Brexit, Iran, the Space Race: Your Friday Briefing
07/19/2019
(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)
Good morning.
We’re covering a newhurdle for a no-deal Brexit, the downing of an Iranian drone by the U.S. military and France’s creation of a space command.
A new hurdle for a no-deal Brexit
British lawmakers passed a measure that would block the next prime minister from suspending Parliament to force an abrupt withdrawal from the E.U. in the fall.
The move, which received stronger support than expected, set up a clash between Parliament and Boris Johnson, who is expected to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May next week. Mr. Johnson has entertained the idea of shutting down the legislature in the fall to ensure that, with or without a deal, Britain leaves the E.U. on Oct. 31.
What’s next: Results in the competition to lead Britain will be announced on Tuesday, days before Parliament goes into summer recess. Anti-Brexit lawmakers said the vote against suspending Parliament raised the chances of a second Brexit referendum.
U.S.-Iran tensions escalate
The American military shot down an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, President Trump said. The drone is said to have come “within threatening range” of the Boxer, an American assault ship. It’s unclear if the drone was armed.
The news closely followed an announcement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran that it had detained a tanker, which it claimed had been smuggling fuel.
While the two episodes escalate the conflict that has pitted Iran against some of its neighbors and the U.S., Iran’s foreign minister moved in the opposite direction, proposing modest concessions and new talks.
Reminder: Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have risen in recent months after Washington imposed new sanctions.
Since then, there have been attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has exceeded the amount and the purity of the uranium it is permitted under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
France nudges Europe into space race
President Emmanuel Macron of France announced the creation of a space command within his nation’s air force. Emphasizing that French and European independence was at stake, Mr. Macron said the command would “ensure our defense of space within space.”
The move was the latest sign that the era of fighting in space — disabling or even shooting down satellites on which warfare on Earth is increasingly dependent — was getting closer.
Big picture: Pooling resources has helped Europe keep its leadership in the civilian use of space, experts say. But when it comes to militarizing space, Europe remains divided, with France facing resistance from Germany and other nations.
Challenges: The lack of a unified vision could constrain France’s ambitions for its space command. Mr. Macron hinted as much in his announcement: While he spoke of reinforcing France’s “strategic autonomy,” he added that it must take place in a “European framework.”
Trump’s party frets over ‘send her back’ chant
Nervous Republicans urged President Trump to repudiate the “send her back” chant that was directed at a Somali-born congresswoman during a campaign rally on Wednesday. They feared that it could hurt their party in the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump responded by disavowing the behavior of his own supporters. He claimed he had tried to contain the chant, which was directed at Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a freshman Democrat who is Muslim.
Video of the event clearly contradicted that assertion.
The politics: The cleanup attempt reflected the misgivings of political allies, including House Republican leaders, who have warned Mr. Trump privately that he was playing with political fire.
If you have some time, this is worth it
One small step
Five decades ago tomorrow, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the powdery surface of the moon in humankind’s first ever journey from one world to another. Those bootprints “could outlast the race that made them,” our veteran space reporter Dennis Overbye writes.
To mark the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, The Times has produced ample special coverage, including a look at what life on the lunar surface would be like, a poem about the landing and a feature on Michael Collins, the astronaut who remained in orbit while Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. We also combined transcripts and select images to recreate the entire journey from liftoff to splashdown.
Here’s what else is happening
Japan: In what is believed to be one of the deadliest attacks in the country in decades, a man ignited a flammable liquid at an animation studio in Kyoto on Thursday, killing 33 people and injuring dozens more, the police said.
Morocco: Three men accused of murdering two Scandinavian hikers in the Atlas Mountains last year have been sentenced to death in an antiterrorism court in Morocco.
‘Unruly passenger’: Jet2, a British budget airline, said it had fined an English passenger about $106,000 for “aggressive, abusive and dangerous behavior” on a flight bound for Turkey last month. Military jets escorted the plane back to Stansted Airport, north of London.
