Monaco reveals stellar ambitions in Washington

Technology

The Principality shone brightly during the prestigious international “EARTH to SPACE: Arts Breaking the Sky” festival at the Kennedy Centre, showing the world its vision regarding space economy and lunar innovations.

On 29 March, the Monaco’s Embassy in the United States organised a major event in Washington D.C. With the evocative title “Monaco’s Leap to the Stars,” an exceptional round table drew several hundred spectators who came to discover the Principality’s growing commitment to the space industry.Advertising

The panel featured some of space exploration’s most iconic figures: Robert ‘Bob’ Cabana, Ellen Stofan, former senator and astronaut Bill Nelson, Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Jaret Matthews, founder of Astrolab and a former SpaceX engineer.

[embedded content]
Monegasque innovation on the Moon

The event also showcased the fascinating technological collaboration between Californian company Astrolab and Venturi Monaco. Visitors were able to admire the FLEX lunar rover prototype, a perfect illustration of Monegasque expertise in cutting-edge space exploration technologies.

Venturi unveils its moon wheel, a world first

At a reception prior to the event, H.E. Mrs Maguy Maccario Doyle, Monaco’s Ambassador, shared Prince Albert II’s vision with nearly 300 guests: to position Monaco as a hub for innovation and partnerships in order to bring about scientific and technological advances for a sustainable future.

This foray into the realm of space reveals a so far little-known aspect of the Principality, whose ambitions now extend beyond its land borders, reaching for the stars.

Eyewear in LGBTQ Films: Fashion, Symbolism, and Characterization

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Fashion in movies is often used as a marker for characters, settings, and themes.

One fashion and style piece that has taken on many onscreen forms, shapes, and designs over the years of cinema history is eyewear. Deceptively small in scale and often overlooked, a pair of eyeglasses or fashionable shades can go a long way in solidifying a film’s character, intent, and where they’re headed in their narrative.
In a piece on 2023 techno-horror “M3gan’s” surprising gay sensibility, writer Erik Piepenburg describes the AI cautionary tale as “the gayest non-gay horror film” since 2014’s “The Babadook.” The piece draws on insights from other writers and critics pinpointing M3gan as a queer icon for her attitude and fashionable nature — psycho robot tendencies aside.
Of course, queerness shouldn’t be indicated solely by a character’s fashionability, lest we risk falling back onto harmful and dated stereotypes. However, the right choice and use of eyewear can often translate into symbolism and add layers of depth to queer narratives.
Below, we’ll take a look at four films and how eyewear plays a role in each case:
Call Me By Your Name
[embedded content]
In a previous post highlighting the greatest queer films of all time, Luca Guadanigno’s “Call Me By Your Name” makes it among a long line of onscreen LGBT classics like “Priscilla” and “My Own Private Idaho.” While eyewear certainly wasn’t a focal point of the film, Timothee Chalamet’s Elio uses a distinct pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers at crucial points of the film.
Notably, Elio and his older love interest, Oliver, seems to use sunglasses to create emotional distance between each other, wearing shades at earlier scenes in the film. As the two grow closer and become more intimate, the sunglasses get a noticeable reduction in screen time. Aside from being a tool for hiding his emotions, Elio’s choice of sunglasses — one of Ray-Ban’s most hip and often-updated men’s eyeglasses model, the Wayfarer — reflects his youth and innocence, a prominent feature in any coming-of-age piece. In contrast, Oliver wears a tortoiseshell Persol PO0649 in many scenes of the film, showing his age over Elio.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
[embedded content]
We talked about fashionability and queerness in our introduction, but certainly a road trip flick following a group of two drag queens and a trans woman makes fashion an inescapable topic. The film opens with Hugo Weaving, in drag and a shiny sequin dress, lipsyncing to Charlene’s 1977 ballad, “I’ve Never Been to Me.” Accompanied by a pink and cursive opening billboard, this gentle and gradually comedic sequence sets the tone for the rest of the film.
While Hugo Weaving’s Mitzi del Bra doesn’t wear sunglasses in the iconic opening sequence just yet, they do appear at a later focal point of the film. Wearing a fluorescent green sequin dress, Mitzi wears a pair of oval, wire-rimmed sunglasses that look a lot like the Swarovski 0260. Mitzi is practicing her lipsync on the roof their bus, Priscilla, which they had just discovered was coated in homophobic graffiti. The sunglasses are completely overshadowed by the lime-green dress contrasting against muted desert colors, but it’s interesting to note that Mitzi wears the sunglasses while not in a wig. Where LGBT characters typically use sunglasses to hide their self or emotions, Mitzi’s use of the stylish shades here indicates her off-drag persona, an attempt to still look stylish even without having painted her face.
Tár
[embedded content]
Finally, another key use of eyewear in queer film is most recently shown through Todd Field’s “Tár,” a character study of Lydia Tár, a world-renowned conductor who is unknowingly in a sinister downward spiral after she is accused of misconduct in her work. The film is heavily praised for its taut performances and a sharp script. Meanwhile, subtle elements of horror are peppered throughout the runtime, lurking in the shadows as Tár slips deeper into her downfall.
Instead of wearing sunglasses to hide her feelings or her queerness, however, Lydia Tár is an intimidating woman, an out lesbian who only resorted to sunglasses after an incident in which she slips and hurts her face. Lydia’s costuming throughout the film evolves as her narrative progresses, her outfits getting more and more chaotic as her life continues falling apart. When we see her wear the oversized, dark sunglasses and dress in trainers, she is no longer the critically acclaimed conductor everyone fears and respects. Instead of hiding her queerness behind sunglasses, Lydia uses sunglasses in a desperate attempt to disguise weakness — a last-ditch stretch for some ounce of control.

