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U.S. Presidential Debate, Syria, Mars: Your Thursday Briefing U.S. Presidential Debate, Syria, Mars: Your Thursday Briefing
(about 2 hours later)
Good morning.Good morning.
We’re trying something new for our readers in Europe: a morning briefing to jump-start your day.We’re trying something new for our readers in Europe: a morning briefing to jump-start your day.
What do you like? What do you want to see here? Email us with your feedback at europebriefing@nytimes.com.What do you like? What do you want to see here? Email us with your feedback at europebriefing@nytimes.com.
Here’s what you need to know:Here’s what you need to know:
• The final U.S. presidential debate swerved between policy issues and personal attacks. Donald J. Trump refused to say whether he would accept the outcome of the election, a position that Hillary Clinton called “horrifying.” • The final U.S. presidential debate swerved between policy issues and personal attacks. Donald J. Trump refused to say whether he would accept the outcome of the election, a position that Hillary Clinton said was “horrifying.”
The debate began cordially but turned caustic. Mrs. Clinton called Mr. Trump a “puppet” of Russia, and he called her a “nasty woman.”
Here are highlights of the debate.Here are highlights of the debate.
• European Union leaders gather again in Brussels today, in part to seek a common position on Russia. Some officials want to impose new sanctions because of its bombing of Aleppo, Syria. Italy, meanwhile, is reported to have insisted on discussing whether to ease sanctions imposed on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
The 28 leaders will also discuss a free-trade pact with Canada, which has faced stiff opposition.
One has become known for his fashionable scarves. Another is never far from his country’s nuclear codes, even at briefings. Here’s a look at the style and substance of some of the European politicians meeting today.
• A summit meeting in Berlin on the war in Ukraine revived talks about a cease-fire, but there was no breakthrough on ending hostilities.• A summit meeting in Berlin on the war in Ukraine revived talks about a cease-fire, but there was no breakthrough on ending hostilities.
European Union leaders gather again in Brussels today to seek a common position on Russia. Some officials want to impose new sanctions because of its bombing of Aleppo, Syria. Italy, meanwhile, is reported to have insisted on discussing whether to ease sanctions imposed on Moscow over the unrest in Ukraine.
The European leaders will also discuss a free-trade pact with Canada, which has faced stiff opposition.
• Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, will address E.U. leaders at the meeting for the first time since her country voted to leave the group. She is expected to rule out a second “Brexit” referendum.
We track how the “Brexit” vote has shaped business in Britain so far.
• The police in the Czech Republic identified a man who was arrested in Prague two weeks ago as “a Russian citizen suspected of hacking attacks on targets in the United States.”• The police in the Czech Republic identified a man who was arrested in Prague two weeks ago as “a Russian citizen suspected of hacking attacks on targets in the United States.”
The arrest, made in collaboration with the F.B.I., came two days before American intelligence officials accused the Russian government of stealing and disclosing emails from the Democratic National Committee.The arrest, made in collaboration with the F.B.I., came two days before American intelligence officials accused the Russian government of stealing and disclosing emails from the Democratic National Committee.
Russia is seeking the man’s release, but a Czech court is considering extraditing him to the United States.Russia is seeking the man’s release, but a Czech court is considering extraditing him to the United States.
• There were cheers and fist pumps at mission control in Germany after the ExoMars 2016 spacecraft entered the red planet’s orbit. But scientists have lost contact with the landing craft sent to the surface.• There were cheers and fist pumps at mission control in Germany after the ExoMars 2016 spacecraft entered the red planet’s orbit. But scientists have lost contact with the landing craft sent to the surface.
The joint Russian-European effort is looking for methane and other gases that could clarify Mars’s geology and possibly offer hints of life.The joint Russian-European effort is looking for methane and other gases that could clarify Mars’s geology and possibly offer hints of life.
• The International Criminal Court in The Hague convicted Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is serving an 18-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity, of bribing witnesses to give false testimony.• The International Criminal Court in The Hague convicted Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo who is serving an 18-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity, of bribing witnesses to give false testimony.
The ruling was seen as a blow against graft and witness intimidation, which have crippled international efforts to bring dictators and war criminals to justice.The ruling was seen as a blow against graft and witness intimidation, which have crippled international efforts to bring dictators and war criminals to justice.
• The European Central Bank is expected to announce today that it will keep its benchmark interest rate at zero. Investors will be listening for what Mario Draghi, the bank’s president, above, has to say about a likely extension of its stimulus program.• The European Central Bank is expected to announce today that it will keep its benchmark interest rate at zero. Investors will be listening for what Mario Draghi, the bank’s president, above, has to say about a likely extension of its stimulus program.
• Popular resistance to genetically modified foods in China has fed criticism of a state-run company’s efforts to buy the Swiss agricultural company Syngenta.• Popular resistance to genetically modified foods in China has fed criticism of a state-run company’s efforts to buy the Swiss agricultural company Syngenta.
