Wednesday: Michael Cohen's testimony

Kim Jong-un, Michael Cohen, a stolen head View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Wednesday, February 27, 2019 [NYTimes.com »]( Europe Edition [Your Wednesday Briefing]( By PENN BULLOCK Good morning. Prime Minister Theresa May promises Parliament the chance to delay Brexit, the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting begins and Michael Cohen prepares to dish dirt in Congress. Here’s the latest: [Prime Minister Theresa May leaving 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday.]Prime Minister Theresa May leaving 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday. Tolga Akmen/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Theresa May softens promise to meet Brexit deadline Britain’s prime minister said on Tuesday that Parliament should have [a chance to delay the country’s exit from the E.U.]( if lawmakers reject her withdrawal plan. She was bowing to demands by pro-European rebels in her Conservative government that she reduce the risk of a chaotic “no deal” departure on March 29. Next steps: Mrs. May plans to bring a revised deal to Parliament by March 12. If lawmakers reject it, they will then be able to vote on whether to delay an exit or opt for a “no deal” departure, which many oppose. A postponement would require the consent of all 27 other E.U. governments and would probably not extend beyond early July. Go deeper: Ever wonder what happens in talks between British and E.U. officials over revising the deal? According to a confidential document obtained by The Times: [“nothing.”]( ______ [President Trump in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, on Wednesday.]President Trump in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, on Wednesday. Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump-Kim summit begins as Michael Cohen threatens to upstage it President Trump is in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, to meet with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, for the second time in eight months. The two leaders, who in 2017 exchanged fiery threats, will have dinner together tonight and formal meetings tomorrow. [Here’s our live briefing.]( Mr. Trump might have a lot else on his mind. Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer and fixer, will testify today before lawmakers that [Mr. Trump is a “con man”]( and a “cheat” who knew an adviser was communicating with WikiLeaks about the release of Democratic emails that were hacked by Russia. [Read Mr. Cohen’s opening statement.]( What North Korea wants: Pyongyang has brought a long list of demands, including an elimination of sanctions, a formal end to the Korean War and, possibly, the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. What the U.S. wants: Mr. Trump has lowered expectations to an extent that even some of his aides [see a significant retreat at a critical moment](. On denuclearization, he said he didn’t want to “rush anybody.” He may ultimately be willing to settle for limits on the size and reach of the North’s arsenal. Go deeper: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has his work cut out for him as the translator of Mr. Trump’s foreign policy decisions. Here’s [an in-depth profile]( of Mr. Pompeo, a former C.I.A. director. ______ [India’s security forces monitoring the border with Pakistan.]India’s security forces monitoring the border with Pakistan. Mukesh Gupta/Reuters India strikes Pakistan, but both leave room for de-escalation For the first time in five decades, Indian warplanes crossed into Pakistan. India said it had struck “the biggest training camp” of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist group that claimed responsibility for a large suicide bombing this month in the Kashmir Valley. But Pakistan’s chief military spokesman said the jets had caused little damage. That view is supported by military analysts and two Western security officials. Analysis: Each of those claims [left space for the two nuclear-armed countries to defuse the situation]( but analysts warned that Pakistan could still retaliate. Today, the country’s prime minister, Imran Khan, will meet with the National Command Authority, which oversees Pakistan’s nuclear arms. ______ [President Vladimir Putin of Russia delivering his annual state-of-the-nation address in Moscow last week. ]President Vladimir Putin of Russia delivering his annual state-of-the-nation address in Moscow last week. Alexander Nemenov/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Russia revives Cold War posturing To the consternation of many at home, Russia appears to reprising Cold War threats to rain nuclear annihilation on the U.S. if attacked. In a prime-time TV broadcast, Dmitri Kiselyev, the Kremlin’s top propagandist, [detailed how Russia would wipe out targets]( including two U.S. military bases that closed many years ago. He also laid out a plan to station Russian