'Russia, Syria, Premier League: Your Monday Briefing' diff viewer (0/1)

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~~Your Monday Briefing~~	Russia, Syria, Premier League: Your Monday Briefing
2019-05-13 03:26:13 UTC	2019-05-13 05:20:12 UTC (about 2 hours later)
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Good morning,	Good morning,
We’re covering Russian disinformation in the European Parliament elections, Syria’s secret network of torture prisons and the experiences of pregnant female athletes sponsored by Nike.	We’re covering Russian disinformation in the European Parliament elections, Syria’s secret network of torture prisons and the experiences of pregnant female athletes sponsored by Nike.
Less than two weeks before pivotal elections for the European Parliament, a constellation of websites and social media accounts linked to Russia or far-right groups is spreading disinformation, encouraging discord and amplifying distrust in the centrist parties.	Less than two weeks before pivotal elections for the European Parliament, a constellation of websites and social media accounts linked to Russia or far-right groups is spreading disinformation, encouraging discord and amplifying distrust in the centrist parties.
Russia remains a driving force, but researchers also discovered numerous copycats, particularly on the far right. It’s also nearly impossible to quantify the scale and resonance of the misinformation. Researchers say millions of people see the material.	Russia remains a driving force, but researchers also discovered numerous copycats, particularly on the far right. It’s also nearly impossible to quantify the scale and resonance of the misinformation. Researchers say millions of people see the material.
Big picture: Russia remains undeterred in its campaign to widen political divisions and weaken Western institutions. It remains far easier to spread false information than to stop it. And even though the behavior is unlikely to swing elections, the goal is to muddle the conversation, make people question what is true and erode trust.	Big picture: Russia remains undeterred in its campaign to widen political divisions and weaken Western institutions. It remains far easier to spread false information than to stop it. And even though the behavior is unlikely to swing elections, the goal is to muddle the conversation, make people question what is true and erode trust.
Other Russia news: A Russian television network is telling viewers that their 5G cellphones pose dire health threats, like brain cancer, autism and Alzheimer’s — claims that lack scientific support.	Other Russia news: A Russian television network is telling viewers that their 5G cellphones pose dire health threats, like brain cancer, autism and Alzheimer’s — claims that lack scientific support.
Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orban, is set to meet President Trump today in the Oval Office. It will be the first time Mr. Orban has had a private audience with a president at the White House since 1998.	Hungary’s far-right prime minister, Viktor Orban, is set to meet President Trump today in the Oval Office. It will be the first time Mr. Orban has had a private audience with a president at the White House since 1998.
Some say it was embarrassing for Mr. Orban to be the first foreign leader to endorse Mr. Trump’s candidacy for the presidency, yet the last leader in Central Europe to be invited to the Trump White House.	Some say it was embarrassing for Mr. Orban to be the first foreign leader to endorse Mr. Trump’s candidacy for the presidency, yet the last leader in Central Europe to be invited to the Trump White House.
Meaning: Rather than a reward or an affirmation, the meeting can instead be framed as a carrot — an attempt to persuade Mr. Orban to buy American weapons and give priority to the United States’ foreign policy interests.	Meaning: Rather than a reward or an affirmation, the meeting can instead be framed as a carrot — an attempt to persuade Mr. Orban to buy American weapons and give priority to the United States’ foreign policy interests.
Reaction: Some of Mr. Trump’s most senior advisers, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have expressed concerns about the influence Russia and China wield in Hungary and other Central European countries.	Reaction: Some of Mr. Trump’s most senior advisers, like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have expressed concerns about the influence Russia and China wield in Hungary and other Central European countries.
During the last eight years of Syria’s civil war, the Syrian government is believed to have detained and tortured hundreds of thousands of civilians in a sprawling system of secret prisons where horrific forms of torture were routine. The prison system was the government’s main weapon to crack down on opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.	During the last eight years of Syria’s civil war, the Syrian government is believed to have detained and tortured hundreds of thousands of civilians in a sprawling system of secret prisons where horrific forms of torture were routine. The prison system was the government’s main weapon to crack down on opposition to President Bashar al-Assad.
A Times investigation found that the prisons had far more victims than the Islamic State had, accounting for 90 percent of disappearances tallied by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, an independent monitoring group.	A Times investigation found that the prisons had far more victims than the Islamic State had, accounting for 90 percent of disappearances tallied by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, an independent monitoring group.
