‘Belgium, where most of these Russian assets are held (by the Belgian financial institution, Euroclear), is strongly resisting the European Commission’s push to use them. It fears not only repercussions from Russia, but also the capital markets losing trust, which could have long-term consequences on third countries’ willingness to invest and keep their assets in Belgium, or in Europe, indeed.’
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier has been accused of match-fixing, while Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups faces charges for participating in an illegal, rigged poker game. The scandal revealed two hard truths: even the multi-million-dollar salaries of the NBA are not sufficient safeguards against illegal gambling, and New York’s five ‘traditional’ La Cosa Nostra families remain active.
‘The danger is not that artificial intelligence will turn evil, but that we will forget how to discern good.’
‘In an age dominated by the immediacy of scrolling, the icon insists upon stillness. Where modern images reflect narcissism, icons guide the viewer toward transcendence. The practice of looking reverently at an icon can serve as a powerful antidote to the visual distractions of modernity.’
‘“Religious Zionism”…keeps unsettling end-of-history pieties about confining faith and observance to the margins of the public square and smoothing out the nation state’s ethno-religious edges. Yet instead of cool-headed assessments precisely when it holds the keys to governability…the rise of this national-religious bloc of parties is often met by incurious moral hysteria.’
‘The conundrum, as stated above, is that Taiwan is treated by a great part of the international community as if it were a country of its own.’
The Daily Beast has reached new depths of Trump Derangement Syndrome, alleging that Donald Trump’s latest TIME magazine cover was inspired by a 1963 Newsweek portrait of Nazi industrialist Alfred Krupp—based solely on an Instagram ‘like’ by the photographer. TIME has dismissed the claim as ‘completely untrue’ and ‘reckless’.
‘Olivia wanted to ride horses, which…is very expensive…I had to come up with a solution. I started by making pancakes once, with a donation-based system. Neighbors were incredibly generous…Similarly, when Emma left for Texas, a friend left $200 in an envelope for her—just slipped it through the door…It showed me that human kindness and helping young people aren’t determined by nationality.’
‘Spain, France, and the UK have inherited not only migrants from their former colonies but also the cultural consequences of how those empires were built.’
‘Politico claims herds of antelopes and zebras are hidden away in the back garden of his countryside residence.’