Saturday, October 18, 2025
Friday, October 17, 2025
Senators Move to Force Vote to Bar Ground Strikes in Venezuela
THE NEW YORK TIMES: The bid comes after the Senate rejected a similar measure to curb President Trump’s attacks against alleged drug runners in the Caribbean Sea.
A bipartisan group in the Senate is planning to force a vote on legislation that would bar the United States from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization by Congress.
The measure faces long odds given the unwillingness of most Republican lawmakers to challenge President Trump, who would be all but certain to veto it. But a vote on the legislation, which is required, would put Congress on the record on whether to rein in Mr. Trump’s escalating and legally questionable military campaign against Venezuela.
Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia and Adam B. Schiff of California, both Democrats, have teamed with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, on the resolution, worried that the Trump administration’s order of covert C.I.A. action in Venezuela could be the first step toward an all-out war.
The measure would block the president from carrying out any military action “within or against” Venezuela unless it was “explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force” by Congress. Under the 1973 War Powers Act, aimed at limiting a president’s power to enter an armed conflict without the consent of Congress, such a resolution must be considered and voted upon under expedited procedures. » | Megan Mineiro | Reporting from the Capitol | Friday, October 17, 2025
A bipartisan group in the Senate is planning to force a vote on legislation that would bar the United States from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization by Congress.
The measure faces long odds given the unwillingness of most Republican lawmakers to challenge President Trump, who would be all but certain to veto it. But a vote on the legislation, which is required, would put Congress on the record on whether to rein in Mr. Trump’s escalating and legally questionable military campaign against Venezuela.
Senators Tim Kaine of Virginia and Adam B. Schiff of California, both Democrats, have teamed with Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, a Republican, on the resolution, worried that the Trump administration’s order of covert C.I.A. action in Venezuela could be the first step toward an all-out war.
The measure would block the president from carrying out any military action “within or against” Venezuela unless it was “explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military force” by Congress. Under the 1973 War Powers Act, aimed at limiting a president’s power to enter an armed conflict without the consent of Congress, such a resolution must be considered and voted upon under expedited procedures. » | Megan Mineiro | Reporting from the Capitol | Friday, October 17, 2025
Prince Andrew Gives Up Royal Titles Including Duke of York after ‘Discussion with King’
THE GUARDIAN: In statement released by Buckingham Palace, Andrew says he will give up titles and honours
Prince Andrew has agreed to give up his use of the Duke of York title, he said in a statement released through Buckingham Palace.
He will also give up use of his honours as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, meaning his only remaining title will be that of prince, which cannot be removed as he was born the son of a queen.
In a statement he said: “In discussion with the king, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.” » | Caroline Davies | Friday, October 17, 2025
Prince Andrew’s fall from grace complete as monarchy cuts him loose: Ex-royal cherished his titles and status but Buckingham Palace faced risk of reputational spillover »
Prince Andrew has agreed to give up his use of the Duke of York title, he said in a statement released through Buckingham Palace.
He will also give up use of his honours as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, meaning his only remaining title will be that of prince, which cannot be removed as he was born the son of a queen.
In a statement he said: “In discussion with the king, and my immediate and wider family, we have concluded the continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. I have decided, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and country first. I stand by my decision five years ago to stand back from public life.
“With His Majesty’s agreement, we feel I must now go a step further. I will therefore no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me. As I have said previously, I vigorously deny the accusations against me.” » | Caroline Davies | Friday, October 17, 2025
Prince Andrew’s fall from grace complete as monarchy cuts him loose: Ex-royal cherished his titles and status but Buckingham Palace faced risk of reputational spillover »
Is Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Prize Award a Blow to Maduro’s Grip on Power? | The Take
Carol Thatcher: The Tories Stabbed My Mother in the Back, It Stayed with Her | The Daily T
Oct 17, 2025 | This week marks 100 years since the birth of former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher - one of the most influential figures in modern British politics.
In this exclusive interview for The Daily T podcast, Camilla and Tim sit down with her daughter, Carol Thatcher, to explore what it was like growing up with Britain’s first female Prime Minister.
