The Antarctic Biennale
CNN / VICE / MONOCLE 24: A pioneering expedition to the seventh continent sought to break down boundaries between art and science.
The Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy
FRANCE 24 / LIVE: Reporting from New York early on October 30, after a vicious tropical storm devastated the city and surrounding states.
Interview: Todd Gitlin on Occupy and the election
MONOCLE 24: Occupy Wall Street may have all but disappeared from the news, but Professor Gitlin – author of a book about the campaign – believes its impact on political discourse has been significant, and could shape policy in a second Obama administration.
Pussy Riot: From ragtag artists to global icons of dissent
REUTERS: Three members of the Russian all-girl punk band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison for “hooliganism” after playing in an Orthodox church. Reuters photojournalist Thomas Peter, who first met the artists in 2008, recalls his time with the group.
Guar: The obscure bean worth a bundle
REUTERS: The little-known guar bean is now used for excavating natural gas, which caused it to achieve the equivalent of bean stardom. And with it, prices have skyrocketed. That’s good for Texas bean farmers but bad for gas producers searching for a cheaper solution.
SPAMiversary: 7 BILLION cans sold in 75 years
REUTERS: The iconic canned ham has been the butt of jokes – but it’s also an American icon, serving troops in war, joining the Smithsonian and hamming it up on Broadway. Here's a rundown of Spam by the numbers.
NYC to expand outdoor gym provision
CNN: “Playgrounds for adults” have been around since the 1930s, but only recently began appearing in New York parks. Now, the city plans to roll out 24 new facilities over the next 18 months – after a successful space was opened near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Cash-strapped towns cancel July 4 fireworks
CNN: As towns and cities across the United States are plagued by harsh weather and a harsher economy, many have been forced to abandon traditional Independence Day celebrations. But in New Rochelle, NY, a lifeline appeared from the unlikeliest of sources.
Thousands march in silence against NYPD’s “Stop and Frisk”
CNN: Last year, nearly 685,000 people were stopped by officers in cases that ended with no meaningful charge, according to police department statistics. Of these, 87% were African-American or Latino.
The Half King: A refuge for New York journalists
MONOCLE 24: Reporters from far and wide flock to the world’s media capital in search of stories and opportunities. Twelve years ago, three journalists decided to create a place for this community to hang out, share secrets and enjoy good food and drink – all under one roof.
In El Barrio, a New Bookstore Is Counting on Its Community
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Undaunted by the withering publishing industry, a woman with a passion for literature has opened a Latino bookstore in East Harlem.
Egypt: Tahrir burns with Mubarak protests
REUTERS: After Egypt's ousted president, Hosni Mubarak, received a life sentence for his role in civilian deaths during the country's revolution, protesters marched on Tahrir Square in central Cairo.
Occupy protesters target Frieze art fair
MONOCLE 24: On May 4-7, thousands of visitors flocked to Randall’s Island in New York for the city’s first ever Frieze art fair. Galleries reported promising profits during a sellout weekend, but on Sunday afternoon, a small group of activists and artists gathered outside to make a noisy stand about commercialization of the creative world....
