MONOCLE RADIO (January 27, 2025): As the election in Belarus is labelled a “sham”, Hanna Liubakova joins Emma Nelson to discuss what lies ahead for Alexander Lukashenko and the country. Plus: more captives are released in Gaza and Israel; and the iconic French dance soon to be enshrined on the country’s cultural-heritage list.
Category Archives: News
The New York Times – Monday, January 27, 2025

As Thousands Try to Return Home, Fragile Mideast Cease-Fires Are Tested
Israeli forces killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanese officials said. In Gaza, Israel said Hamas had violated the terms of the truce.
Trump Pushes Jordan and Egypt to Take in Palestinians to ‘Clean Out’ Gaza
President Trump said he had spoken to Jordan’s leader and planned to call Egypt’s. Mr. Trump’s suggestion echoes proposals from far-right Israelis. A Hamas official rejected the idea.
Trump’s Moves to Upend Federal Bureaucracy Touch Off Fear and Confusion
Agencies are gripped with uncertainty about how to implement the blizzard of new policies as workers frantically try to assess the impact on their lives.
Flashes Then Flames: New Video of Eaton Fire Raises More Questions for Power Company
Investigators are still trying to determine what started a fire that raged through Altadena, Calif. A new video appears to show sparking on a power line near the origin of the blaze.
Sunday Morning: Stories From London & St. Moritz
MONOCLE RADIO (January 26, 2025): Emma Nelson is joined by Charles Hecker and David Bodanis. Then: Tyler Brûlé, Monocle’s editorial director, shares his observations from St Moritz.
The New York Times —- Sunday, January 26, 2025
‘People Will Be Shocked’: Trump Tests the Boundaries of the Presidency
Even more than in his first term, President Trump has mounted a fundamental challenge to the norms and expectations of what a president can and should do.
As Hamas Exchanges Gaza Hostages, It Puts on a Show of Force
The handover of four female Israeli soldiers by Hamas on Saturday came as Israel released 200 prisoners. But a dispute arose over the hostage release timetable.
The Race for All-Powerful Pot
Inside the $32 billion industry transforming marijuana, its consumption and beliefs about its ability to heal.
Many Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump Attacked Police, Videos Show
Saturday Morning: News And Stories From London
MONOCLE RADIO (January 25, 2025): Emma Nelson and Stephen Dalziel explore the week’s top global stories and cultural highlights. Plus: WEF insights from Hub Culture’s Stan Stalnaker and the latest from Georgina Godwin in Kolkata.
The New York Times – Saturday, January 25, 2025
Trump Officials Move to Quickly Expel Migrants Biden Allowed In Temporarily
A memo appears to allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to target programs that let in more than a million people.
Musk Plan for Retooling Government Takes Shape, but Big Questions Loom
The rebranding of a former White House digital office into the new Department of Government Efficiency signals its potential limits, budget experts said.
From Fires to Mudslides, Catastrophe Has Defined Newsom’s Tenure
Gov. Gavin Newsom faces what may be his greatest political test and leadership challenge. He planned to greet President Trump upon his arrival in Southern California on Friday.
Israel Appears Poised to Keep Its Troops in Lebanon Beyond Deadline
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but Israel says that Hezbollah hasn’t upheld its promise and that the Lebanese Army isn’t ready to fill the void.
The Spectator World Magazine – February 2025

THE SPECTATOR WORLD (January 24, 2025): The latest issue features ‘Hard Pressed’ = How legacy media finally lost its influence…
How the legacy media became powerless
The 2024 election seems to sound the final knell for an industry that managed to hang on well past its prime
The California fires and the reckoning on liberal governance
As the smoke clears, we are left to survey the wreckage, pick up the pieces and rebuild — and learn lessons that prevent
The Trump Resistance is almost dead in DC
Steve Bannon called Trump ‘America’s Cincinnatus’ and Mark Zuckerberg ‘a criminal who deserves to be in prison’
Is J.D. Vance MAGA’s future?
The vice president may soon emerge as the architect of a new political settlement
President Trump’s ‘First Hundred Hours’
His rapid actions are meant to change the nation’s direction and underscore that change
News: Trump Sanctions To End Russia-Ukraine War, Russia’s Economic Woes
MONOCLE RADIO (January 24, 2025): As Russia responds to Donald Trump’s sanctions, Charles Hecker joins Andrew Mueller to discuss how weak Vladimir Putin’s economy really is. Plus: more highlights from Davos, Paris Fashion Week Men’s, Oscar nominations and a very educational week for ‘What We Learned’.
The New York Times —- Friday, January 24, 2025
Senate Pushes Hegseth Toward Approval as G.O.P. Discounts New Allegations
All but two Republicans voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination as secretary of defense to a final vote, as Democrats raced to bolster fresh allegations about his personal conduct.
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Plan to End Birthright Citizenship
A federal judge in Seattle has issued a temporary order halting the president’s plan.
House G.O.P. Floats Medicaid Cuts and More to Finance Trump’s Huge Agenda
President Trump wants a massive tax cut and immigration crackdown bill. Now Republicans must decide what to cut to help pay for it.
How Trump Was Persuaded to Pardon an Online Drug Kingpin
Libertarian and crypto allies of Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for distributing drugs on his Silk Road website, leveraged President Trump’s desire for political support to secure his release.
News: Israel-Hamas Truce Is Still Holding, World Economic Forum In Davos
MONOCLE RADIO (January 23, 2025): The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which began at the weekend, appears to be holding. Hannah McCarthy joins Andrew Mueller to discuss what we have seen during the first week and where it could go next. Plus: the latest at #WEF25 at Davos, the future of Austria’s political sphere and how artificial intelligence will affect the workplace.