News: Israel Pushes Deeper Into Rafah, Internally Displaced People Report

The Globalist (May 14, 2024): We hear the latest as Israel invades Rafah from north and south.

Plus: the UK arrests three men for assisting Hong Kong’s intelligence services, the Norwegian Refugee Council reports on a record number of internally displaced people around the world, the latest in arts and culture, and a preview of Cannes Film Festival.

The New York Times — Tuesday, May 14, 2024

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Michael Cohen, Key to Trump Case, Tells Jurors of Seedy Hush-Money Plot

Donald J. Trump’s former bulldog told jurors about his work: threatening enemies, cleaning up problems and burying embarrassing stories.

On Instagram, a Jewelry Ad Draws Solicitations for Sex With a 5-Year-Old

Advertisers of merchandise for young girls find that adult men can become their unintended audience. In a test ad, convicted sex offenders inquired about a child model.

Trump Leads in 5 Key States, as Young and Nonwhite Voters Express Discontent With Biden

A new set of Times/Siena polls, including one with The Philadelphia Inquirer, reveal an erosion of support for the president among young and nonwhite voters upset about the economy and Gaza.

Secret Hamas Files Show How It Spied on Everyday Palestinians

Hamas monitored political activity, online posts, and apparently even love lives. Palestinians were stuck between an Israeli blockade and a repressive security force.

World Economic Forum: Top Stories – May 13, 2024

World Economic Forum (May 13, 2024) – The top stories of the week include:

0:15 Banking uplifts women in Pakistan – Pakistan has a large gender gap in financial inclusion. 47% of men have at least one registered financial account but just 13% of women. Even for those with an account, banking can be prohibitively time-consuming, especially for women who are running a business alongside a household. Now a new kind of digital banking service is helping to close this gap.

2:23 World’s busiest airports revealed – The world’s busiest airports in 2023 were dominated by the United States, with five airports cracking the top 10. Overall, global airports saw a significant rebound in 2023, handling a total of 8.5 billion trips.

4:39 WMO: Asia hardest hit by climate – In 2023, Asia saw a wave of extreme weather events from floods to cyclones. World Economic Forum Head of Climate Adaptation Eric White explains why climate change is making extreme weather more likely.

7:07 Saving Earth with space science – Simonetta Di Pippo says that space is already helping tackle the greatest challenges on Earth. Satellite connectivity is improving our management of disasters and powering digital transformation. Which is revolutionizing sectors from healthcare to education, retail and communication.

Previews: The New Yorker Magazine – May 20, 2024

Students are escorted by police as they cross a graduation stage to accept their diplomas.

The New Yorker (May 13, 2024): The new issue‘s cover features Barry Blitt’s “Class of 2024” – The campus tensions take center stage.

An Israeli Newspaper Presents Truths Readers May Prefer to Avoid

Haaretz consistently attempts to wrestle with the realities of what is going on in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.

By David Remnick

A British Nurse Was Found Guilty of Killing Seven Babies. Did She Do It?

Colleagues reportedly called Lucy Letby an “angel of death,” and the Prime Minister condemned her. But, in the rush to judgment, serious questions about the evidence were ignored.

The New York Times — Monday, May 13, 2024

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Michael Cohen Was Paid to Fix Trump’s Problems. Now He’s One of Them.

Mr. Cohen once called himself Donald J. Trump’s “designated thug.” Will he help bring about the ex-president’s downfall?

Yahya Sinwar Helped Start the War in Gaza. Now He’s Key to Its Endgame.

Hamas’s leader in Gaza is considered an architect of the Oct. 7 attacks that prompted Israel to retaliate. As mediators seek a cease-fire, a deal depends on Mr. Sinwar as well as his Israeli foes.

Fighting Flares Anew in Gaza as Hamas Regroups

The U.S. secretary of state warned that Israel’s victories over Hamas may not be “sustainable.”

Travel Tour: Exploring The Best Of Florence, Italy

DW Travel (May 10, 2024): Florence, in Italy, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Yet unsurprisingly, this Tuscan gem is often very crowded. Florence insider Sarah Hucal shows you her favorite spots, how to eat like a local and how to avoid spending your day in lines.

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:55 Florence Cathedral 01:20 Old Town, the Medici 02:07 Piazza della Signoria, meet Fulvio de Bonis from Imago Artis Travel (@imagoartistravel4292 ) 03:28 Ponte Vecchio 04:00 Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia, the statue of David 05:36 Oltrarno district 06:15 L’Ippogrifo etching atelier 07:33 Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo and San Miniato with Trio Chitarristico Fiorentino 08:39 Dinner at Trattoria Enzo & Piero, meeting author Kacie Rose (@kacierose )

Sunday Morning: Stories & News From Zürich, Malmö, Helsinki And London

Monocle on Sunday, May 12, 2024: Juliet Linley and Damita Pressl join Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, to discuss the weekend’s hottest topics.

We also speak to Monocle’s Helsinki correspondent, Petri Burtsoff, for the latest news from the Nordics and senior correspondent and music curator Fernando Augusto Pacheco joins us from Malmö to talk all things Eurovision. Plus: Monocle’s North Africa correspondent, Mary Fitzgerald, joins the programme to discuss speaking at the Beyond Words French literature festival event Taste of Marseille.

The New York Times — Sunday, May 12, 2024

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Trump May Owe $100 Million From Double-Dip Tax Breaks, Audit Shows

A previously unknown focus of an I.R.S. audit is a dubious accounting maneuver that effectively meant taking the same write-offs twice on a Chicago skyscraper.

The Long, Tortured Road to Biden’s Clash With Netanyahu Over Gaza War

The president offered strong support to Israel after Oct. 7 but has grown increasingly frustrated over the conduct of the war. “He has just gotten to a point where enough is enough,” a friend says.

How Republicans Echo Antisemitic Tropes Despite Declaring Support for Israel

Prominent Republicans have seized on campus protests to assail what they say is antisemitism on the left. But for years they have mainstreamed anti-Jewish rhetoric.

The New York Times Magazine – May 12, 2024

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (May 11, 2024): The ‘Retirement Issue’ features…

These Couples Survived a Lot. Then Came Retirement.

Yvonne McCracken stands behind Richard McCracken while he stares at a computer. Pretzel crumbs are scattered across some papers on the table.

For many relationships, life after work brings an unexpected set of challenges.

By Susan Dominus

This spring, Barbara and Joe, a retired couple in their 60s, sat down with me at a bistro in suburban Connecticut to talk about their relationship. That they were sitting there together at all was something of a triumph. In the past few days, they had hurled at each other the kinds of accusations that couples make when they are on the brink of mutual destruction. They were bruised from the words that had been exchanged, and although they sat close to each other, their energy was quiet and heavy.

How to Make Retirement Less Scary

A Times financial columnist and an illustrator share an exercise that can prepare you for life after work.

By Ron Lieb

Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London

Monocle on Saturday (May 11, 2024): The Eurovision final is nearly here. Latika Bourke, Sîan Pattenden and Georgina Godwin discuss the latest news from Malmö as well as Sîan’s eleventh consecutive charity live draw.

Monocle’s resident Eurovision expert, Fernando Augusto Pacheco, speaks to the show’s production designer, Florian Wieder, and the lighting and screen-content designer, Fredrik Stormby, from the competition’s main stage. Plus: David Lammy in the US and the tourist crackdown in the Balearic Islands.