Tag Archives: April 2022

Morning News: Bulgaria & Poland Gas Cut, Singapore Politics, Venice Biennale

By shutting off gas to Poland and Bulgaria, Russia has made an aggressive move that may draw yet more European sanctions. How might the escalation end? 

The popularity of Singapore’s ruling party has slipped, a bit, so it has selected a kinder, gentler leader ahead of elections in 2025. And why the delayed Art Biennale in Venice was worth the wait

Previews: Times Literary Supplement – April 29, 2022

This week’s Times Literary Supplement for April 29, 2022 @TheTLS, featuring Carol Tavris on Darwinian feminism; @TomFStevenson on geopolitics; @TobyLichtig on Compartment No. 6; Edmund Gordon on the new Jennifer Egan; @hjccochrane on Primo Levi; @rinireg on borders – and more.

Spring View: Hirosaki Park Cherry Blossoms In Japan

Hirosaki park is considered as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan. It attracts over two million tourists across Japan. The park has about 2,600 trees of about 50 varieties and they are well-maintained by skilled gardeners.

The sakura viewing in Hirosaki Park is famous, not only because of the spectacular light-pink blanket of blossoms that arrive every spring, but for its old Somei-Yoshino cherry tree, planted in 1882.

Morning News: Russia-U.N. Meetings, Moldova Fears, Sudan Security, Netflix

We reflect on the meetings between Russia and the UN, and hear the reaction to the talks in Ukraine. Plus: we bring you the view on the war from Moldova, a report on floundering security in Sudan and Netflix’s declining subscribers.

Views: The Most Beautiful Passages & Arcades In Paris

Built for the most part in the 19th century, these arcades covered with glass roofs, created by piercing through other buildings, are a typically Parisian architectural feature. Most of them now house shopstearooms and restaurants. There are around 20 of them in Paris in the vicinity of the Grands Boulevards.

One of the oldest, the Passage des Panoramas, dates from 1799. It is home to the Théâtre des Variétés, inaugurated in 1807 and still providing entertainment. Each arcade has its own character. Passage Brady, commonly known as Little India, houses numerous Indian, Pakistan, Mauritian and Reunion shops. The Passage Verdeau houses numerous antique dealers. As for the Passage du Caire – the longest and the narrowest in the capital (more than 360 metres long) – it has a large concentration of wholesalers in ready-to-wear clothing as well as other clothes manufacturers.

Galerie Vivienne next door to the Palais-Royal is one of the most iconic covered passages. The nearby Galerie Véro-Dodat has many upmarket shops, like Christian Louboutin’s workshop-boutique. Passage du Grand-Cerf, a 12-metre-high structure made of metal and wrought iron, is one of the most spectacular arcades in Paris. 

The Galerie Vivienne is one of the covered passages of Paris, France, located in the 2nd arrondissement. It is 176 metres long and 3 metres wide. The gallery has been registered as a historical monument since 7 July 1974.

Morning News: U.N. Chief In Moscow, U.S. Diplomats Return, Musk Buys Twitter

As UN chief António Guterres heads to Moscow, we give you the latest on his meeting with Vladimir Putin. Plus: US diplomats begin to return to Ukraine, Elon Musk strikes a deal to buy Twitter and a round-up of the latest news from the Nordic region.

London Views: Changing Of The Guard (April 2022)

Changing of the Guard (or Guard Mounting) is the ceremony where The Queen’s Guard hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St. James’s Palace to the New Guard.

The St. James’s Detachment of The Queen’s Guard mounts daily in Friary Court.