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| Syria, Winter Olympics, Neanderthals: Your Friday Briefing | Syria, Winter Olympics, Neanderthals: Your Friday 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 developments in Syria, a pizza maker’s mission to save migrants in the French Alps and the last days of the Winter Olympics. Here’s the news: | |
| • A showdown in Syria: Militias loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad reclaimed the northwestern enclave of Afrin, in a setback for the monthlong Turkish assault on Kurdish militias there. | • A showdown in Syria: Militias loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad reclaimed the northwestern enclave of Afrin, in a setback for the monthlong Turkish assault on Kurdish militias there. |
| It was a diplomatic success for Russia, which has maneuvered to forge cooperation between the Syrian government and the Kurds. Meanwhile, at the U.N. Security Council, Russia stalled plans for a cease-fire that would have allowed humanitarian aid to reach the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. | It was a diplomatic success for Russia, which has maneuvered to forge cooperation between the Syrian government and the Kurds. Meanwhile, at the U.N. Security Council, Russia stalled plans for a cease-fire that would have allowed humanitarian aid to reach the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta. |
| In Washington, the White House has decided that it needs no new legal authority from Congress to indefinitely keep U.S. military forces in Syria and Iraq. | In Washington, the White House has decided that it needs no new legal authority from Congress to indefinitely keep U.S. military forces in Syria and Iraq. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Countries across Europe are shutting borders, stepping up deportations and even making unsavory deals with warlords in Libya to restrict migrants. | • Countries across Europe are shutting borders, stepping up deportations and even making unsavory deals with warlords in Libya to restrict migrants. |
| Now comes France’s turn, with this week’s new draft law on migration. President Emmanuel Macron is trying to use his momentum to deny the far right its favorite issue, our correspondent writes. The law will likely toughen the lives of would-be asylum seekers. | Now comes France’s turn, with this week’s new draft law on migration. President Emmanuel Macron is trying to use his momentum to deny the far right its favorite issue, our correspondent writes. The law will likely toughen the lives of would-be asylum seekers. |
| We set out in the snow of the French Alps with a pizza chef who rescues migrants. Many are trying to clandestinely hike from Italy to France. | We set out in the snow of the French Alps with a pizza chef who rescues migrants. Many are trying to clandestinely hike from Italy to France. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • In the U.S., President Trump endorsed arming teachers to protect students from gun violence. Many teachers reacted with alarm. | • In the U.S., President Trump endorsed arming teachers to protect students from gun violence. Many teachers reacted with alarm. |
| A note card that Mr. Trump held while he met with survivors and relatives of students killed in last week’s Florida school massacre seemed to suggest that aides felt he needed to be reminded to show compassion. | A note card that Mr. Trump held while he met with survivors and relatives of students killed in last week’s Florida school massacre seemed to suggest that aides felt he needed to be reminded to show compassion. |
| The N.R.A. said that some gun control efforts were a socialist plot by Democrats, the news media and political opportunists to “eradicate all individual freedoms.” | The N.R.A. said that some gun control efforts were a socialist plot by Democrats, the news media and political opportunists to “eradicate all individual freedoms.” |
| Meanwhile, new charges were unsealed in the Russia inquiry against Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his deputy. They are accused of money laundering. | Meanwhile, new charges were unsealed in the Russia inquiry against Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his deputy. They are accused of money laundering. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • At the Winter Olympics, Alina Zagitova, 15, won the women’s figure skating competition, giving Russia its first gold medal of the Olympics. | • At the Winter Olympics, Alina Zagitova, 15, won the women’s figure skating competition, giving Russia its first gold medal of the Olympics. |
| The organizers are still debating whether Russian athletes get to march with their flag in the closing ceremony on Sunday, given Russia’s ban for doping violations. Our columnist writes that antidoping responsibilities should be given to a worldwide task force. | The organizers are still debating whether Russian athletes get to march with their flag in the closing ceremony on Sunday, given Russia’s ban for doping violations. Our columnist writes that antidoping responsibilities should be given to a worldwide task force. |