nuclear submarines off the coast of the U.S. if it were to put nuclear missiles in Poland. And to mark Defenders of the Fatherland Day on Saturday, a choir at a St. Petersburg cathedral performed a song about a nuclear attack on the U.S. Context: The assertiveness seems to be related to President Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned the placement of such weapons in Europe. President Vladimir Putin of Russia promised in his state-of-the-nation address this month to answer with the deployment of new nuclear weaponry. Another angle: A Cold War atmosphere also prevailed at the U.N. Security Council, where the U.S. and Russia [squared off over Venezuela](. ______ Here’s what else is happening Border wall dispute: With more than a dozen Republicans joining Democrats, [the House voted to block]( Mr. Trump’s declaration of a national emergency to secure funding for a border wall. The measure is one supporter short of possible passage in the Senate. Britain: Under new rules, all adults [will be considered potential organ donors]( by 2020 unless they opt out. Nigeria: In an election marred by pockets of violence, Muhammadu Buhari [won a second term]( as president, defeating a corruption-stained competitor. Climate: Britons this week [experienced the highest temperatures ever recorded]( in the country in winter. Kew Gardens, London, reached 21.2 degrees Celsius (70.16 Fahrenheit), the hottest February day since records began in 1910. [Naturally mummified corpses in a crypt at St. Michan’s Church in Dublin in 2006.]Naturally mummified corpses in a crypt at St. Michan’s Church in Dublin in 2006. Dave Walsh/VW Pics, via Getty Images Ireland: The head of [an 800-year-old mummified Crusader]( was stolen from a historic Dublin church, and a crypt was damaged. The church, St. Michan’s, is working with the police to recover the head “so we can let him rest in peace,” its vicar said. Germany: Daniel Barenboim, one of the world’s leading conductors, has been accused by current and former members of the Berlin State Opera of [bullying and humiliation]( adding to a larger debate about the highhanded conduct that can be typical of maestros. He contends that there is a cynical campaign to oust him. Sex education: English schools, particularly those that receive government funds, will [significantly broaden sex education]( to cover topics including gay relationships and transgender people. Harvest season: In northern Germany at this time of year, [kale is king](. (Just don’t forget the schmaltz and bacon.) Fashion: At Paris Fashion Week, our chief fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, wrote about [young designers generating buzz]( including Marine Serre, who imagined a post-climate-change apocalyptic wardrobe for her show. ______ Smarter Living Tips for a more fulfilling life. David Malosh for The New York Times Recipe of the day: Make [chicken piccata]( and rejoice over its butter-rich pan sauce. Choosing a perfume or cologne is tough, but we have experts to help you [find a fragrance that you’ll love](. Why we yawn remains a mystery, but one theory is that [it cools off our brains](. Back Story This week, Vice President Mike Pence accused Uruguay of being a “[bystander]( in Venezuela’s crisis, calling on its center-left government to do more to end President Nicolás Maduro’s devastating reign. A reader, Annelise Gasser of Quebec, asked how a small South American nation had acquired such diplomatic significance. [Demonstrators in Uruguay carrying signs in support of Venezuela’s president.]Demonstrators in Uruguay carrying signs in support of Venezuela’s president. Matilde Campodonico/Associated Press Uruguay, which has clean democratic credentials and decent relations with Mr. Maduro, maintains credibility with both Maduro supporters and opponents that makes it a natural intermediary. Uruguay’s soft approach stems from a live-and-let-live attitude, developed over two centuries of coexistence with much bigger neighbors. The country has long led the region in progressive politics, including [legalizing marijuana]( and [gay marriage](. While hard-liners in Miami threaten military intervention to oust Mr. Maduro, on the laid-back streets of Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, residents resolve problems over a slow barbecue and the ever-present thermos of caffeine-rich [mate]( (pronounced MAH-tay). Anatoly Kurmanaev, our Caracas-based reporter, wrote today’s Back Story. ______ Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings. [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](. What would you like to see here? Contact us at [europebriefing@nytimes.com](mailto:europebriefing@nytimes.com?subject=Briefing%20Feedback%20(Europe)). LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here](. FOLLOW NYT [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@nytimes]( Prefer a different send time? 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