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| Sessions, Brexit, Iran: Your Friday Briefing | Sessions, Brexit, Iran: 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. Political developments in Washington, London releases a Brexit contingency plan and Iran faces increasing pressure. | Good morning. Political developments in Washington, London releases a Brexit contingency plan and Iran faces increasing pressure. |
| Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
| • Pushback against the president. | • Pushback against the president. |
| Attorney General Jeff Sessions, above, issued a rare public rebuke of President Trump after the president criticized him over the Russia investigation. “While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations,” Mr. Sessions said. | Attorney General Jeff Sessions, above, issued a rare public rebuke of President Trump after the president criticized him over the Russia investigation. “While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations,” Mr. Sessions said. |
| Mr. Trump also derided Michael Cohen, his former fixer, for “flipping” — pleading guilty to federal charges and implicating him in crimes. But he expressed support for his ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted on bank and tax fraud charges the same day. | Mr. Trump also derided Michael Cohen, his former fixer, for “flipping” — pleading guilty to federal charges and implicating him in crimes. But he expressed support for his ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was convicted on bank and tax fraud charges the same day. |
| Mr. Manafort would have been convicted on all 18 charges against him, but one holdout juror forced a mistrial on 10 counts, another juror told Fox News. | Mr. Manafort would have been convicted on all 18 charges against him, but one holdout juror forced a mistrial on 10 counts, another juror told Fox News. |
| It also emerged that David Pecker, a tabloid publisher close to Mr. Trump, was granted immunity by prosecutors. His publication, The National Enquirer, helped “catch and kill” stories that might be damaging to the Trump candidacy, so he presumably would have considerable information of use to investigators. | It also emerged that David Pecker, a tabloid publisher close to Mr. Trump, was granted immunity by prosecutors. His publication, The National Enquirer, helped “catch and kill” stories that might be damaging to the Trump candidacy, so he presumably would have considerable information of use to investigators. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Can Trump change the narrative? | • Can Trump change the narrative? |
| President Trump, a student of news cycles, seized on a topic far from the U.S. | President Trump, a student of news cycles, seized on a topic far from the U.S. |
| Touching on a South African proposal to alter land claims that long favored whites, he broadcast a false claim that white farmers were being killed on a “large scale” in the country. It’s a claim that resonates with white supremacists. Above, a shack being built in a township near Cape Town, South Africa. | |
| Separately, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that he would travel to North Korea next week and bring Stephen Biegun, a Ford Motor executive and former White House aide, to help lead the negotiations. | Separately, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that he would travel to North Korea next week and bring Stephen Biegun, a Ford Motor executive and former White House aide, to help lead the negotiations. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Pope Francis meets a new Ireland. | • Pope Francis meets a new Ireland. |
| Our Rome bureau chief, no stranger to the Vatican’s halls, looks at the immense task the pope faces on his coming visit. Ireland has legalized divorce, homosexual acts and abortion, and it is scarred by church-sponsored oppression and some of the most flagrant cases of priestly sex abuse. | Our Rome bureau chief, no stranger to the Vatican’s halls, looks at the immense task the pope faces on his coming visit. Ireland has legalized divorce, homosexual acts and abortion, and it is scarred by church-sponsored oppression and some of the most flagrant cases of priestly sex abuse. |
| Above, a wax museum in Dublin placed its bets on Francis’ appeal. | Above, a wax museum in Dublin placed its bets on Francis’ appeal. |
| We look in detail at a flash-point case: the pope’s choice of Bishop Philip Boyce to head an Irish diocese. The bishop protected a particularly egregious offender, Rev. Eugene Greene, who is now in his 90s and enjoying a “happy retirement.” | We look in detail at a flash-point case: the pope’s choice of Bishop Philip Boyce to head an Irish diocese. The bishop protected a particularly egregious offender, Rev. Eugene Greene, who is now in his 90s and enjoying a “happy retirement.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • “It is not what we expect, but we must be ready.” | • “It is not what we expect, but we must be ready.” |
| That was Dominic Raab, secretary of state for Brexit, describing a “no deal” scenario in which Britain would leave the E.U. next year without an agreement. Above, the port of Dover, Britain’s gateway to Europe. | That was Dominic Raab, secretary of state for Brexit, describing a “no deal” scenario in which Britain would leave the E.U. next year without an agreement. Above, the port of Dover, Britain’s gateway to Europe. |
