Sunday Morning: Stories From Zürich & Barcelona

July 16, 2023 – Monocle\’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, Alexandra Andrist and Chandra Kurt discuss the major topics of the weekend. Plus: we check in with our friends in London, Barcelona and Bangkok.

The New York Times – Sunday, July 16, 2023

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Small, Hidden and Deadly: Mines Stymie Ukraine’s Counteroffensive

Antitank mines littering the ground at a former Russian position in the village of Novodarivka, which was recently recaptured by Ukraine’s 110th Territorial Defense Brigade and other forces.

To gain ground, Ukrainian forces have to make their way through a variety and density of Russian land mines they never imagined.

Canadian Politicians Who Criticize China Become Its Targets

Kenny Chiu, a former member of Parliament representing a district outside Vancouver, appears to have been targeted by supporters of China because of his public criticisms of China’s human rights record.

As China increases its reach in diaspora communities, Chinese Canadian politicians in Vancouver are the focus of Chinese state interference in Canadian politics.

They Lost Their Legs. Doctors and Health Care Giants Profited.

Medical device makers have bankrolled a cottage industry of doctors and clinics that perform artery-clearing procedures that can lead to amputations.

‘Not for Machines to Harvest’: Data Revolts Break Out Against A.I.

Fed up with A.I. companies consuming online content without consent, fan fiction writers, actors, social media companies and news organizations are among those rebelling.

World Economic Forum: Top Stories- July 15, 2023

World Economic Forum (July 15, 2023) – This week’s top stories of the week include:

0:15 UK universities have a plan for AI – The guidelines aim to incorporate AI ethically into education and treat it as ‘an opportunity rather than a threat’. The UK’s 24 Russell Group universities are signing the principles.

2:07 This trolley can spot if you’re at risk of stroke – It has electrocardiogram (ECG) sensors embedded in its handles which screen you for heart irregularities as you shop. Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University fitted the sensors into 10 trolleys and rolled them out at 4 supermarkets in Liverpool, UK. Shoppers were invited to hold the handlebar for at least 60 seconds. If the sensor didn’t detect an irregular heartbeat, it lit up green. Over 2 months, the trolleys screened 2,155 people. They detected atrial fibrillation in 39 people who were swiftly able to book a cardiologist appointment.

3:50 Paris generates clean energy from Métro passagers – Energy firm IBERDROLA converted 6 turnstiles into mini-turbines at Miromesnil Métro station for 2 days last year. As each passenger passed through the turnstiles the turbines converted their movement into green energy. 27,000 passengers used the turnstiles. Each passenger generated 0.2 watts of energy. If scaled across the entire Métro system, which serves 1.5 billion passengers annually this technology could generate 136MW per year.

5:09 These sensors can spot stressed tomatoes – Their inventors say they can make agriculture more sustainable while increasing crop yields at the same time.

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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London

Monocle on Saturday, July 15, 2023: A look at the week’s news and culture with Georgina Godwin.

Plus: we are joined by journalist and author Charlotte Henry to flick through the morning’s papers and Monica Lillis explores the history of book bans and educational censorship. 

Finance Preview: Barron’s Magazine – July 17, 2023

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BARRON’S MAGAZINE – JULY 17, 2023 ISSUE

40 Investment Ideas From Our Roundtable Pros

40 Investment Ideas From Our Roundtable Pros

Our 10 Midyear Roundtable panelists see value in a variety of healthcare, industrial, media, and other stocks that the market has overlooked.

High-Speed Internet Will Boost Frontier Stock

High-Speed Internet Will Boost Frontier Stock

Three years after a bankruptcy filing, Frontier Communications plans to connect 10 million locations to its fiberoptic network.

The Treasury Hoped to Aid Low-Income Home Buyers. The Help Went to Johnny Depp, Too.

The Treasury Hoped to Aid Low-Income Home Buyers. The Help Went to Johnny Depp, Too.

A mortgage firm was tasked with lending to minority and low-income home buyers. So why have many of its loans gone to celebrities and the ultrawealthy? A Barron’s investigation.

The New York Times – Saturday, July 15, 2023

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House Narrowly Passes Defense Bill, Setting Up Showdown Over Social Issues

Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a dark suit speaking to a group of reporters.

Republicans loaded the measure with a raft of social policy provisions — including limits on abortions, gender transition procedures and diversity training — that have little chance of surviving in the Senate.

