Tag Archives: Israel

The Economist Magazine – March 23, 2024 Preview

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The Economist Magazine (March 21, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Israel Alone’ – At a moment of military might, Israel looks deeply; ‘How To Trade An Election’ – It is getting harder for investors to ignore politics; China, Iran and Russia versus The West – Assessing the economic threat posed by the anti-Western axis…

At a moment of military might, Israel looks deeply vulnerable

The flag of Israel being blown in a sandstorm

America should help it find a better strategy

There is still a narrow path out of the hellscape of Gaza. A temporary ceasefire and hostage release could cause a change of Israel’s government; the rump of Hamas fighters in south Gaza could be contained or fade away; and from the rubble, talks on a two-state solution could begin, underwritten by America and its Gulf allies. It is just as likely, however, that ceasefire talks will fail. That could leave Israel locked in the bleakest trajectory of its 75-year existence, featuring endless occupation, hard-right politics and isolation. Today many Israelis are in denial about this, but a political reckoning will come eventually. It will determine not only the fate of Palestinians, but also whether Israel thrives in the next 75 years.

How to trade an election

It is becoming harder for investors to ignore politics

Illustration of a ballot box falling onto a piggy bank.

Investors differ in their approach to elections. Some see politics as an edge to exploit; others as noise to block out. Even for those without a financial interest, markets offer a brutally frank perspective on the economic stakes. As elections approach in America and Britain, as well as plenty of other countries, that is especially valuable.

The New York Times — Thursday, March 21, 2024

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Appeals Court Considers Reviving Texas Migrant Law, Now on Hold

As dizzying legal developments sowed confusion along the border, an appeals court panel appeared split over whether Texas’ migrant arrest law should remain on hold while the court fight continues.

Chasing Clicks in the Jungle: Right-Wing Influencers Descend on the Darién Gap

The treacherous migrant crossing in Panama is drawing packs of American activists who are distorting how immigration is perceived, and debated, at home.

The Walkway to Nowhere: A Monument to Hungary’s Patronage Politics

A beacon for “anti-woke” conservatives abroad, Prime Minister Viktor Orban keeps his grip at home by doling out cash, critics say. Behold the treeless “treetop canopy walkway.”

1d ago

The New York Times — Wednesday, March 20, 2024

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Hong Kong Adopts Sweeping Security Laws, Bowing to Beijing

The legislation targets “external interference” and the theft of state secrets, with implications for businesses, journalists, civil servants and others.

Supreme Court Won’t Block, for Now, Aggressive Texas Immigration Law

The law, which empowers local officials to arrest and deport migrants who enter the country without authorization, was challenged by the Biden administration as an affront to federal power.

Goon Squad Officer Is Sentenced to 20 Years in Mississippi Torture Cases

Six officers pleaded guilty last year to assaulting two Black men and shooting one of them in the mouth during a raid on their home.

The New York Times — Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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Supreme Court Wary of States’ Bid to Limit Federal Contact With Social Media Companies

The justices tried to distinguish between persuading social media sites to take down posts, which is permitted, and coercing them, which violates the First Amendment.

Behind Putin’s Potemkin Vote, Real Support. But No Other Choices.

Many Russians say they back their president, but it is far less clear what they might do if they were given alternatives.

Food Experts Predict ‘Imminent’ Famine in Northern Gaza

The warning came amid an Israeli raid on Al-Shifa Hospital. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed to send military and humanitarian officials to Washington to hear the Biden administration’s concerns.

The New York Times — Monday, March 18, 2024

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A New Surge in Power Use Is Threatening U.S. Climate Goals

A boom in data centers and factories is straining electric grids and propping up fossil fuels.

How Trump Is Scrambling to Raise Cash

The former president is facing converging financial crunches as he and the Republican Party confront a shortfall against President Biden and the Democrats.

Long Lines of Russian Voters Signal Discontent With Putin’s Tenure

Many appeared to be heeding a call by the opposition to express frustration by showing up en masse at midday. “We don’t have any other options,” said one woman.