Carol offers a rare, personal insight into life inside Number 10 Downing Street, sharing intimate stories of her mother’s work ethic, her approach to power, and the personal side of a political icon. She reflects on how Thatcher’s leadership continues to inspire female politicians, the political fallout after the Tories ousted her, and why her mother still holds a near-mythic status within the Conservative Party.
In this exclusive interview for The Daily T podcast, Camilla and Tim sit down with her daughter, Carol Thatcher, to explore what it was like growing up with Britain’s first female Prime Minister.
Carol offers a rare, personal insight into life inside Number 10 Downing Street, sharing intimate stories of her mother’s work ethic, her approach to power, and the personal side of a political icon. She reflects on how Thatcher’s leadership continues to inspire female politicians, the political fallout after the Tories ousted her, and why her mother still holds a near-mythic status within the Conservative Party.
Capitalism Hits Home: The State of Women in the US in 2025
‘Prince Andrew believed having sex with me was his birthright’: Virginia Giuffre on her abuse at the hands of Epstein, Maxwell and the king’s brother: In an extract from her posthumous memoir, Virginia Roberts Giuffre remembers the day an ‘apex predator’ recruited her from Mar-a-Lago, aged just 16; how she was trafficked to a succession of wealthy and powerful men – and how everyone knew what was going on »
The latest Prince Andrew abuse claims are a new low for the Royal Family brand. In this form, it can’t survive: ‘The Firm’ as a modernising strategy was already falling apart, but with the shocking allegations so fully in the public domain, it has now collapsed »
Treffen mit Trump: Kann Putin in Budapest verhaftet werden?
BERLINER ZEITUNG: In Budapest soll es zum Treffen zwischen Trump und Putin kommen. Warum der Kremlchef dort trotz internationalem Haftbefehl und EU-Sanktionen sicher wäre.
Ein geplantes Treffen zwischen Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin und US-Präsident Donald Trump in Budapest sorgt schon im Vorfeld für Aufsehen - und wirft viele Fragen auf. Gegen Putin liegt ein Haftbefehl des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs (IStGH) in Den Haag vor, außerdem steht er auf der Sanktionsliste der Europäischen Union. Dennoch droht dem Kremlchef weder eine Verhaftung noch ein Einreiseverbot.
Ungarns Außenminister Péter Szijjártó erklärte am Freitag, sein Land werde Putin „mit Respekt“ empfangen und garantiere ihm eine ungehinderte Ein- und Ausreise. „Wir sind ein souveränes Land und müssen niemanden fragen, wen wir empfangen“, sagte Szijjártó laut ungarischen Medien. » | Alexander Schmalz | Freitag, 17. Oktober 2025
Ein geplantes Treffen zwischen Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin und US-Präsident Donald Trump in Budapest sorgt schon im Vorfeld für Aufsehen - und wirft viele Fragen auf. Gegen Putin liegt ein Haftbefehl des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs (IStGH) in Den Haag vor, außerdem steht er auf der Sanktionsliste der Europäischen Union. Dennoch droht dem Kremlchef weder eine Verhaftung noch ein Einreiseverbot.
Ungarns Außenminister Péter Szijjártó erklärte am Freitag, sein Land werde Putin „mit Respekt“ empfangen und garantiere ihm eine ungehinderte Ein- und Ausreise. „Wir sind ein souveränes Land und müssen niemanden fragen, wen wir empfangen“, sagte Szijjártó laut ungarischen Medien. » | Alexander Schmalz | Freitag, 17. Oktober 2025
«Je dois protéger ma famille du monde extérieur, de la méchanceté» : Brigitte Macron évoque les «haters» dont elle est victime
MADAME FIGARO : Ce jeudi, dans le nouveau numéro de Gala, l’épouse d’Emmanuel Macron s’est confiée sur les conséquences de sa notoriété en tant que femme de président.