Vulnerable Republicans Take a Political Risk With Abortion Vote

Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia, right, is one of the Republican lawmakers whom Democrats hope to oust in next year’s election.

In uniting his party behind a defense bill loaded with social policy restrictions, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has raised questions over whether his short-term victory could imperil his majority.

New Heat Wave Descends on Europe, as It Struggles to Adapt

European governments have been slow to put in place broader mitigation strategies for extreme heat, allowing deaths to increase. This year may be no different.

Once ‘The Nanny,’ Now Center Stage as the Actors’ Union Leader

Fran Drescher, who became a household name for her role on a 1990s sitcom, is now president of the union going on strike.

The New York Times Book Review — July 16, 2023

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THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW – JULY 16, 2023: This week, Jeff Goodell’s “The Heat Will Kill You First,” feels particularly apt. “This is a propulsive book, one to be raced through; the planet is burning,” writes our critic Jennifer Szalai. But maybe you don’t want to think more than you already do about impending doom. We’ve got you covered: The issue brims with diversions — a charming novel about a reality TV show set on Mars,  fiction about complicated families and a slew of good memoirs, including ones from a senior intelligence officialthe war reporter Jane Ferguson and the actor Elliot Page.

Extreme Heat Is Here to Stay. Why Are We Not More Afraid?

This illustration depicts a large, bright purple iris, its petals on fire. Behind the flaming flower, we see a bright yellow, desert-like landsape, with low orange mesas and, above them, a sky that shifts from yellow to bright red — as if the sky itself is on fire.

In “The Heat Will Kill You First,” Jeff Goodell documents the lethal effects of rising temperatures and argues that we need to take hot weather a lot more seriously.

What Does It Even Mean to Be Real?

In Deborah Willis’s novel “Girlfriend on Mars,” a young woman enters a reality-TV contest to leave the planet, and her marijuana-farming boyfriend, behind.

GIRLFRIEND ON MARS, by Deborah Willis


Sometimes, a girlfriend needs space. Sometimes, she goes to space. That’s the — OK, obvious — premise of “Girlfriend on Mars,” a novel by the Canadian writer Deborah Willis, who knows what we’ve wished for from books all along, which is that they were TV instead.

360° Aerial Views: The ‘Red Roofs Of Montenegro’

AirPano VR Films (July 14, 2023) – Montenegro is a Balkan country with rugged mountains, medieval villages and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline. The Bay of Kotor, resembling a fjord, is dotted with coastal churches and fortified towns such as Kotor and Herceg Novi.

There are many Venetian stone buildings in Montenegro. Their pretty red roofs stand out against the forests, mountains, and bright blue sea. Clay tiles have been used by roofers for centuries. They are practical and can last a hundred years! And they are the subject of our walk through Montenegro today – a symbol of serene and warm southern towns.

Durmitor National Park, home to bears and wolves, encompasses limestone peaks, glacial lakes and 1,300m-deep Tara River Canyon. 

Italian Villas: A Tour Of A Chianti Estate In Tuscany

Romolini – Christie’s Real Estate (July 14, 2023) – This restored hamlet is located in the Chianti hills, in an outstanding and very panoramic position in the heart of the Tuscan countryside. Finely restored by the current owners, the property is a real gem that embodies all the typical characteristics of Tuscan rustic buildings.

Most of the buildings have already been restored and include, at the moment, 17 beautiful bedrooms and elegant living areas. By completing the renovation of the other farmhouses one could reach a grand total of 26 bedrooms. The property’s 15.3 hectares of land are home to a beautiful Italian garden and olive grove.

Travel Preview: Outside Magazine – July/Aug 2023

Outside Magazine July/August 2023 cover

Outside Magazine (July/August 2023) – The Power of Awe – Time outside can feel like an escape, but your mindset matters; A hilarious trek to an unforgettable Jungle Wedding; Nick Offerman’s Grand Kabuki Adventure, and more…

Time Outside Can Feel Like an Escape. But Your Mindset Matters.

Landscape view of a runner on a grassy hill

There are both healthy and harmful ways to get away from it all, psychologists point out

13 Lesser-Known Public Lands Adventures to Plan Now

Ediza Lake

It’s becoming harder to find a slice of nature all to yourself. But there are plenty of secluded sweet spots around the country if you know where to look. From national monuments and lakeshores to forests and scenic waterways, here are some stunning, uncrowded wildlands that are definitely worth exploring.