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| Syria, ‘Brexit,’ Nintendo Switch: Your Thursday Briefing | Syria, ‘Brexit,’ Nintendo Switch: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • In their final days in office, Obama administration officials scrambled to ensure that intelligence on Russian efforts to interfere in the American presidential election and Moscow’s connections with members of the Trump campaign was preserved. | • In their final days in office, Obama administration officials scrambled to ensure that intelligence on Russian efforts to interfere in the American presidential election and Moscow’s connections with members of the Trump campaign was preserved. |
| U.S. allies, including the British and the Dutch, had provided information describing meetings in Europe between people close to the Kremlin and associates of Mr. Trump, former U.S. officials said. | U.S. allies, including the British and the Dutch, had provided information describing meetings in Europe between people close to the Kremlin and associates of Mr. Trump, former U.S. officials said. |
| Beyond leaving a trail for investigators, the officials also wanted to help European allies combat the threat of Russian interference in upcoming elections there. | |
| And the U.S. attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is facing questions over two previously undisclosed meetings with Russia’s ambassador last year. | And the U.S. attorney general, Jeff Sessions, is facing questions over two previously undisclosed meetings with Russia’s ambassador last year. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Reaction to President Trump’s address to Congress tended to focus on its sober style. His seriousness of purpose and calls for unity reassured — and surprised — many of the nearly 48 million viewers. | • Reaction to President Trump’s address to Congress tended to focus on its sober style. His seriousness of purpose and calls for unity reassured — and surprised — many of the nearly 48 million viewers. |
| Mr. Trump faces not only a committed Democratic opposition but a divided Republican Party. | Mr. Trump faces not only a committed Democratic opposition but a divided Republican Party. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Russian aircraft mistakenly bombed Syrian Arab fighters who were being trained by U.S. forces, another unintended clash among the myriad forces operating on the battlefield. | • Russian aircraft mistakenly bombed Syrian Arab fighters who were being trained by U.S. forces, another unintended clash among the myriad forces operating on the battlefield. |
| U.N. investigators released a report detailing war crimes in Syria, calling the government’s bombing of a humanitarian convoy in September, which killed 14 aid workers, “one of the most egregious.” | U.N. investigators released a report detailing war crimes in Syria, calling the government’s bombing of a humanitarian convoy in September, which killed 14 aid workers, “one of the most egregious.” |
| In Iraq, government forces largely surrounded Islamic State militants in Mosul. Our reporter met a family fleeing the portion of the city still controlled by the militants. | |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Eastern Europe, populist leaders are cracking down on nongovernmental organizations once protected by Washington. | • In Eastern Europe, populist leaders are cracking down on nongovernmental organizations once protected by Washington. |
| Organizations funded by George Soros, above, the liberal American billionaire, are facing particular ire, accused of working to flood Europe with Muslim refugees and transform “Christian” nations into multicultural stews of left-wing globalism. | Organizations funded by George Soros, above, the liberal American billionaire, are facing particular ire, accused of working to flood Europe with Muslim refugees and transform “Christian” nations into multicultural stews of left-wing globalism. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • A team of three Spanish architects won the Pritzker Prize, their profession’s highest honor. | • A team of three Spanish architects won the Pritzker Prize, their profession’s highest honor. |
| It might be a sign that the era of the solo celebrity architect may be over. The award cited “their intensely collaborative way of working together, where the creative process, commitment to vision and all responsibilities are shared equally.” | It might be a sign that the era of the solo celebrity architect may be over. The award cited “their intensely collaborative way of working together, where the creative process, commitment to vision and all responsibilities are shared equally.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Scientists may have found the oldest signs of life on Earth. Or not. | • Scientists may have found the oldest signs of life on Earth. Or not. |
| Some researchers say ancient rocks in a remote geological outpost in Canada yielded bacteria fossils that could be up to 4.2 billion years old, relatively soon after the planet’s birth. Others are dubious — and vocal. | Some researchers say ancient rocks in a remote geological outpost in Canada yielded bacteria fossils that could be up to 4.2 billion years old, relatively soon after the planet’s birth. Others are dubious — and vocal. |
| Such battles, an optimist observed, were “how science progresses.” | Such battles, an optimist observed, were “how science progresses.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Snap Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, made its much-heralded market debut with a valuation set at $24 billion, an extraordinary starting point for a trajectory that could rise like Facebook — or stumble like Twitter. | • Snap Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, made its much-heralded market debut with a valuation set at $24 billion, an extraordinary starting point for a trajectory that could rise like Facebook — or stumble like Twitter. |
| • Uber’s reputation is in tatters after a series of scandals, including accusations of rampant sexism. If it can fix its work culture, it could be a watershed for women in tech, our columnist writes. | • Uber’s reputation is in tatters after a series of scandals, including accusations of rampant sexism. If it can fix its work culture, it could be a watershed for women in tech, our columnist writes. |
| • Additional costs may make Norwegian Air’s $65 trans-Atlantic fares look like less of a bargain. | • Additional costs may make Norwegian Air’s $65 trans-Atlantic fares look like less of a bargain. |
| • Here’s our review of the first must-try device of 2017: the Nintendo Switch. | • Here’s our review of the first must-try device of 2017: the Nintendo Switch. |
| • The Dow closed above 21,000 for the first time. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • The Dow closed above 21,000 for the first time. Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • Voters in Northern Ireland will elect representatives to their legislative Assembly today. A political deadlock could lead to a temporary return to direct rule from London. [Belfast Telegraph] | • Voters in Northern Ireland will elect representatives to their legislative Assembly today. A political deadlock could lead to a temporary return to direct rule from London. [Belfast Telegraph] |