Beijing defies Washington’s escalation logic… with the tools of quiet power

Technology

Since US President Donald Trump launched the trade war against China in 2018, the world has witnessed a steady rise in economic tensions between the world’s two largest powers. Returning to the political scene as part of his 2025 presidential campaign, Trump promised to impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese imports if he wins. The Chinese response was swift: official media warned of an “all-out trade war” that would be counterbalanced by similar measures. These statements are not just media rhetoric; they reflect Beijing’s strategic preparation to face worst-case scenarios.

What began as veiled threats has escalated into a brutal reality of reciprocal tariffs, recently reaching a fever pitch with Trump’s announcement of unprecedented tariff increases of up to 125% on Chinese imports. This decision, which he justified as “disrespectful” to China, came as Beijing raised its own tariffs on American goods to 84%, signaling a serious escalation that could push the global economy to the brink.

In this complex landscape, China is not standing still. It has long recognized the risks of over-reliance on the US market and has worked to diversify its trading partners and reduce its vulnerability to Washington.

Even so, trade between the two countries remains colossal, reaching approximately $585 billion in 2024. The United States imports $440 billion worth of goods from China, compared to $145 billion in exports to China. This imbalance creates a massive trade deficit in Beijing’s favor, estimated at approximately $295 billion. While this figure is lower than the trillion-dollar figure often cited by Trump, it still represents nearly 1% of U.S. GDP.

China’s economic tools in the confrontation

Faced with this pressure, China has numerous economic and political instruments at its disposal to respond to US measures. As a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, “China will never back down from a challenge,” and has promised to take “additional countermeasures.” Although Chinese leaders are aware that returning to confrontation is neither economically nor politically easy, especially with domestic challenges such as the real estate crisis and slowing consumption, China says it is now more prepared than ever. It has greater confidence in its ability to absorb shocks and is more assertive in defending its interests.

1. Reciprocal customs duties

As if in response to Trump’s escalation, China has raised its tariffs on US imports to 84% and could go even further, targeting sectors vital to US exports, such as agricultural products and industrial materials. Even though the United States exports less to China than it imports, these exports represent a crucial market for American producers, particularly farmers, who have already been hit hard since the start of the trade war.

2. US Treasury bonds

For decades, China has been hoarding U.S. Treasury bonds. As of January 2025, the Chinese central bank’s foreign exchange reserves stood at approximately $3 trillion. As of December 200, China held $2024 billion in Treasury bonds, the largest form of U.S. debt. Some analysts fear that China could use these reserves as a retaliatory weapon by selling its bonds en masse, which would drive up interest rates and hurt global growth.

3. A weakened yuan

China is deliberately steering the yuan’s decline in a controlled manner. The goal is to reduce the negative economic effects of the trade war without compromising financial stability. This supports export-led growth, creating jobs and boosting productivity. Keeping the yuan weak against the dollar helps partially offset the effect of tariffs. If the People’s Bank of China stopped intervening, the yuan would strengthen, making exports more expensive and potentially triggering a jobs crisis.

