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F.B.I., Britain, Winter Olympics: Your Thursday Briefing F.B.I., Britain, 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.
The F.B.I. clashes with President Trump, Africa’s first bobsled team prepares for the Olympics and “House of Cards” returns. Here’s the news:The F.B.I. clashes with President Trump, Africa’s first bobsled team prepares for the Olympics and “House of Cards” returns. Here’s the news:
• In Washington, the F.B.I. clashed publicly with President Trump for the first time over Republican efforts to release a secret memo that purports to show surveillance abuses.• In Washington, the F.B.I. clashed publicly with President Trump for the first time over Republican efforts to release a secret memo that purports to show surveillance abuses.
The aim of the memo, our Washington correspondent writes, is defending Mr. Trump from the Russia inquiry. Meanwhile, we learned that a White House statement last summer about a pre-election Trump Tower meeting with Russians has drawn the interest of investigators.The aim of the memo, our Washington correspondent writes, is defending Mr. Trump from the Russia inquiry. Meanwhile, we learned that a White House statement last summer about a pre-election Trump Tower meeting with Russians has drawn the interest of investigators.
(Above, Mr. Trump with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, center, and the director of the F.B.I., Christopher Wray.)(Above, Mr. Trump with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, center, and the director of the F.B.I., Christopher Wray.)
Our correspondents gauged the reaction to Mr. Trump’s first State of the Union address among a wide spectrum of Americans. One viewer put it this way: “I’m happy with him and I’m embarrassed by him at the same time.”Our correspondents gauged the reaction to Mr. Trump’s first State of the Union address among a wide spectrum of Americans. One viewer put it this way: “I’m happy with him and I’m embarrassed by him at the same time.”
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• Britain’s welfare state is crumbling.• Britain’s welfare state is crumbling.
The country pioneered the outsourcing of social services, but nearly a decade of austerity budgets and declining funding has badly strained the system. “The model is flawed, it’s broken,” one social policy expert said.The country pioneered the outsourcing of social services, but nearly a decade of austerity budgets and declining funding has badly strained the system. “The model is flawed, it’s broken,” one social policy expert said.
Separately, the BBC is facing a reckoning as scores of employees have filed complaints over gender inequities in pay and lawmakers have demanded change.Separately, the BBC is facing a reckoning as scores of employees have filed complaints over gender inequities in pay and lawmakers have demanded change.
And Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to promote trade on her visit to China are shadowed by uncertainties about her hold on power and the country’s withdrawal from the European Union.And Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to promote trade on her visit to China are shadowed by uncertainties about her hold on power and the country’s withdrawal from the European Union.
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• Just as global sports officials are preparing to travel to South Korea for the Winter Olympics, we obtained a subpoena showing that the U.S. is investigating international sports corruption.• Just as global sports officials are preparing to travel to South Korea for the Winter Olympics, we obtained a subpoena showing that the U.S. is investigating international sports corruption.
Prosecutors are seeking information from FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.Prosecutors are seeking information from FIFA and the International Olympic Committee.
In a lighter vein, Times Magazine writers explore how a top skier trains, how curling went subtropical and why Koreans excel at speedskating. They also profile Nigeria’s bobsled team, above. It is Africa’s first.In a lighter vein, Times Magazine writers explore how a top skier trains, how curling went subtropical and why Koreans excel at speedskating. They also profile Nigeria’s bobsled team, above. It is Africa’s first.
And tag along with our Moscow correspondent to the snowy Caucasus, where new ski resorts are part of an improbable effort by Russia to ski and snowboard its way out of a long-simmering Islamist insurgency.And tag along with our Moscow correspondent to the snowy Caucasus, where new ski resorts are part of an improbable effort by Russia to ski and snowboard its way out of a long-simmering Islamist insurgency.
