Category Archives: Views

The New York Times — Wednesday, January 3, 2024

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Top Hamas Official Is Killed in Lebanon as Fears Grow of a Wider War

People search for survivors following a strike in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday.

The Israeli government would not comment on the death of Saleh al-Arouri. But a U.S. official said to expect Israel to assassinate Hamas officials “for years.”

The Twin Fronts in the Battle Over Israel’s Identity

The Israeli Supreme Court in September last year. Its decision on Monday displayed anew the cultural war at the heart of the country’s politics.

Monday’s court ruling joined the war in Gaza in a widening crisis over what kind of state Israel will be.

A ‘Miracle’: Plane Erupts in Flames Landing in Tokyo, but All Aboard Survive

Japan Airlines said all 367 passengers and 12 crew members had safely, evacuated the jet. But five crew members on a Japanese Coast Guard plane that collided with it were killed.

Harvard President Resigns After Mounting Plagiarism Accusations

Claudine Gay faced backlash over the university’s response to antisemitism on campus, which led to increased scrutiny of her academic record.

The New York Times — Tuesday, January 2, 2024

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Israel’s Top Court Strikes Down Move to Curb Its Powers

Israelis watching a broadcast of the Supreme Court considering a challenge in September to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul.

The Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, rejected a law pushed by Netanyahu allies that limited its authority to review government decisions.

Can He Condemn the Killings Without Causing More Pain?

Chris George, the leader of Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, has struggled with whether and how the organization should issue a statement about the violence in Israel and Gaza.

Chris George has lived in Israel and Gaza, where he was once held hostage. As his employees ask him to speak out on the latest war, he is torn.

Powerful Earthquake Hits Japan, and Officials Warn of Aftershocks

There were reports of collapsed buildings and people being trapped underneath them. The quake disrupted electricity and phone service, and initially raised fears of a tsunami.

Police Officers Are Charged With Crimes, but Are Juries Convicting?

Since the death of George Floyd, a national movement promised sweeping justice reform. So far, police prosecutions have resulted in a mixed bag of convictions, acquittals and a mistrial.

National Geographic Magazine – January 2024

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National Geographic Magazine (January 1, 2024) The new issue features ‘Saving The Monarchs’ – Inside the movement to help these beautiful and vulnerable butterflies thrive; Can monarchs adapt to a rapidly changing world? – Extreme weather and rising temperatures threaten their epic migration, but scientists say targeted habitat restoration can help….

Follow the monarch on its dangerous 3,000-mile journey across the continent

The iconic North American butterfly’s annual migration patterns are under threat from habitat loss and extreme weather, causing its devoted fans to research solutions and push for protection from the Endangered Species Act.

He spent 50 days on a deserted island. Then he found a message in a bottle.

The sea of sand with waves and grass instead of sea-foam.

Jasper Doest spent nearly two months photographing the Netherlands’ Rottumeroog, where visitors are usually prohibited and he found a new sense of freedom.

The New York Times — Monday, January 1, 2024

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The U.S. and Israel: An Embrace Shows Signs of Strain After Oct. 7

President Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing among a group of people.

No other episode in the past half-century has tested the relationship between the United States and Israel in such an intense and consequential way as the Israel-Hamas war of 2023.

Half of Gazans Are at Risk of Starving, U.N. Warns

Palestinians crowded in to get a free meal in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza last month.

More than 90 percent of Palestinians in the territory say they have regularly gone without food for a whole day, according to the United Nations.

‘There’s No Other Job’: The Colonial Roots of Philippine Poverty

Decades after independence, the Philippines lacks the kind of factory economy that has lifted up other Asian nations, tying millions to farm work.

He Was One of the Central Park Five. Now He’s Councilman Yusef Salaam.

Mr. Salaam will take office 34 years after a wrongful prosecution for rape led to his spending nearly seven years in prison.

Travel: Making The Most Of Traveling In Germany

DW Travel (December 31, 2023) – Lukas Stege will provide you with insider information you need to know, which faux pas to avoid, which season is best, how much should you tip in restaurants, where should you stay, what’s the best way to travel around and finally, is Germany safe?

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:37 Geography and basics 01:35 Must-sees: Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Dresden 02:36 Seasons and weather: What to wear? Which festivals to visit? 04:08 Transportation and traffic 07:05 Accommodations 07:34 How safe is Germany? 08:00 Money 08:27 Particularities 09:40 Food and Beverages 10:21 Little language guide

The New York Times — Sunday, December 31, 2023

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‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7

A Times investigation uncovered new details showing a pattern of rape, mutilation and extreme brutality against women in the attacks on Israel.

Ukraine, Stalled on the Front, Steps Up Sabotage, Targeting Trains

A photo Russia released last month purporting to show the site of a derailed train in the Ryazan region, Russia. Russian authorities said the derailment was caused by an improvised explosive device.

As conventional forces struggle to break through defensive lines, both sides are increasingly turning to guerrilla tactics.

UKRAINE’S STOLEN CHILDREN

Some have returned to tell their stories. Thousands of others have not been as lucky.

They’re Paid Billions to Root Out Child Labor in the U.S. Why Do They Fail?

Private auditors have failed to detect migrant children working for U.S. suppliers of Oreos, Gerber baby snacks, McDonald’s milk and many other products.

Cinematic Travel Films: A Tour Of Venice, Italy (4K)

Denis Barbas Films (December 30, 2023) – Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.

The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.

The New York Times — Saturday, Dec 30, 2023

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How the Supreme Court May Rule on Trump’s Presidential Run

The Supreme Court may soon have to confront a consequential and potentially bruising case. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will doubtless seek consensus.

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

Smoke rising after a strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday.

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.

The New York Times — Friday, December 29, 2023

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Israel Expresses Regret for ‘Unintended Harm’ to Civilians in Gaza Airstrike

Palestinians mourning their relatives, killed in an overnight Israeli strike on the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, during a mass funeral at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on Monday.

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.

The New York Times — Thursday, Dec 28, 2023

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Skepticism Grows Over Israel’s Ability to Dismantle Hamas

An Israeli artillery unit in October near Netivot, Israel, firing toward Gaza.

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.