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The recent showdown between the US and Iran has ended with Iran emerging victorious and Trump being forced to pause his war efforts. This outcome is a clear example of how to defeat Trump. According to Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, the strategy that connects all the successful countermeasures against Trump is simple: refuse to cave to his demands, despite his superior military or economic power. Instead, use a kind of jiujitsu to turn Trump's power against him. Examples of successful countermeasures include: Iran using cheap drones and missiles to close the strait of Hormuz and drive up oil prices, putting pressure on Trump. China leveraging its control of rare earth metals to gain leverage in trade negotiations. Russia using its vast deposits of oil and natural gas to gain leverage over US allies. Canada and Mexico winning tariff showdowns with Trump by leveraging their economic importance to the US. Greenland curbing Trump's ambitions through public opinion. Inside the US, similar strategies have been used by: The people of Minneapolis, who organized non-violent resistance to protect immigrants. Harvard University, which leveraged its influence with federal courts to stop Trump's interference. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who turned a crisis into a ratings victory. Writer E Jean Carroll, who secured over $88m in damages from Trump in two civil cases. Law firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale, which refused to follow Trump's executive orders. On the other hand, countries and organizations that have caved to Trump have only strengthened his leverage over them. For example, Europe seems incapacitated, fearing Trump will leave Nato, while media networks like ABC continue to lose viewers. The bottom line is that there is now a clear blueprint for how to defeat Trump: reject his demands and use your own asymmetric power to turn his power against him.

Spring brought a burst of optimism to Crystal Palace as they delivered a 3‑0 victory over Fiorentina in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter‑final. Forward Jean‑Philippe Mateta opened the scoring from the spot on his first start since the end of January, followed by a second‑half strike from Tyrick Mitchell and a late header from Ismaïla Sarr.The win marks a dramatic turnaround for a side that had struggled to impress at home in the competition. After a three‑week preparation window, manager Oliver Glasner implemented a disciplined game plan that saw Palace dominate possession and create clear chances, underscoring his reputation for knockout‑stage success.Fiorentina, who have reached the last eight for four straight seasons and lost two finals, were unable to respond before the break and now face a daunting task in the second leg in Florence. Even after Mateta missed a late sitter, Sarr’s header restored a three‑goal cushion, meaning the Italians must produce a “miraculous” comeback to stay alive.Mateta’s performance also silenced speculation surrounding his future. The French striker, who failed a medical with AC Milan in January, was greeted with applause after his penalty and could have added a hat‑trick after replacing the suspended Jørgen Strand Larsen.Defender Daniel Muñoz returned to full fitness after a prolonged knee injury, adding stability to a backline that kept Fiorentina’s attacks at bay. The Colombian’s presence allowed Palace to maintain pressure, with Muñoz delivering an acrobatic assist that led to Mateta’s penalty.The match also featured a quirky moment when goalkeeper David de Gea had to clear a mass of streamers from his net, a reminder of the passionate Holmesdale End supporters.Looking ahead, Palace will travel to Florence for the return leg, where they will aim to protect their advantage and secure a place in the semi‑finals – a historic milestone in the club’s first European campaign.

In a stark address delivered as the cease‑fire in the Iran conflict teetered, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the war will leave a permanent scar on the global economy, slowing growth beyond the IMF’s original projections for 2026. Georgieva noted that, had the hostilities not erupted six weeks ago, the Fund would have been poised to raise its 2026 growth outlook. Instead, even the most optimistic scenario now entails a downgrade, and a swift return to pre‑war conditions appears unlikely. The uncertainty surrounding the cease‑fire—exacerbated by divergent positions of Washington and Tehran—has already pushed oil prices higher, reflecting fears of continued disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for world energy supplies. According to the IMF’s upcoming World Economic Outlook, the conflict’s “scarring effects” will translate into lower living standards worldwide. The Fund had previously forecast global growth of 3.1% in 2026, a modest slowdown from 3.2% in 2025, buoyed by a tech‑driven investment surge. Georgieva emphasized that the war arrived when the economy was riding “considerable momentum” from technology investment and supportive financial markets. She outlined the mechanisms of damage: damaged infrastructure, supply‑chain interruptions, eroded confidence, and prolonged uncertainty over oil and gas production in the region. These factors will depress growth regardless of whether a peace agreement is ultimately reached. Georgieva highlighted that the most vulnerable will be net oil‑importing nations, poorer economies and small island states, which stand to feel the brunt of higher energy costs and reduced trade flows. She urged governments to avoid unilateral measures such as export bans or price controls, warning that such actions could "pour gasoline on the fire" and further destabilise markets. With many countries already carrying elevated debt levels and higher borrowing costs, the IMF chief called for targeted, temporary assistance to protect the most at‑risk households. She cautioned against broad tax cuts or blanket energy subsidies, which could stoke inflation and strain fragile public finances. Central banks, she added, should keep policy rates steady while remaining ready to act against inflationary pressures. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, who also chairs the Financial Stability Board, echoed the IMF’s concerns, describing the conflict as a "very big shock" that has heightened market volatility. He stressed that the situation remains fluid and that policymakers must stay vigilant. Overall, the IMF’s message is clear: the Iran war will reshape the global growth trajectory for the foreseeable future, and coordinated, prudent policy responses are essential to mitigate its lasting impact.