«Mon bonheur de transmettre est intact. L’enseignement, c’est toujours ce qui m’anime», affirme Brigitte Macron dans les colonnes du nouveau numéro de Gala, disponible ce jeudi en kiosques. L’épouse du président Emmanuel Macron s’est laissée suivre une journée à Marseille et à Roubaix à l’occasion de ses «LIVE» (L’Institut des Vocations pour l’Emploi), ces programmes de réinsertion pour les jeunes de plus de 25 ans, créés en 2019 sous son impulsion en partenariat avec LVMH. Ancienne professeure de littérature, elle confie : «Je me voyais reprendre mon métier, quand mon époux ne ferait plus de politique. Je n’imaginais pas une seule seconde qu’il devienne président !» » | Par Léa Mabilon | jeudi 16 octobre 2025
«Mon bonheur de transmettre est intact. L’enseignement, c’est toujours ce qui m’anime», affirme Brigitte Macron dans les colonnes du nouveau numéro de Gala, disponible ce jeudi en kiosques. L’épouse du président Emmanuel Macron s’est laissée suivre une journée à Marseille et à Roubaix à l’occasion de ses «LIVE» (L’Institut des Vocations pour l’Emploi), ces programmes de réinsertion pour les jeunes de plus de 25 ans, créés en 2019 sous son impulsion en partenariat avec LVMH. Ancienne professeure de littérature, elle confie : «Je me voyais reprendre mon métier, quand mon époux ne ferait plus de politique. Je n’imaginais pas une seule seconde qu’il devienne président !» » | Par Léa Mabilon | jeudi 16 octobre 2025
Brigitte Bardot, 91 ans, est sortie de l’hôpital où elle a subi une intervention chirurgicale
LE FIGARO : L’icône du cinéma est rentrée chez elle, où elle se repose après un séjour de plusieurs semaines dans un établissement de Toulon. Dans un communiqué, elle remercie « ceux qui se soucient de son état de santé ».
La voici de retour chez elle, à Saint-Tropez. Brigitte Bardot « a été brièvement hospitalisée auprès de l'Hôpital privé Saint-Jean à Toulon pour subir une légère intervention chirurgicale qui s'est déroulée de manière particulièrement satisfaisante », a indiqué son secrétariat, vendredi, dans un communiqué transmis à l’AFP. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 17 octobre 2025
Brigitte Bardot hospitalisée "dans un état préoccupant" : ce que l’on sait sur son état de santé : À 91 ans, Brigitte Bardot ferait face à des problèmes de santé. La célèbre actrice serait hospitalisée depuis trois semaines, selon les informations de Nice-Matin. Voici ce que l’on sait de son état de santé. »
La voici de retour chez elle, à Saint-Tropez. Brigitte Bardot « a été brièvement hospitalisée auprès de l'Hôpital privé Saint-Jean à Toulon pour subir une légère intervention chirurgicale qui s'est déroulée de manière particulièrement satisfaisante », a indiqué son secrétariat, vendredi, dans un communiqué transmis à l’AFP. » | Par Le Figaro avec AFP | vendredi 17 octobre 2025
Brigitte Bardot hospitalisée "dans un état préoccupant" : ce que l’on sait sur son état de santé : À 91 ans, Brigitte Bardot ferait face à des problèmes de santé. La célèbre actrice serait hospitalisée depuis trois semaines, selon les informations de Nice-Matin. Voici ce que l’on sait de son état de santé. »
Russell Vought: The Shadow President
Oct 17, 2025 | Russell Vought is one of the most powerful people in the Trump administration. For almost three decades, he worked in Congress and held prominent roles at conservative think tanks. But he was little known outside of political circles. He’s now the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget and the chief architect of President Donald Trump’s campaign to radically reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy.
In this video, ProPublica reporter Andy Kroll tells the story of Vought’s rise from a young staffer for Texas Sen. Phil Gramm to his role as the driving force behind Trump’s plan to dismantle the so-called “administrative state.” Vought declined to be interviewed. Kroll’s account is drawn from dozens of interviews, thousands of pages of documents and hours of videos and recordings of Vought’s briefings to supporters, including one where Vought says he wanted to put federal workers “in trauma.”
Read Russell Vought, the Shadow President here.
In this video, ProPublica reporter Andy Kroll tells the story of Vought’s rise from a young staffer for Texas Sen. Phil Gramm to his role as the driving force behind Trump’s plan to dismantle the so-called “administrative state.” Vought declined to be interviewed. Kroll’s account is drawn from dozens of interviews, thousands of pages of documents and hours of videos and recordings of Vought’s briefings to supporters, including one where Vought says he wanted to put federal workers “in trauma.”
Read Russell Vought, the Shadow President here.
How to Make New York's Most Famous Coconut Beef Curry at Home | Zainab Shah | NYT Cooking
Click here for the full recipe.
