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Separately, our correspondent reflects on what he witnessed in Mosul, Iraq, while he was embedded with Iraqi Special Operations Forces as they fought to retake the city from the Islamic State. One father said of his children: Theyve only known war and destruction.

In Washington, the Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to enforce restrictions on the nations refugee program, but it let stand a court order from Hawaii exempting grandparents and other relatives from the White Houses travel ban.

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The Polish governments push to control the judiciary has now led to threats of E.U. sanctions.

Frans Timmermans, first vice president of the European Commission, warned that Poland might slip outside the blocs definition of a democracy.

The governing Law and Justice party dismissed criticism as foreign interference. It holds a majority of seats in both chambers of Parliament and enjoys widespread popularity for its increased social spending.

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Most of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that humanity has produced since the 1950s ends up in landfills or the ocean; about half of that has been made since 2004, according to the first analysis of all mass-produced plastics.

The primary explanation for the increase is plastics use in packaging.

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The British Open begins today in northwest England. Some of golfs top players are struggling right now, leaving the tournament wide open.

Meanwhile, Scotland is having a hard time attracting young people to the sport, invented on its lush greens. Some blame the weather.

And as the Tour de France scaled its highest Alpine peak, a rookie won Stage 17, but Chris Froome consolidated his overall lead. Marcel Kittel of Germany dropped out after a crash.

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Citigroup, the American lender with a trading hub in London, is said to be planning another hub in Frankfurt, to prepare for Britains departure from the European Union.

Mario Draghi is facing a difficult task today: preparing markets for the day the European Central Bank begins withdrawing stimulus.

Only one-third of the BBCs top-paid stars are women, according to data that the publicly funded British broadcaster published for the first time.

Heres a snapshot of global markets.

Senator John McCain has brain cancer. The former Republican presidential nominee has been critical of the Trump administrations distancing from NATO. [The New York Times]

We found out more about the sudden ouster of Saudi Arabias former crown prince. He was held against his will and pressured for hours to give up his claim to the throne. [The New York Times]

Frances top general resigned after his criticism of President Emmanuel Macrons plan to cut military spending was leaked to the news media. [The New York Times]

Miguel Blesa, a top Spanish banker who gained prominence in a corruption and embezzlement inquiry, was found dead with a gunshot wound. [El Pas]

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, was recorded making critical comments about the E.U. at a closed meeting with central European leaders in Hungary. [The Guardian]

Winston Churchill tried to suppress evidence suggesting that Britains Duke of Windsor, who was King Edward VIII before abdicating, wanted peace with Nazi Germany, newly released documents show. [Bloomberg]

To the Bone, a Netflix film, has opened a debate about eating disorders. Hundreds of readers shared their experiences. [The New York Times]

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

Enter the wilderness for increased exercise benefits.

But dont exercise too hard. Doctors say they are seeing more of a rare but dangerous condition among newcomers to spin classes.

Grilled steak marinated in teriyaki sauce is a foolproof dinner youll make again and again.

Witness a Ukrainian military summer camp for children outside of Kiev. As the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists continues, they are encouraged to prepare to defend their country.

A military summer camp outside Ukraines capital, started by a volunteer regiment that fights pro-Russian rebels, trains children in warfare. We took our 360 cameras there for the video above.

The 2018 Pirelli calendar is consolidating its role as a cultural barometer. It reimagines Alices Adventures in Wonderland with an all-black celebrity cast.

Luc Besson talked to us about his sci-fi extravaganza, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. It is Frances most expensive film ever. Yeah, but who cares? he said.

If the flurry of tournaments this summer isnt enough for you, take note that an international competition thats as important to some athletes as the Olympics starts today.

Over the next 10 days, more than 3,000 athletes from 111 countries will compete at the 10th World Games in Wroclaw, Poland.

Like the Olympics, the competition occurs every four years and is under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee. Some of the 31 sports at the World Games might be described as niche: tug of war, lifesaving, boules and casting (like fishing but without water).

The World Games are billed as a steppingstone for lesser-known sports to admission at the Olympic Games, and many representatives of those sports have put their hopes into showing that they, too, can attract a crowd.

John Liljelund, the worlds top floorball official, said, We have a clear possibility to showcase the value and interest of our sport.

There are precedents, although it is unclear how much of a role the World Games played.

Rugby, a World Games sport, was elevated to Olympic glory during last years Games in Rio de Janeiro. Surfing, karate and baseball will become Olympic sports in Tokyo in 2020.

Above, Team Japan during the womens tug of war competition in 2005.

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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.

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Donald Trump, John McCain, Golf: Your Thursday Briefing - New York Times