Yemen: A steep pullout by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s key ally in its military intervention in Yemen, leaves Prince Mohammed bin Salman with few good options. Now he is asking for more help from the U.S.
Boeing: The company announced a $7.3 billion hit to its bottom line from the grounding of its troubled 737 Max jetliner. Airlines that flew the jet have been pushing for compensation, and Boeing has had to slow production and halt deliveries.
Cyprus: Twelve Israeli men accused in connection with the rape of a 19-year-old British woman in the resort town of Ayia Napa have been ordered to remain in police custody.
Snapshot: Above, a prisoner flipping a sign to signify prayer time in the Detention Center Zone for the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. A Times reporter and photographer went inside the secretive prison, with tight restrictions on what they could see and photograph.
KLM: The Dutch airline found itself at the center of a heated online debate after a passenger posted on social media that a flight attendant had told her to cover up as she was breastfeeding her child on a flight last month.
Tour de France: Our columnist explores the vagaries — “the unexpected roundabout, the too-merry man waving a wine glass midroad” — that make this 2,162-mile race “so maddening and dangerous and, yes, enjoyable.”
What we’re reading: This essay in Vox. Jenna Wortham, a writer for the The New York Times Magazine, says it’s “a beautiful and meditative piece on the economy of ‘living your best life’ on Instagram, as told through the destruction of an indigenous landmark.”
Now, a break from the news
Cook: This weekend, try a galette — an open-faced tart — with nectarines and blueberries.
Watch: In “The Lion King” remake, our critic found “a lot of professionalism but not much heart.”
Listen: The Israeli duo Lola Marsh makes sweeping, cinematic music dripping in retro charm and reverb. “Echoes” is a lush beach-blanket bop, wiggling with energy, our critic writes.
Read: “The Nickel Boys,” Colson Whitehead’s first novel since “The Underground Railroad,” was inspired by the real-life story of a reform school in Florida where more than 100 children died from 1913 to 1960. It’s one of 11 new books we recommend this week.
Smarter Living: Trees suck up carbon and, while planting one won’t solve climate change, every tree helps. To have a meaningful effect, a tree must live at least 10 to 20 years, according to one expert. The right type of tree for your area and proper placement are among the things you should consider.
And a growing number of theme parks, hotels and special attractions are introducing training and sensory guides to accommodate travelers with autism.
And now for the Back Story on …
‘Sir Ed’
Edmund Percival Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper who with Tenzing Norgay of Nepal made the first summit of Mount Everest, was born 100 years ago tomorrow.
Events in New Zealand will honor him, including the premiere of an orchestral work and the release of a special Land Rover. Nepal celebrates Everest Day on the anniversary of the climb, May 29, 1953.
Hillary and Norgay were the sole climbers from a Royal Geographic Expedition to reach the top of the world’s tallest peak, succeeding where 30 years of attempts had failed. A report in The New York Times centered on the fact that Queen Elizabeth II heard the news on the eve of her coronation.
The feat made the two men global celebrities. In the 1960s, Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust, which continues to work with communities in Nepal.
Known back home as “Sir Ed,” Hillary became synonymous with qualities his countryfolk prized: humility and steely determination. In 2008, he received a rare state funeral, and in 1992, his face replaced Queen Elizabeth’s on the country’s five-dollar note.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— William
Thank you Alisha Haridasani Gupta helped compile today’s briefing. Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford wrote the break from the news. Charlotte Graham-McLay wrote today’s Back Story You can reach the team at [email protected].
P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” busing as a tool of school desegregation in the U.S. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: subway map dot (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • The New York Times has dozens of free newsletters to bring our coverage to your inbox, including news, arts, music sports, opinion, arts and lifestyle.
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Home » Analysis & Comment » Brexit, Iran, the Space Race: Your Friday Briefing
Brexit, Iran, the Space Race: Your Friday Briefing
(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)
Good morning.
