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| Angela Merkel, Brexit, Winter Olympics: Your Thursday Briefing | Angela Merkel, Brexit, Winter Olympics: Your Thursday Briefing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) | (Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.) |
| Good morning. | Good morning. |
| Here’s what you need to know: | Here’s what you need to know: |
| • More on one of the greatest spy leaks in U.S. history: | • More on one of the greatest spy leaks in U.S. history: |
| F.B.I. investigators gambled in 2013 that letting a C.I.A. officer suspected of spying for China slip out of the United States could help them piece together how Beijing decimated an American spy network. | F.B.I. investigators gambled in 2013 that letting a C.I.A. officer suspected of spying for China slip out of the United States could help them piece together how Beijing decimated an American spy network. |
| Nearly five years later, when the former officer made a surprise return to the United States this week, the F.B.I. hurried to arrest him upon arrival. | Nearly five years later, when the former officer made a surprise return to the United States this week, the F.B.I. hurried to arrest him upon arrival. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Stephen Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist, has agreed to be interviewed by investigators working for the special counsel in the Russia investigation. | • Stephen Bannon, President Trump’s former chief strategist, has agreed to be interviewed by investigators working for the special counsel in the Russia investigation. |
| The deal allows Mr. Bannon to avoid testifying before a grand jury and is a sign that he may be cooperating with the investigation. | The deal allows Mr. Bannon to avoid testifying before a grand jury and is a sign that he may be cooperating with the investigation. |
| Separately, two news reports offer fresh details about Mr. Trump’s rumored sexual relationship with an adult-film actress. Mr. Trump and the actress denied the allegations, Mr. Trump’s lawyer said. | Separately, two news reports offer fresh details about Mr. Trump’s rumored sexual relationship with an adult-film actress. Mr. Trump and the actress denied the allegations, Mr. Trump’s lawyer said. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Britain’s House of Commons approved a bill to sever the country’s ties with the European Union. It is now headed to the more pro-European House of Lords. | • Britain’s House of Commons approved a bill to sever the country’s ties with the European Union. It is now headed to the more pro-European House of Lords. |
| Facebook told lawmakers that it was reopening and broadening an internal investigation into the possibility that Russia had used the platform to influence the 2016 Brexit referendum. | Facebook told lawmakers that it was reopening and broadening an internal investigation into the possibility that Russia had used the platform to influence the 2016 Brexit referendum. |
| President Emmanuel Macron of France is expected in Britain today for talks on security and the impact of Brexit on France’s north. (He is also expected to announce a loan of the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, above.) | President Emmanuel Macron of France is expected in Britain today for talks on security and the impact of Brexit on France’s north. (He is also expected to announce a loan of the 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry, above.) |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Germany, a recent deadly stabbing has become Exhibit A for those arguing that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s migration policy has increased the risk of violent crime. | • In Germany, a recent deadly stabbing has become Exhibit A for those arguing that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s migration policy has increased the risk of violent crime. |
| The murder shows how the debate on migration has reached a new and fevered stage, our Berlin bureau chief writes. | The murder shows how the debate on migration has reached a new and fevered stage, our Berlin bureau chief writes. |
| Mrs. Merkel hosted her Austrian conservative counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, in Berlin. Unlike Mrs. Merkel, Mr. Kurz rose to power in part by co-opting much of the far-right’s political agenda. | Mrs. Merkel hosted her Austrian conservative counterpart, Sebastian Kurz, in Berlin. Unlike Mrs. Merkel, Mr. Kurz rose to power in part by co-opting much of the far-right’s political agenda. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Score one for the power of sports. | • Score one for the power of sports. |
| North and South Korea agreed to have their athletes march together under a “unified Korea” flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month. The two nations will also field a joint women’s ice hockey team. | North and South Korea agreed to have their athletes march together under a “unified Korea” flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics next month. The two nations will also field a joint women’s ice hockey team. |