| • Britain’s House of Lords voted to amend the government’s draft “Brexit” law, seeking to guarantee the rights of E.U. citizens living in the country, but the move is unlikely to derail the government’s timetable. [The Guardian] | • Britain’s House of Lords voted to amend the government’s draft “Brexit” law, seeking to guarantee the rights of E.U. citizens living in the country, but the move is unlikely to derail the government’s timetable. [The Guardian] |
| • Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right politician, said he would resume campaigning as his party fell behind the governing liberal party in a poll for the first time since November. Elections are next Wednesday. [Politico] | • Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right politician, said he would resume campaigning as his party fell behind the governing liberal party in a poll for the first time since November. Elections are next Wednesday. [Politico] |
| • France’s center-right presidential candidate, François Fillon, defiantly vowed to stay in the race, even as he announced that he would be charged in a widening embezzlement investigation. [The New York Times] | • France’s center-right presidential candidate, François Fillon, defiantly vowed to stay in the race, even as he announced that he would be charged in a widening embezzlement investigation. [The New York Times] |
| • In Macedonia, the president blocked a coalition of opposition parties from forming a government over its plans to ensure wider use of the Albanian language. [Balkan Insight] | • In Macedonia, the president blocked a coalition of opposition parties from forming a government over its plans to ensure wider use of the Albanian language. [Balkan Insight] |
| • A member of a commission advising Pope Francis on ways to protect minors from sexual abuse by the clergy resigned, citing what she called “cultural resistance” from the Vatican. [The New York Times] | • A member of a commission advising Pope Francis on ways to protect minors from sexual abuse by the clergy resigned, citing what she called “cultural resistance” from the Vatican. [The New York Times] |
| • Finland’s same-sex couples can now marry and adopt children. [Yle] | • Finland’s same-sex couples can now marry and adopt children. [Yle] |
| • If you feel your productivity flagging at work today, put on some music. | • If you feel your productivity flagging at work today, put on some music. |
| • Recipe of the day: For a different take on dinner, try roasted fish with sweet peppers. | • Recipe of the day: For a different take on dinner, try roasted fish with sweet peppers. |
| • Mount Etna in Sicily, Europe’s most active volcano, roared to life in an eruption that could be seen for miles. | • Mount Etna in Sicily, Europe’s most active volcano, roared to life in an eruption that could be seen for miles. |
| • Be nice to doctors and nurses. A study of an Israeli neonatal unit suggests that quality of care might suffer if a parent is rude, or even just unpleasant, to the medical staff. | • Be nice to doctors and nurses. A study of an Israeli neonatal unit suggests that quality of care might suffer if a parent is rude, or even just unpleasant, to the medical staff. |
| • Forget fishing or quilting. Older New Zealanders are finding purpose in coffin-building clubs. One group’s motto: “fine and affordable underground furniture.” | • Forget fishing or quilting. Older New Zealanders are finding purpose in coffin-building clubs. One group’s motto: “fine and affordable underground furniture.” |
| • Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s dominance in England’s Premier League might be changing the way soccer fans look at imported players. | • Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s dominance in England’s Premier League might be changing the way soccer fans look at imported players. |
| • And here’s our brand-new guide to London’s British Museum. | • And here’s our brand-new guide to London’s British Museum. |
| When the movie “King Kong” was first screened, 84 years ago today in New York City, it was widely anticipated for its technological feats and a challenging narrative that had a “monstrous ape 50 feet tall” climbing the still-new Empire State Building. | When the movie “King Kong” was first screened, 84 years ago today in New York City, it was widely anticipated for its technological feats and a challenging narrative that had a “monstrous ape 50 feet tall” climbing the still-new Empire State Building. |
| “The film will show prehistoric monsters fighting one another and making weird sounds,” The Times reported before the release, calling it a “fantastic film.” | “The film will show prehistoric monsters fighting one another and making weird sounds,” The Times reported before the release, calling it a “fantastic film.” |
| It also helped define the career of Bruce Cabot, who played Jack Driscoll, the hero who rescues Fay Wray from the giant ape. | It also helped define the career of Bruce Cabot, who played Jack Driscoll, the hero who rescues Fay Wray from the giant ape. |
| Mr. Cabot’s career didn’t start in acting school. At 14, he scavenged cattle remains on the prairies of New Mexico for bone meal. Work in construction “gave him a democratic outlook on life,” The Times wrote in 1933. As a ship deckhand, he worked his way to Europe and meandered through post-World War I France and Spain. | Mr. Cabot’s career didn’t start in acting school. At 14, he scavenged cattle remains on the prairies of New Mexico for bone meal. Work in construction “gave him a democratic outlook on life,” The Times wrote in 1933. As a ship deckhand, he worked his way to Europe and meandered through post-World War I France and Spain. |
| After “King Kong,” a series of supporting roles followed, often alongside John Wayne. World War II military service took him back to Europe, where he worked in intelligence. | After “King Kong,” a series of supporting roles followed, often alongside John Wayne. World War II military service took him back to Europe, where he worked in intelligence. |
| That may have prepared him for one of his last roles: Fighting a fictitious spy named James Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever.” | That may have prepared him for one of his last roles: Fighting a fictitious spy named James Bond in “Diamonds Are Forever.” |
| _____ | _____ |
| Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. | Your Morning Briefing is published weekday mornings and updated online. |
| Read the latest edition of the U.S. briefing here and the latest for Asia and Australia here. | Read the latest edition of the U.S. briefing here and the latest for Asia and Australia here. |
| What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. | What would you like to see here? Contact us at europebriefing@nytimes.com. |