Category Archives: Views

The New York Times — Wednesday, Dec 27, 2023

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As World’s Gaze Shifts to Gaza, Israel’s Psyche Remains Defined by Oct. 7 Attack

An Israeli soldier at a road junction in the West Bank on Friday. The Oct. 7 attack shattered the idea that Israel’s blockade of Gaza and occupation of the West Bank could continue indefinitely without significant fallout.

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

For more than 600 days, New York City has scrambled to house thousands of migrants arriving from the southern border. This month, some migrants hoping for a bed slept on the sidewalk.

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.

Road Trips: Tour Of South Island, New Zealand (2023)

Curves Magazin (December 26, 2023) – A epic road trip through the southern island of New Zealand celebrating the 60th birthday of the Porsche 911.

The South Island of New Zealand is renowned for its mountains, lakes and glaciers. The Southern Alps, home to 3,724m-high Aoraki Mt. Cook, run along the entire length of the island. In the southwest is Fiordland National Park, with steep-sided Milford Sound. In the north is Abel Tasman National Park, known for its trails and ocean kayaking. Queenstown is famed for adventure sports like bungee jumping and skiing. 

The New York Times — Tuesday, December 26, 2023

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China Quietly Rebuilds Secretive Base for Nuclear Tests

Beijing is investing heavily in the modernization of Lop Nur, a sprawling military site where it long detonated atom bombs and thermonuclear warheads.

A White Christmas in New York City (if You Squint a Little)

It has not snowed in New York in a very long time. But onstage at Lincoln Center, inside a shop display, and in a busker’s saxophone, there are flakes to be found.

In Campus Protests Over Gaza, Echoes of Outcry Over Vietnam

The war in Vietnam ignited a protest movement that helped define a generation. Is the war between Israel and Hamas doing the same thing?

Netanyahu Visits Gaza as Palestinians Mourn an Attack That Officials Say Killed Dozens

The Gazan Health Ministry blamed Israeli airstrikes for the deaths, and Israel’s military said it was reviewing the episode.

The New York Times — Monday, December 25, 2023

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Hoping for Peace With Houthis, Saudis Keep Low Profile in Red Sea Conflict

Riyadh is seeking to avoid getting dragged back into a bloody clash with the Yemeni militia, which has sowed chaos by attacking shipping and firing missiles at Israel.

America’s Truckers Face a Chronic Headache: Finding Parking

A rest area with truck parking on the eastbound side of Interstate 90 near Salem, S.D.

Parking spots for trucks are in short supply around the country, and the problem can lead to unsafe situations for long-haul truck drivers and other motorists.

Christmas Comes Early in Ukraine, but Not a Moment Too Soon

Santa handing out gifts to children on Friday at a festival in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church formally changed the date for celebrating to Dec. 25, departing from the Russian tradition of celebrating on Jan. 7, according to the Julian calendar.

What Went Wrong for Ron DeSantis in 2023

The Florida governor entered the year flush with cash and momentum. In the months since, internal chaos and Donald Trump’s indictments have sapped even his most avid supporters.

Apple’s Newest Headache: An App That Upended Its Control Over Messaging

Beeper Mini, which offers iPhone messaging on Android phones, has grown fast and its duel with the tech giant has gotten the attention of antitrust regulators.

Switzerland Train Travel: The Glacier Express – Brig To Andermatt (Dec 2023)

AKSense – Zurich Films (December 24, 2023) – The Glacier Express is the world’s slowest and Switzerland’s most elegant express train. This video is between Brig and Andermatt stations.

The entire route takes around 8 hours, the Glacier Express takes you across the Swiss Alps between St. Moritz and Zermatt regions, passing through narrow valleys, tight curves, 91 tunnels, and over 291 bridges including the unique Landwasser viaduct (UNESCO site).

The New York Times — Sunday, December 24, 2023

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Putin Quietly Signals He Is Open to a Cease-Fire in Ukraine

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia speaking at a rally in February at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Despite its bravado in public, the Kremlin has indicated its interest in striking a deal to halt the war — so long as it could still declare victory.

Ghosts on the Glacier

Decades after the unexplained deaths of two American climbers in Argentina, a camera belonging to one of them was found in the snow. The film held astonishing images, but the mystery endures.

‘God Is Under the Rubble in Gaza’: Bethlehem’s Subdued Christmas

The war in Gaza has prompted the city, traditionally seen as the birthplace of Jesus, to tone down its Christmas celebrations.