| London issued contingency plans for averting chaos in such a situation. But the documents warned of these possible results: importers and exporters could face significant new bureaucratic hurdles, credit or debit card payments in Continental Europe could cost more, and British citizens living in the bloc could lose access to banking and pension services. | London issued contingency plans for averting chaos in such a situation. But the documents warned of these possible results: importers and exporters could face significant new bureaucratic hurdles, credit or debit card payments in Continental Europe could cost more, and British citizens living in the bloc could lose access to banking and pension services. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, above, a British woman of Iranian descent incarcerated by Tehran on sedition charges since 2016, was granted a furlough to see her daughter and other relatives. It was seen as a positive development in a bitter dispute between Britain and Iran. | • Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, above, a British woman of Iranian descent incarcerated by Tehran on sedition charges since 2016, was granted a furlough to see her daughter and other relatives. It was seen as a positive development in a bitter dispute between Britain and Iran. |
| Iran is under pressure after being identified as a source, along with Russia, of wide-reaching misinformation campaigns that Facebook recently found and deleted. (Google followed suit and deleted 39 YouTube channels linked to the Iranian state broadcaster.) And British Airways and Air France are suspending service to the country as of next month, joining KLM in adhering to U.S. sanctions. | Iran is under pressure after being identified as a source, along with Russia, of wide-reaching misinformation campaigns that Facebook recently found and deleted. (Google followed suit and deleted 39 YouTube channels linked to the Iranian state broadcaster.) And British Airways and Air France are suspending service to the country as of next month, joining KLM in adhering to U.S. sanctions. |
| • New trade talks between the U.S. and China had little success. Washington has moved ahead with additional tariffs on Chinese imports, and a new law will beef up blocks to foreign investment. Meanwhile, China’s economy is slowing as the trade war intensifies, forcing Beijing to play a difficult game. | • New trade talks between the U.S. and China had little success. Washington has moved ahead with additional tariffs on Chinese imports, and a new law will beef up blocks to foreign investment. Meanwhile, China’s economy is slowing as the trade war intensifies, forcing Beijing to play a difficult game. |
| • La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league, is hoping to increase revenue by raising its profile overseas. But players, concerned that the demands placed on them are excessive, could go on strike. | • La Liga, Spain’s top soccer league, is hoping to increase revenue by raising its profile overseas. But players, concerned that the demands placed on them are excessive, could go on strike. |
| • “Small Fry”: Lisa Brennan-Jobs has written a memoir about her famous father, Steve Jobs. The details are damning, but she doesn’t want them to be. | • “Small Fry”: Lisa Brennan-Jobs has written a memoir about her famous father, Steve Jobs. The details are damning, but she doesn’t want them to be. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • In Brazil, drone video footage has revealed the first images of an isolated Amazon tribe that had no known contact with the outside world. They include pictures of tools and a thatched hut, above. [The New York Times] | |
| • Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has been ousted in the country’s latest back-room political coup. Scott Morrison, a relative moderate in the conservative governing party, is set to replace him. [The New York Times] | • Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has been ousted in the country’s latest back-room political coup. Scott Morrison, a relative moderate in the conservative governing party, is set to replace him. [The New York Times] |
| • The Polish government criticized a Fox News program after it ran a banner referring to a “Polish death camp,” a misleading term that has set off diplomatic incidents and is now banned in Poland. [The New York Times] | • The Polish government criticized a Fox News program after it ran a banner referring to a “Polish death camp,” a misleading term that has set off diplomatic incidents and is now banned in Poland. [The New York Times] |
| • In Ukraine, fighting between soldiers and pro-Russian separatists near the rebel-held region of Luhansk has left at least four troops dead and seven others wounded. [A.P.] | • In Ukraine, fighting between soldiers and pro-Russian separatists near the rebel-held region of Luhansk has left at least four troops dead and seven others wounded. [A.P.] |
| • Hurricane Lane: The rare Category 4 storm lashed Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday morning. Check our live briefing. [The New York Times] | • Hurricane Lane: The rare Category 4 storm lashed Hawaii’s Big Island on Thursday morning. Check our live briefing. [The New York Times] |
