Christmas Day Morning: A 2023 Review From London

The Globalist Podcast (December 25, 2023) – Tom Edwards looks back at the year in design and architecture. We also visit a wooden-toy factory in Finland and Andrew Mueller recaps the past 12 months with a special ‘What We Learned’.

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.

Travel Guide: A Day In Regensburg, Germany

DW Travel (December 24, 2023) – DW’s Hannah Hummel hosts an experience of maximum Middle Ages. Regensburg in Bavaria is one of the largest preserved medieval cities in Germany.

Video timeline: 00:00 Intro 00:55 Regensburg Cathedral 04:14 Stone Bridge 05:05 Stadtamhof quarter 05:25 Sausages with Sauerkraut at the Historic Wurstkuchl 06:46 Stroll through the Old town 07:37 Walhalla

Not far from Regensburg lies an important national monument for the Germans: the Walhalla. Find out what it’s like to visit the Germans’ “Hall of Fame”!

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).

Sunday Morning: Stories And News From Zürich

Monocle on Sunday, December 24, 2023 – Monocle’s editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, brings us a festive programme from the radio studio in Zürich.

Featuring journalist Juliet Linley, as well as Monocle’s Andrew Tuck, Nic Monisse and Robert Bound.

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.

Historical: Saving John Steinbeck’s ‘Western Flyer’

CBS Mornings (December 23, 2023) – After writing “The Grapes of Wrath,” author John Steinbeck explored the Gulf of Mexico in a famous boat called the Western Flyer.

Since then, the boat has inspired adventurers and scientists for generations, but the original ship was nearly lost. CBS News’ Jeff Glor reports on the person determined to give it new life.

International Art: Apollo Magazine – January 2024

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Apollo Magazine (December 23, 2023): The new January 2024 issue features ‘The Last Days of Vincent Van Gogh’; What’s in store for the art market?; Paris pays tribute to Agnès Varda, and more…

Breath of fresh air – Gerhard Richter in the Alps

Three exhibitions in the Engadin Valley explore how the Swiss mountains have inspired some of the painter’s most playful work

Remembering the festive geese of Christmas past

The festive bird has often been served up by artists and writers including J.M.W. Turner and Charles Dickens

Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London

Monocle on Saturday, December 23, 2023: Join Simon Brooke and Georgina Godwin as they take a look through the news and culture this festive season.

Plus, discover the stories behind New York’s Rockefeller’s Christmas tree and Quebec City’s Christmas mascot.

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.

News, Views and Reviews For The Intellectually Curious