Liverpool's struggles continued as they were thoroughly outplayed by Paris Saint-Germain in a 2-0 defeat. The Reds had a dismal 28% possession and failed to register a single shot on target. Manager Arne Slot acknowledged that his team had been 'ripped apart' at times and admitted to employing negative tactics to keep the tie alive for the second leg.PSG's dominance was evident throughout the match, with their midfielder Vitinha standing out. Despite their superior performance, PSG were unable to capitalize on their chances, allowing Liverpool to stay in the tie. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk has called on fans to make a significant impact in the return leg at Anfield, but it remains to be seen if the team can mount a successful comeback.The defeat has raised questions about Slot's approach and the team's ability to compete with top-tier opponents. The return leg next Tuesday promises to be a crucial encounter, with Liverpool needing a significant turnaround to advance to the next round of the Champions League.

Meta announced the launch of Muse Spark, the debut artificial‑intelligence model from the company’s ambitious "superintelligence" squad that was assembled last year with a multi‑billion‑dollar budget. The team, spearheaded by former Scale AI chief Alex Wang—brought on board in a $14.3 bn acquisition—has been offered compensation packages running into the hundreds of millions to attract top talent. Muse Spark is the first installment of the internally codenamed "Avocado" series. For now, the model is accessible only through Meta’s AI app and website, but Meta says it will soon supplant the existing Llama models that power chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and the firm’s smart‑glasses lineup. Unlike earlier open releases of Llama, Meta has kept Muse Spark’s architecture details under wraps, offering a private preview to a select group of unnamed partners. In a blog post, Meta described the system as "small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions in science, math and health," positioning it as a solid foundation for future, larger versions. Independent testing shows Muse Spark narrowing the gap with leading models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic in language and visual comprehension, though it still trails in coding and abstract reasoning tasks. The model placed tied for fourth on a comprehensive AI benchmark compiled by Artificial Analysis. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously cautioned investors that early releases would be modest but would demonstrate a "rapid trajectory." Wang echoed this sentiment on social media, acknowledging "rough edges" that will be refined over time and confirming that bigger variants are already in development, with some slated for open release. Beyond performance metrics, Meta hinted at commercial ambitions, embedding shopping suggestions directly into its AI chatbot to guide users toward purchasable items. With over 3.5 billion active users across its platforms, the company hopes AI‑driven personal tasks will boost engagement and create a competitive edge over rivals with smaller user bases. Practical use‑cases highlighted include estimating meal calories from a photo, virtually placing a mug on a shelf via augmented reality, and a new "Contemplating Mode" that runs multiple agents simultaneously—mirroring advanced reasoning features seen in Google’s Gemini Deep Think and OpenAI’s GPT‑Pro. Meta says this mode could, for example, help a family plan a vacation by having one agent draft an itinerary while another scouts kid‑friendly activities.

From the world’s smallest footballing nation – a population of just 45,319 – the American Samoa women entered the 2026 World Cup qualifiers ranked 153rd, the lowest spot in the global rankings.Team captain Alma Mana’o describes the squad as a close‑knit family, noting that several sets of sisters play together and that the Mana’o family holds the record for the most relatives to appear at FIFA events.In November, the side faced Tonga, the tournament’s highest‑ranked opponent. 18‑year‑old Cassidy Drago etched her name into Samoan folklore by netting the nation’s first ever goal in women’s World Cup qualifying, followed quickly by a second, sealing a 3‑0 victory. The momentum continued with a win over the Cook Islands, cementing their reputation as genuine upset‑makers.The second round seemed to promise a return to reality when the Solomon Islands – 80 places above them in the rankings and 2025 Pacific Nations Cup champions – thrashed American Samoa 7‑1 in an Olympic qualifier. Yet, just 90 minutes later, the Samoans produced one of the competition’s most astonishing results: a 1‑0 win over the same opponents.That triumph was followed by another narrow victory, 1‑0 against neighbouring Samoa, securing a place in the final OFC qualifying round and completing the team’s evolution “from underdog to dark horse,” as Mana’o puts it.Looking ahead, American Samoa will meet Papua New Guinea in Auckland – the venue of their inaugural women’s international match 28 years ago. The squad now benefits from the guidance of Amanda Cromwell, the 1996 U.S. Olympic gold‑medal‑winning coach, who has overseen four wins in five games. Mana’o credits Cromwell with professionalising the program, from nutrition plans to dedicated training staff, and says the new standards will become the norm.Mana’o herself broke ground as the first “off‑island” player in 2011 at age 15, enduring an 8‑0 debut loss. Today she celebrates a new generation of teenagers, such as Mia Toeaina and Naiyah Ve’e, who are experiencing a vastly different, more positive football environment.