We’re covering a new hurdle for a no-deal Brexit, the downing of an Iranian drone by the U.S. military and France’s creation of a space command.
A new hurdle for a no-deal Brexit
British lawmakers passed a measure that would block the next prime minister from suspending Parliament to force an abrupt withdrawal from the E.U. in the fall.
The move, which received stronger support than expected, set up a clash between Parliament and Boris Johnson, who is expected to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May next week. Mr. Johnson has entertained the idea of shutting down the legislature in the fall to ensure that, with or without a deal, Britain leaves the E.U. on Oct. 31.
What’s next: Results in the competition to lead Britain will be announced on Tuesday, days before Parliament goes into summer recess. Anti-Brexit lawmakers said the vote against suspending Parliament raised the chances of a second Brexit referendum.
U.S.-Iran tensions escalate
The American military shot down an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, President Trump said. The drone is said to have come “within threatening range” of the Boxer, an American assault ship. It’s unclear if the drone was armed.
The news closely followed an announcement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran that it had detained a tanker, which it claimed had been smuggling fuel.
While the two episodes escalate the conflict that has pitted Iran against some of its neighbors and the U.S., Iran’s foreign minister moved in the opposite direction, proposing modest concessions and new talks.
Reminder: Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have risen in recent months after Washington imposed new sanctions.
Since then, there have been attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has exceeded the amount and the purity of the uranium it is permitted under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
France nudges Europe into space race
President Emmanuel Macron of France announced the creation of a space command within his nation’s air force. Emphasizing that French and European independence was at stake, Mr. Macron said the command would “ensure our defense of space within space.”
The move was the latest sign that the era of fighting in space — disabling or even shooting down satellites on which warfare on Earth is increasingly dependent — was getting closer.
Big picture: Pooling resources has helped Europe keep its leadership in the civilian use of space, experts say. But when it comes to militarizing space, Europe remains divided, with France facing resistance from Germany and other nations.
Challenges: The lack of a unified vision could constrain France’s ambitions for its space command. Mr. Macron hinted as much in his announcement: While he spoke of reinforcing France’s “strategic autonomy,” he added that it must take place in a “European framework.”
Trump’s party frets over ‘send her back’ chant
Nervous Republicans urged President Trump to repudiate the “send her back” chant that was directed at a Somali-born congresswoman during a campaign rally on Wednesday. They feared that it could hurt their party in the 2020 election.
Mr. Trump responded by disavowing the behavior of his own supporters. He claimed he had tried to contain the chant, which was directed at Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, a freshman Democrat who is Muslim.
Video of the event clearly contradicted that assertion.
The politics: The cleanup attempt reflected the misgivings of political allies, including House Republican leaders, who have warned Mr. Trump privately that he was playing with political fire.
If you have some time, this is worth it
One small step
Five decades ago tomorrow, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the powdery surface of the moon in humankind’s first ever journey from one world to another. Those bootprints “could outlast the race that made them,” our veteran space reporter Dennis Overbye writes.
To mark the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, The Times has produced ample special coverage, including a look at what life on the lunar surface would be like, a poem about the landing and a feature on Michael Collins, the astronaut who remained in orbit while Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon. We also combined transcripts and select images to recreate the entire journey from liftoff to splashdown.
Here’s what else is happening
Japan: In what is believed to be one of the deadliest attacks in the country in decades, a man ignited a flammable liquid at an animation studio in Kyoto on Thursday, killing 33 people and injuring dozens more, the police said.
Morocco: Three men accused of murdering two Scandinavian hikers in the Atlas Mountains last year have been sentenced to death in an antiterrorism court in Morocco.
‘Unruly passenger’: Jet2, a British budget airline, said it had fined an English passenger about $106,000 for “aggressive, abusive and dangerous behavior” on a flight bound for Turkey last month. Military jets escorted the plane back to Stansted Airport, north of London.