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• Two performances that reflect major debates in Europe:• Two performances that reflect major debates in Europe:
In Hungary, conservative columnists have rallied behind a Budapest production of “Porgy and Bess” against criticism that it did not respect the wishes of its creators to use only black performers. (The opera, above, has been transplanted to a refugee camp.)In Hungary, conservative columnists have rallied behind a Budapest production of “Porgy and Bess” against criticism that it did not respect the wishes of its creators to use only black performers. (The opera, above, has been transplanted to a refugee camp.)
Meanwhile in London, a show by the theatermaker Javaad Alipoor invites the audience to join a messaging group to explore themes of ideological radicalism and masculinity.Meanwhile in London, a show by the theatermaker Javaad Alipoor invites the audience to join a messaging group to explore themes of ideological radicalism and masculinity.
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• With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we are looking for couples who have dealt with the struggles or triumphs of dating someone with opposing political beliefs. Tell us your story.• With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we are looking for couples who have dealt with the struggles or triumphs of dating someone with opposing political beliefs. Tell us your story.
• For too long, the digital ad business has been underregulated and underpoliced, our columnist writes. We’re now dealing with the consequences, like Russian propaganda and tech addiction.• For too long, the digital ad business has been underregulated and underpoliced, our columnist writes. We’re now dealing with the consequences, like Russian propaganda and tech addiction.
• German carmakers are struggling to squelch a public outcry over emissions experiments on monkeys.• German carmakers are struggling to squelch a public outcry over emissions experiments on monkeys.
• A growing number of virtual currency investors are worried that the price of Bitcoin has been inflated by Bitfinex, a widely used exchange.• A growing number of virtual currency investors are worried that the price of Bitcoin has been inflated by Bitfinex, a widely used exchange.
• Economists studying how changes in the nature of work fueled Western populism warn of another wave of disruption: artificial intelligence.• Economists studying how changes in the nature of work fueled Western populism warn of another wave of disruption: artificial intelligence.
• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.• Here’s a snapshot of global markets.
• In Moscow, two associates of Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader, were sentenced to prison after returning from Lithuania, where they had hosted a webcast about nationwide protests in Russia. [The New York Times]• In Moscow, two associates of Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader, were sentenced to prison after returning from Lithuania, where they had hosted a webcast about nationwide protests in Russia. [The New York Times]
• An Istanbul court ordered the release of Amnesty International’s top representative in Turkey, one of the country’s most prominent political prisoners. [The New York Times]• An Istanbul court ordered the release of Amnesty International’s top representative in Turkey, one of the country’s most prominent political prisoners. [The New York Times]
• In an Op-Ed, a columnist argues that only talks between the Turkish president and the imprisoned Kurdish leader, Abdullah Ocalan, could lead to peace. [The New York Times]• In an Op-Ed, a columnist argues that only talks between the Turkish president and the imprisoned Kurdish leader, Abdullah Ocalan, could lead to peace. [The New York Times]
• In Poland, lawmakers approved draft legislation that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust. [Reuters]• In Poland, lawmakers approved draft legislation that would outlaw blaming Poles for the crimes of the Holocaust. [Reuters]
• Tariq Ramadan, a renowned scholar of Islam, is said to have been questioned in France in an inquiry over two allegations of sexual assault. [France 24] • Tariq Ramadan, a renowned scholar of Islam, is said to have been questioned in France over two allegations of sexual assault. [France 24]
• The United Nations human rights office is examining more than 200 companies over their involvement with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. [The New York Times]• The United Nations human rights office is examining more than 200 companies over their involvement with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law. [The New York Times]
• In Ukraine, the prosecutor general is the latest high-profile official to cause a stir by going on a luxurious vacation few civil servants could afford. [Kyiv Post]• In Ukraine, the prosecutor general is the latest high-profile official to cause a stir by going on a luxurious vacation few civil servants could afford. [Kyiv Post]
Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life.Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life.
• If you haven’t cooked with gochujang, the spicy Korean condiment, start with this braised chicken dinner.• If you haven’t cooked with gochujang, the spicy Korean condiment, start with this braised chicken dinner.
