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Good morning,
We start today with an investigation of President Trump’s taxes, the far right’s impact on European security and highlights from the Met Gala.
Investigation: Trump’s decade in the red
The New York Times has obtained Donald Trump’s tax figures for the years 1985 to 1994, which show losses of over $1 billion, largely from his casinos, hotels and retail spaces.
The losses enabled him to avoid paying income taxes for eight of those years. But the red ink did not cost him his standard of living, because most of the money was borrowed, and because he was buffered by his father’s wealth.
A lawyer for Mr. Trump challenged the findings.
Takeaway: Year after year, Mr. Trump appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer during the decade. Read other takeaways here.
How we did it: While The Times did not obtain the president’s actual tax returns, it received the information in the returns from someone who had legal access to it. The Times was then able to find matching results in the I.R.S. information on top earners, a publicly available database.
When the far right controls security agencies
In Austria, the leader of the anti-extremism unit of the domestic intelligence service recently refused to turn over informants to far-right members of the Freedom Party, part of the coalition government.
The episode made Austria an important test of what happens when the far right moves from the political fringe to the halls of power.
Inside the agency: Senior operatives described finding themselves now protecting informants and information not only from hostile states but also from members of their own government. Allied agencies have increasingly excluded Austrian officials from classified information, fearing where it might end up.
The trip came a day after the Trump administration said Iranian forces had put American troops in Iraq and Syria at heightened risk. Mr. Pompeo met with Iraq’s prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, and other top officials during a four-hour visit.
Mr. Pompeo had been scheduled to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and her foreign minister. Observers saw the reversal as further proof of the deterioration of German-American relations in recent years.
Earlier, Mr. Pompeo attended the Arctic Council gathering in Finland, where foreign ministers lined up to talk about the threat of climate change. But the U.S. prevented them from mentioning it in their official joint declaration.
Erdogan’s opponents unify
Instead of boycotting a rerun vote for mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, the opposition candidate, and other opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have decided to work together to hand him a second defeat.
Several minor candidates announced that they would withdraw from the race, in an apparent effort to forge a united front and throw their support behind Mr. Imamoglu. That could tip the balance in a race that was decided the first time by a razor-thin margin.
Impact: Mr. Erdogan’s successful bid to nullify the Istanbul election results is certain to further undercut the confidence of the foreign investors whose money has fueled Turkish growth, but who have become increasingly disenchanted with his management of the economy.
If you have 10 minutes, this is worth it
Bombings shatter Sri Lanka’s tourism
In the years after the country’s devastating civil war came to an end in 2009, Sri Lanka climbed the ranks of the global tourism industry. Becoming a must-see travel destination boosted much of the country’s economy, transforming small villages and generating jobs.
That was until the Easter Sunday bombings.
Here’s what else is happening
Iran: President Hassan Rouhani declared on Wednesday that the country would stop complying with two of its commitments under the Iranian nuclear deal, escalating a confrontation with Washington.
Colorado shooting: Nine students were injured, one fatally, during a school shooting on Tuesday in a Denver suburb, near Columbine High School. Two students were being held as suspects, according to officials.
Venezuela: The Trump administration would consider lifting sanctions on Venezuelan officials who abandoned the government of President Nicolás Maduro and joined the opposition seeking to topple him, Vice President Mike Pence said.
Germany: The country’s health minister has proposed a fine of up to 2,500 euros, or about $2,800, for parents who refuse to immunize their children against measles.
Health: Women of color are far more likely to die than white women from pregnancy-related causes, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Royal family: A series of reports suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their infant son might be dispatched for a stint in Africa, where they would serve as the queen’s ambassadors to Britain’s 53 Commonwealth nations.
North Macedonia: In the country’s first papal visit, Pope Francis praised North Macedonia as “a bridge between the East and West,” and expressed a hope that “integration will develop in a way that is beneficial for the entire Western Balkans.”
“Game of Thrones”: After an out-of-place coffee cup was spotted in the show’s recent episode and turned into social media fodder, HBO quietly edited it out of the scene.
What we’re reading: This in The Cut. Melina Delkic, a member of the Briefings team, says, “Among the things that struck me about this deeply creepy and well-reported yarn about a group of Sarah Lawrence students is how hard it is to take legal action against a cult, and how easily one can manifest near you.”
Now, a break from the news
Cook: This carrot tart with ricotta and feta, with store-bought puff pastry, is worth your time.
Watch: In Netflix’s “Dead to Me,” Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini play women linked by devastating loss. It’s a comedy. Mostly.
Read: “No Visible Bruises” dismantles the myths that surround domestic violence. Our critic called the new book extraordinary.
Smarter Living: Feeling connected isn’t just about strong friendships. Casual, low-stakes relationships (with neighbors, a local barista or fellow members in a spin class) can also offer strong rewards. Studies show that the more “weak ties” people have, the happier they are and the more empowered they feel. So, instead of considering minor brushes of socialization throwaway interactions, cultivate a network of acquaintances.
And are you thinking about buying a 5G phone? Our advice is to wait.
And now for the Back Story on …
Canadian Music Week
It’s part trade show, part music festival, part national celebration set in Toronto.
On Thursday, its focus will be a lifetime achievement award for Robbie Robertson, one of many Canadians who’ve become international music stars. He played with the Band, which was known for its work with Bob Dylan.
That Canada has a vibrant music industry to celebrate owes a debt to a bureaucratic move in 1970.
Fears that the giant U.S. recording and broadcast industry would steamroller Canada’s led the country’s regulators to impose minimum Canadian content requirements on popular radio stations. Currently, the standard is 35 percent.
The rise of streaming music, which is not regulated in Canada, has diminished the effectiveness of radio as a promotional tool. But the country still churns out global stars.
This month, the rapper Drake, who is also one of the biggest boosters of his hometown, Toronto, set a record for receiving the greatest number of Billboard Music Awards, a total of 27.
That’s it for this briefing. See you next time.
— Melina
Thank you
Mark Josephson, Eleanor Stanford and Kenneth R. Rosen provided the break from the news. Ian Austen, our Canada correspondent, wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.
P.S.
• We’re listening to “The Daily.” Today’s episode is the second of a two-part series about China’s surveillance state.
• Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Take it easy (5 letters). You can find all our puzzles here.
• The New York Times seeks out the best journalists, data designers, videographers, art directors and many others. Check out our career opportunities.
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