| The moves are “the most dramatic gesture of reconciliation between the two nations in a decade,” our veteran Korea correspondent writes. (They also upend U.S. strategy.) | The moves are “the most dramatic gesture of reconciliation between the two nations in a decade,” our veteran Korea correspondent writes. (They also upend U.S. strategy.) |
| • U.S. stocks have risen for so long that Wall Street is becoming nervous. What’s an investor to do? For insight, check out our latest quarterly report on investing. | • U.S. stocks have risen for so long that Wall Street is becoming nervous. What’s an investor to do? For insight, check out our latest quarterly report on investing. |
| • Apple plans to bring back the majority of the $252 billion in cash that it has long held abroad, capitalizing on the Republican tax law. | • Apple plans to bring back the majority of the $252 billion in cash that it has long held abroad, capitalizing on the Republican tax law. |
| • Britain fears a domino effect in layoffs among subcontractors of Carillion, the major construction and services company forced into liquidation. | • Britain fears a domino effect in layoffs among subcontractors of Carillion, the major construction and services company forced into liquidation. |
| • Google is helping businesses build their own A.I. algorithms, even if they are novices. | • Google is helping businesses build their own A.I. algorithms, even if they are novices. |
| • Changing fortunes: Goldman Sachs reported its first loss since 2011. Car sales in Europe recovered to reach their highest level in 10 years. And IBM’s yearslong losing streak could end today. | • Changing fortunes: Goldman Sachs reported its first loss since 2011. Car sales in Europe recovered to reach their highest level in 10 years. And IBM’s yearslong losing streak could end today. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • The U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees said it was facing the worst financial crisis in its seven-decade history after the U.S. withheld funding. [The New York Times] | • The U.N. agency that aids Palestinian refugees said it was facing the worst financial crisis in its seven-decade history after the U.S. withheld funding. [The New York Times] |
| • In northern Nigeria, a double suicide bombing at a market killed at least 12 people and wounded 48 others. [Associated Press] | • In northern Nigeria, a double suicide bombing at a market killed at least 12 people and wounded 48 others. [Associated Press] |
| • American troops will remain in Syria long after their fight against the Islamic State has ended, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. [The New York Times] | • American troops will remain in Syria long after their fight against the Islamic State has ended, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. [The New York Times] |
| • As the pope arrives in Peru, the Vatican’s handling of sexual abuse in a Catholic organization there has raised questions. [The New York Times] | • As the pope arrives in Peru, the Vatican’s handling of sexual abuse in a Catholic organization there has raised questions. [The New York Times] |
| • Catalan lawmakers elected a secessionist politician as speaker of the regional Parliament. [Associated Press] | • Catalan lawmakers elected a secessionist politician as speaker of the regional Parliament. [Associated Press] |
| • The British government has appointed a minister for tackling widespread loneliness and its impact on mental and physical health. [The New York Times] | • The British government has appointed a minister for tackling widespread loneliness and its impact on mental and physical health. [The New York Times] |
| • Romania’s president agreed to appoint Viorica Dancila, a European Parliament lawmaker, as the country’s first female prime minister. [Balkan Insight] | • Romania’s president agreed to appoint Viorica Dancila, a European Parliament lawmaker, as the country’s first female prime minister. [Balkan Insight] |
| • Ahead of elections in April, Hungary’s governing Fidesz party has stepped up its populist campaign against George Soros, the Hungarian-American billionaire. [Politico] | • Ahead of elections in April, Hungary’s governing Fidesz party has stepped up its populist campaign against George Soros, the Hungarian-American billionaire. [Politico] |
| • The French government abandoned a decades-old plan to build a major airport near Nantes. Disagreements with activist squatters remain. [The Guardian] | • The French government abandoned a decades-old plan to build a major airport near Nantes. Disagreements with activist squatters remain. [The Guardian] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: Skip delivery and make Hunan beef at home. | • Recipe of the day: Skip delivery and make Hunan beef at home. |
| • “Should I buy Bitcoin?” may be the wrong question. | • “Should I buy Bitcoin?” may be the wrong question. |
| • Battle forgetfulness with these great tips. | • Battle forgetfulness with these great tips. |