| The U.S. is batting back rumors that Ivanka Trump, who is going to Pyeongchang for the closing ceremony, might try to meet with North Korean officials. Leading the North’s delegation is a former spymaster. | The U.S. is batting back rumors that Ivanka Trump, who is going to Pyeongchang for the closing ceremony, might try to meet with North Korean officials. Leading the North’s delegation is a former spymaster. |
| Here’s the full medal count and the remaining schedule. The Paralympics begin on March 9. | Here’s the full medal count and the remaining schedule. The Paralympics begin on March 9. |
| _____ | _____ |
| • Meet some of humanity’s first artists. | • Meet some of humanity’s first artists. |
| Cave paintings in Spain were made by Neanderthals, not modern humans, archaeologists reported. | Cave paintings in Spain were made by Neanderthals, not modern humans, archaeologists reported. |
| The finding adds to evidence that Neanderthals were capable of symbolic thought and possibly language. Perhaps they achieved other milestones not preserved in the fossil record. | The finding adds to evidence that Neanderthals were capable of symbolic thought and possibly language. Perhaps they achieved other milestones not preserved in the fossil record. |
| • The Chinese government has taken over Anbang, the troubled conglomerate that owns New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel, above, and financial firms in Europe. | • The Chinese government has taken over Anbang, the troubled conglomerate that owns New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel, above, and financial firms in Europe. |
| • Fosun International, the Chinese conglomerate, acquired Lanvin, France’s oldest surviving couture house, after a fierce bidding war with Qatar. | • Fosun International, the Chinese conglomerate, acquired Lanvin, France’s oldest surviving couture house, after a fierce bidding war with Qatar. |
| • In Greece, the list of politicians to be investigated in a pharmaceutical corruption scandal reads like a Who’s Who of the country’s elite. | • In Greece, the list of politicians to be investigated in a pharmaceutical corruption scandal reads like a Who’s Who of the country’s elite. |
| • Carmakers in search of an open-air feeling are making sunroofs bigger. Safety advocates see a problem. | • Carmakers in search of an open-air feeling are making sunroofs bigger. Safety advocates see a problem. |
| • Airbnb is expanding its offerings of higher-end accommodations. | • Airbnb is expanding its offerings of higher-end accommodations. |
| • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
| • In Nigeria, parents of dozens of girls who were abducted by militants this week heckled state officials after being told that, despite government reports to the contrary, their daughters had yet to be found. (Above, a 13-year-old who scaled a fence to escape.) [The New York Times] | |
| • Russia began legal proceedings against Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader, for organizing protests. A sentence would conveniently sideline him for the presidential election on March 18. [The New York Times] | • Russia began legal proceedings against Aleksei Navalny, the opposition leader, for organizing protests. A sentence would conveniently sideline him for the presidential election on March 18. [The New York Times] |
| • Romania’s justice minister has demanded the firing of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the country’s top anti-corruption prosecutor, whose investigations have rattled the governing party. [Bloomberg] | • Romania’s justice minister has demanded the firing of Laura Codruta Kovesi, the country’s top anti-corruption prosecutor, whose investigations have rattled the governing party. [Bloomberg] |
| • The Dutch Parliament voted to recognize the massacre of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as genocide in a move likely to strain ties with Turkey. [Reuters] | • The Dutch Parliament voted to recognize the massacre of as many as 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as genocide in a move likely to strain ties with Turkey. [Reuters] |
| • A senior official at Unicef resigned amid allegations that he behaved inappropriately toward women when he led the British charity Save the Children. [The New York Times] | • A senior official at Unicef resigned amid allegations that he behaved inappropriately toward women when he led the British charity Save the Children. [The New York Times] |
| • And Haiti suspended the aid group Oxfam Great Britain while it investigates allegations of sexual misconduct by charity employees in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. [The New York Times] | • And Haiti suspended the aid group Oxfam Great Britain while it investigates allegations of sexual misconduct by charity employees in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. [The New York Times] |
