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| Winter Olympics, Valentine’s Day, Benjamin Netanyahu: Your Wednesday Briefing | Winter Olympics, Valentine’s Day, Benjamin Netanyahu: Your Wednesday 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 latest from the Winter Olympics, Syria’s battlefields and a reminder that it’s Valentine’s Day. Here’s the news: | The latest from the Winter Olympics, Syria’s battlefields and a reminder that it’s Valentine’s Day. Here’s the news: |
| • “I have my big gold medal.” | • “I have my big gold medal.” |
| That was Marcel Hirscher of Austria, above, ski racing’s most dominant athlete since 2011, at the Winter Games in South Korea reacting to his victory, which had proven elusive in two earlier Olympic appearances. | That was Marcel Hirscher of Austria, above, ski racing’s most dominant athlete since 2011, at the Winter Games in South Korea reacting to his victory, which had proven elusive in two earlier Olympic appearances. |
| At 17, Chloe Kim of the U.S. became the youngest female snowboarder to win gold in the Olympic halfpipe. (Here’s how she did it.) And a gay American athlete spoke about what has been an open secret among male skaters: crippling body image issues. | At 17, Chloe Kim of the U.S. became the youngest female snowboarder to win gold in the Olympic halfpipe. (Here’s how she did it.) And a gay American athlete spoke about what has been an open secret among male skaters: crippling body image issues. |
| The women’s slalom was delayed until Friday because of high winds. You can find today’s schedule, the medal count and live results here. | The women’s slalom was delayed until Friday because of high winds. You can find today’s schedule, the medal count and live results here. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • At least four Russians, perhaps dozens, were killed in a U.S.-backed attack of rebel forces in Syria this month. | • At least four Russians, perhaps dozens, were killed in a U.S.-backed attack of rebel forces in Syria this month. |
| Most of the fatalities were attributed to an American airstrike that was called in by Kurdish fighters. The Kremlin suggested that any Russians were mercenaries, not soldiers. | Most of the fatalities were attributed to an American airstrike that was called in by Kurdish fighters. The Kremlin suggested that any Russians were mercenaries, not soldiers. |
| (Above, U.S. Special Forces at a frontline outpost in Syria.) | (Above, U.S. Special Forces at a frontline outpost in Syria.) |
| Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron of France threatened the Syrian government with military action over chemical attacks on civilians. | Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron of France threatened the Syrian government with military action over chemical attacks on civilians. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In Washington, top U.S. security officials sounded the alarm over Russian efforts to sway the midterm elections in the fall. | • In Washington, top U.S. security officials sounded the alarm over Russian efforts to sway the midterm elections in the fall. |
| Hackers are already using bot armies to promote partisan causes on social media, they said. (Islamist militants and cyberattacks ranked among other top threats.) | Hackers are already using bot armies to promote partisan causes on social media, they said. (Islamist militants and cyberattacks ranked among other top threats.) |
| Separately, Trump administration officials revised earlier claims that White House staff members had been unaware of F.B.I. warnings about problems in the background check of Rob Porter, the president’s staff secretary. Mr. Porter resigned in disgrace last week. | Separately, Trump administration officials revised earlier claims that White House staff members had been unaware of F.B.I. warnings about problems in the background check of Rob Porter, the president’s staff secretary. Mr. Porter resigned in disgrace last week. |
| Mr. Porter never got a permanent security clearance, but he’s not alone. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also operating on an interim status that gives him access to classified material. | Mr. Porter never got a permanent security clearance, but he’s not alone. The president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is also operating on an interim status that gives him access to classified material. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Can Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stay in office? | • Can Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stay in office? |
| That was the question after the Israeli police said that they had gathered enough evidence for bribery and fraud charges. The attorney general must now decide whether to indict Mr. Netanyahu, a process that could take months. | That was the question after the Israeli police said that they had gathered enough evidence for bribery and fraud charges. The attorney general must now decide whether to indict Mr. Netanyahu, a process that could take months. |