Details: Nearly 128,000 detainees never emerged from the prison system and are presumed to be dead or still in custody, according to the Syrian Network, and almost 14,000 were “killed under torture.”	Details: Nearly 128,000 detainees never emerged from the prison system and are presumed to be dead or still in custody, according to the Syrian Network, and almost 14,000 were “killed under torture.”
How we know: Over seven years, The Times interviewed dozens of survivors and relatives of dead and missing detainees, reviewed government documents detailing prison deaths and crackdowns on dissent, and examined hundreds of pages of witness testimony in human rights reports and court filings.	How we know: Over seven years, The Times interviewed dozens of survivors and relatives of dead and missing detainees, reviewed government documents detailing prison deaths and crackdowns on dissent, and examined hundreds of pages of witness testimony in human rights reports and court filings.
Takeaways: Top officials who reported directly to Mr. al-Assad knew about the atrocities. And even as the war winds down, arrests, torture and executions at the secret prisons are accelerating. Here’s what else we know about the prisons.	Takeaways: Top officials who reported directly to Mr. al-Assad knew about the atrocities. And even as the war winds down, arrests, torture and executions at the secret prisons are accelerating. Here’s what else we know about the prisons.
Niels Högel, a nurse, has confessed to killing 43 people, but the authorities believe that as many as 300 patients may have died by his hand. He is considered the most prolific serial killer in the history of peacetime Germany, and perhaps in the world.	Niels Högel, a nurse, has confessed to killing 43 people, but the authorities believe that as many as 300 patients may have died by his hand. He is considered the most prolific serial killer in the history of peacetime Germany, and perhaps in the world.
Mr. Högel is serving a life sentence for murdering two patients and playing a role in the killing of four others. A current trial is his third since 2006. This time, he faces charges of killing 100 more patients.	Mr. Högel is serving a life sentence for murdering two patients and playing a role in the killing of four others. A current trial is his third since 2006. This time, he faces charges of killing 100 more patients.
Questions: It took more than a decade for a full investigation by the authorities, who exhumed over 130 bodies in Germany, Poland and Turkey. According to a former colleague, “a culture of looking away and keeping your head down” shielded the suspect.	Questions: It took more than a decade for a full investigation by the authorities, who exhumed over 130 bodies in Germany, Poland and Turkey. According to a former colleague, “a culture of looking away and keeping your head down” shielded the suspect.
“The hour of reckoning has come,” Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared. “The situation is in our favor.”	“The hour of reckoning has come,” Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared. “The situation is in our favor.”
The year was 2004, and Mr. Vajpayee was aiming for a second term. For the first time, his Bharatiya Janata Party had survived a full term, and his government could claim a number of achievements. Triumph at the polls was widely expected.	The year was 2004, and Mr. Vajpayee was aiming for a second term. For the first time, his Bharatiya Janata Party had survived a full term, and his government could claim a number of achievements. Triumph at the polls was widely expected.
But the opposition Congress party cobbled together an alliance that surprisingly bested the B.J.P. and remained a dominant political force for a decade.	But the opposition Congress party cobbled together an alliance that surprisingly bested the B.J.P. and remained a dominant political force for a decade.
“Every B.J.P. government lives in fear of the ghost of 2004,” said Milan Vaishnav, a South Asia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.	“Every B.J.P. government lives in fear of the ghost of 2004,” said Milan Vaishnav, a South Asia expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Narendra Modi is the B.J.P.’s first prime minister since. And the shadow of 2004 looms.	Narendra Modi is the B.J.P.’s first prime minister since. And the shadow of 2004 looms.
The victories of the booming economy in Mr. Vajpayee’s era didn’t trickle down to rural voters — a fact that also seems broadly true today, Mr. Vaishnav said. Then, as now, unemployment was also a major concern.	The victories of the booming economy in Mr. Vajpayee’s era didn’t trickle down to rural voters — a fact that also seems broadly true today, Mr. Vaishnav said. Then, as now, unemployment was also a major concern.