Yemen: A steep pullout by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia’s key ally in its military intervention in Yemen, leaves Prince Mohammed bin Salman with few good options. Now he is asking for more help from the U.S.
Boeing: The company announced a $7.3 billion hit to its bottom line from the grounding of its troubled 737 Max jetliner. Airlines that flew the jet have been pushing for compensation, and Boeing has had to slow production and halt deliveries.
Cyprus: Twelve Israeli men accused in connection with the rape of a 19-year-old British woman in the resort town of Ayia Napa have been ordered to remain in police custody.
Snapshot: Above, a prisoner flipping a sign to signify prayer time in the Detention Center Zone for the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. A Times reporter and photographer went inside the secretive prison, with tight restrictions on what they could see and photograph.
KLM: The Dutch airline found itself at the center of a heated online debate after a passenger posted on social media that a flight attendant had told her to cover up as she was breastfeeding her child on a flight last month.
Tour de France: Our columnist explores the vagaries — “the unexpected roundabout, the too-merry man waving a wine glass midroad” — that make this 2,162-mile race “so maddening and dangerous and, yes, enjoyable.”
What we’re reading: This essay in Vox. Jenna Wortham, a writer for the The New York Times Magazine, says it’s “a beautiful and meditative piece on the economy of ‘living your best life’ on Instagram, as told through the destruction of an indigenous landmark.”
Now, a break from the news
Cook: This weekend, try a galette — an open-faced tart — with nectarines and blueberries.
Watch: In “The Lion King” remake, our critic found “a lot of professionalism but not much heart.”
Listen: The Israeli duo Lola Marsh makes sweeping, cinematic music dripping in retro charm and reverb. “Echoes” is a lush beach-blanket bop, wiggling with energy, our critic writes.
Read: “The Nickel Boys,” Colson Whitehead’s first novel since “The Underground Railroad,” was inspired by the real-life story of a reform school in Florida where more than 100 children died from 1913 to 1960. It’s one of 11 new books we recommend this week.
Smarter Living: Trees suck up carbon and, while planting one won’t solve climate change, every tree helps. To have a meaningful effect, a tree must live at least 10 to 20 years, according to one expert. The right type of tree for your area and proper placement are among the things you should consider.
And a growing number of theme parks, hotels and special attractions are introducing training and sensory guides to accommodate travelers with autism.
And now for the Back Story on …
‘Sir Ed’
Edmund Percival Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper who with Tenzing Norgay of Nepal made the first summit of Mount Everest, was born 100 years ago tomorrow.
Events in New Zealand will honor him, including the premiere of an orchestral work and the release of a special Land Rover. Nepal celebrates Everest Day on the anniversary of the climb, May 29, 1953.
Hillary and Norgay were the sole climbers from a Royal Geographic Expedition to reach the top of the world’s tallest peak, succeeding where 30 years of attempts had failed. A report in The New York Times centered on the fact that Queen Elizabeth II heard the news on the eve of her coronation.
The feat made the two men global celebrities. In the 1960s, Hillary founded the Himalayan Trust, which continues to work with communities in Nepal.
Known back home as “Sir Ed,” Hillary became synonymous with qualities his countryfolk prized: humility and steely determination. In 2008, he received a rare state funeral, and in 1992, his face replaced Queen Elizabeth’s on the country’s five-dollar note.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— William
Thank you
Alisha Haridasani Gupta helped compile today’s briefing. Mark Josephson and Eleanor Stanford wrote the break from the news. Charlotte Graham-McLay wrote today’s Back Story You can reach the team at [email protected].
P.S.
• We’re listening to “The Daily.” busing as a tool of school desegregation in the U.S.
• Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: subway map dot (four letters). You can find all our puzzles here.
• The New York Times has dozens of free newsletters to bring our coverage to your inbox, including news, arts, music sports, opinion, arts and lifestyle.
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