Cheerleading by the president, who made $1.2bn last year off uninsured currency, does not bode well for US economy
The scale of the graft is decidedly off the charts, but the revelation that Donald Trump raked in a personal fortune of $2.2bn during his first year in office should come as no surprise. The president didn’t even try to hide his venality. Not only did he refuse to sell businesses and put assets in a blind trust, as other presidents have done to limit opportunities for self-dealing; the quid pro quos with foreign governments and assorted magnates were exposed for all to see.
It is troubling that the president of the United States would so nonchalantly deploy his official powers to profit from dealings with money launderers and Middle Eastern princes. It is perhaps more so that the supposedly robust checks and balances upholding American governance proved powerless to stop him. (Here’s waiting for the supreme court to define Trump’s dealings as “official acts” in order to exonerate him.)
Continue reading...Since Trump deployed troops last August, Washingtonians have banded together to resist and support one another
Every night as dusk settles in Lincoln Park, the sound of spoons and ladles banging metal pots and pans fills the air for five minutes straight, followed by the chant “We’ll be back.”
This nightly ritual is known as a cacerolazo, a form of resistance that dates back to the 1830s, from France to Latin America. Residents all over Washington DC have been participating in it almost every night for nearly a year, starting when Donald Trump deployed thousands of national guard troops to the city.
Continue reading...Brash midfielder has admirers in Madrid, though his World Cup displays illustrate what he can offer Xabi Alonso’s Blues
Enzo Fernández was an unstoppable mix of style and spite during Argentina’s win over England. The midfielder’s first contribution during Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta was to plough into Elliot Anderson and clobber Manchester City’s new £116m signing round the head. He escaped without a booking, though, and made the most of some generous refereeing by showing the other side to his game when Argentina took control after going 1-0 down early in the second half.
Much has already been said about England’s attempt to hold on to their lead. A particular frustration for fans who watch the Premier League every week was that not enough was done to disrupt Fernández. The Chelsea midfielder is a wonderful player in possession but can struggle when opponents run past him. That weakness has caused structural issues for Chelsea and will be a factor if they decide to sell the Argentinian this summer. Against England, though, Fernández was given space to do as he pleased during the second half. He pulled the strings next to Alexis Mac Allister and proved his big-game mentality by scoring the equaliser with a bending shot from 25 yards in the 85th minute.
Continue reading...On a break from work, the oncologist was struck by the sight of construction workers balancing on scaffolding for a new high-rise
There is no window in Jibak Bhattacharya’s consultation suite, in Kolkata’s Apollo multispeciality hospital. The oncologist took this photo in 2024 while on a break. “I often crave sunlight between seeing patients, so I step out on to the landing, which has a huge square glass window where you can enjoy the outside view,” he says. “Previously, it was unobstructed nature, but they are developing a high-rise now.”
Bhattacharya noticed the pattern made by three workers on the scaffolding, and how you could draw a line straight through it, as in noughts and crosses.
Continue reading...Updates from Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt’s last match in charge
Kick-off time in Perth is 6.10pm local/8.10pm AEST/11.10am BST
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Despite Australian rugby’s struggles, tonight’s match is a sell out, the sixth in a row for the Wallabies.
Referee: Paris-born Englishman Christophe Ridley.
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Barendrechter Paul van Wijnen (46) leeft al twaalf jaar met de ziekte van Parkinson. Ondanks zijn haperende motoriek probeert hij dit weekend de torenhoge Mont Blanc te beklimmen "Ik heb me goed voorbereid, maar ik vind het mega-spannend", zegt hij.
Barendrechter Paul van Wijnen (46) leeft al twaalf jaar met de ziekte van Parkinson. Ondanks zijn haperende motoriek probeert hij dit weekend de torenhoge Mont Blanc te beklimmen "Ik heb me goed voorbereid, maar ik vind het mega-spannend", zegt hij.
