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| Betsy DeVos, François Fillon, Melania Trump: Your Wednesday Briefing | Betsy DeVos, François Fillon, Melania Trump: Your Wednesday Briefing |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • A three-judge federal appeals panel voiced skepticism at the U.S. Justice Department’s broad defense of President Trump’s targeted travel ban. | • A three-judge federal appeals panel voiced skepticism at the U.S. Justice Department’s broad defense of President Trump’s targeted travel ban. |
| The issue before the court is a narrow one: Should it lift a stay that has offered days of reprieve for refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries? | |
| Above, a mannequin outside the courthouse, draped in the flags of the affected countries. | Above, a mannequin outside the courthouse, draped in the flags of the affected countries. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • The U.S. Senate confirmed Betsy DeVos as education secretary, but only with Vice President Mike Pence casting a historic, tiebreaking vote. | |
| Elizabeth Warren, one of the Senate’s sharpest Democratic voices, was silenced in further debate on Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, under a little-known provision that bars senators from impugning one another. | Elizabeth Warren, one of the Senate’s sharpest Democratic voices, was silenced in further debate on Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, Jeff Sessions, under a little-known provision that bars senators from impugning one another. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A long crack in Antarctica’s ice grew 17 miles in two months, research suggests. If it grows 20 more miles, the crack could create one of the largest icebergs ever recorded — and, even more troubling, imperil the buttress that keeps glaciers from flowing into the ocean. | • A long crack in Antarctica’s ice grew 17 miles in two months, research suggests. If it grows 20 more miles, the crack could create one of the largest icebergs ever recorded — and, even more troubling, imperil the buttress that keeps glaciers from flowing into the ocean. |
| A group of Republican elder statesmen is meeting with White House officials today, pushing for a tax on carbon emissions to fight climate change. | A group of Republican elder statesmen is meeting with White House officials today, pushing for a tax on carbon emissions to fight climate change. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Somalia, ranked as the most corrupt country on earth, is holding a presidential election today. | • Somalia, ranked as the most corrupt country on earth, is holding a presidential election today. |
| An estimated $20 million in bribes has changed hands. Analysts said that the entire process has been so bad that the Shabab, an Islamist militant group, isn’t even trying to derail the vote. | An estimated $20 million in bribes has changed hands. Analysts said that the entire process has been so bad that the Shabab, an Islamist militant group, isn’t even trying to derail the vote. |
| _____ | _____ |
| •François Fillon, the conservative candidate for president in April elections in France, faces new accusations of having made publicly funded severance payments to his wife for a no-show job. | •François Fillon, the conservative candidate for president in April elections in France, faces new accusations of having made publicly funded severance payments to his wife for a no-show job. |
| And former President Nicolas Sarkozy, above, will face trial on charges that he spent more than the legal limit on his failed 2012 re-election campaign. | And former President Nicolas Sarkozy, above, will face trial on charges that he spent more than the legal limit on his failed 2012 re-election campaign. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • And here is the Trump administration’s list of what it calls underreported terrorist attacks. (The Times covered most of the attacks cited.) | • And here is the Trump administration’s list of what it calls underreported terrorist attacks. (The Times covered most of the attacks cited.) |
| The list excluded some attacks targeting Muslims, who make up the overwhelming majority of victims of Islamist terrorism, and prominent attacks carried out by non-Muslims. | The list excluded some attacks targeting Muslims, who make up the overwhelming majority of victims of Islamist terrorism, and prominent attacks carried out by non-Muslims. |
| The mother of a British backpacker killed in an Australian hostel rejected the White House’s labeling of her daughter’s death as a terrorist attack. | The mother of a British backpacker killed in an Australian hostel rejected the White House’s labeling of her daughter’s death as a terrorist attack. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Offshore wind farms, buoyed by improved technology and protected from complaints by distance, have moved from a fringe investment into the mainstream. | • Offshore wind farms, buoyed by improved technology and protected from complaints by distance, have moved from a fringe investment into the mainstream. |
| • The International Monetary Fund called on Greece to lower its pensions and broaden its tax base. A government official rejected what he called “irrational demands.” | • The International Monetary Fund called on Greece to lower its pensions and broaden its tax base. A government official rejected what he called “irrational demands.” |
| • German carmakers are urgently striving to ride the digital wave sweeping the industry before it rolls over them. | • German carmakers are urgently striving to ride the digital wave sweeping the industry before it rolls over them. |
| • Uber has offered its drivers in France revenue insurance in an effort to avert new legislation regulating contractors’ benefits. | • Uber has offered its drivers in France revenue insurance in an effort to avert new legislation regulating contractors’ benefits. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Iran’s early caution in dealing with President Trump has subsided. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, caustically thanked Mr. Trump in remarks to military officers for revealing “the true face” of the U.S. [The New York Times] | • Iran’s early caution in dealing with President Trump has subsided. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, caustically thanked Mr. Trump in remarks to military officers for revealing “the true face” of the U.S. [The New York Times] |
| • Yemen, angry at the civilian casualties incurred in the first commando raid authorized by Mr. Trump, has withdrawn permission for U.S. ground missions in the country. [The New York Times] | • Yemen, angry at the civilian casualties incurred in the first commando raid authorized by Mr. Trump, has withdrawn permission for U.S. ground missions in the country. [The New York Times] |
| • Hungary plans to indefinitely hold immigrants who illegally enter the country in detention “shelters.” [Politico] | • Hungary plans to indefinitely hold immigrants who illegally enter the country in detention “shelters.” [Politico] |
