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Manchester, Pope Francis, Angela Merkel: Your Thursday Briefing Manchester, Pope Francis, Angela Merkel: Your Thursday 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:
• The British authorities are investigating a “network” behind Monday’s deadly bombing in Manchester.• The British authorities are investigating a “network” behind Monday’s deadly bombing in Manchester.
Salman Abedi, the 22-year-old suicide attacker, had recently visited his parents in Libya and had probably traveled to Syria. The British police have arrested his older brother and four others, and in Libya his younger brother and father were taken into custody.Salman Abedi, the 22-year-old suicide attacker, had recently visited his parents in Libya and had probably traveled to Syria. The British police have arrested his older brother and four others, and in Libya his younger brother and father were taken into custody.
Here’s the latest from Manchester, and a look at the homeless men who became heroes, the parents who were victims and how the attack affects Britain’s parliamentary vote on June 8.Here’s the latest from Manchester, and a look at the homeless men who became heroes, the parents who were victims and how the attack affects Britain’s parliamentary vote on June 8.
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• We obtained photos that suggest the bomb was skillfully constructed. British officials reacted angrily to the leak.• We obtained photos that suggest the bomb was skillfully constructed. British officials reacted angrily to the leak.
We also fact-checked rumor reports. We also fact-checked rumors and hoaxes.
And in our podcast, The Daily, our correspondent discusses what happened within ISIS in the hours after the attack.And in our podcast, The Daily, our correspondent discusses what happened within ISIS in the hours after the attack.
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• President Trump met with an occasionally dour Pope Francis in the Vatican as they sought to bridge their vast philosophical differences. The pope pointedly gave the president a copy of his 2015 encyclical on climate change.• President Trump met with an occasionally dour Pope Francis in the Vatican as they sought to bridge their vast philosophical differences. The pope pointedly gave the president a copy of his 2015 encyclical on climate change.
Mr. Trump is now in Brussels, a city he once described as a “hellhole,” to meet with European leaders. He’ll have lunch with France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron.Mr. Trump is now in Brussels, a city he once described as a “hellhole,” to meet with European leaders. He’ll have lunch with France’s new president, Emmanuel Macron.
Mr. Trump is then expected to endorse NATO’s mutual defense policy, ending months of questions over how he’d handle it. Check back for our live coverage.Mr. Trump is then expected to endorse NATO’s mutual defense policy, ending months of questions over how he’d handle it. Check back for our live coverage.
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• Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will today meet with two U.S. presidents — Mr. Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama — providing her with an opportunity to showcase her role as a global leader ahead of elections in the fall.• Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, will today meet with two U.S. presidents — Mr. Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama — providing her with an opportunity to showcase her role as a global leader ahead of elections in the fall.
She will discuss civic engagement with Mr. Obama in front of 80,000 people in Berlin to mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation before heading to Brussels for talks with Mr. Trump.She will discuss civic engagement with Mr. Obama in front of 80,000 people in Berlin to mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Reformation before heading to Brussels for talks with Mr. Trump.
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• Bomb scars, “hell cannons” and trash piles so high they block streets.• Bomb scars, “hell cannons” and trash piles so high they block streets.
Our magazine writer and a photographer traveled to Aleppo, Syria, which the government regained complete control of in December.Our magazine writer and a photographer traveled to Aleppo, Syria, which the government regained complete control of in December.
They found destruction, pessimism and blame, but also resilience and determination to rebuild.They found destruction, pessimism and blame, but also resilience and determination to rebuild.
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• Distraction, and a drink.• Distraction, and a drink.
It has been a tough week so far in the news. So here’s an ode to Berlin’s timeless cocktail dens, where both the intriguing interiors and the suave drinks are memorable.It has been a tough week so far in the news. So here’s an ode to Berlin’s timeless cocktail dens, where both the intriguing interiors and the suave drinks are memorable.
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• OPEC ministers meet in Vienna today to extend production cuts, but they are increasingly losing their grip on oil prices. The shale boom and the growing use of electric engines are partly to blame. • OPEC ministers meet in Vienna today to extend output cuts, but they are increasingly losing their grip on oil prices. The shale boom and the growing use of electric engines are partly to blame.
• Moody’s downgraded China’s credit rating for the first time since 1989. Our analysts explain how the country’s growing debt problem threatens to weaken its economy.• Moody’s downgraded China’s credit rating for the first time since 1989. Our analysts explain how the country’s growing debt problem threatens to weaken its economy.
• Bond holders in Azerbaijan’s largest bank counted on the government to prop it up, deeming it “too big to fail.” But the gamble backfired.• Bond holders in Azerbaijan’s largest bank counted on the government to prop it up, deeming it “too big to fail.” But the gamble backfired.
• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• U.S. spies learned months before last year’s presidential election that top Russian officials were strategizing about how to exert influence over Donald Trump through his advisers, including Paul Manafort, above. [The New York Times]• U.S. spies learned months before last year’s presidential election that top Russian officials were strategizing about how to exert influence over Donald Trump through his advisers, including Paul Manafort, above. [The New York Times]
• In the U.S., 23 million fewer people would be insured by 2026 under the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives, the Congressional Budget Office said. [The New York Times]• In the U.S., 23 million fewer people would be insured by 2026 under the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives, the Congressional Budget Office said. [The New York Times]
• In France, the government defended a minister and ally of President Emmanuel Macron, after a report in the weekly Canard Enchaîné raised questions on a property deal. [Reuters]• In France, the government defended a minister and ally of President Emmanuel Macron, after a report in the weekly Canard Enchaîné raised questions on a property deal. [Reuters]
• At least 34 migrants, including children, drowned in the Mediterranean when a smuggler ship capsized off the Libyan coast. [ANSA]• At least 34 migrants, including children, drowned in the Mediterranean when a smuggler ship capsized off the Libyan coast. [ANSA]
• The Czech president appointed a former Microsoft executive as finance minister, replacing Andrej Babis, the billionaire populist whose party is favored in elections set for October. [Politico]• The Czech president appointed a former Microsoft executive as finance minister, replacing Andrej Babis, the billionaire populist whose party is favored in elections set for October. [Politico]
• Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a 21-month jail sentence for Lionel Messi, the soccer star, over tax offenses, which will most likely be suspended. [El País] • Spain’s Supreme Court upheld a 21-month jail sentence for Lionel Messi, the soccer star, over tax offenses, but it will most likely be suspended. [El País]
• Another grisly scene on Mount Everest: Rescuers sent to the “death zone” for the body of a Slovak climber found four more dead bodies, bringing the season’s total to 10. [BBC] • Another grisly scene on Mount Everest: Rescuers who were sent to the “death zone” for the body of a Slovak climber found four more dead bodies, bringing the season’s total to 10. [BBC]
• Recipe of the day: Hot and sour seared tofu with sugar snap peas is a meatless dinner to cook often.• Recipe of the day: Hot and sour seared tofu with sugar snap peas is a meatless dinner to cook often.
• Here are some legal, financial and practical things to keep in mind when moving in with your significant other.• Here are some legal, financial and practical things to keep in mind when moving in with your significant other.
• Although it can feel as if your flaws and missteps can be the focus of everyone’s attention, research suggests otherwise.• Although it can feel as if your flaws and missteps can be the focus of everyone’s attention, research suggests otherwise.
• Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League. Our soccer correspondent profiled its midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, above, who likes to spend hours on YouTube watching grainy coverage of dubious-quality soccer from his native Armenia. • Manchester United beat Ajax 2-0 to win the Europa League. Our soccer correspondent profiled its midfielder, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, above, who likes to spend hours on YouTube watching dubious-quality soccer from his native Armenia.
• Alexander Burdonsky, a renowned theater director in Russia and a grandson of Stalin, died at 75.• Alexander Burdonsky, a renowned theater director in Russia and a grandson of Stalin, died at 75.
• Cannes Film Festival: Our critic was scratching her head about why some titles were included.• Cannes Film Festival: Our critic was scratching her head about why some titles were included.
• And a new study sheds light on how whales became the biggest animals on the planet. A climatic change within the past 4.5 million years allowed the behemoths to binge eat.• And a new study sheds light on how whales became the biggest animals on the planet. A climatic change within the past 4.5 million years allowed the behemoths to binge eat.
“Star Wars” appeared in theaters for the first time on this day in 1977, unleashing one of the greatest pop culture explosions this galaxy has ever seen.“Star Wars” appeared in theaters for the first time on this day in 1977, unleashing one of the greatest pop culture explosions this galaxy has ever seen.
The Force drew us in as much as anyone: Over the past 40 years, The Times has published thousands of articles about “Star Wars” and the universe that surrounds it.The Force drew us in as much as anyone: Over the past 40 years, The Times has published thousands of articles about “Star Wars” and the universe that surrounds it.
Some now seem quaint: In a prerelease interview, George Lucas described Chewbacca as “a cross between a large bear, a dog and a monkey.” (Chewie, as we know now, is a 200-year-old Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk and one of the greatest sidekicks in the history of film.)Some now seem quaint: In a prerelease interview, George Lucas described Chewbacca as “a cross between a large bear, a dog and a monkey.” (Chewie, as we know now, is a 200-year-old Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk and one of the greatest sidekicks in the history of film.)
Other reports were serious: We covered President Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” antimissile system in the 1980s, the “Star Wars” “piracy menace” of bootleg films in Hong Kong, and the obituaries of franchise stars like Sir Alec Guinness, in 2000, and Carrie Fisher, in December.Other reports were serious: We covered President Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” antimissile system in the 1980s, the “Star Wars” “piracy menace” of bootleg films in Hong Kong, and the obituaries of franchise stars like Sir Alec Guinness, in 2000, and Carrie Fisher, in December.
We also tried to be playful. We covered the recent campaign to make Jediism a religion, and the “Star Wars” socks worn by the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.We also tried to be playful. We covered the recent campaign to make Jediism a religion, and the “Star Wars” socks worn by the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
And maybe we got a little obsessed, too. Last year, we offered “Star Wars” teaching ideas — from “Tackle Shakespeare With Yoda, You Will” to an economics primer, “The Death Star, Too Big to Fail?”And maybe we got a little obsessed, too. Last year, we offered “Star Wars” teaching ideas — from “Tackle Shakespeare With Yoda, You Will” to an economics primer, “The Death Star, Too Big to Fail?”
In any case, may The Force be with you.In any case, may The Force be with you.
Charles McDermid contributed reporting.Charles McDermid contributed reporting.
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This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here.This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here.
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.