Tag Archives: December 2023

The New York Times — Saturday, January 6, 2024

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F.D.A. Issues First Approval for Mass Drug Imports to States From Canada

A pharmacy technician in blue reaches for a high shelf lined white pill bottles of all sizes in a pharmacy.

The agency authorized Florida to purchase medicines directly from wholesalers in Canada, where prices are far cheaper. Pharmaceutical companies oppose the plan.

Justices to Decide Whether Trump Is Eligible for Colorado Ballot

The Colorado Supreme Court ruled last month that the former president could not appear on the state’s Republican primary ballot because he had engaged in insurrection.

Heavy Rain in U.K. Causes Hundreds of Flood Warnings and Travel Disruptions

In London, around 50 people were evacuated from rising waters. Heavy rain brought similar scenes to parts of France and Germany.

Biden Faces Pressure on Immigration, and Not Just From Republicans

Mayors and governors from President Biden’s own party are looking for help with overflowing migrant encampments, packed shelters and busted budgets.

The New York Times — Friday, January 5, 2024

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Attacks Heighten Fears of a Wider War for the Middle East and U.S.

Emergency works carrying the body of a man to a vehicle.

The killing of a top Hamas leader in Lebanon and mysterious twin explosions in Iran heighten fears of a regional war that could draw in the United States.

Paxlovid Cuts Covid Death Risk. But Those Who Need It Are Not Taking It.

A close-up view of three Paxlovid pills resting on a small package of the drug.
High-risk patients who took Paxlovid early in their illness saw a 73 percent reduction in their risk of dying from Covid, but only 15 percent of eligible patients take it.Credit…Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

With Covid deaths rising to about 1,500 per week, researchers question why Paxlovid use has remained low among high-risk patients.

By Christina Jewett

Putin’s Drive to Rewrite History Snares a Retired Lithuanian Judge

A few years ago, Kornelija Maceviciene ruled against Soviet officers for a brutal crackdown on pro-independence protesters in her country in 1991. That has made her a target for a Russian court.

Menendez Case Focuses on How Qatar Trades Its Riches for Clout

The tiny Gulf state has cultivated relationships with powerful people and institutions to raise its global profile, and to protect its interests.

The New York Times — Thursday, January 4, 2024

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Leader’s Killing Is a Blow, but Not a Knockout, for Hamas

Workers spray water in front of a damaged building.

The killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a key Hamas strategist, in Lebanon sets the organization back at a vulnerable time. The group has rebuilt after the assassination of other leaders, though.

Bombing in Iran Kills Over 100, Sowing Confusion and Speculation

No one claimed responsibility for the bombing at a memorial for Qassim Suleimani, the top commander killed by a U.S. drone strike four years ago.

Strawberry Case Study: What if Farmers Had to Pay for Water?

With aquifers nationwide in dangerous decline, one part of California has tried essentially taxing groundwater. New research shows it’s working.

‘It’s State Propaganda’: Ukrainians Shun TV News as War Drags on

A government-approved news program intended to counter Russian disinformation and boost morale is coming under criticism for painting a rosy picture of the war.

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.

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.

Sensations: The Sounds Of Japanese Water Gardens

Yurara Sarara Films (December 31, 2023) – Japanese water gardens, built in the traditional style of a Tsukiyama Garden originating in Japan, often aim to make a smaller garden appear larger than it is.

In Japan, garden making is considered a high art, akin to the arts of calligraphy and ink painting. Traditionally, the art of garden making was passed from sensei to apprentice through oral transmission.

The New York Times Book Review – December 31, 2023

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THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW (December 31, 2023): The latest issue features Francis Ford Coppola Is Ready For His Close-Up – Sam Wasson’s supremely entertaining new book, “The Path to Paradise”, tracks the ups and downs, ins and outs, of a remarkable career.

The Problem of Misinformation in an Era Without Trust

This image shows the face of a wooden Pinocchio figure reflected in the screen of an iPhone on a bright red background. Pinocchio’s long nose protrudes a couple inches from the screen.

Elon Musk thinks a free market of ideas will self-correct. Liberals want to regulate it. Both are missing a deeper predicament.

By Jennifer Szalai

When the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk sat down for his profanity-laced interview at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit in late November, his petulant dropping of F-bombs received a lot of attention. Less noticed but far more revealing was his evident disdain for a humble word beginning with the letter T. “You could not trust me,” Musk said, affecting an air of tough-guy indifference in his shearling-collared flight jacket and shiny black boots. “It is irrelevant. The rocket track record speaks for itself.”

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