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The Pope, Germany, Prague 1968: Your Tuesday Briefing | The Pope, Germany, Prague 1968: Your Tuesday 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. The pope condemns sexual abuse, Koreans meet long-lost relatives and a bank robber returns to the scene of the crime. | Good morning. The pope condemns sexual abuse, Koreans meet long-lost relatives and a bank robber returns to the scene of the crime. |
Here’s the latest: | Here’s the latest: |
• “We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.” | • “We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.” |
Pope Francis, in a rare letter addressing over a million Catholics around the world, condemned clerical sexual abuse. | Pope Francis, in a rare letter addressing over a million Catholics around the world, condemned clerical sexual abuse. |
The pope demanded greater accountability and called on his followers to “join forces in uprooting this culture of death.” | The pope demanded greater accountability and called on his followers to “join forces in uprooting this culture of death.” |
The letter comes ahead of the pope’s scheduled trip to Ireland this weekend, and just days after a sweeping grand jury report in Pennsylvania uncovered seven decades of abuse of more than 1,000 minors. | The letter comes ahead of the pope’s scheduled trip to Ireland this weekend, and just days after a sweeping grand jury report in Pennsylvania uncovered seven decades of abuse of more than 1,000 minors. |
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• Turkey offers Germany an olive branch — of sorts. | • Turkey offers Germany an olive branch — of sorts. |
A Turkish court lifted a travel ban on the German journalist Mesale Tolu, above, who was forced to stay in the country for over a year. | A Turkish court lifted a travel ban on the German journalist Mesale Tolu, above, who was forced to stay in the country for over a year. |
Ms. Tolu was detained in April of 2017 and accused of spreading terrorist propaganda. When she was released in December, she was still not permitted to leave Turkey. | Ms. Tolu was detained in April of 2017 and accused of spreading terrorist propaganda. When she was released in December, she was still not permitted to leave Turkey. |
Germany had long pushed for her release, along with the release of other journalists and activists jailed in Turkey, for what it insists are politically motivated reasons. | Germany had long pushed for her release, along with the release of other journalists and activists jailed in Turkey, for what it insists are politically motivated reasons. |
The decision to let Ms. Tolu leave — though she will still face trial in October — renewed hopes that Ankara would release the detained American pastor at the center of Turkey’s feud with the United States. | The decision to let Ms. Tolu leave — though she will still face trial in October — renewed hopes that Ankara would release the detained American pastor at the center of Turkey’s feud with the United States. |
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• Asia Argento, the Italian actress who was among the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, has been accused of molesting a minor, and paying for his silence. | • Asia Argento, the Italian actress who was among the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, has been accused of molesting a minor, and paying for his silence. |
According to legal documents, obtained by The New York Times, the actress, above, paid Jimmy Bennett, a young actor who says she sexually assaulted him when he was 17. She was 37 at the time. | According to legal documents, obtained by The New York Times, the actress, above, paid Jimmy Bennett, a young actor who says she sexually assaulted him when he was 17. She was 37 at the time. |
This turn of events goes to show that #MeToo is working as it should, according to a founder of the movement. | This turn of events goes to show that #MeToo is working as it should, according to a founder of the movement. |
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• Emotional, but brief, reunions in Korea. | • Emotional, but brief, reunions in Korea. |
Dozens of families torn apart by the Korean War had a rare chance to meet their relatives on opposite sides of the border for the first time in more than 65 years. | Dozens of families torn apart by the Korean War had a rare chance to meet their relatives on opposite sides of the border for the first time in more than 65 years. |
“My dear, thank you for just being alive,” said one South Korean father, above, to his long-lost daughter from the North. The families are permitted to spend 11 hours together over three days. | “My dear, thank you for just being alive,” said one South Korean father, above, to his long-lost daughter from the North. The families are permitted to spend 11 hours together over three days. |
The reunions, which the two countries have permitted sporadically since 1985, come as American efforts to improve relations with North Korea and push it to abandon its nuclear weapons program have stalled. | The reunions, which the two countries have permitted sporadically since 1985, come as American efforts to improve relations with North Korea and push it to abandon its nuclear weapons program have stalled. |
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• Fifty years ago today, Czechoslovakia’s spirit was crushed. | • Fifty years ago today, Czechoslovakia’s spirit was crushed. |
In 1968, the country’s Communist Party started flirting with liberation, making space for a free press and unfettered art. It was a time that came to be known as the Prague Spring. | In 1968, the country’s Communist Party started flirting with liberation, making space for a free press and unfettered art. It was a time that came to be known as the Prague Spring. |
The Soviet Union invaded the country. Tanks rolled into Prague, armed soldiers crushed dissent, an unknown number of civilians were killed and a fledgling sense of hope was diminished. | The Soviet Union invaded the country. Tanks rolled into Prague, armed soldiers crushed dissent, an unknown number of civilians were killed and a fledgling sense of hope was diminished. |
Today, with the European Union more divided than at any point since the Cold War, our correspondent writes, the events of 1968 serve as a reminder of the fragility of the systems currently in place to guard against war and tyranny. | Today, with the European Union more divided than at any point since the Cold War, our correspondent writes, the events of 1968 serve as a reminder of the fragility of the systems currently in place to guard against war and tyranny. |
• PepsiCo plans to buy SodaStream, the maker of home-carbonation machines, for $3.2 million as part of its shift toward healthier snack and drink options. | • PepsiCo plans to buy SodaStream, the maker of home-carbonation machines, for $3.2 million as part of its shift toward healthier snack and drink options. |
• Farfetch, the London-based online luxury-goods retailer that is among the few European companies with a valuation of more than $1 billion, unveiled plans for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. | • Farfetch, the London-based online luxury-goods retailer that is among the few European companies with a valuation of more than $1 billion, unveiled plans for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. |