| The damning summary of their findings referred to a steady flow of cigars and pink champagne in Mr. Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence in quantities sufficient to stock a small cocktail lounge. | The damning summary of their findings referred to a steady flow of cigars and pink champagne in Mr. Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence in quantities sufficient to stock a small cocktail lounge. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Germans have had reason to reflect on the state of their union: Since last week, the Berlin Wall has been down longer than it stood. | • Germans have had reason to reflect on the state of their union: Since last week, the Berlin Wall has been down longer than it stood. |
| The West is still richer, and has more immigrants. But they are viewed as more of a problem in the East and, crucially, Easterners increasingly control the political discourse of a countrywide shift to the extremes, our Berlin bureau chief writes. | The West is still richer, and has more immigrants. But they are viewed as more of a problem in the East and, crucially, Easterners increasingly control the political discourse of a countrywide shift to the extremes, our Berlin bureau chief writes. |
| (Above, a man hitting the wall with a sledgehammer in November 1989) | (Above, a man hitting the wall with a sledgehammer in November 1989) |
| Separately, Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats, stepped down amid discord over how he negotiated the party’s coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel. | Separately, Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democrats, stepped down amid discord over how he negotiated the party’s coalition deal with Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • For Valentine’s Day, our reporter mined a California library’s collection of about 12,000 paper valentines from across three centuries. | • For Valentine’s Day, our reporter mined a California library’s collection of about 12,000 paper valentines from across three centuries. |
| Above, a cobweb valentine, probably British, circa 1830-60. (A string lifts up the castle to reveal a mouse in a trap.) | Above, a cobweb valentine, probably British, circa 1830-60. (A string lifts up the castle to reveal a mouse in a trap.) |
| And humans aren’t the only ones with love on the brain. Songbirds, which form lifelong mating pairs, have brain systems perfectly tuned to fit together. | And humans aren’t the only ones with love on the brain. Songbirds, which form lifelong mating pairs, have brain systems perfectly tuned to fit together. |
| • We (or rather our intrepid tech writer) tested an autonomous selfie drone, a 13-eyed flying machine that follows you as long as its batteries last. Expect its technology to soon become ubiquitous. | • We (or rather our intrepid tech writer) tested an autonomous selfie drone, a 13-eyed flying machine that follows you as long as its batteries last. Expect its technology to soon become ubiquitous. |
| • Our economy columnist argues that inflated stock prices in the U.S. could discourage work and capital investments and prepare the ground for even more inequality. | • Our economy columnist argues that inflated stock prices in the U.S. could discourage work and capital investments and prepare the ground for even more inequality. |
| • Cafe and restaurant operators are scrambling for a strategy to deal with the growing number of remote workers: Cultivate those customers or unplug the Wi-Fi. | • Cafe and restaurant operators are scrambling for a strategy to deal with the growing number of remote workers: Cultivate those customers or unplug the Wi-Fi. |
| • Uber is inching toward profitability, helping the company in its plans to list as early as next year. | • Uber is inching toward profitability, helping the company in its plans to list as early as next year. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • South Africa’s power struggle: The leaders of the African National Congress have openly called for President Jacob Zuma’s resignation. Notably, the reasoning is not ethical issues, but that Mr. Zuma is harming the governing party’s political prospects. [The New York Times] | • South Africa’s power struggle: The leaders of the African National Congress have openly called for President Jacob Zuma’s resignation. Notably, the reasoning is not ethical issues, but that Mr. Zuma is harming the governing party’s political prospects. [The New York Times] |
| • The Trump administration, outmaneuvered in South Korea, appears open to holding preliminary talks with North Korea. [The New York Times] | • The Trump administration, outmaneuvered in South Korea, appears open to holding preliminary talks with North Korea. [The New York Times] |
| • At a closely watched fund-raising conference, Iraq asked affluent allies led by the United States for $88 billion to rebuild. The answer, in short: no. [The New York Times] | • At a closely watched fund-raising conference, Iraq asked affluent allies led by the United States for $88 billion to rebuild. The answer, in short: no. [The New York Times] |
| • In the Netherlands, the Senate narrowly voted in favor of a law that makes all Dutch adults potential organ donors unless they opt out. [Associated Press] | • In the Netherlands, the Senate narrowly voted in favor of a law that makes all Dutch adults potential organ donors unless they opt out. [Associated Press] |