| • A sexual-misconduct allegation against the comedian Aziz Ansari, above, adds a new dimension to discussions of dating norms and consent. | • A sexual-misconduct allegation against the comedian Aziz Ansari, above, adds a new dimension to discussions of dating norms and consent. |
| • In Rome, a course aims to teach taxi drivers hospitality and useful phrases in Chinese and Arabic. “It’s important to make people understand that not every taxi driver is a bandit,” one operator said. | • In Rome, a course aims to teach taxi drivers hospitality and useful phrases in Chinese and Arabic. “It’s important to make people understand that not every taxi driver is a bandit,” one operator said. |
| • “Drag has finally arrived at the place it deserves in pop culture, in a way that cannot be ignored,” one aficionado said. | |
| • And is that you in that centuries-old work of art? A Google app that compares selfies with artwork is the most downloaded app in the U.S. (In Europe, you can give it a try by using an American VPN service.) | • And is that you in that centuries-old work of art? A Google app that compares selfies with artwork is the most downloaded app in the U.S. (In Europe, you can give it a try by using an American VPN service.) |
| • A cloudy Moscow got only six minutes of sunlight during the entirety of December, making it the darkest month since the city began recording the data. Someone called it “Hillary’s revenge.” | • A cloudy Moscow got only six minutes of sunlight during the entirety of December, making it the darkest month since the city began recording the data. Someone called it “Hillary’s revenge.” |
| Double your money in just 90 days. Better yet, make it 45. | Double your money in just 90 days. Better yet, make it 45. |
| That’s what Charles Ponzi, who died 69 years ago today, promised investors. In the end, Ponzi swindled more than $15 million in 1920, the equivalent of $191 million today. | That’s what Charles Ponzi, who died 69 years ago today, promised investors. In the end, Ponzi swindled more than $15 million in 1920, the equivalent of $191 million today. |
| The trickery earned Ponzi his own namesake scheme, made notorious by Bernard Madoff, who defrauded clients of more than $50 billion. But the original scheme centered on postal notes. | The trickery earned Ponzi his own namesake scheme, made notorious by Bernard Madoff, who defrauded clients of more than $50 billion. But the original scheme centered on postal notes. |
| Ponzi took advantage of international postal reply coupons, which allowed postal customers in one country to buy a coupon redeemable for stamps in another country. | Ponzi took advantage of international postal reply coupons, which allowed postal customers in one country to buy a coupon redeemable for stamps in another country. |
| Money was invested through Ponzi’s Security Exchange Company with the idea that he would take investors’ dollars, use them to buy foreign postal coupons, convert each coupon into a 5-cent stamp, and convert the stamps into cash. | Money was invested through Ponzi’s Security Exchange Company with the idea that he would take investors’ dollars, use them to buy foreign postal coupons, convert each coupon into a 5-cent stamp, and convert the stamps into cash. |
| But Ponzi never invested in the coupons. | But Ponzi never invested in the coupons. |
| Instead, he collected the money and paid off his investors while waiting for another influx of cash to come in. Millions of dollars began arriving every week from working-class people. | Instead, he collected the money and paid off his investors while waiting for another influx of cash to come in. Millions of dollars began arriving every week from working-class people. |
| Ponzi’s scheme was eventually exposed, and he later died in a charity hospital in Brazil, with only $75 to his name. | Ponzi’s scheme was eventually exposed, and he later died in a charity hospital in Brazil, with only $75 to his name. |
| Remy Tumin contributed reporting. | Remy Tumin contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
| This briefing was prepared for the European morning and is updated online. Browse past briefings here. | This briefing was prepared for the European morning and is updated online. Browse past briefings here. |
| You can get the briefing delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday. We have four global editions, timed for the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia, and an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights. Check out our full range of free newsletters here. | You can get the briefing delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday. We have four global editions, timed for the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia, and an Evening Briefing on U.S. weeknights. Check out our full range of free newsletters here. |
| If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. | If photographs appear out of order, please download the updated New York Times app from iTunes or Google Play. |
| 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. |
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