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| London, Greece, Serbia: Your Friday Briefing | London, Greece, Serbia: 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: |
| • The death toll of the enormous blaze at a London apartment tower rose to 17 — and officials warned that figure was certain to climb. | • The death toll of the enormous blaze at a London apartment tower rose to 17 — and officials warned that figure was certain to climb. |
| The relatives of many residents who remain unaccounted for have been pleading for information. One victim has been identified as a Syrian refugee. | The relatives of many residents who remain unaccounted for have been pleading for information. One victim has been identified as a Syrian refugee. |
| Residents said an exploding appliance caused the fire, but officials have not verified that account. Prime Minister Theresa May ordered an inquiry as concerns intensified over fire safety and construction materials used in high-rises. | Residents said an exploding appliance caused the fire, but officials have not verified that account. Prime Minister Theresa May ordered an inquiry as concerns intensified over fire safety and construction materials used in high-rises. |
| Despite the recent tragedies, Londoners are as resilient as ever, our correspondent writes. | Despite the recent tragedies, Londoners are as resilient as ever, our correspondent writes. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Washington, President Trump taunted federal investigators, accusing them of making up a “phony collusion with the Russians story” and dismissing reports that he could be investigated on suspicion of obstruction of justice for firing James Comey, the F.B.I. director. | • In Washington, President Trump taunted federal investigators, accusing them of making up a “phony collusion with the Russians story” and dismissing reports that he could be investigated on suspicion of obstruction of justice for firing James Comey, the F.B.I. director. |
| Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, during his annual call-in show, sarcastically offered Mr. Comey political asylum in the country. | Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, during his annual call-in show, sarcastically offered Mr. Comey political asylum in the country. |
| Vice President Mike Pence has hired a criminal defense lawyer to guide him through the various investigations. | Vice President Mike Pence has hired a criminal defense lawyer to guide him through the various investigations. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Mr. Trump is expected to reverse his predecessor’s rapprochement with Cuba, announcing in a speech today stiffer rules on travel and commercial ties with the island nation. | • Mr. Trump is expected to reverse his predecessor’s rapprochement with Cuba, announcing in a speech today stiffer rules on travel and commercial ties with the island nation. |
| Separately, Senate leaders are writing legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act without a single hearing on the bill. | Separately, Senate leaders are writing legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act without a single hearing on the bill. |
| Over all, partisan antipathy is increasingly entrenched. | Over all, partisan antipathy is increasingly entrenched. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Greece’s creditors agreed to unlock 8.5 billion euros in loans for Europe’s most indebted state, averting a default on earlier loans due next month and acknowledging unpopular austerity measures. | • Greece’s creditors agreed to unlock 8.5 billion euros in loans for Europe’s most indebted state, averting a default on earlier loans due next month and acknowledging unpopular austerity measures. |
| The International Monetary Fund’s chief endorsed the deal, a key request by some eurozone countries including Germany. Decisions on debt relief were deferred. | The International Monetary Fund’s chief endorsed the deal, a key request by some eurozone countries including Germany. Decisions on debt relief were deferred. |
| “There is now light at the end of the tunnel,” Greece’s finance minister said. | “There is now light at the end of the tunnel,” Greece’s finance minister said. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Turkey, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the largest opposition party, began a march to Istanbul from Ankara to protest the widening crackdown on dissent. | • In Turkey, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the largest opposition party, began a march to Istanbul from Ankara to protest the widening crackdown on dissent. |
| Thousands of people in both cities protested the 25-year jail sentence handed to a prominent opposition lawmaker on espionage charges. Above, a protest in Ankara. | Thousands of people in both cities protested the 25-year jail sentence handed to a prominent opposition lawmaker on espionage charges. Above, a protest in Ankara. |
| Separately, a Turkish court sentenced a United Nations war crimes judge to jail on terrorism charges. | Separately, a Turkish court sentenced a United Nations war crimes judge to jail on terrorism charges. |
| Our magazine looks at how President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the construction of mosques to further his agenda and provide economic stimulus. | Our magazine looks at how President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the construction of mosques to further his agenda and provide economic stimulus. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Two firsts for Serbia. | • Two firsts for Serbia. |
| Ana Brnabic, above, is set to become the first female, and the first openly gay, prime minister. | |
| Her nomination by President Aleksandar Vucic still requires formal approval by Parliament. | Her nomination by President Aleksandar Vucic still requires formal approval by Parliament. |
| Critics said that Mr. Vucic, who was prime minister until May and still leads the main governing party, selected Ms. Brnabic for her low profile, so that he could maintain his own grip on power. | Critics said that Mr. Vucic, who was prime minister until May and still leads the main governing party, selected Ms. Brnabic for her low profile, so that he could maintain his own grip on power. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A friendly reminder, if you’re reading this in Britain, France or the U.S.: This Sunday is Father’s Day. | • A friendly reminder, if you’re reading this in Britain, France or the U.S.: This Sunday is Father’s Day. |
| We took a look at the way parents talk to little boys. Experts say that not discussing emotions with boys can limit them and that it’s healthier for them to learn to express their feelings. | We took a look at the way parents talk to little boys. Experts say that not discussing emotions with boys can limit them and that it’s healthier for them to learn to express their feelings. |