| • Thomas Cook, the British travel company, has removed more than 300 of its customers from a hotel in Egypt, after a couple died there under circumstances it said were unclear. [BBC] | • Thomas Cook, the British travel company, has removed more than 300 of its customers from a hotel in Egypt, after a couple died there under circumstances it said were unclear. [BBC] |
| Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: The best (and easiest) vanilla ice cream. | • Recipe of the day: The best (and easiest) vanilla ice cream. |
| • In skin care products: What is an essence? | • In skin care products: What is an essence? |
| • We’ve got answers to your questions about running. | • We’ve got answers to your questions about running. |
| • In the Turkish province of Antalya, hot days, strong sunshine and humid nights are utilized as tens of thousands of rugs are laid out every year, above, to soften their colors. | • In the Turkish province of Antalya, hot days, strong sunshine and humid nights are utilized as tens of thousands of rugs are laid out every year, above, to soften their colors. |
| • In Memoriam: Ed King, a former guitarist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and a co-writer of several of the group’s hits, including “Sweet Home Alabama,” has died at 68. | • In Memoriam: Ed King, a former guitarist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and a co-writer of several of the group’s hits, including “Sweet Home Alabama,” has died at 68. |
| • “Ulster American,” a satirical comedy about a female playwright from Northern Ireland working with a British director and an American actor — both male — on a play about a violent Protestant loyalist, won the 2018 Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh award. | • “Ulster American,” a satirical comedy about a female playwright from Northern Ireland working with a British director and an American actor — both male — on a play about a violent Protestant loyalist, won the 2018 Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh award. |
| Get out the cast iron skillets, your best-looking livestock and indulge in fried Snickers. | Get out the cast iron skillets, your best-looking livestock and indulge in fried Snickers. |
| It’s the height of state fair season across the U.S., when competitors young and old vie for blue ribbons and a ride on the midway. | It’s the height of state fair season across the U.S., when competitors young and old vie for blue ribbons and a ride on the midway. |
| The oldest continuously run agricultural fair in North America is the Hants County Exhibition in Nova Scotia, dating to 1765. But America’s state fair tradition dates to 1807, when Elkanah Watson, a businessman in Pittsfield, Mass., showcased his merino sheep under an elm tree on the public square. | The oldest continuously run agricultural fair in North America is the Hants County Exhibition in Nova Scotia, dating to 1765. But America’s state fair tradition dates to 1807, when Elkanah Watson, a businessman in Pittsfield, Mass., showcased his merino sheep under an elm tree on the public square. |
| The sheep drew such a crowd that Mr. Watson formed the Berkshire Agricultural Society. The society’s first livestock competition in 1811 had 383 sheep, seven bulls, 109 oxen, nine cows, three heifers, two calves and one boar. | The sheep drew such a crowd that Mr. Watson formed the Berkshire Agricultural Society. The society’s first livestock competition in 1811 had 383 sheep, seven bulls, 109 oxen, nine cows, three heifers, two calves and one boar. |
| Today, there are about 2,000 fairs across the country. (Your Back Story writer recently competed in her own local fair.) | Today, there are about 2,000 fairs across the country. (Your Back Story writer recently competed in her own local fair.) |
| In recent years, state fairs have become a test ground for presidential ambitions, most notably the Iowa State Fair. | In recent years, state fairs have become a test ground for presidential ambitions, most notably the Iowa State Fair. |
| “Be one of the crowd,” one fairgoer suggested for budding presidential candidates. “Be one of the people that can actually relate.” | “Be one of the crowd,” one fairgoer suggested for budding presidential candidates. “Be one of the people that can actually relate.” |
| See you at the fair! | See you at the fair! |
| Remy Tumin wrote today’s Back Story. | Remy Tumin wrote today’s Back Story. |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| Check out this page to find a Morning Briefing for your region. (In addition to our European edition, we have Australian, Asian and U.S. editions.) | Check out this page to find a Morning Briefing for your region. (In addition to our European edition, we have Australian, Asian and U.S. editions.) |
| Sign up here to receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights, and here’s our full range of free newsletters. | Sign up here to receive an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights, and here’s our full range of free newsletters. |
| 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. |
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