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Your Friday Briefing Syria, Jo Cox, ‘Finding Dory’: Your Friday Briefing
(35 minutes later)
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Good morning.Good morning.
Here’s what you need to know:Here’s what you need to know:
• U.S. diplomats urge strikes on Syria.• U.S. diplomats urge strikes on Syria.
Fifty-one State Department diplomats signed an internal memo sharply critical of the Obama administration’s Syria policy, saying that military action against the Assad government is needed to stop its cease-fire violations. But there is little evidence that President Obama plans to change course.Fifty-one State Department diplomats signed an internal memo sharply critical of the Obama administration’s Syria policy, saying that military action against the Assad government is needed to stop its cease-fire violations. But there is little evidence that President Obama plans to change course.
Photos and videos shot by a Times correspondent offer a virtual trip through the Syrian war zone. And in Dallas, a federal judge dismissed an attempt by Texas to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees there.Photos and videos shot by a Times correspondent offer a virtual trip through the Syrian war zone. And in Dallas, a federal judge dismissed an attempt by Texas to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees there.
• “Their grief is beyond description.”• “Their grief is beyond description.”
That was President Obama, who — joined by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — met privately with mourners in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, as funerals began for the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub shootings.That was President Obama, who — joined by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — met privately with mourners in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, as funerals began for the 49 people killed in the Pulse nightclub shootings.
At a hospital, we found the son of a Muslim immigrant trying to save the lives of people whom another son of Muslim immigrants had tried to kill. Many of the victims, most of them gay Latinos, were born to immigrants themselves.At a hospital, we found the son of a Muslim immigrant trying to save the lives of people whom another son of Muslim immigrants had tried to kill. Many of the victims, most of them gay Latinos, were born to immigrants themselves.
• New U.S. gun laws are unlikely.• New U.S. gun laws are unlikely.
Votes on gun control legislation are expected in Congress in the coming days, but none of it is likely to pass.Votes on gun control legislation are expected in Congress in the coming days, but none of it is likely to pass.
A veteran writes that he used an assault rifle in the Army and doesn’t think civilians should own them.A veteran writes that he used an assault rifle in the Army and doesn’t think civilians should own them.
• Hate-crime targets.• Hate-crime targets.
A new analysis of federal data in the U.S. shows that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are the most frequent targets of hate crimes.A new analysis of federal data in the U.S. shows that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are the most frequent targets of hate crimes.
In response to the Orlando attacks, posting photos of gay men showing affection has become an act of defiance and a demonstration of solidarity.In response to the Orlando attacks, posting photos of gay men showing affection has become an act of defiance and a demonstration of solidarity.
• George W. Bush on the campaign trail.• George W. Bush on the campaign trail.
The former president is headlining fund-raisers for Republican senators whose re-election bids have been made more difficult by Donald J. Trump.The former president is headlining fund-raisers for Republican senators whose re-election bids have been made more difficult by Donald J. Trump.
Polls show that Mr. Trump’s repeated calls for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. are not gaining traction among voters he needs in November. Senator Bernie Sanders has not conceded to Hillary Clinton, but he is pledging to “make certain” that Mr. Trump is defeated.Polls show that Mr. Trump’s repeated calls for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. are not gaining traction among voters he needs in November. Senator Bernie Sanders has not conceded to Hillary Clinton, but he is pledging to “make certain” that Mr. Trump is defeated.
• Vigils for a British politician.• Vigils for a British politician.
Tributes are being paid to Jo Cox, a rising star in Parliament who was gunned down in her district in northern England.Tributes are being paid to Jo Cox, a rising star in Parliament who was gunned down in her district in northern England.
The suspect was identified in the British news media as Thomas Mair, who the Southern Poverty Law Center said was a supporter of a neo-Nazi group in the U.S.The suspect was identified in the British news media as Thomas Mair, who the Southern Poverty Law Center said was a supporter of a neo-Nazi group in the U.S.
• Fighting extremists with math?• Fighting extremists with math?
Scientists have designed an algorithm to track the activity of Islamic State sympathizers online, with the goal of predicting when groups will turn from talk to action.Scientists have designed an algorithm to track the activity of Islamic State sympathizers online, with the goal of predicting when groups will turn from talk to action.
Despite expressing fears about terrorism, Americans keep going to concerts and other public events, and overseas vacations are increasing.Despite expressing fears about terrorism, Americans keep going to concerts and other public events, and overseas vacations are increasing.
• Microsoft is the first major U.S. corporation to announce its intent to play a role in the marijuana industry, announcing a project to create plant-tracking software.• Microsoft is the first major U.S. corporation to announce its intent to play a role in the marijuana industry, announcing a project to create plant-tracking software.