The latest Cannes lineup reveals a clear pivot from the usual Hollywood glamour toward a roster dominated by celebrated world‑cinema auteurs such as Pedro Almodóvar, Cristian Mungiu and Asghar Farhadi. While last year’s festival was anchored by a Mission: Impossible spectacle starring Tom Cruise, this edition offers a more eclectic mix, including debut features from Andy Garcia (who also stars in his crime drama Diamond) and John Travolta, who directs the aviation‑themed Propeller One‑Way Night Coach based on his own novel.Under the stewardship of director Thierry Frémaux, Cannes continues to bar films that are exclusive to streaming platforms, a stance that has been vindicated by recent Oscar successes for festival selections. The festival also entered the AI debate: Steven Soderbergh’s documentary John Lennon: The Last Interview employs artificial intelligence to reconstruct visual elements of the legendary interview, sparking both fascination and unease among attendees.Gender representation remains skewed, with a noticeable predominance of male directors in the competition slate, although the final list is still pending. Notably absent are any British filmmakers, despite the inclusion of Polish auteur Paweł Pawlikowski, whose biopic of Thomas Mann, Fatherland, could be loosely claimed as a UK entry given his long residence there.Geopolitical undercurrents are hard to ignore. Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev returns with Minotaur, a film about a beleaguered Russian businessman. Zvyagintsev, once favored by Vladimir Putin, now lives in exile in France, adding a layer of political intrigue to his work amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.The competition also features a strong historical thread: László Nemes’s Moulin revisits occupied France, Emmanuel Marre’s Notre Salut explores Vichy‑era France, and Lukas Dhont’s Coward follows a Belgian soldier’s harrowing experience in World‑I trenches.Among the more provocative entries, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell promises shock value in the out‑of‑competition slot, while the Un Certain Regard section showcases Jane Schoenbrun’s queer slasher Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, likely to become a festival highlight.

The debate over space exploration has sparked intense discussion, with critics arguing that the vast sums of money spent on it could be better used to address pressing global issues. The Artemis programme, with its $100bn budget, has been singled out as a prime example of such misallocation. This programme's cost could, for instance, fully fund the UN World Food Programme for 10 years, a global initiative that benefits over 150 million people annually in more than 120 countries.On the other hand, proponents of space exploration argue that it is crucial for humanity's long-term survival. They contend that as Earth faces environmental challenges, space could provide a necessary escape route. Moreover, the advancement of technology and knowledge gained through space exploration could have unforeseen benefits for human society.Critics also point out the short-sightedness of prioritizing space travel over solving Earth's problems, such as war and environmental destruction. They suggest that parenting-like responsibility should be applied to space exploration, implying that humanity should focus on solving its current issues before venturing further into space.However, supporters emphasize that space exploration represents a 'shining light of hope' for humanity's future, especially in a world threatened by autocrats and environmental crises. They argue that even small steps in space exploration are necessary for our long-term existence.Ultimately, the question of whether space exploration is worth the money and effort remains a complex and contentious issue. While some see it as a luxury we cannot afford, others believe it is an investment in our future survival.

Rebecca Solnit's latest book, 'The Beginning Comes After the End', serves as a powerful reminder that change is inevitable and that we have the power to shape our future. Drawing on her previous work, Hope in the Dark, Solnit emphasizes the importance of hope and resilience in the face of uncertainty.In her 2004 book, Hope in the Dark, Solnit offered a vision of solidarity and tenacity in response to the war in Iraq. The book experienced a surge in popularity after the 2016 election of Donald Trump, and its message of hope and humility continues to resonate today. As Solnit notes, 'Hope is not a door, but a sense that there might be a door at some point, some way out of the problems of the present moment even before that way is found or followed.'Solnit's new book picks up this thread, arguing that 'you do not have to picture the destination to reach it or at least draw closer to it, you just need to choose a direction and keep on walking'. She draws on a wide range of sources, including history, philosophy, and contemporary writing, to explore moments of reparation and progress.One of the key takeaways from Solnit's work is the importance of acknowledging the enormous gains that have been made in recent decades in areas such as women's rights, racial justice, and environmental protections. As she notes, 'Our world has changed more than almost anyone imagined, in ways both wonderful and terrible, often in ways no one anticipated'. By focusing on these successes, Solnit encourages readers to adopt a more optimistic and forward-thinking mindset.Solnit also explores the idea of interconnectedness and independence, arguing that this worldview has the power to shape our future. She writes, 'whether or not it is true, a lot of us want it to be true, and that desire says a lot about who we are right now'. By embracing this idea, readers can begin to see the world in a new light and work towards creating a better future.While some readers may be disappointed by the lack of policy prescriptions or organizing strategies, Solnit's book is a deliberate exercise in reframing our approach to change. As she notes, 'change happens so subtly, so slowly, that only a milestone lets you know that it has been taking place all along'. By adopting a more nuanced and hopeful view of the world, readers can begin to see the small changes that add up to a large one.