Monocle on Saturday, December 30, 2023: Latika Bourke and Georgina Godwin look back at the biggest news and culture stories of 2023. Plus: Andrew Mueller gives us his alternative take on this year’s events.
Category Archives: News
The New York Times — Saturday, Dec 30, 2023
How the Supreme Court May Rule on Trump’s Presidential Run

The legal issues are novel and tangled, experts said, and the justices may be wary of knocking a leading presidential candidate off the ballot.
Russia Pounds Ukrainian Cities in One of the Largest Air Attacks of the War

The missile and drone attacks killed at least 30 people and damaged critical industrial and military infrastructure, part of a wintertime campaign that Ukraine had been dreading.
Where Was the Israeli Military?
A Times investigation found that troops were disorganized, out of position and relied on social media to choose targets. Behind the failure: Israel had no battle plan for a massive Hamas invasion.
How America’s Diet Is Feeding the Groundwater Crisis
As dinner tables and snack menus feature far more chicken and cheese, farms are expanding where water is scarce.
News: Election Issues As Maine Bars Trump From Ballot, UK Immigration
The New York Times — Friday, December 29, 2023
Israel Expresses Regret for ‘Unintended Harm’ to Civilians in Gaza Airstrike

The Israeli military said it was “working to draw lessons” from an attack in central Gaza that was reported to have killed dozens of people.
Earth Was Due for Another Year of Record Warmth. But This Warm?

Scientists are already busy trying to understand whether 2023’s off-the-charts heat is a sign that global warming is accelerating.
The Covenant Parents Aren’t Going to Keep Quiet on Guns
A group of parents reeling from a mass shooting at their children’s private Christian school believed no one was in a better position to persuade the G.O.P. to enact limited gun control.
News: Israel-Hezbollah War Risks, Architect Of EU Jacques Delors Dies At 98
The New York Times — Thursday, Dec 28, 2023
Skepticism Grows Over Israel’s Ability to Dismantle Hamas

Israel has vowed time and again to eliminate the group responsible for the brutal Oct. 7 attack, but critics increasingly see that goal as unrealistic or even impossible.
Nearly Two Million Crowd Into Gaza’s South as Fighting Intensifies

As Israel’s ground campaign broadens in southern Gaza, thousands more people are pouring into areas that are struggling to offer shelter or security.
Michigan Supreme Court Decides Trump Can Stay on Ballot
After Colorado’s top court ruled that the former president was disqualified for engaging in insurrection, justices in Michigan considered a similar challenge.
Chinese Spy Agency Rising to Challenge the C.I.A.
The ambitious Ministry of State Security is deploying A.I. and other advanced technology to go toe-to-toe with the United States, even as the two nations try to pilfer each other’s scientific secrets.
News: 2024 Iowa Caucuses, Volcanic Risks In Naples
The New York Times — Wednesday, Dec 27, 2023
As World’s Gaze Shifts to Gaza, Israel’s Psyche Remains Defined by Oct. 7 Attack

Hamas’s brutal raid and taking of hostages has left Israelis deeply traumatized and is expected to reshape the country for years to come.
Chaos, Fury, Mistakes: 600 Days Inside New York’s Migrant Crisis

More than 150,000 people have arrived in less than two years, throwing the city into crisis. Missed opportunities made things even harder.
A New Tax on Imports and a Split From China: Trump’s 2025 Trade Agenda
Donald J. Trump plans to sharply expand his use of tariffs if he returns to power, risking disruption to the economy in an attempt to transform it.
A Natural Gas Project Is Biden’s Next Big Climate Test
A proposed export terminal on the Louisiana coast highlights the tension between economic growth, geopolitics and the environment.
Reviews: Most Important Political Stories Of 2023
FiveThirtyEight (December 26, 2023) – A quick roundup of the most important political stories this past year.