• Bay Area towns that the tech industry made rich are considering rent control to help the squeezed middle class.• Bay Area towns that the tech industry made rich are considering rent control to help the squeezed middle class.
• U.S. stocks ended a five-day losing streak. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. • U.S. stocks ended a five-day losing streak.
• Scoreboard.• Scoreboard.
Cleveland defeated Golden State, 115-101, to set up a decisive Game 7 in the N.B.A. Finals on Sunday (8 p.m., ABC).Cleveland defeated Golden State, 115-101, to set up a decisive Game 7 in the N.B.A. Finals on Sunday (8 p.m., ABC).
The U.S. men’s soccer team beat Ecuador, 2-1, to reach the Copa América semifinals.The U.S. men’s soccer team beat Ecuador, 2-1, to reach the Copa América semifinals.
• At the movies.• At the movies.
“Finding Dory” is the much-anticipated sequel to 2003’s “Finding Nemo.” Our reviewer writes that while “Dory” may not join the top tier of Pixar features, it’s the best non-“Toy Story” sequel the studio has produced.“Finding Dory” is the much-anticipated sequel to 2003’s “Finding Nemo.” Our reviewer writes that while “Dory” may not join the top tier of Pixar features, it’s the best non-“Toy Story” sequel the studio has produced.
“Central Intelligence,” an espionage comedy that stars Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson, accomplishes its mission of being aggressively juvenile.“Central Intelligence,” an espionage comedy that stars Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson, accomplishes its mission of being aggressively juvenile.
• What to watch.• What to watch.
Season 4 of “Orange Is the New Black” starts streaming today on Netflix, a company that still has to keep reinventing itself.Season 4 of “Orange Is the New Black” starts streaming today on Netflix, a company that still has to keep reinventing itself.
Amazon has new offerings today: “The Interestings,” based on Meg Wolitzer’s book, and “The Last Tycoon,” based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s final novel.Amazon has new offerings today: “The Interestings,” based on Meg Wolitzer’s book, and “The Last Tycoon,” based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s final novel.
• Inside museums.• Inside museums.
The Tate Modern in London is opening a 10-story wing called the Switch House, showing contemporary work including film, installation and live performance. The Smithsonian’s first permanent outpost abroad will also be in London, opening in 2021.The Tate Modern in London is opening a 10-story wing called the Switch House, showing contemporary work including film, installation and live performance. The Smithsonian’s first permanent outpost abroad will also be in London, opening in 2021.
The world’s most prestigious art fair, Art Basel in Switzerland, has 286 galleries from 33 countries exhibiting.The world’s most prestigious art fair, Art Basel in Switzerland, has 286 galleries from 33 countries exhibiting.
• Recipe of the day.• Recipe of the day.
Use leftover roast chicken to save a little time when making these delicious enchiladas.Use leftover roast chicken to save a little time when making these delicious enchiladas.
The school year is ending in most U.S. districts, and that means, of course, no more standardized tests.The school year is ending in most U.S. districts, and that means, of course, no more standardized tests.
While that’s a cause for students to celebrate, this most likely isn’t: This week is the 115th anniversary of the first standardized tests given by the College Board, that formidable adversary of many a high schooler.While that’s a cause for students to celebrate, this most likely isn’t: This week is the 115th anniversary of the first standardized tests given by the College Board, that formidable adversary of many a high schooler.
Back then, about 1,000 students took exams in English, French, German, Latin, Greek, history, math, chemistry and physics at 67 locations in the U.S. and at two in Europe. There were no multiple-choice questions, so No. 2 pencils presumably weren’t required.Back then, about 1,000 students took exams in English, French, German, Latin, Greek, history, math, chemistry and physics at 67 locations in the U.S. and at two in Europe. There were no multiple-choice questions, so No. 2 pencils presumably weren’t required.
Each college had its own entrance exams, and high schools had to prepare students for the specific colleges they wanted to attend. That was a bit unwieldy. The College Board’s goal was to make high school curriculums uniform.Each college had its own entrance exams, and high schools had to prepare students for the specific colleges they wanted to attend. That was a bit unwieldy. The College Board’s goal was to make high school curriculums uniform.
The exams later served a more nefarious purpose: to screen out recently arrived immigrants, who tended not to do well on such tests, according to Claude Steele, a Stanford professor.
The first SAT arrived 25 years later: a multiple-choice exam modeled on Army intelligence tests. The SAT’s 90th birthday is Thursday, just another day for students to rue.The first SAT arrived 25 years later: a multiple-choice exam modeled on Army intelligence tests. The SAT’s 90th birthday is Thursday, just another day for students to rue.
Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning.Your Morning Briefing is published weekdays at 6 a.m. Eastern and updated on the web all morning.
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