The New York Times — Sunday, March 17, 2024

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How Trump’s Allies Are Winning the War Over Disinformation

Their claims of censorship have successfully stymied the effort to filter election lies online.

As Putin Pitches His Vision, Voters Avert Their Gaze From the War

Vladimir V. Putin, casting himself as the only leader able to end the war in Ukraine, is all but assured another term in a rubber-stamp election this weekend.

Driving With Mr. Gil: A Retiree Teaches Afghan Women the Rules of the Road

Local lore says that one 82-year-old professor has probably taught more Afghan women drivers in a California town than there are in all Afghanistan. For them, it’s not about empowerment; it’s for groceries.

Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London

Monocle on Saturday Podcast (March 16, 2024): Though voting has begun in Russia to elect the country’s next president, the results are unlikely to come as a surprise. However, there is resistance bubbling under the surface.

Join Georgina Godwin and Russia specialist Charles Hecker to discuss the run-up to the election. Plus: Tory donor Frank Hester’s racist comments, Boris Johnson’s unofficial talks in Venezuela and Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco interviews Lauro Andrade, founder of DW!  São Paulo Design Week.

The New York Times — Saturday, March 16, 2024

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Judge Rules D.A. Can Stay on Trump Georgia Case With Ex-Boyfriend Stepping Down

The highly anticipated ruling cut a middle path between removing Fani T. Willis for a conflict of interest and her full vindication.

Powerful Realtor Group Agrees to Slash Commissions to Settle Lawsuits

The National Association of Realtors will pay $418 million in damages and will amend several rules that housing experts say will drive down housing costs.

Another Gaza Aid Convoy Ends in Violence, With at Least 20 Killed

The Gaza Health Ministry accused Israel of a “targeted” attack. Israel’s military denied the accusation, blaming Palestinian gunmen for the violence.

Commentary Magazine – April 2024 Opinion Preview

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Commentary Magazine (March 15, 2024) The latest issue features ‘The Elite War On The American Middle Class…And How To End It’; The Big Lies about Israel’s Big Bombs…

The Elite War on the American Middle Class—and How to End It

by Christine Rosen

Being middle class in America used to mean something—something socially transformative, something even revolutionary. The American middle class represented a form of national social order never before seen on this earth—cultural domination not by the very rich and very educated, or the political domination either by tyrants or the mob, but by a mass of people, relatively well-to-do, who felt themselves fortunate in their circumstances. That was what made the American middle class different from the French or English bourgeoisie. Its members believed, and the country believed, that they were the nation’s backbone, its true governing class, and its moral compass.

The Four Questions of 2024

by Matthew Continetti

President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump squared off four years ago and are on track for the first major-party rematch since 1892. Biden and Trump are the oldest presidential candidates in history, and each man has an established political brand. Biden first won federal office in 1972, and it’s been over a decade since the GOP nominated someone other than Donald Trump. The 2024 election is like all the SIRIUS XM oldies stations—Classic Vinyl, Classic Rewind, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Radio—rolled into one.

The Hateful Candace Owens

by Christine Rosen

If you had never heard of Candace Owens until recently, you aren’t alone. Less than a decade ago, she was an unknown college dropout working as a marketing professional in New York, writing pieces for her company’s website about the “bat-s—t crazy antics of the Republican Tea Party.” Then, suddenly, she claimed to have experienced a political conversion. She told the libertarian political commentator Dave Rubin in 2017, “I became a conservative overnight. . . . I realized that liberals were actually the racists. Liberals were actually the trolls.”

The New York Times — Friday, March 15, 2024

Schumer Urges New Leadership in Israel, Calling Netanyahu an Obstacle to Peace

The top Senate Democrat, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States, spoke from the Senate floor to condemn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and call for elections to replace him.

Germany Looks to Stop the Far Right From Assuming Power

Mainstream parties are changing laws to protect government institutions. Critics say the changes risk undermining democracy.

Snakes in the Grass — and Under the Piano, by the Pool and in the Prison

Business is good for snake catchers in Australia, as the period of brumation, a sort of hibernation for reptiles, is shrinking — a result of the warming earth.