Monocle on Saturday, December 18, 2023: Terry Stiastny joins Georgina Godwin for a look through the week’s news and culture. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, fails to secure long-term financial aid from the US and the EU, Rishi Sunak attends a hard-right-wing political festival in Italy and we learn about Finland’s festive TV genre – reindeer noir. Plus: Grace Charlton discusses Monocle’s Christmas gift-giving guide.
Category Archives: News
The New York Times — Saturday, Dec 16, 2023
Zelensky Returns to Ukraine With Little Aid and a Raft of Needs
The European Union’s willingness to open accession talks will lift morale, but the more immediate prospects for financial support from allies is sobering.
Women at Fast-Growing Realty Firm Say They Were Drugged and Assaulted
In lawsuits, five women say eXp Realty long ignored complaints that two male agents were preying on their female peers at alcohol-fueled work events.
Private Gun Ownership in Israel Spikes After Hamas Attacks
In a country already bristling with armed soldiers and reservists, a new sense of insecurity is pushing civilians to seek more personal weapons.
Jury Orders Giuliani to Pay $148 Million to Election Workers He Defamed
Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, wrongfully accused by Rudolph W. Giuliani of having tried to steal votes from Donald J. Trump in Georgia, were awarded the damages by a federal court in Washington.
News: 2024 U.S. Election, Trump Poll Surge, Biden Impeachment Inquiry
The Globalist Podcast (December 15, 2023) – The latest on the battle for the White House as Donald Trump surges in key swing-state polls and Joe Biden grapples with inflation, as well as a looming impeachment investigation.
Then: Moncole’s Tokyo bureau chief, Fiona Wilson, discusses the political fallout from Japan prime minister Fumio Kishida’s latest scandal. Plus: Vladimir Putin’s Year of the Family 2024 agenda, a flip through the papers and Andrew Mueller’s take on the news of the week.
The New York Times — Friday, December 15, 2023
Washington Urges Israel to Scale Down Its War in Gaza
The call for a more targeted phase in the war appeared to be the most definitive effort yet by the United States to restrain Israel in its retaliation against Hamas for the attacks it led on Oct. 7.
How the Israel-Hamas War Tore Apart Public Defenders in the Bronx
The Bronx Defenders is one of the most influential public defense organizations in the United States. But allegations of antisemitism have dogged it and have grown louder since Oct. 7.
Who Gets the Water in California? Whoever Gets There First.
As the world warms, the state is re-examining claims to its water that have gone unchallenged for generations.
Losing Hair, Gaining Followers
Hair-loss influencers on TikTok say they are destigmatizing a common insecurity. Critics say they are cashing in on a vulnerable audience.
News: Ukraine Membership In EU Opposed By Hungary, Putin News Conference
The Globalist Podcast (December 14, 2023) – We discuss Ukraine’s EU membership bid as Hungary vows to stand firm against its accession.
Plus: the latest on Vladimir Putin’s annual call-in, questions over Emmanuel Macron’s political future and Serbia’s messy election campaign. And: an interview with Bob van den Oord on the future of luxury travel and hospitality.
The New York Times — Thursday, Dec 14, 2023
In a First, Nations at Climate Summit Agree to Move Away From Fossil Fuels
Nearly 200 countries convened by the United Nations approved a milestone plan to ramp up renewable energy and transition away from coal, oil and gas.
Under Rules of War, ‘Proportionality’ in Gaza Is Not About Evening the Score
The concept, important for determining the legality of an act of war, is about weighing civilian harm against military objectives, not about achieving a balanced number of casualties.
Held Hostage in Gaza, a Thai Worker’s Prayers for Freedom Come True
A Thai farmworker clung to hope during her nearly 50 days of captivity in Gaza by befriending a young Israeli girl and dreaming of reuniting with her boyfriend, who had also been abducted.
Tesla Recalls Autopilot Software in 2 Million Vehicles
Federal regulators pressed the automaker to make updates to ensure drivers are paying attention while using Autopilot, a system that can steer, accelerate and brake on its own.
News: Qatar-Israel-Hamas Bribe Scheme; Rwanda Migrants, Liz Cheney & GOP
The Globalist Podcast (December 13, 2023) – We examine Benjamin Netenyahu’s alleged scheme to bribe Hamas through Qatar.
Also, Tim Bale explains how, in the UK, Tory factions are pulling the strings on Rwanda; Liz Cheney’s message to the GOP; and film critic Karen Krizanovich reveals how Japan is breathing life into the US box office.
The New York Times — Wednesday, Dec 13 2023
Biden Warns Israel It Is ‘Losing Support’ Over War
The president’s words exposed a widening rift between his administration and that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as casualties rise in Gaza.
Harvard’s Board Unites Behind Its President, but Its Campus Remains Splintered
Harvard’s governing body said it stood firmly behind Claudine Gay as the university’s president, a stance both praised and condemned by students, faculty and alumni.
Biden Says Russia Is Celebrating U.S. Divisions Over Providing Aid to Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine traveled to Washington to make a last-ditch appeal for more help to fight Russia. But Republicans said they wouldn’t act without a border deal.
How Africans Are Changing French — One Joke, Rap and Book at a Time
More than 60 percent of French speakers now live in Africa. Despite growing resentment at France, Africans are contributing to the evolution and spread of the French language.
News: Zelensky In The U.S. For Aid Talks, Hong Kong ‘Patriots Only’ Elections
The Globalist Podcast (December 12, 2023) – We examine Volodymyr Zelensky’s efforts to bolster unity amid a rift between the Ukrainian leader and his top general.
Also, pro-democracy activist Nathan Law unpacks Hong Kong’s “patriots only” elections, a flick through today’s papers and a look at Swarovski’s new flagship store on Fifth Avenue.
The New York Times — Tuesday, December 12, 2023
As Fighting Rages in Gaza, Israel Issues Warnings on Another Front
Top Israeli officials hinted at a powerful response to attacks by Hezbollah across the northern border with Lebanon, as to the south Israeli troops wage street battles against Hamas in Gaza.
Is Anti-Zionism Always Antisemitic? A Fraught Question for the Moment.
From the halls of Congress to America’s streets and universities, a once largely academic issue has roiled national discourse, inciting accusations of bigotry and countercharges of bullying.
To Revive Portland, Officials Seek to Ban Public Drug Use
State and local leaders are proposing to roll back part of the nation’s pioneering drug decriminalization law and step up police enforcement.
Record Rent Burdens Batter Low-Income Life
More tenants than ever spend half or more of their income for shelter, leaving less for everything else, taking an emotional toll and leaving some without a place to call their own.
Boomers Daily 