2023 in Photos: A Weary World

Photographers captured historic moments of war, grief and wonder that defined the year.

The New York Times — Saturday, Dec 23, 2023

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U.N. Passes Resolution on Gaza Aid but Does Not Call for ‘Suspension of Hostilities’

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution, 13-0, on Friday that would allow for more aid to enter Gaza. The United States and Russia abstained.

After a week of heated negotiations, the U.N. Security Council approved a measure that called on Israel and Hamas to pause the fighting to allow for the delivery of more humanitarian aid.

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Case on Trump’s Immunity Defense for Now

Any significant delays could plunge the trial into the heart of the 2024 campaign season or push it past the election.

The case will instead first be heard by a federal appeals court, which has put it on a fast track, scheduling arguments for Jan. 9.

Hunter Biden Text Cited in Impeachment Inquiry Is Not What G.O.P. Suggests

A 2019 message from the president’s son alluded to giving his father half his salary. The back story offers unflattering insights into the Biden family but does not support assertions of corruption.

A World Leader on Ukraine, the U.S. Is Now Isolated Over Gaza

The United States finds itself in a defensive crouch and at odds with even staunch allies like France, Canada, Australia and Japan.

Hiking Tours: Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

Harmen Hoek Films (December 22, 2023) – In November 2023, I hiked the O-trek (including the W-trek) in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile in southern Patagonia.

Video timeline: 0:00 Puerto Natales 0:50 Mirador Base Las Torres (1st time) 3:40 Day 1 – Glacier and Camp Dickson 10:06 Day 2 – Glacier and Camp Los Perros 13:46 Exploring the Puma Glacier 15:45 Day 3 – Glacier Grey and Paso John Garner 21:08 Day 4 – Storm to Mirador Británico 24:35 Day 5 – Sunrise at Mirador Base Las Torres 26:38 Outro with photos

Day 1: I traveled by bus from Puerto Natales, entered the park at Laguna Amarga, and set up camp at Las Torres. I hiked to Mirador Base Las Torres, covering 23 kilometers.

Day 2: I trekked 39 kilometers to Campamento Dickson, passing Rio Paine, Campamento Seron, and Lago Paine, with the glacier Dickson in the distance.

Day 3: I covered 25 kilometers through a stunning forest to Los Perros, passing the Perros Glacier, and did a day-hike to the Puma Glacier on a non-maintained trail.

Day 4: The day started with a climb to the Paso John Garner pass in snow. At top I got a mesmerizing view of the white expanse of Grey Glacier. I followed the trail along the glacier to Campamento Grey, then to Paine Grande campground.

Day 5: despite the rain, I covered 43 kilometers. I hiked up to Mirador Británico and back to Central via Camping Francés and Refugio Los Cuernos.

Day 6, I woke up at 2:30 am and climbed to Mirador Base Las Torres, completing the final 20 kilometers of my 182-kilometer journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia.

360° Views: Swambhuinath Monkey Temple In Nepal

AirPano VR Films (December 22, 2023): Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is known for its long legendary history. The city was founded in the 2nd century A.D. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world.

One of the most beautiful temples in Kathmandu – the Swayambhunath temple. Swayambhunath is known as the Monkey Temple. So called “Holy monkeys” live on the site of this temple. They are as much of a tourist attraction as are the temple, the large Buddha stupa, the monasteries and other buildings of the Swayambhunath complex.

The New York Times — Friday, December 22, 2023

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U.S. Says It’s Ready to Back U.N. Resolution to Allow More Aid Into Gaza

U.N. headquarters in New York. Diplomats were working on an aid deal for Gaza.

The timing for a vote on the Security Council resolution was unclear. Diplomats were focused on who would oversee the inspection of aid entering the enclave.

Key Hamas Plotters of Oct. 7 Elude Israel’s Grip on Gaza

Israel has battered Gaza in its quest to destroy Hamas, without finding the commanders it has named as its most important targets.

Live from the Jungle: Migrants Become Influencers on Social Media

TikTok, Facebook and YouTube are transforming global migration, becoming tools of migrants and smugglers alike.

Democrats Keep Hoping It’s Curtains for Trump. He’s Still Center Stage.

As Donald Trump faces a new threat to his political future, this time over the question of ballot eligibility, Democrats again find themselves looking toward American institutions to stop him.