• Google’s Pixel, the search giant’s first smartphone, arrives in stores just as Samsung, the king of Android phones, suffers the humiliating demise of its Galaxy Note 7. Here’s our review of the Pixel.• Google’s Pixel, the search giant’s first smartphone, arrives in stores just as Samsung, the king of Android phones, suffers the humiliating demise of its Galaxy Note 7. Here’s our review of the Pixel.
• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• Vox: “American Tourists in Iceland to Outnumber Iceland’s Population.” Tourism is booming in the Nordic island as 1.61 million people have visited so far this year; among them were 325,000 Americans. • Vox: “American Tourists in Iceland to Outnumber Iceland’s Population.” Tourism is booming on the Nordic island as 1.61 million people have visited so far this year; among them were 325,000 Americans.
• The New York Review of Books: “The Death of British Business.” The possibility of a flight of foreign capital in manufacturing and services threatens Britain’s economy.• The New York Review of Books: “The Death of British Business.” The possibility of a flight of foreign capital in manufacturing and services threatens Britain’s economy.
• MIT Technology Review: “Mark Zuckerberg’s Long March to China.” Facebook is closing in on the mainland, despite governmental controls on social media.• MIT Technology Review: “Mark Zuckerberg’s Long March to China.” Facebook is closing in on the mainland, despite governmental controls on social media.
• Typhoon Haima slammed into the Philippines, but with less force than had been feared. Thousands were evacuated.• Typhoon Haima slammed into the Philippines, but with less force than had been feared. Thousands were evacuated.
• A town in Siberia, passed over by the oil boom (and bust) in Moscow, is betting its future on another form of fossil fuel: human prehistory, linked to discoveries of ancient bones in the area.• A town in Siberia, passed over by the oil boom (and bust) in Moscow, is betting its future on another form of fossil fuel: human prehistory, linked to discoveries of ancient bones in the area.
• Massimo Bottura is upending the traditions of Italian cooking. Here’s the chef in a soundproof room preparing a dish and serving it to a robot.• Massimo Bottura is upending the traditions of Italian cooking. Here’s the chef in a soundproof room preparing a dish and serving it to a robot.
• The filmmaker Michael Moore’s surprise new film is not an attack on the Republican presidential candidate, as many expected, but a paean to Mrs. Clinton. • Whenever an emissary of England’s Premier League meets Barcelona, it seems, sooner or later a player is sent off. Manchester City showed it was no exception in a 4-0 loss.
The tumultuous American presidential race and its combative debates have helped drive ratings for the country’s major cable news channels to new highs. But when election season ends, their splashy wall-to-wall political coverage probably will as well.The tumultuous American presidential race and its combative debates have helped drive ratings for the country’s major cable news channels to new highs. But when election season ends, their splashy wall-to-wall political coverage probably will as well.
Not so for the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network.Not so for the Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network.
C-Span, sometimes called the “boring channel,” is a no-frills window into the work done by Congress. The idea for an unfiltered, commercial-free broadcast of events on Capitol Hill came from Brian Lamb, above, a reporter who viewed the concept as a public service.C-Span, sometimes called the “boring channel,” is a no-frills window into the work done by Congress. The idea for an unfiltered, commercial-free broadcast of events on Capitol Hill came from Brian Lamb, above, a reporter who viewed the concept as a public service.
It debuted in 1979 — a year before CNN — first by televising the House’s floor debates. A first-term representative named Al Gore spoke first. “Television will change this institution,” he said.It debuted in 1979 — a year before CNN — first by televising the House’s floor debates. A first-term representative named Al Gore spoke first. “Television will change this institution,” he said.
Indeed it did.Indeed it did.
“Most Americans then saw of Congress only what was reported on the nightly news and in newspapers,” The Times wrote in 2012.“Most Americans then saw of Congress only what was reported on the nightly news and in newspapers,” The Times wrote in 2012.
And the lawmakers themselves now routinely follow proceedings on TV, leaving the House and Senate chambers virtually empty.And the lawmakers themselves now routinely follow proceedings on TV, leaving the House and Senate chambers virtually empty.
C-Span’s programming includes lectures on books and history, and the confrontational weekly prime minister’s questions in the British House of Commons.C-Span’s programming includes lectures on books and history, and the confrontational weekly prime minister’s questions in the British House of Commons.
Once in a while C-Span outshines its commercial rivals. In June, Democrats waged a sit-in protest against gun laws for over 24 hours. The event popularized the hashtag #cspanandchill.Once in a while C-Span outshines its commercial rivals. In June, Democrats waged a sit-in protest against gun laws for over 24 hours. The event popularized the hashtag #cspanandchill.
“The person that absorbs what we do walks away saying, ‘I know just a lot more than I ever thought I would about human nature,’ ” said Mr. Lamb, the C-Span originator.“The person that absorbs what we do walks away saying, ‘I know just a lot more than I ever thought I would about human nature,’ ” said Mr. Lamb, the C-Span originator.
Sean Alfano contributed reporting.Sean Alfano contributed reporting.
Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings.Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings.
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.