Crisis in Venezuela - Maduro's Ongoing Power Struggle | DW Documentary
Oct 23, 2024 | Nicolás Maduro has been president of Venezuela since 2013. He rules the country, which faces grave political and economic problems, with an iron fist.
Despite massive criticism from home and abroad, Maduro is clinging to power. Successfully, so far. Venezuela experienced many dramatic events in recent decades. There was the "Bolivarian Revolution" started by Hugo Chávez, who was elected president in 1998 and introduced a socialist system to the country. There were also attempted coups, violent protests, and severe economic crises — despite this, Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.
After the illness and death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, Nicolás Maduro succeeded as president. The former bus driver and socialist set himself the goal of continuing Venezuela's socialist revolution, at any cost. His rule has been authoritarian. Corruption within Venezuela's state élite and mismanagement are widespread. Years of poor economic decisions have driven the country to ruin under Maduro's presidency.
Millions of people in Venezuela are impoverished, and many have fled to neighbouring countries. Yet despite opposition attempts to force him out, Maduro has survived.
He was declared the winner in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential elections in July - this, although the parliament had already tried to remove him from office in 2017.
People took to the streets to demand his resignation back then and then again more recently. However, none of this seems to have affected Maduro - and following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting rift between Russia and North America and Europe, the international geopolitical situation has changed.
The world is more desperate for oil than ever; and a vast quantity of oil is lying dormant underground in Venezuela.
Despite massive criticism from home and abroad, Maduro is clinging to power. Successfully, so far. Venezuela experienced many dramatic events in recent decades. There was the "Bolivarian Revolution" started by Hugo Chávez, who was elected president in 1998 and introduced a socialist system to the country. There were also attempted coups, violent protests, and severe economic crises — despite this, Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.
After the illness and death of Hugo Chávez in 2013, Nicolás Maduro succeeded as president. The former bus driver and socialist set himself the goal of continuing Venezuela's socialist revolution, at any cost. His rule has been authoritarian. Corruption within Venezuela's state élite and mismanagement are widespread. Years of poor economic decisions have driven the country to ruin under Maduro's presidency.
Millions of people in Venezuela are impoverished, and many have fled to neighbouring countries. Yet despite opposition attempts to force him out, Maduro has survived.
He was declared the winner in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential elections in July - this, although the parliament had already tried to remove him from office in 2017.
People took to the streets to demand his resignation back then and then again more recently. However, none of this seems to have affected Maduro - and following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting rift between Russia and North America and Europe, the international geopolitical situation has changed.
The world is more desperate for oil than ever; and a vast quantity of oil is lying dormant underground in Venezuela.
The Thinking Atheist: It's Not the Immigrant that Scares Me
Trump Authorises CIA in Venezuela as Airstrikes on Boats Continue
16, 2025 | US President Donald Trump says he has 'authorised' the CIA to operate in Venezuela as he vows to crack down on boats he says are bringing drugs into America.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro went on TV to say 'no to coups d'état' in the country and believed Trump wants regime change.
Since September, the US has attacked at least five boats in the Caribbean and Trump's administration says it is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels in Venezuela.
It's a rare admission of the actions of the spy agency and the CIA already has a long and controversial record in South America, including being part of a coup in Chile in 1973 that gave rise to Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro went on TV to say 'no to coups d'état' in the country and believed Trump wants regime change.
Since September, the US has attacked at least five boats in the Caribbean and Trump's administration says it is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels in Venezuela.
It's a rare admission of the actions of the spy agency and the CIA already has a long and controversial record in South America, including being part of a coup in Chile in 1973 that gave rise to Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.
Sarah Kendzior on America's Autocratic Turn and How America Lost Its Guardrails
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Samuel Moncada, the Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Natuons…
Trump’s ‘Disgraceful’ Attack on Political Enemies a ‘Dangerous Autocratic Move’ | Adam Boulton
Oct 16, 2025 | “It’s a very dangerous and autocratic move.”
Trump’s use of the justice system against people he claims are his enemies is an “absolute disgrace,” says Times Radio’s Adam Boulton.
Trump’s use of the justice system against people he claims are his enemies is an “absolute disgrace,” says Times Radio’s Adam Boulton.
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