The legal troubles facing Donald Trump remain the top story not only in the U.S. but around the world, but three stories of very different types caught my attention in this news cycle.
They are all good news, generally speaking, which is rarely the case these days.
The first article comes from EuroNews. It describes how people who are multilingual are able to display different personality traits in the various languages they speak.
I first experienced this phenomenon myself as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan. Whereas both my bilingual Afghan and Western friends and I preferred English for our professional conversations, many of us turned to Dari, the local dialect of Farsi, for personal matters.
The two languages have different strengths, and in a certain way, they brought out different parts of our personalities when we used them with each other.
The EuroNews piece also argues that multilingual speakers can be better at creative thinking than monolinguals, as well as having several other advantages. My view is learning other languages helps to promote tolerance and appreciation of racial and cultural diversity.
The second article is in the Economist. It argues for an environmental approach based on promoting economic growth, not opposing it. For too long, these two values have seemed to be opposed, which ends up frustrating everybody.
But this article argues we can have both at the same time. “Economic growth should help, not hinder, the fight against climate change,” the piece maintains.
The third good news story today comes from a content genre I normally avoid — the celebrity guest article. But this one is special.
Jewel Kilcher, the pop singer who knows something about depression and hard knocks from her own difficult childhood, tells CNN about losing her friend Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, who struggled with depression and addiction. But she also describes the work they pioneered together, especially that devoted to helping at-risk children coping with mental heath issues.
“It turns out that, yes, happiness is a learnable skill,” she writes. “No matter our histories, we can all heal, grow and be high-performing people in healthy ways.”
These are but brief excerpts from the three articles, but follow the links to read the entire articles:
‘The Power of Language’: 5 ways multilingual brains work differently (EuroNews)
The case for an environmentalism that builds — Economic growth should help, not hinder, the fight against climate change (Economist)
When it comes to happiness, Jewel says society has it all wrong (CNN)
Now on to the rest of the news links, starting with Trump.
LINKS:
Donald Trump’s arraignment: How the world reacted (Al Jazeera)
The People Versus Donald J. Trump — The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, is effectively accusing the former President of defrauding voters in 2016. (New Yorker)
Trump lawyers blast DA Alvin Bragg's case, but legal experts say they'll regret it. Here's why (USA Today)
Trump Accused of Threatening Judge Hours After 'Incite Violence' Warning (Newsweek)
The glaring omission from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago speech (Independent)
The dubious legal theory at the heart of the Trump indictment, explained (Vox)
Biden Has the Oval Office. But Trump Has Center Stage. (NYT)
Fake Trump mug shots spread in lieu of real one (AP)
Fox News says Carlson, Hannity, Bartiromo set to testify at defamation trial (Reuters)
Pence won't appeal order compelling grand jury testimony (AP)
The Robots Have Finally Come for My Job (WSJ)
ChatGPT-controlled Furbies — is this the end of humanity? (BoingBoing)
Bill Gates says calls to pause AI won't 'solve challenges' (Reuters)
GPT-4 Gets Even Smarter With After Effects (Fstoppers)
The surprising case for AI boyfriends (NPR)
AI Is Running Circles Around Robotics (Atlantic)
ChatGPT is the hottest new job skill that can help you get hired, according to HR experts (CNBC)
'Screwed': Uber Claws Back Double Pay from Drivers After April Fools Glitch (Vice)
Progressive Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner and organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, won a hotly contested race for mayor of Chicago. Johnson’s victory in one of the starkest ideological proxy battles in the annals of recent municipal politics is a historic achievement for the activist left. [HuffPost]
Russian Journalists Sign Letter Demanding U.S. Reporter’s Release (Moscow Times)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Poland for an official visit to a close ally that has galvanized military and political support for Kyiv. (Reuters)
Ukraine’s fight against Russia has reached a stalemate, and neither side can make gains without a major advantagein weaponry or force size. (WP)
Taliban Bans Women From Working at U.N., Putting Afghan Aid at Risk (WSJ)
US Continues Relocating Afghans Even Under Taliban Rule (VoA)
Red Cross to cut 1,500 jobs over funding crunch (Deccan Herald)
Why are Turkey and Hungary against Sweden joining NATO? (Reuters)
China is ghosting the United States (Politico)
Repeating radio signal leads astronomers to an Earth-size exoplanet (CNN)
Ice sheets can collapse at 600 metres a day, far faster than feared, study finds (Guardian)
Lake Mead water level rises, defies projections (The Hill)
White House announces clean energy initiatives on coal (Reuters)
Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal, won a heated race for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, shifting the balance of power on the state’s high court from conservatives to liberals for the first time since at least 2008. Her victory offers hope to supporters of abortion rights and Democrats seeking fairer district maps. [HuffPost]
F.D.A. Plans to Allow a Second Updated Covid Booster for Vulnerable Americans (NYT)
The salary you need to live comfortably in 15 major U.S. cities (CNBC)
Finland, Sweden Evaluating NATO Membership With Free One-Day Guest Pass (The Onion)
No comments:
Post a Comment