MONOCLE RADIO (February 8, 2025): Emma Nelson and Terry Stiastny break down the week’s top global stories and cultural highlights. Plus: Georgina Godwin brings us the latest from Galle, Sri Lanka.
Category Archives: News
The New York Times – Saturday, February 8, 2025
U.S.A.I.D. Turmoil Threatens Key Aid Supplies to Gaza, Officials Say
Washington has funded roughly a third of the aid sent to the enclave since the war began. With most agency workers set to be put on leave, officials say that those supplies are under threat.
Musk Wields Scythe on Federal Work Force, With Trump’s Full Blessing
The president defended Elon Musk’s role in seeking to slash budgets and cut payrolls as the young aides burrowing into federal agencies came under scrutiny.
Trump’s Gaza Takeover Plan May Sound Death Knell for the Two-State Solution
Already unlikely, the prospects for creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel could vanish altogether if the United States takes over Gaza and displaces the population, as President Trump proposes.
Trump’s New Line of Attack Against the Media Gains Momentum
First Amendment experts say Mr. Trump’s lawsuits, based on an unproven legal theory, lack merit. But more could be on the way.
The New York Times – Friday, February 7, 2025
Trump’s Gaza Plan Reflects Broader Push for Annexation of Palestinian Land
Right-wing officials in Israel, evangelical Christians in the United States and Trump appointees have become increasingly outspoken in calling for Israel to take more territory.
Abandoned in the Middle of Clinical Trials, Because of a Trump Order
The stop-work order on U.S.A.I.D.-funded research has left thousands of people with experimental drugs and devices in their bodies, with no access to monitoring or care.
A ‘Stellar Crew,’ a ‘Tragic Accident’ and a Black Hawk’s Last Flight
The Army helicopter that collided with a passenger plane above the Potomac River boasted an experienced crew doing “an unforgiving job.” Friends and relatives are still baffled and mourning their loss.
House Committee to Examine Secret Navy Effort on Pilot Brain Injuries
The Navy quietly started screening elite fighter pilots for signs of brain injuries caused by flying, a risk it officially denies exists.
News: Jordan And Egypt Reject Trump’s ‘Gaza Grab’, Taiwan Marines At Airport
MONOCLE RADIO (February 6, 2025): Jordan and Egypt lead reactions to a seismic shift in US foreign policy in the Middle East. Then: why Taiwan is sending marines to its airport, why Austria can’t form a government and why Nissan and Honda won’t be doing business together. Plus: arts news with Ben Luke.
The New York Times – Thursday, February 6, 2025
Trump’s Gaza Plan Is Unworkable, Analysts Say. Does He Really Mean It?
President Trump’s proposal to transfer millions of people out of Gaza was hailed by the Israeli right and condemned by Palestinians. Some experts say it may be a negotiating tactic.
Inside Trump’s Hastily Written Proposal to ‘Own’ Gaza
Although the president had been talking about the idea for weeks, there had been no meetings on the subject, and senior members of his government were taken by surprise.
Trump Signs Order Barring Transgender Student-Athletes From Women’s Sports
The president said schools that violated the order would jeopardize their federal funding.
New Leaders of Justice Dept. Move to Assert Control Over Agency
The department’s No. 2 official, Emil Bove, escalated his conflict with the interim leaders of the F.B.I., accusing them of “insubordination.”
News: A New Turkey-Syria Strategic Partnership, US Plan For Gaza “Takeover”
MONOCLE RADIO (February 5, 2025): As Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s transitional president, meets Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, we ask: what role is Turkey seeking to play when it comes to regional security?
Then we discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the White House to see Donald Trump. Plus, a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, former Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg makes a comeback in Norwegian politics and press freedom in Czechia.
The New York Times – Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025
Inside Musk’s Aggressive Incursion Into the Federal Government
The billionaire is creating major upheaval as his team sweeps through agencies, in what has been an extraordinary flexing of power by a private individual.
Elon Musk’s X Becomes Weapon in Government Cost Cutting
The billionaire has used the social media site to boast of victories, lash out at enemies and conduct polls for the initiative he calls the Department of Government Efficiency.
China Counters Trump’s Tariffs As Talks Remain in Limbo
After a 10 percent tariff on Chinese products took effect on Tuesday, China announced retaliatory measures, including tariffs and an investigation of Google.
Senate Panel Pushes Through Kennedy’s Nomination Along Party Lines
Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican torn between his concerns as a doctor and supporting President Trump, voted to send Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as health secretary to the full Senate.
News: South Korea Trial Of President Yoon, USAID Freeze Global Effects
MONOCLE RADIO (February 4, 2025): As the trial of South Korea’s impeached president continues, Monocle’s Seoul correspondent, Jeyup S Kwaak, and John Nilsson-Wright join Emma Nelson to discuss what comes next.
Also on the programme: is USAID doomed? We delve into the global consequences of freezing US aid. Then: after an eight-month wait, Belgium has a new government. What took it so long? Plus: all the winners from Sundance Film Festival and the Critics’ Choice Awards with Karen Krizanovich.
The New York Times – Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Mexico and Canada Reach Last-Minute Deal With Trump to Avert Trade War
President Trump agreed to delay tariffs on Mexico and Canada for a month after both countries pledged to do more to block drugs and migrants.
Trump Wields U.S. Power With Unclear Economic Consequences
The president sees the U.S. economy as a powerful lever against other countries but there are risks to that approach.
One Response to Trump’s Tariffs: Trade That Excludes the U.S.
A growing number of countries, including American allies, are striking trade deals as the Trump administration erects a higher fence around its global commerce.
Guantánamo Bay Prepares for President Trump’s Migrant Surge
About 300 servicemembers have arrived in recent days as the base faces its most drastic changes since the Pentagon opened a prison there after the Sept. 11 attacks.
News: Netanyahu Meets Trump In Washington, A Strategic Ukraine Battle
MONOCLE RADIO (February 3, 2025): Donald Trump will welcome Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House this week as the first foreign leader to visit since the inauguration. Then: the strategic battle for Ukraine’s Pokrovsk and why an obscure trading mechanism could bring the UK and EU closer. Plus: an interview with the makeup artist behind Oscar nominee ‘The Substance’.
Boomers Daily 