| • President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a law decriminalizing some forms of domestic violence. [Moscow Times] | • President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a law decriminalizing some forms of domestic violence. [Moscow Times] |
| • Britain’s House of Commons is expected to endorse a bill this evening that will allow the government to start negotiations to leave the European Union. The House of Lords will debate the bill later in the month. [BBC] | • Britain’s House of Commons is expected to endorse a bill this evening that will allow the government to start negotiations to leave the European Union. The House of Lords will debate the bill later in the month. [BBC] |
| • Stephen K. Bannon, the chief adviser to Mr. Trump, has cultivated alliances with traditionalists in the Vatican who share his low opinion of Pope Francis. [The New York Times] | • Stephen K. Bannon, the chief adviser to Mr. Trump, has cultivated alliances with traditionalists in the Vatican who share his low opinion of Pope Francis. [The New York Times] |
| • Melania Trump, the American first lady, has sued The Daily Mail, saying its coverage of her hurt a “unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to make millions of dollars. [The New York Times] | • Melania Trump, the American first lady, has sued The Daily Mail, saying its coverage of her hurt a “unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to make millions of dollars. [The New York Times] |
| • And airline employees in the U.S. are being trained to spot, and report, cases of human trafficking through a nonprofit organization founded by a flight attendant. [The New York Times] | • And airline employees in the U.S. are being trained to spot, and report, cases of human trafficking through a nonprofit organization founded by a flight attendant. [The New York Times] |
| • Slow down for just a moment while making your morning coffee or tea and try to be a little more mindful. | • Slow down for just a moment while making your morning coffee or tea and try to be a little more mindful. |
| • After an unplanned pregnancy, this 25-year-old struggled to be the mother she wanted to be. After going back to school, she’s well on her way. | • After an unplanned pregnancy, this 25-year-old struggled to be the mother she wanted to be. After going back to school, she’s well on her way. |
| • Recipe of the day: For a meatless midweek dinner, try risotto with smoked mozzarella. | • Recipe of the day: For a meatless midweek dinner, try risotto with smoked mozzarella. |
| • In Hong Kong, urban explorers use stealth and drones to peel back layers of history and create video archives of the city’s colonial-era buildings before they are razed. | • In Hong Kong, urban explorers use stealth and drones to peel back layers of history and create video archives of the city’s colonial-era buildings before they are razed. |
| • In memoriam: Tzvetan Todorov, the Bulgarian-French philosopher, died at 77. “Only totalitarian societies make it obligatory to love one’s country,” he once wrote. | • In memoriam: Tzvetan Todorov, the Bulgarian-French philosopher, died at 77. “Only totalitarian societies make it obligatory to love one’s country,” he once wrote. |
| And Richard Hatch, the actor best known for his role in the television series “Battlestar Galactica,” died at 71. | And Richard Hatch, the actor best known for his role in the television series “Battlestar Galactica,” died at 71. |
| • A rare case of European unity through self-mockery is spreading across the Continent: satirical video ads with Trump-impersonating voice-overs. | • A rare case of European unity through self-mockery is spreading across the Continent: satirical video ads with Trump-impersonating voice-overs. |
| • In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona reached its fourth consecutive final after a combative 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid. | • In the Copa del Rey, Barcelona reached its fourth consecutive final after a combative 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid. |
| • And did you know that a frog’s saliva, normally 50,000 times stickier than human saliva, loosens as it speeds toward an insect? It then firms back up after it hits — a non-Newtonian behavior that explains the frog’s hunting success. | • And did you know that a frog’s saliva, normally 50,000 times stickier than human saliva, loosens as it speeds toward an insect? It then firms back up after it hits — a non-Newtonian behavior that explains the frog’s hunting success. |
| Gambia’s former President Yahya Jammeh once pledged that he would reign for a billion years. | Gambia’s former President Yahya Jammeh once pledged that he would reign for a billion years. |
| But last month he fled into exile, 22 years after taking power in a coup. His democratically elected successor has since accused Mr. Jammeh, above, of plundering the treasury and fleeing with millions of dollars. | But last month he fled into exile, 22 years after taking power in a coup. His democratically elected successor has since accused Mr. Jammeh, above, of plundering the treasury and fleeing with millions of dollars. |
| A lesser-known source of income for Mr. Jammeh, though, had been a head-spinning scheme. For years, his government sold residence permits — sometimes costing up to $15,000 apiece — to thousands of Chinese millionaires. | A lesser-known source of income for Mr. Jammeh, though, had been a head-spinning scheme. For years, his government sold residence permits — sometimes costing up to $15,000 apiece — to thousands of Chinese millionaires. |
| Why? A special program meant to encourage investment in Hong Kong allowed wealthy Chinese citizens to gain the right to live there if they had permanent residence in another country. | Why? A special program meant to encourage investment in Hong Kong allowed wealthy Chinese citizens to gain the right to live there if they had permanent residence in another country. |
| As of 2013, some 9,000 Chinese obtained residence permits for Gambia. | As of 2013, some 9,000 Chinese obtained residence permits for Gambia. |
| The maneuvering went on until 2015, when Hong Kong suspended the program. | The maneuvering went on until 2015, when Hong Kong suspended the program. |
| A review found that many of the people enrolled didn’t eventually settle in Hong Kong. | A review found that many of the people enrolled didn’t eventually settle in Hong Kong. |
| Instead, they used their Hong Kong passports for easier travel to other countries (but probably not Gambia). | Instead, they used their Hong Kong passports for easier travel to other countries (but probably not Gambia). |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. |
| Read the latest edition of the U.S. briefing here and the latest for Asia and Australia here. | Read the latest edition of the U.S. briefing here and the latest for Asia and Australia here. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |