JOURNEYS (October 14, 2024): The weekend begins in the city center, the busy Gran Via boulevard, which connects the city’s east end, home to Madrid’s famous Golden Triangle of art museums and El Retiro Park, with the western side, where the opulent Royal Palace sits.
Tag Archives: Travel
The New York Times — Monday, October 14, 2024
The Ground Game: Harris’s Turnout Machine vs. Trump’s Unproven Alliance
Both parties are frenetically chasing votes in the counties that could very well decide the election. In many places, inexperienced conservative groups are going up against a more tightly organized Democratic operation.
China’s ‘New Great Wall’ Casts a Shadow on Nepal
Nepalis have complained that China’s breaches of the border threaten their land and their way of life.
A Frustrated Trump Lashes Out Behind Closed Doors Over Money
Donald J. Trump is feeling aggrieved, unappreciated by donors and fenced in by security concerns in the final stretch of the race.
California Tries ‘Trump-Proofing’ Its Climate Policies
A second Trump administration would be expected to shred climate polices. California officials are devising ways to insulate its environmental regulations.
Travel Tours: One Day In Cambridge, England
DW Travel (October 13, 2024): Come with us to Cambridge! DW reporter Clare will show you all the must-sees in the famous English university town. From punting on the Cam river alongside the tradition-rich colleges to the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:30 Breakfast at Fitzbillies bakery 01:27 Stroll around the town, Corpus Christi College 01:50 Corpus Clock 02:09 Punting on the river Cam 03:40 Ryder & Amies souvenir shop 04:20 British lunch with supermarket sandwiches 04:52 Fitzwillam Museum 05:40 Grantechester, Orchard Tea Room🍵 06:27 Ending the day in a pub
What’s more, Clare will show you how she takes a typical English midday break. So, would you like to come on an outing to Cambridge?
The New York Times — Sunday, October 13, 2024
Black Voters Drift From Democrats, Imperiling Harris’s Bid, Poll Shows
Vice President Kamala Harris is on track to win a majority of Black voters, and has brought many back to her party since taking over for President Biden. Still, a significant gap in support persists.
Secret Documents Show Hamas Tried to Persuade Iran to Join Its Oct. 7 Attack
The Times reviewed the minutes of 10 meetings among Hamas’s top leaders. The records show the militant group avoided several escalations since 2021 to falsely imply it had been deterred — while seeking Iranian support for a major attack.
Musk Is Going All In to Elect Trump
Elon Musk is planting himself in Pennsylvania, has brought his brain trust to help and may even knock on doors himself.
One of the Loneliest Countries Finds Companionship in Dogs
They have become pampered family members in South Korea, which has the world’s lowest birthrate and where much of the population lives alone.
Travel: Exploring The World’s Greatest Cities
TRACKS – Travel Documentaries (October 12, 2024): Explore the vibrant blend of modernity and tradition in cities like Hong Kong, showcasing its futuristic skyline and cultural heritage. Throughout this 4 hour marathon, prepare to whisked away to other global cities like New York, Sydney, and Rome, highlighting their unique character, architectural feats, and rich histories.
The New York Times — Saturday, October 12, 2024
Inside Donald Trump’s Shadow Presidency
In the years since he left the White House, former President Donald J. Trump has remained a force in international politics, meeting with a number of foreign leaders and operating out of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
Trump Aides Sought Enhanced Security for Closing Stages of Campaign
Susie Wiles, a top Trump campaign adviser, was in contact with the White House chief of staff and the head of the Secret Service seeking military assets and other steps.
Why Politicians Ignore Abuses in India’s Sugar Industry: They Run It
Politicians run most of the mills in the state of Maharashtra. They deny or downplay evidence of coerced hysterectomies, debt bondage and child labor in the fields.
For Atomic Bomb Survivors, a Nobel Prize and a Reckoning, 80 Years Later
Toshiyuki Mimaki, the chairman of Nihon Hidankyo, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, said his foremost wish was to “please abolish nuclear weapons while we are alive.”
Urban Architecture Tour: ‘Upper House’ In Brisbane
The Local Project (October 11, 2024): Addressing the issue of connection deficit in vertical living, Upper House fosters a sense of community among residents. Crafted by Koichi Takada Architects on behalf of developer Aria, the ultimate penthouse and spacious apartment building proposes a new, healthier way of inhabiting a city. Set in South Brisbane, known widely as a social and cultural hub, Upper House sits close to art galleries, theatres, bars and cafes.
Video timeline: 00:00 – Introduction to the Ultimate Penthouse 01:22 – Including the Surrounding Culture 02:07 – The Facade Inspiration 02:48 – The Calm Interiors and Layout 03:59 – A Neutral Material Palette 04:35 – The World Class Design 05:37 – A Walkthrough of the Wellness Retreat 06:17 – Creating a Connective Space
The project takes cues from the suburb, inviting people to come together: while the building offers 1000 square metres of communal amenities, it also embodies a work of art and features the ultimate penthouse. Michael Hurley, development director at Aria, describes the design as “a series of dancing balconies” with timber ribbon running up the facade and a triple-height timber rooftop.
“[The design] just screamed out and said ‘world-class, never-been-done-before’. It was curvy, it was organic, it was unique, and it was Aria” he says. At the base of Upper House, a large podium displays work by Indigenous artist Judy Watson. The piece recognises the Turrbal people as the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which the project is built. Beyond the podium, the facade is inspired by Moreton Bay fig trees – what can be viewed as ribbons are timber ‘roots’ framing the main structure and the ultimate penthouse. Curling around the edges of the roof, the bold details form a pergola and shading device that protect the open wellness retreat.
The New York Times Magazine – Oct. 13, 2024

THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE (October 11, 2024): The latest issue features ‘Al Pacino Is Still Going Big’…
The Interview – Al Pacino Is Still Going Big
Al Pacino has been one of the world’s greatest, most influential actors for more than 50 years. He’s audacious. He’s outrageous. He’s Al Pacino, and I’m pretty sure you know what that entails.
Why France’s Most Controversial Novelist Is Also Its Most Celebrated
Reviled as much as he is lauded, Michel Houellebecq holds up a mirror to a world we would rather not see.
Should Famous People Be Telling Us This Much About Their Illnesses?
For some celebrities, revealing all is part of the product. For others, it looks like a deeply unpleasant chore.
By Mireille Silcoff
The New York Times — Friday, October 11, 2024
Airstrikes in Beirut Kill at Least 22 and Level a Building, Lebanese Officials Say
Israel was behind the attack, Lebanon said, and it came on the same day that the U.N. said Israeli forces had fired on its peacekeepers, an episode that drew international condemnation.
Trump Spreads His Politics of Grievance to Nonwhite Voters
Eight years ago, he won over many white voters, who were often called the forgotten Americans. Now, he hopes to make inroads with Black and Latino voters by stoking resentments and pointing to scapegoats.
Republicans Appear Poised to Take Control of Senate, New Poll Shows
The latest polling from The New York Times and Siena College shows Republicans leading in key Senate races in Montana, Texas and Florida.
Ethel Kennedy, Passionate Supporter of the Family Legacy, Dies at 96
She never remarried after the assassination of her husband, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and she devoted herself to working on behalf of the causes he had championed.
The New York Times — Thursday, October 10, 2024
Inside the Battle for America’s Most Consequential Battleground State
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are pouring more money, time and energy into Pennsylvania than anywhere else, waging an ad war as they crisscross the state.
U.S. Races to Replenish Storm-Battered Supplies of IV Fluids at Hospitals
The F.D.A. has authorized shipments from overseas plants to ease shortages of IV bags caused by Hurricane Helene as hospitals begin rationing fluids to protect the sickest patients.
Nearly a Million Civilians Flee War in Lebanon, U.N. Says
A week into the ground war between Israel and Hezbollah, shelters in Lebanon are filling up beyond capacity, humanitarian officials warned.
Behind Trump’s Views on Ukraine: Putin’s Gambit and a Political Grudge
The roots of Donald Trump’s animus toward Ukraine — an issue with profound consequences should he be elected again — can be found in a yearlong series of events spanning 2016 and 2017.