Mediaboss Marketing

We took a closer look at Rob Goldstone, a British publicist who brokered the meeting, and his client Emin Agalarov, a Russian pop star. Our reporter discussed unearthing Mr. Goldstones emails on our podcast The Daily.

The email leaks show how we have dangerously overcommitted to this form of communication, our tech columnist writes.

Christopher Wray, Mr. Trumps nominee for F.B.I. director, pledged to resist pressure from the White House during his confirmation hearing. Meanwhile, Democrats are going to try to block the Republican health care bill by exploiting procedural rules.

_____

Mr. Trump arrived in Paris earlier this morning. Alongside President Emmanuel Macron, he will watch as American troops participate in the Bastille Day parade tomorrow.

The visit could help secure Mr. Macrons position as Mr. Trumps primary contact in Western Europe. Before Mr. Trumps arrival, Mr. Macron will host Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany for talks.

_____

Kurdish fighters in Syria this week announced the deaths of foreign combatants on the outskirts of Raqqa, the Islamic State stronghold.

We traced the journey of one of them, Robert Grodt, above, from the Occupy Wall Street protests in New York to Syrias civil war.

Drone video from Mosul shows that the battle to seize Iraqs second-largest city isnt over. In a separate video, we look at what is known about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Islamic States leader, who is said to have been killed.

_____

At Wimbledon, Venus Williams, above, will take on Johanna Konta in the semifinals, and Garbie Muguruza will face Magdalena Rybarikova.

Among the men, Roger Federer is the only member of the so-called Big Four still playing, after the elimination of Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.

In the Tour de France, Marcel Kittel of Germany won his fifth stage. And in soccer news, Dani Alves is moving to Paris St.-Germain.

Theres a new breed of employers: They build a team, do the job and say goodbye.

A court in Paris rejected a French 1.12-billion-euro tax bill for Google, arguing that its Irish European headquarters could not be taxed in France.

In the U.S., tech companies united to protest the governments plan to scrap net neutrality rules.

Moon Express hopes to launch a soda-can-shaped lander to the moon this year, a prelude to its regular delivery service to space.

Heres a snapshot of global markets.

Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, the enormously influential Brazilian ex-president, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to nearly 10 years. [The New York Times]

In Poland, lawmakers voted for a bill that would give them greater say in the appointment of judges, a move that critics say infringes on judicial independence. [Reuters]

In Britain, Prime Minister Theresa Mays plan to withdraw from Euratom, the European treaty governing nuclear energy, is facing stiff opposition. [The New York Times]

Ms. Mays government is expected today to release its Repeal Bill, with which it seeks to achieve a smooth departure from the European Union. [Reuters]

In a medical milestone, a gene-altering leukemia therapy got an unanimous vote of confidence from a U.S. regulatory panel. [The New York Times]

Lawmakers in Malta voted 66 to 1 to legalize same-sex marriage. [The New York Times]

The chief executive of Swedens biggest security firm was falsely declared bankrupt after his identity was stolen by hackers, who applied for a loan in his name. [Bloomberg]

Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life.

A few minutes of meditation a day can help athletes, and everyone else, withstand stress.

Does your phone run out of power midday? Choose your charger wisely.

For something light, go with an herb and radish salad with feta and walnuts.

True bilingualism is a relatively rare and beautiful thing. Its worth it, but its a lot of work, a psychologist said.

A dad look has suddenly become stylish: the tucked-in T-shirt.

10000 Gestures, a French choreographers ambitious new piece, debuts at the Manchester International Festival today.

Finally, a writer reflects on his discovery of the Greek island of Sifnos, and why its best to avoid tourist hot spots.

Recent reports that the Pentagon spent millions to license a camouflage pattern that replicates lush forests to be worn in largely arid Afghanistan got us thinking about the famous design.

As it turns out, the word camouflage appeared in The Times for the first time 100 years ago.

The concept of disguising matriel and soldiers to blend in with their surroundings originated in the 1800s and was further developed during World War I.

In May 1917, a New York lawyer who visited the French battlefront wrote about it for The Timess Magazine section.

The French were among the first to use camouflage on a wide scale, with a unit made up of artists known as camoufleurs. In August 1917, the U.S. Army issued its own call for enlistment in a camouflage force, seeking young men who are looking for special entertainment in the way of fooling Germans.

Camouflage later became common in art and fashion. A 2007 exhibit at Londons Imperial War Museum noted its links to Cubism. (Picasso exclaimed upon seeing a camouflaged cannon in Paris: It was us who created that.)

The artist Andy Warhol also used it, substituting bright colors for earth tones, which removed the military symbolism but retained the notion of hiding.

Karen Zraick contributed reporting.

_____

This briefing was prepared for the European morning. We also have briefings timed for the Australian, Asian and American mornings. You can sign up for these and other Times newsletters here.

Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online.

What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com.

Continued here:
Antarctica, Donald Trump, Wimbledon: Your Thursday Briefing - New York Times