| • In a case that has rocked English soccer, a former youth talent scout for several well-known teams has been convicted of sexually abusing players when they were children. [The New York Times] | • In a case that has rocked English soccer, a former youth talent scout for several well-known teams has been convicted of sexually abusing players when they were children. [The New York Times] |
| • “Everybody has meth around here — everybody.” The drug, experts say, has never been purer, cheaper or more lethal. [The New York Times] | • “Everybody has meth around here — everybody.” The drug, experts say, has never been purer, cheaper or more lethal. [The New York Times] |
| • A radical proposal for tacking smog: Germany is said to be considering a plan to make public transportation free in some cities to reduce traffic and emissions. [The Guardian] | • A radical proposal for tacking smog: Germany is said to be considering a plan to make public transportation free in some cities to reduce traffic and emissions. [The Guardian] |
| • Prince Henrik of Denmark, the husband of Queen Margrethe, died at 83. (We recently wrote about his wishes for a change in burial plans.) [Politiken] | • Prince Henrik of Denmark, the husband of Queen Margrethe, died at 83. (We recently wrote about his wishes for a change in burial plans.) [Politiken] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Roman egg drop soup is a simple recipe for midweek. | • Roman egg drop soup is a simple recipe for midweek. |
| • Here’s how to order room service the right way. | • Here’s how to order room service the right way. |
| • Sex shouldn’t be painful. Here is some advice from a gynecologist. | • Sex shouldn’t be painful. Here is some advice from a gynecologist. |
| • The papers of Angela Davis, just acquired by Harvard, trace her evolution from obscure philosophy professor to black feminist icon and to prophetic voice on mass incarceration. | • The papers of Angela Davis, just acquired by Harvard, trace her evolution from obscure philosophy professor to black feminist icon and to prophetic voice on mass incarceration. |
| • An Iranian photographer’s work offers an alternative narrative of the country’s revolution in 1979 and its aftermath. | • An Iranian photographer’s work offers an alternative narrative of the country’s revolution in 1979 and its aftermath. |
| • Forget the Olympics: Flynn, a light-footed bichon frisé who looked like a cloud, won the Westminster Dog Show. | • Forget the Olympics: Flynn, a light-footed bichon frisé who looked like a cloud, won the Westminster Dog Show. |
| • Today in the Champions League, Real Madrid will face Paris St. Germain. Some of the Spanish soccer club’s socios told our correspondent that they were worried about the possible end of an era. (Here are Tuesday’s results.) | |
| • The Swedish pop star Fever Ray explores the kinky side of her personality in her latest album. We met her ahead of her European tour, which begins next week. | • The Swedish pop star Fever Ray explores the kinky side of her personality in her latest album. We met her ahead of her European tour, which begins next week. |
| Valentine’s Day is widely thought to mark a wine-fueled festival for courting couples in ancient Rome. | Valentine’s Day is widely thought to mark a wine-fueled festival for courting couples in ancient Rome. |
| But in North Korea, it signifies a different kind of affection. On this day in 2012, Kim Jong-il, who led the country from 1994 until his death in 2011, was posthumously named a “generalissimo.” | But in North Korea, it signifies a different kind of affection. On this day in 2012, Kim Jong-il, who led the country from 1994 until his death in 2011, was posthumously named a “generalissimo.” |
| The announcement came two days before what would have been Mr. Kim’s 70th birthday, which is still celebrated in the country as “The Day of the Shining Star.” | The announcement came two days before what would have been Mr. Kim’s 70th birthday, which is still celebrated in the country as “The Day of the Shining Star.” |
| The only other North Korean generalissimo is Mr. Kim’s father, Kim Il-sung, who began ruling in 1945 and received the title in 1992, two years before his death. The term is a clear cut above the “marshal” title held by North Korea’s third and current leader, Kim Jong-un. | The only other North Korean generalissimo is Mr. Kim’s father, Kim Il-sung, who began ruling in 1945 and received the title in 1992, two years before his death. The term is a clear cut above the “marshal” title held by North Korea’s third and current leader, Kim Jong-un. |
| The younger Mr. Kim may stay in power for decades, though, and he already has several titles: “Dear respected comrade,” for one, as well as “supreme commander” of the Korean People’s Army. | The younger Mr. Kim may stay in power for decades, though, and he already has several titles: “Dear respected comrade,” for one, as well as “supreme commander” of the Korean People’s Army. |
| Mike Ives contributed reporting. | Mike Ives contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
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