• More kitchen advice: Learn the best ways to cut almost anything (without hurting yourself).• More kitchen advice: Learn the best ways to cut almost anything (without hurting yourself).
• Bring positive energy into your home, no matter how tight the space.• Bring positive energy into your home, no matter how tight the space.
• Mural painting in the U.S. used to be unfashionable. But today, thanks to Instagram and hipster culture, it’s a growing business with boldface sponsors.• Mural painting in the U.S. used to be unfashionable. But today, thanks to Instagram and hipster culture, it’s a growing business with boldface sponsors.
• Not long ago, the Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard was European soccer’s next big thing. But the road to the top, our correspondent found, is not always straight.• Not long ago, the Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard was European soccer’s next big thing. But the road to the top, our correspondent found, is not always straight.
• Europe’s premier concert halls have sent a group of promising young musicians on tour. The venerable institutions may benefit as much as the up-and-comers.• Europe’s premier concert halls have sent a group of promising young musicians on tour. The venerable institutions may benefit as much as the up-and-comers.
• New research on the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 suggests that prenatal trauma can influence health across lifetimes.• New research on the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944 suggests that prenatal trauma can influence health across lifetimes.
• “House of Cards,” the Netflix drama, is back in production with a revamped cast.• “House of Cards,” the Netflix drama, is back in production with a revamped cast.
• We asked readers of the generation after millennials to pick a name. Thousands responded. “Don’t call us anything,” one reader wrote. “The whole notion of cohesive generations is nonsense.”• We asked readers of the generation after millennials to pick a name. Thousands responded. “Don’t call us anything,” one reader wrote. “The whole notion of cohesive generations is nonsense.”
On this day in 1887, Harvey Wilcox, a real-estate developer from Kansas, filed a plan with Los Angeles County for a small, gridded subdivision that he called Hollywood. (The origin of the name is disputed.)On this day in 1887, Harvey Wilcox, a real-estate developer from Kansas, filed a plan with Los Angeles County for a small, gridded subdivision that he called Hollywood. (The origin of the name is disputed.)
Over the next decade, Mr. Wilcox and his wife, Daeida, conjured out of the desert a strict Christian utopia of orchards and Victorian cottages, connected to nearby Los Angeles by a lone streetcar line.Over the next decade, Mr. Wilcox and his wife, Daeida, conjured out of the desert a strict Christian utopia of orchards and Victorian cottages, connected to nearby Los Angeles by a lone streetcar line.
There were just a few hundred residents, and the hamlet banned alcohol, bowling alleys and, even briefly in 1910, movie theaters. But the same year, Hollywood voted to merge into Los Angeles.There were just a few hundred residents, and the hamlet banned alcohol, bowling alleys and, even briefly in 1910, movie theaters. But the same year, Hollywood voted to merge into Los Angeles.
Soon, movie studios fled the enforcement of Thomas Edison’s monopoly on film patents and started setting up shop in the ideal Southern California light.Soon, movie studios fled the enforcement of Thomas Edison’s monopoly on film patents and started setting up shop in the ideal Southern California light.
In 1923, the Hollywoodland sign went up (it was truncated to Hollywood in 1949). Animated by the same frontier puritanism as early Hollywood, it was an illuminated billboard for a segregated housing development that called itself a fortress against “metropolitanism”; an ad urged, “Protect your family.”In 1923, the Hollywoodland sign went up (it was truncated to Hollywood in 1949). Animated by the same frontier puritanism as early Hollywood, it was an illuminated billboard for a segregated housing development that called itself a fortress against “metropolitanism”; an ad urged, “Protect your family.”
The sign was left up as the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood arrived, a noirish era embodied by the starlet Peg Entwistle, who jumped to her death from the H in 1932.The sign was left up as the so-called Golden Age of Hollywood arrived, a noirish era embodied by the starlet Peg Entwistle, who jumped to her death from the H in 1932.
Penn Bullock contributed reporting.Penn Bullock contributed reporting.
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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.
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