But there’s at least one crucial difference between the two prime ministers. Mr. Vajpayee was considered a moderate leader of the right-wing Hindu party, while Mr. Modi has been amping up Hindu nationalist rhetoric. — Alisha Haridasani Gupta	But there’s at least one crucial difference between the two prime ministers. Mr. Vajpayee was considered a moderate leader of the right-wing Hindu party, while Mr. Modi has been amping up Hindu nationalist rhetoric. — Alisha Haridasani Gupta
Send us your feedback or questions on this series here.	Send us your feedback or questions on this series here.
Trade: The standoff between the U.S. and China may last for decades. The Trump administration is trying to limit its influence around the world beyond trade, experts and academics say.	Trade: The standoff between the U.S. and China may last for decades. The Trump administration is trying to limit its influence around the world beyond trade, experts and academics say.
Iran: President Hassan Rouhani in a speech compared the country’s economic distress under hardening American sanctions to the miseries Iran endured during its worst war. He also seemed to send a second signal: Iran has no intention of capitulating.	Iran: President Hassan Rouhani in a speech compared the country’s economic distress under hardening American sanctions to the miseries Iran endured during its worst war. He also seemed to send a second signal: Iran has no intention of capitulating.
Migrants: Dozens of migrants drowned on Friday after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, a monitoring group reported, the latest disaster on a perilous but frequently used crossing in the Mediterranean.	Migrants: Dozens of migrants drowned on Friday after their boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, a monitoring group reported, the latest disaster on a perilous but frequently used crossing in the Mediterranean.
New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will travel to France on Wednesday to sign an accord, called the Christchurch Call and crafted with President Emmanuel Macron of France, urging global social media companies to stamp out violent and extremist content. Representatives from Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter were set to attend.	New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will travel to France on Wednesday to sign an accord, called the Christchurch Call and crafted with President Emmanuel Macron of France, urging global social media companies to stamp out violent and extremist content. Representatives from Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter were set to attend.
Britain: An independent probe found that Prince Charles improperly intervened on behalf of an Anglican bishop who admitted to sexually abusing a young novice.	Britain: An independent probe found that Prince Charles improperly intervened on behalf of an Anglican bishop who admitted to sexually abusing a young novice.
Luxury scam: Anna Sorokin, the fake German heiress who swindled her way into Manhattan’s elite party circles, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for bilking hotels, banks and a private jet operator out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.	Luxury scam: Anna Sorokin, the fake German heiress who swindled her way into Manhattan’s elite party circles, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison for bilking hotels, banks and a private jet operator out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Snapshot: London’s ice cream trucks, like the one above, may no longer be a summer staple, after councils in the city threatened to clamp down if the diesel-fueled vehicles did not become more environmentally friendly.	Snapshot: London’s ice cream trucks, like the one above, may no longer be a summer staple, after councils in the city threatened to clamp down if the diesel-fueled vehicles did not become more environmentally friendly.
From Opinion: Nike-sponsored female athletes said the company doesn’t guarantee them a salary during pregnancy and early maternity. “Getting pregnant is the kiss of death for a female athlete,” said Phoebe Wright, a runner sponsored by Nike from 2010 through 2016.	From Opinion: Nike-sponsored female athletes said the company doesn’t guarantee them a salary during pregnancy and early maternity. “Getting pregnant is the kiss of death for a female athlete,” said Phoebe Wright, a runner sponsored by Nike from 2010 through 2016.
Soccer: Manchester City claimed its second straight Premier League title on Sunday, holding off Liverpool by a point.	Soccer: Manchester City claimed its second straight Premier League title on Sunday, holding off Liverpool by a point.
Poetry: The 21st poet laureate of the United Kingdom is Simon Armitage, 55, a critically lauded and popular poet from West Yorkshire, in the north of England.	Poetry: The 21st poet laureate of the United Kingdom is Simon Armitage, 55, a critically lauded and popular poet from West Yorkshire, in the north of England.
What we’re reading: This article in The Atlantic. Michael Roston, a science editor, writes: “Astronauts are heroic, but they’re also like us. This delightful article delves into their binge-watching habits as they orbit our planet aboard the International Space Station.”	What we’re reading: This article in The Atlantic. Michael Roston, a science editor, writes: “Astronauts are heroic, but they’re also like us. This delightful article delves into their binge-watching habits as they orbit our planet aboard the International Space Station.”