| • Questions are swirling in the U.S. about how or when the Slovenian parents of the American first lady, Melania Trump, received their permanent residency. [The New York Times] | • Questions are swirling in the U.S. about how or when the Slovenian parents of the American first lady, Melania Trump, received their permanent residency. [The New York Times] |
| Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. | Tips, both new and old, for a more fulfilling life. |
| • Recipe of the day: This weekend, try fold-over chicken hand pies with a flaky crust. | • Recipe of the day: This weekend, try fold-over chicken hand pies with a flaky crust. |
| • Traveling to a new country but don’t know the language? Here’s how to get by. | • Traveling to a new country but don’t know the language? Here’s how to get by. |
| • Pull your neighbors together to prepare your community for a disaster — natural or man-made. | • Pull your neighbors together to prepare your community for a disaster — natural or man-made. |
| • For our Op-Ed pages, a writer climbed to the top of a London skyscraper at night to see the city’s “wilderness drawn in light.” | • For our Op-Ed pages, a writer climbed to the top of a London skyscraper at night to see the city’s “wilderness drawn in light.” |
| • The Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood discussed how he wrote the Oscar-nominated score for “Phantom Thread”: sound English, but also romantic. | • The Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood discussed how he wrote the Oscar-nominated score for “Phantom Thread”: sound English, but also romantic. |
| • Scientists examining works from Picasso’s blue period found secrets the artist had painted over. | • Scientists examining works from Picasso’s blue period found secrets the artist had painted over. |
| • Milan Fashion Week has begun on a futuristic note. But there’s also a new exhibition in the city that retraces the roots of the Italian fashion industry. | |
| “Who pays attention to the quality of the fabric or the buttonholes the way Italians do? Nobody does.” | “Who pays attention to the quality of the fabric or the buttonholes the way Italians do? Nobody does.” |
| Many hockey goaltenders wear artfully decorated masks as expressions of identity. | Many hockey goaltenders wear artfully decorated masks as expressions of identity. |
| The mask of Matt Dalton, the Canadian-born goalie for South Korea’s national team, includes the flag of his naturalized country. It also features an image of Adm. Yi Sun-shin, a Korean naval commander who is celebrated for 23 victories against Japanese invaders in the late 16th century. | The mask of Matt Dalton, the Canadian-born goalie for South Korea’s national team, includes the flag of his naturalized country. It also features an image of Adm. Yi Sun-shin, a Korean naval commander who is celebrated for 23 victories against Japanese invaders in the late 16th century. |
| The tale of Admiral Yi is well known among Korean schoolchildren, who are taught of his military prowess and ingenuity. | The tale of Admiral Yi is well known among Korean schoolchildren, who are taught of his military prowess and ingenuity. |
| Admiral Yi invented the geobukseon, or “turtle ship” — the world’s first armored maritime craft. The ironclad ships were covered in protective metal and spikes, and the front had a cannon shaped like a dragon’s head. | Admiral Yi invented the geobukseon, or “turtle ship” — the world’s first armored maritime craft. The ironclad ships were covered in protective metal and spikes, and the front had a cannon shaped like a dragon’s head. |
| In his most famous campaign, the Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, he defeated a Japanese fleet of hundreds with just 13 ships. | In his most famous campaign, the Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, he defeated a Japanese fleet of hundreds with just 13 ships. |
| Unfortunately for Mr. Dalton, the hockey goalie, the International Olympic Committee deemed his mask political and didn’t allow him to wear it during the Winter Games. I.O.C. guidelines state that “no item may feature the wording or lyrics from national anthems, motivational words, public/political messaging or slogans related to national identity.” | Unfortunately for Mr. Dalton, the hockey goalie, the International Olympic Committee deemed his mask political and didn’t allow him to wear it during the Winter Games. I.O.C. guidelines state that “no item may feature the wording or lyrics from national anthems, motivational words, public/political messaging or slogans related to national identity.” |
| Though the South Korean hockey team was eliminated this week, Mr. Dalton — and his Yi mask — have gained a loyal fan base. | Though the South Korean hockey team was eliminated this week, Mr. Dalton — and his Yi mask — have gained a loyal fan base. |
| Inyoung Kang contributed reporting. | Inyoung Kang contributed reporting. |
| _____ | _____ |
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