• Many investors who rushed into the cryptocurrency boom last year are headed for financial ruin, as the digital tokens drop in value and seem unlikely to take off again. | • Many investors who rushed into the cryptocurrency boom last year are headed for financial ruin, as the digital tokens drop in value and seem unlikely to take off again. |
• Here’s a snapshot of global markets. | • Here’s a snapshot of global markets. |
• The British government has taken back control of a privately-run prison in Birmingham, England, above. Conditions were found to be so bad that after six months of private control, staff members were locking themselves in their offices to protect themselves. [The New York Times] | • The British government has taken back control of a privately-run prison in Birmingham, England, above. Conditions were found to be so bad that after six months of private control, staff members were locking themselves in their offices to protect themselves. [The New York Times] |
• Measles cases across Europe this year reached their highest number in two decades, just two years after a vaccination campaign came close to eliminating the disease from the Continent. [The New York Times] | • Measles cases across Europe this year reached their highest number in two decades, just two years after a vaccination campaign came close to eliminating the disease from the Continent. [The New York Times] |
• Nirav Modi, the celebrity jewelry designer who fled India amid accusations of bank fraud, has been found in Britain and is the subject of an extradition request. [The New York Times] | • Nirav Modi, the celebrity jewelry designer who fled India amid accusations of bank fraud, has been found in Britain and is the subject of an extradition request. [The New York Times] |
• The dog days of employee benefits. A company in Minneapolis is offering “fur-ternity” leave for new pet parents. [The New York Times] | |
• Police shot dead a man who was wielding a knife inside a police station in the Spanish city of Cornella. The incident is being treated as a “terror attack,” the authorities said. [CNN] | • Police shot dead a man who was wielding a knife inside a police station in the Spanish city of Cornella. The incident is being treated as a “terror attack,” the authorities said. [CNN] |
• President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, in the latest desperate attempt to stem hyperinflation and fix his country’s flagging economy, rolled out a new currency pegged to an oil-backed cryptocurrency. His own Parliament says the move is illegal. [CNBC] | • President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, in the latest desperate attempt to stem hyperinflation and fix his country’s flagging economy, rolled out a new currency pegged to an oil-backed cryptocurrency. His own Parliament says the move is illegal. [CNBC] |
Tips for a more fulfilling life. | Tips for a more fulfilling life. |
• Our experts answer your fitness questions. | • Our experts answer your fitness questions. |
• Scared to talk about failure? Don’t be. | • Scared to talk about failure? Don’t be. |
• Recipe of the day: If you have any leftover chicken in the refrigerator (a rotisserie bird will do fine), make chicken enchiladas. | • Recipe of the day: If you have any leftover chicken in the refrigerator (a rotisserie bird will do fine), make chicken enchiladas. |
• Swipe right for some competition. A woman in New York pranked a group of men by luring them into dates via Tinder. When the men arrived, they discovered they were competing in a contest that made the TV show “The Bachelorette” look easy. | • Swipe right for some competition. A woman in New York pranked a group of men by luring them into dates via Tinder. When the men arrived, they discovered they were competing in a contest that made the TV show “The Bachelorette” look easy. |
• In 1958, a dapper young man stole $1.7 million from a Canadian bank. Six decades later, he returned to the scene of the crime for a drink. | • In 1958, a dapper young man stole $1.7 million from a Canadian bank. Six decades later, he returned to the scene of the crime for a drink. |
• Crows are often seen as symbols of bad luck and death. But at a theme park near Paris where they’re trained to pick up after humans, they represent environmental friendliness. | • Crows are often seen as symbols of bad luck and death. But at a theme park near Paris where they’re trained to pick up after humans, they represent environmental friendliness. |
Since the Louvre was closed on Mondays, the painting was missing for more than a day before anyone noticed. | Since the Louvre was closed on Mondays, the painting was missing for more than a day before anyone noticed. |
But when they did, visitors arrived in hordes to see the spot where “La Joconde,” better known as the Mona Lisa, once hung. Franz Kafka even made the trip to contemplate the space up close. | But when they did, visitors arrived in hordes to see the spot where “La Joconde,” better known as the Mona Lisa, once hung. Franz Kafka even made the trip to contemplate the space up close. |
The theft, on this day in 1911, “caused such a sensation that Parisians for the time being have forgotten the rumors of war,” The Times reported at the top of its front page. | The theft, on this day in 1911, “caused such a sensation that Parisians for the time being have forgotten the rumors of war,” The Times reported at the top of its front page. |
Sixty detectives were assigned to the case, and conspiracy theories abounded. “Possibly,” a police officer told The Times, “the theft was committed by a maniac.” | Sixty detectives were assigned to the case, and conspiracy theories abounded. “Possibly,” a police officer told The Times, “the theft was committed by a maniac.” |
In their search, the authorities didn’t pay enough attention to Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian laborer who created the protective glass around Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. He was questioned twice, and let go. | In their search, the authorities didn’t pay enough attention to Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian laborer who created the protective glass around Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece. He was questioned twice, and let go. |
Two years passed. | Two years passed. |
Mr. Peruggia then tried to sell the painting to Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Mr. Poggi immediately called the police. | Mr. Peruggia then tried to sell the painting to Giovanni Poggi, the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Mr. Poggi immediately called the police. |
The painting is now protected by bulletproof glass, and an alarm goes off if anyone tries to even touch the frame. | The painting is now protected by bulletproof glass, and an alarm goes off if anyone tries to even touch the frame. |
Kathleen Massara wrote today’s Back Story. | Kathleen Massara wrote today’s Back Story. |
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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. |