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| Saudi Arabia, Theresa May, Elena Ferrante: Your Friday Briefing | Saudi Arabia, Theresa May, Elena Ferrante: Your Friday 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. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • Saudi Arabia is set to give President Trump a royal welcome on his first overseas trip in office this weekend. | • Saudi Arabia is set to give President Trump a royal welcome on his first overseas trip in office this weekend. |
| A $100 billion-plus arms deal is meant to show a renewed U.S. commitment to the kingdom’s security. Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, intervened with Lockheed Martin to cut the cost of the Saudi purchase. | A $100 billion-plus arms deal is meant to show a renewed U.S. commitment to the kingdom’s security. Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, intervened with Lockheed Martin to cut the cost of the Saudi purchase. |
| Mr. Trump is to give a speech about Islam and attend a summit meeting with leaders from Muslim countries. On the guest list is Sudan’s president, who is accused of war crimes. Not invited are leaders from Syria and Iran. | Mr. Trump is to give a speech about Islam and attend a summit meeting with leaders from Muslim countries. On the guest list is Sudan’s president, who is accused of war crimes. Not invited are leaders from Syria and Iran. |
| Diplomats tell us that best practices have emerged in dealing with Mr. Trump: Keep it short. Compliment him on his victory. Stay in regular touch. | Diplomats tell us that best practices have emerged in dealing with Mr. Trump: Keep it short. Compliment him on his victory. Stay in regular touch. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • American warplanes attacked a Syrian pro-government convoy after it neared a base where U.S. and British special forces train insurgents to fight the Islamic State. | • American warplanes attacked a Syrian pro-government convoy after it neared a base where U.S. and British special forces train insurgents to fight the Islamic State. |
| U.S. officials described the action as a protective response, rather than a military escalation. | U.S. officials described the action as a protective response, rather than a military escalation. |
| Above, residents walked through rubble in the once popular resort town of Zabadani yesterday. | Above, residents walked through rubble in the once popular resort town of Zabadani yesterday. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!” | • “This is the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in American history!” |
| That was Mr. Trump’s reaction to the appointment of a special counsel to investigate ties between his presidential campaign and Russia. He denied any collusion, adding: “I can only speak for myself.” | That was Mr. Trump’s reaction to the appointment of a special counsel to investigate ties between his presidential campaign and Russia. He denied any collusion, adding: “I can only speak for myself.” |
| We explore the many attempts Mr. Trump made to build a personal relationship with James Comey, whom he later ousted as the director of the F.B.I., including an awkward hug. | We explore the many attempts Mr. Trump made to build a personal relationship with James Comey, whom he later ousted as the director of the F.B.I., including an awkward hug. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May wooed Labour voters in her party’s election manifesto. | • In Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May wooed Labour voters in her party’s election manifesto. |
| She also recommitted to a target of keeping net immigration below 100,000 a year, which many consider unrealistic. | She also recommitted to a target of keeping net immigration below 100,000 a year, which many consider unrealistic. |
| Here’s how the three main parties’ manifestoes compare ahead of the June 8 vote. | Here’s how the three main parties’ manifestoes compare ahead of the June 8 vote. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In France, Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, said she would run for the parliamentary seat representing her party’s northern stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont in elections next month. | • In France, Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, said she would run for the parliamentary seat representing her party’s northern stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont in elections next month. |
| Above, the first meeting of President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet. There was some anger among French news outlets when Mr. Macron’s office, in a break with precedent, sought to select the journalists that would travel with him to Mali today. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Ferrante Fever has flared up in Naples, where nearly 5,000 children are vying to audition for HBO’s adaptation of “My Brilliant Friend,” the first of the four smash-hit novels by Elena Ferrante. | • Ferrante Fever has flared up in Naples, where nearly 5,000 children are vying to audition for HBO’s adaptation of “My Brilliant Friend,” the first of the four smash-hit novels by Elena Ferrante. |
| The open casting call has injected hysteria and hope in parts of the southern Italian city that is poor in resources but rich in characters. | The open casting call has injected hysteria and hope in parts of the southern Italian city that is poor in resources but rich in characters. |
| Separately, our correspondent visited the nearby Villaggio Coppola, built in the 1960s with utopian ambitions. It’s now, in her words, “a sad illustration of Southern Italy’s violated beauty and neglect.” | Separately, our correspondent visited the nearby Villaggio Coppola, built in the 1960s with utopian ambitions. It’s now, in her words, “a sad illustration of Southern Italy’s violated beauty and neglect.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Greece’s Parliament approved new austerity measures, which include pension cuts and tax increases, amid protests. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, above right, said that the country now expected debt relief from its creditors. | • Greece’s Parliament approved new austerity measures, which include pension cuts and tax increases, amid protests. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, above right, said that the country now expected debt relief from its creditors. |
| • The European Commission fined Facebook 110 million euros for providing misleading information over its purchase of WhatsApp, the messaging service. | • The European Commission fined Facebook 110 million euros for providing misleading information over its purchase of WhatsApp, the messaging service. |