| “Get them talking. Show that you want to hear what they’re saying,” one Harvard psychologist recommended. | “Get them talking. Show that you want to hear what they’re saying,” one Harvard psychologist recommended. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Germany and Austria criticized the latest U.S. sanctions against Russia over their impact on a new natural gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea. | • Germany and Austria criticized the latest U.S. sanctions against Russia over their impact on a new natural gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea. |
| • We asked Jeff Bezos, who may become the world’s richest person, about his philanthropic goals. He then asked Twitter. | • We asked Jeff Bezos, who may become the world’s richest person, about his philanthropic goals. He then asked Twitter. |
| • Thanks to a quirk in Japan’s tax laws, gangsters and grandmothers can make a tidy profit smuggling gold onto ships and airplanes. | • Thanks to a quirk in Japan’s tax laws, gangsters and grandmothers can make a tidy profit smuggling gold onto ships and airplanes. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, a former French minister, was left unconscious after an altercation with a protester as she was campaigning ahead of the second round of parliamentary elections on Sunday. [France 24] | |
| • As negotiations on Britain’s departure from the European Union begin in earnest on Monday, London still debates its “Brexit” goals. [Politico] | • As negotiations on Britain’s departure from the European Union begin in earnest on Monday, London still debates its “Brexit” goals. [Politico] |
| • Facebook said that it would begin using artificial intelligence to help human moderators remove inappropriate content. [The New York Times] | • Facebook said that it would begin using artificial intelligence to help human moderators remove inappropriate content. [The New York Times] |
| • Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American university student who was released from North Korea in a coma, has suffered “extensive loss of brain tissue,” doctors said. [The New York Times] | • Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American university student who was released from North Korea in a coma, has suffered “extensive loss of brain tissue,” doctors said. [The New York Times] |
| • Arrests in France have raised hopes that the 1984 murder of a 4-year-old boy, which transfixed the country for years, could soon be solved. [Irish Times] | • Arrests in France have raised hopes that the 1984 murder of a 4-year-old boy, which transfixed the country for years, could soon be solved. [Irish Times] |
| • A Spanish soccer coach lost his job after winning a match 25-0. Youth clubs try to avoid humiliating players. [El País] | • A Spanish soccer coach lost his job after winning a match 25-0. Youth clubs try to avoid humiliating players. [El País] |
| • Recipe of the day: Take advantage of the outdoors and grill some chicken for a Caesar salad. | • Recipe of the day: Take advantage of the outdoors and grill some chicken for a Caesar salad. |
| • Offhand comments (good and bad) can have a remarkable shelf life. Use them wisely. | • Offhand comments (good and bad) can have a remarkable shelf life. Use them wisely. |
| • “Imagine,” John Lennon’s 1971 ballad for a utopian future, is getting a co-writer: Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow and collaborator. | • “Imagine,” John Lennon’s 1971 ballad for a utopian future, is getting a co-writer: Yoko Ono, Lennon’s widow and collaborator. |
| • Stealth deer: As female elk age, they learn to evade hunters. | • Stealth deer: As female elk age, they learn to evade hunters. |
| • Sir Quentin Blake’s mischievous illustrations for Roald Dahl’s books have delighted generations of children. In a new show in the English city of Hastings, he explores themes of travel. | |
| • Americans in the 18th century subscribed to the values of the French Revolution, but they collected the paintings of those sent to the guillotine. | • Americans in the 18th century subscribed to the values of the French Revolution, but they collected the paintings of those sent to the guillotine. |
| • Finally, the former supermodel Paulina Porizkova writes that she understood the need for feminism only after she left Europe for the U.S. Her Op-Ed was among our most-read articles in Europe this week. | • Finally, the former supermodel Paulina Porizkova writes that she understood the need for feminism only after she left Europe for the U.S. Her Op-Ed was among our most-read articles in Europe this week. |
| Today is Bloomsday, a special day on the literary calendar. | Today is Bloomsday, a special day on the literary calendar. |
| James Joyce, the groundbreaking Irish novelist, above, chose to immortalize June 16, 1904, in his novel “Ulysses” because it was the date of his first outing with his future wife, Nora Barnacle. | James Joyce, the groundbreaking Irish novelist, above, chose to immortalize June 16, 1904, in his novel “Ulysses” because it was the date of his first outing with his future wife, Nora Barnacle. |
| The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the book’s unlucky main character who embarks on a daylong picaresque voyage through Dublin, Joyce’s hometown. More than a century later, Bloom’s “odyssey” is celebrated around the world with readings, re-enactments and, in some cases, heavy drinking. | The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the book’s unlucky main character who embarks on a daylong picaresque voyage through Dublin, Joyce’s hometown. More than a century later, Bloom’s “odyssey” is celebrated around the world with readings, re-enactments and, in some cases, heavy drinking. |
| “Ulysses,” for all its artistic accolades, is no easy summer read. A review when it was published in 1922 compared the prose to the “productions of the Ouija board.” | “Ulysses,” for all its artistic accolades, is no easy summer read. A review when it was published in 1922 compared the prose to the “productions of the Ouija board.” |
| But help is a tap away. | But help is a tap away. |
| There are now apps, including one that uses a touch screen to untangle the book’s tough sentences, and a podcast with hundreds of episodes breaking down its arcane composition. A group of Boston College students is developing a “Ulysses” virtual reality game, Joycestick. | There are now apps, including one that uses a touch screen to untangle the book’s tough sentences, and a podcast with hundreds of episodes breaking down its arcane composition. A group of Boston College students is developing a “Ulysses” virtual reality game, Joycestick. |
| “If it’s so hard to read,” Robert Berry, the illustrator, once asked, “why are people having so much fun with it?” | “If it’s so hard to read,” Robert Berry, the illustrator, once asked, “why are people having so much fun with it?” |
| Today is the day to find out. Have a great Bloomsday. | Today is the day to find out. Have a great Bloomsday. |
| Charles McDermid contributed reporting. | Charles McDermid contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| 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. |