Category Archives: News

The New York Times —- Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025

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Republicans Embrace Hegseth as Democrats Question His Fitness to Lead Pentagon

Pete Hegseth emerged from a Senate committee hearing with the support of the Republican Party intact following weeks of scrutiny over his qualifications and allegations of misconduct.

Israel and Hamas Are ‘on the Brink’ of Cease-Fire Agreement, Blinken Says

The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, appear to be making progress after months of failed attempts to achieve a breakthrough.

L.A. Wildfire Evacuees Scramble to Find Sleep in Shelters, Hotels and Even Cars

More than 90,000 people under evacuation orders are making do however they can.

Special Counsel Report Says Trump Would Have Been Convicted in Election Case

The report, which said the special counsel’s office stood “fully behind” the merits of the prosecution, amounted to an extraordinary rebuke of the president-elect.

News: Ceasefire Deal In Gaza, Impeachment Trial Begins In South Korea

MONOCLE RADIO (January 14, 2025): The impeachment trial for South Korea’s embattled president, Yoon Suk Yeol, gets under way with the first hearings in Seoul. Also on the programme: Pope Francis’s biography is published and leaders of Nato’s Baltic nations talk defence.

Then: has there been a “breakthrough” in a deal between Israel and Hamas? Plus: the life and legacy of Italy’s Oliviero Toscani, the photographer behind shock Benetton ads.

The New York Times – Tuesday, January 14, 2025

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Once the Fires Are Out, California Must Remove Tons of Dangerous Debris

Clearing the toxic remnants of burned buildings around Los Angeles will require a complex and expensive mobilization. California has been there before.

This Is Where the Palisades Fire Started

In the hills above Pacific Palisades, there is crime scene tape and scattered debris, clues to what may have caused the initial fire that eventually raged through thousands of structures.

Biden Aides Warned Putin as Russia’s Shadow War Threatened Air Disaster

The White House scrambled to get a message to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia last year after U.S. intelligence agencies said a Russian military unit was preparing to send explosive packages on cargo planes.

Battles Rage Inside Russia, With Waves of Tanks, Drones and North Koreans

Ukrainian soldiers are describing fierce clashes as Russian forces try to retake territory in the Kursk region that could be key in eventual cease-fire talks.

News: Election Results In Croatia, Iran Nuclear Talks Begin In Geneva

MONOCLE RADIO (January 13, 2025): Presidential election results are announced in Zagreb and nuclear talks between the UK, Germany, France and Iran kick off in Geneva. Then: show me the mooney! We investigate the future of lunar investment. Plus: master of wine Patrick Schmitt serves up the latest news for oenophiles.

The New York Times – Monday, January 13, 2025

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Before Taking Office, L.A.’s Mayor Said She Would Not Go Abroad

Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles has been criticized for being out of the country when the wildfires broke out. Three years ago, she promised in an interview to cut back on her world travel and focus on the city.

Despite Trump’s Attacks, Republicans Made Big Gains in Mail Voting

As Republican voters embraced a practice that Donald J. Trump railed against for years, softening his tone only slightly in 2024, the party eroded a key Democratic advantage across the country.

Palisades Lost

Days after a devastating wildfire, residents of Pacific Palisades have started sifting through the ruins, and their memories.

Fed-Up Voters in Louisiana Wanted a Change. They Drafted an ‘Old Ball Coach.’

Sid Edwards was a high school football coach who had never run for office. Now, he’s the mayor of Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s second-largest city.

The New York Times – Sunday, January 12, 2025

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L.A. Was Prepared for Serious Fires. But It Wasn’t Ready for Four.

“There were too many houses to protect, and not enough engines,” one fire captain in Los Angeles said. Though fire officials say they were well-prepared and simply overwhelmed by the elements, questions are being raised about whether the intensity of modern fires requires a new playbook.

‘We’re in a New Era’: How Climate Change Is Supercharging Disasters

Extreme weather events — deadly heat waves, floods, fires and hurricanes — are the consequences of a warming planet, scientists say.

Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Sprint to Remake Meta for the Trump Era

After visiting President-elect Donald J. Trump in November, Mr. Zuckerberg decided to relax Meta’s speech policies. He asked a small team to carry out his goals within weeks. The repercussions are just beginning.

Putin Gets a Snub in the Vast Wine Cellars of a Former Soviet Republic

The Russian president celebrated his 50th birthday at a winery in Moldova. After the invasion of Ukraine, it moved the bottles he was given away from public view.

World Economic Forum: Top Stories Of The Week

World Economic Forum (January 11, 2025): This week’s top stories of the week include:

0:15 What do the jobs of the future look like? – The world of work is changing fast. While 92 million jobs may disappear over the next 5 years, nearly 170 million new ones will emerge, driven by new technology and the energy transition. What are these new jobs and which sectors will see the greatest changes? Find out in the 2025 Future of Jobs Report.

1:40 Here’s how factories are changing – Chindarat Ninnama tells us the story of how data and digital tools transformed her factory job into a career brimming with new opportunities. A shortage of workforce talent is a major barrier to the digital transformation of manufacturing. Western Digital is part of the World Economic Forum’s Frontline Talent of the Future initiative, which has built a playbook of solutions to address this

5:28 Global cooperation has flatlined – The world is facing a perfect storm of challenges, with global security at a crisis point and competition escalating. The climate crisis has intensified, with 2024 recorded as the hottest year ever. Economic growth remains sluggish, with the IMF projecting global growth of just 3.2% in 2025—and only 1.8% in developed economies.

7:47 These are the most essential skills for work – The jobs of tomorrow will require a new set of skills. The latest Future of Jobs report surveyed company executives on the most in-demand skills of the workplace – both today and in 2030. Find out what the ‘hirers’ of the future are looking for.

#WorldEconomicForum

The New York Times – Saturday, January 11, 2025

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The President-Elect Is a Felon, but His Sentence Carries No Penalty

Justice Juan M. Merchan gave Donald J. Trump a symbolic punishment. The judge said that leniency was due the office of the president, not the man who will soon hold the title.

An Inferno in Southern California, and One Family’s Escape

Aurielle Hall knew she had little time to get herself and her daughter out of Altadena. Convincing Aunt Cheri would be a different challenge.

L.A. Fires Show Limits of America’s Efforts to Cope With Climate Change

California has focused on fortifying communities against wildfires. But with growing threats, that may not be enough.

Drug Company to Share Revenues With Indigenous People Who Donated Their Genes

Variant Bio, a small biotech company based in Seattle, is using genetic information from Indigenous people to develop drugs for obesity and diabetes.