| • Fiat Chrysler, one of the world’s biggest carmakers, said that it was in talks with U.S. prosecutors to settle an investigation into diesel deception. | • Fiat Chrysler, one of the world’s biggest carmakers, said that it was in talks with U.S. prosecutors to settle an investigation into diesel deception. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • It’s Election Day in Iran, and turnout is expected to exceed 70 percent. We take a look at the candidates — including Hassan Rouhani, the moderate incumbent, and Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line rival. [The New York Times] | |
| • Roger Ailes, the Fox News executive who helped shape political discourse in the U.S. and beyond, died at 77. [The New York Times] | • Roger Ailes, the Fox News executive who helped shape political discourse in the U.S. and beyond, died at 77. [The New York Times] |
| • At Times Square in New York, a man the police described as intoxicated plowed a car into pedestrians, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen. [The New York Times] | • At Times Square in New York, a man the police described as intoxicated plowed a car into pedestrians, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen. [The New York Times] |
| • An Israeli settler who was caught up in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the West Bank opened fire on the protesters, killing a 23-year-old man. [The New York Times] | • An Israeli settler who was caught up in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the West Bank opened fire on the protesters, killing a 23-year-old man. [The New York Times] |
| • New video surfaced that shows Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, watching his security forces assault protesters in Washington. [The New York Times] | • New video surfaced that shows Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president, watching his security forces assault protesters in Washington. [The New York Times] |
| • The number of suspected cases of Ebola has risen to 18 in an isolated part of Democratic Republic of Congo. [The New York Times] | • The number of suspected cases of Ebola has risen to 18 in an isolated part of Democratic Republic of Congo. [The New York Times] |
| • Here is some wise counsel on living from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the U.S. Supreme Court justice. | • Here is some wise counsel on living from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the U.S. Supreme Court justice. |
| • If you’ve been wronged at work, empathizing with the perpetrator could lead you to forgiveness. | • If you’ve been wronged at work, empathizing with the perpetrator could lead you to forgiveness. |
| • Recipe of the day: Make a Dutch baby, a large, endlessly fluffy pancake, in just five minutes. | • Recipe of the day: Make a Dutch baby, a large, endlessly fluffy pancake, in just five minutes. |
| • Chris Cornell, the mighty vocalist whose band Soundgarden helped define the grunge era, died at 52. His death was judged a suicide. Here’s a song list and our critic’s appraisal. | • Chris Cornell, the mighty vocalist whose band Soundgarden helped define the grunge era, died at 52. His death was judged a suicide. Here’s a song list and our critic’s appraisal. |
| • The craze surrounding Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive soccer player, reflects English soccer’s obsession with the individual over the team, our soccer correspondent writes. | • The craze surrounding Paul Pogba, the world’s most expensive soccer player, reflects English soccer’s obsession with the individual over the team, our soccer correspondent writes. |
| • Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million at an auction amid gasps in the audience. “He’s now in the same league as Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso,” one expert said. | • Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painting of a skull sold for $110.5 million at an auction amid gasps in the audience. “He’s now in the same league as Francis Bacon and Pablo Picasso,” one expert said. |
| • Britain tomorrow will have the closest thing to a royal wedding this year: Pippa Middleton, the future queen’s younger sister, marries a hedge fund manager. | • Britain tomorrow will have the closest thing to a royal wedding this year: Pippa Middleton, the future queen’s younger sister, marries a hedge fund manager. |
| This weekend marks the first year in office for Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. | This weekend marks the first year in office for Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen. |
| Ms. Tsai, a former law professor, has defied conventional wisdom in many ways in a region mostly ruled by male autocrats and scions of political dynasties. | Ms. Tsai, a former law professor, has defied conventional wisdom in many ways in a region mostly ruled by male autocrats and scions of political dynasties. |
| She sought reconciliation with the island’s aboriginal people and endorsed its move toward becoming the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage. | She sought reconciliation with the island’s aboriginal people and endorsed its move toward becoming the first place in Asia to legalize gay marriage. |
| And she has used her cats, Xiang Xiang and Ah Tsai, to sway voters — providing us with today’s theme. | And she has used her cats, Xiang Xiang and Ah Tsai, to sway voters — providing us with today’s theme. |
| South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in, sought to endear himself with voters by pledging to adopt Tory, a stray dog. | South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in, sought to endear himself with voters by pledging to adopt Tory, a stray dog. |
| The choice of the rather disheveled mutt was a contrast to nine purebred Jindo hunting dogs that his predecessor kept in the presidential palace. | The choice of the rather disheveled mutt was a contrast to nine purebred Jindo hunting dogs that his predecessor kept in the presidential palace. |
| The U.S. has in Donald Trump its first president in decades who doesn’t have a pet. | The U.S. has in Donald Trump its first president in decades who doesn’t have a pet. |
| Many of Mr. Trump’s predecessors had exotic pets — and some even had zoos — according to the Presidential Pet Museum website. And then there was Andrew Johnson, who served after Lincoln’s assassination. | Many of Mr. Trump’s predecessors had exotic pets — and some even had zoos — according to the Presidential Pet Museum website. And then there was Andrew Johnson, who served after Lincoln’s assassination. |
| “It is known that President Johnson left flour out at night for a family of white mice playing in his room during his dark days of impeachment.” | “It is known that President Johnson left flour out at night for a family of white mice playing in his room during his dark days of impeachment.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. | This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| 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. |