1. “I’m not a racist.” With
extraordinary directness, President Trump addressed a wave of outrage over
reports that he made
vulgar remarks at a White House meeting.
Mr. Trump has denied that he made
any crude comments, which have infuriated African nations, and a few Republican
lawmakers defended him. But the controversy has consumed Washington’s attention
even as a critical deadline approaches to avert a government shutdown.
To keep the government funded
past Saturday, lawmakers will need to pass a stopgap spending measure by the
end of the week, but some Democrats are pushing to oppose any bill that does
not also include a deal on DACA, the program protecting young undocumented
immigrants. But Mr. Trump’s incendiary comments have dimmed the possibility of
reaching such a deal.
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2. North Korea will send a
140-piece orchestra to perform in the Winter Olympics in South Korea, beginning
next month. It represents another step in the astonishing ratcheting down of
tensions between the neighbors.
But North Korea’s nuclear program
remains a concern. While American officials, including Defense Secretary Jim
Mattis and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
say they are committed to finding a diplomatic resolution, they are not taking
any chances.
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The U.S. military has begun
conducting exercises across the country (above, in Fort Bragg, N.C.) —
preparations for a war that military leaders hope never comes.
3. On Martin Luther King’s Birthday,
Americans reflected on the legacy of the civil rights leader.
In interviews on Sunday, black
Americans described how they’ve struggled to comprehend what is happening in a
country that was so recently led by an African-American president. “I’ve been
involved in the civil rights movement since my college days, and I’m not sure
I’ve ever been more confused than I am right now,” said one 94-year-old
activist.
Separately, a year after the huge
mobilization for the Women’s March event in Washington, the group behind it has
encouraged more protests, often at the grass-roots level. But a division over
priorities and tactics has led to a split, and a new group, calling itself
March On, is focused on winning elections, especially in red states.
4. “Clearly, nothing of this
magnitude was imagined.”
Devastating mudslides have left
at least 20 dead in Montecito, Calif., a wealthy coastal enclave near Santa
Barbara that is home to celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and
Jeff Bridges.
As search-and-rescue efforts
continue, residents are starting to reckon with their loss — and weigh the
risks of staying.
Recent wildfires denuded much of
the landscape, leaving the terrain vulnerable to erosion, and unfortunately for
Montecito, California’s rainy season is just beginning.
5. In Iran, people are not buying
the official account of three protesters’ deaths. Officials say that two killed
themselves in government custody, and that a third man was a terrorist who died
in a clash with security forces.
But in a striking show of
defiance, many Iranians are pointing to what they call glaring contradictions
in the official account, and demanding further investigation into the prison
deaths.
Perhaps most meaningfully,
President Hassan Rouhani, above center, who has defended the right of peaceful
protest, appeared to offer his support to those skeptical of the government’s
claims.
6. Dolores O’Riordan, the lead
singer of the Irish alternative rock group the Cranberries, has died in London
at age 46.
Ms. O’Riordan’s vocal stylings,
which showed a clear Celtic influence, were central to the appeal of the group,
which had hits like “Zombie” and “Dreams.”
Fans offered tributes on social
media. “She was part of my DNA, the soundtrack to my life,” one wrote.
7. The long shadow cast by Intel
has made it difficult for computer chip start-ups to scrounge up theinvestment
capital needed to break into the industry.
But budding interest in
artificial intelligence is providing a foothold for 45 new companies that are
dedicated to building processors exclusively for A.I.
At least five of them have raised
more than $100 million from investors, as venture capitalists seem to have
forgotten all about those forbidding roadblocks to a young company’s success.
8. Nine-hundred-ten carats.
That’s how much a diamond
discovered in Lesotho weighs. (At about 6.4 ounces, it’s heavier than a
billiard ball.) The stone, the world’s fifth-largest gem-quality diamond to be
found, is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars.
Unsurprisingly, shares of the
London-based company that owns a majority stake in the African mine jumped
sharply on news of the discovery.
9. American tennis fans were
dealt three major disappointments in quick succession, with the top U.S.
players Sloane Stephens, Venus Williams and CoCo Vandeweghe all falling in the
first round of the Australian Open.
Of the four American women to
reach the semifinals at the U.S. Open in September, only Madison Keys is still
in the singles tournament. You can catch her first match tonight at 9 p.m.
Eastern.
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