the day. |
| Break out the cast-iron skillet for a great steak dinner. | Break out the cast-iron skillet for a great steak dinner. |
| Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743 at his father’s plantation on the outskirts of the Virginia settlement. | Thomas Jefferson was born on this day in 1743 at his father’s plantation on the outskirts of the Virginia settlement. |
| He wrote the Declaration of Independence, before serving the new United States as minister to France, secretary of state, vice president and president. | He wrote the Declaration of Independence, before serving the new United States as minister to France, secretary of state, vice president and president. |
| Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, and he was an astronomer, farmer, inventor, musician, naturalist and philosopher. | Jefferson founded the University of Virginia, and he was an astronomer, farmer, inventor, musician, naturalist and philosopher. |
| But it’s his legacy as a hypocrite — fighting for freedom from Britain while owning slaves — that is the subject of two new books. | But it’s his legacy as a hypocrite — fighting for freedom from Britain while owning slaves — that is the subject of two new books. |
| “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs” was written by Annette Gordon-Reed, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, and Peter S. Onuf, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Virginia. Jefferson’s “aspirations were inextricably linked to his limitations,” the authors say. | “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs” was written by Annette Gordon-Reed, a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner, and Peter S. Onuf, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Virginia. Jefferson’s “aspirations were inextricably linked to his limitations,” the authors say. |
| Jefferson was most likely the father of all six children of one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, historians say. | Jefferson was most likely the father of all six children of one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, historians say. |
| She’s the focus of Stephen O’Connor’s debut novel, “Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings,” which includes fictional interviews with Hemings’s family members. | She’s the focus of Stephen O’Connor’s debut novel, “Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings,” which includes fictional interviews with Hemings’s family members. |
| Jefferson’s words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” were adopted on July 4, 1776. He died precisely 50 years later, not long after a slave adjusted the pillow on his deathbed. | Jefferson’s words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” were adopted on July 4, 1776. He died precisely 50 years later, not long after a slave adjusted the pillow on his deathbed. |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at briefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at briefing@nytimes.com. |
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