4. Rare earths

China is the world’s leading supplier of rare earths, a group of 17 chemical elements used in advanced technologies, from electric vehicles to weaponry. It accounts for approximately 70% of global production, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Any restrictions or taxes on these materials would seriously disrupt global supply.

5. Political and strategic dimensions

Since the start of the trade war, China has strengthened its ties with other countries, particularly in the Global South. By providing loans or debt relief, it has expanded its markets and reduced the impact of US restrictions. Despite the challenges, Beijing now believes it is better prepared, building on the experience of 2018, when it absorbed shocks through local stimulus measures. In a tense international context, China is banking on a new balance of power and the growing rejection of US hegemony.

Heavy economic consequences

Despite its strategic tools, the escalating trade war will come at a cost to the Chinese economy. Citi Bank has estimated that high tariffs could slow Chinese growth by 1,5 percentage points per year, with an additional 0,6 percentage points in 2025. Goldman Sachs has also revised down its forecast for Chinese GDP growth: 4% in 2025 and 3,5% in 2026, down from 4,5% and 4% previously, due to the tariff effects.

Trump’s strategy

The Trump administration is adopting a “superiority through escalation” logic, believing that the United States, less dependent on Chinese exports, will emerge victorious. But this logic overlooks the fact that the United States relies heavily on essential Chinese products such as consumer electronics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial components. Rising prices will exacerbate inflation and harm American consumers. Trump, known for his economic nationalism, could thus suffer boomerang effects. Reports show that American businesses and consumers have absorbed the majority of the cost of the tariffs, particularly in the technology and industrial sectors. Even so, Trump is counting on this new escalation to strengthen his position in any potential negotiations with China.

The global economy between two models

Since China joined the WTO in 2001, the world has experienced an era of strong trade integration. But this model has been crumbling since Trump came to power in 2016. Today, the standoff between Washington and Beijing goes beyond simple tariffs and touches the foundations of the global economic system. It is a clash between two models: an American model aimed at restoring its dominance through pressure, and a Chinese model focused on cautious expansion and redefining balances. With each escalation, the divide widens between a world led by the United States and one led by a confident China, championing a multipolar vision.

In this explosive context, what is decided behind the scenes could well shape the global economy for decades to come. There is no longer any room for neutrality: every decision weighs heavily in the balance of future power relations.

Books, lives and introspection | Corky Pickering

Arts & Culture, Books

I’ve read a few interesting books lately.  Such as a biography of Charlie White, a 109-year-old physician, written by his journalist neighbor who moved next door when he was 103. (The Book of Charlie, by David Von Drehle)What the author found so interesting, was that Charlie had lived a time spanning before radio, through the era of the smart phone – as well as two world wars, Vietnam and 9/11.  He had been married, divorced, outlived another spouse and currently had a much younger girlfriend in her eighties.  Charlie had related with all honesty that when he first began practicing medicine, unless a bone was broken, or a cut needed stitching-up, there wasn’t really much else he could do for someone.  Antibiotics, radiography, modern anesthesia and the like was not yet available.  Dr. White went from using ether to becoming a nationally-known anesthesiologist at the advent of that specialty during the second world war.   I remember ether from my tonsillectomy and appendectomy when I was a child.  The last veteran of the Civil War was still alive until I was six years old, which is pretty amazing to me.
The author had been enthralled with the scope of everything that had occurred during Charlie’s 109-years, and the fact that Charlie was doing his darnedest to experience life to its fullest.  And he continued to carry on pretty much full-speed to the very end, and with complete recall.  The book is a fun read.  I know the older folks will relate, but I’d love to know what younger readers might think of Charlie’s fascinating life.
Then I found myself reading James Hilton’s Goodbye Mr. Chips.  I know I saw at least one, or maybe both the 1939 and 1969 movie versions, so I was already familiar with the story.  I decided to give it a read since I had so thoroughly enjoyed Hilton’s book, Random Harvest (which I also recommend).  Mr. Chips was first a student, and eventually a teacher at Brookfield, a second-rank English boy’s school.  Chip’s life became pretty much entwined with the school and its boys over the years.  He eventually becomes something of a Brookfield institution as he finds himself teaching the sons and grandsons of his first students – and still remembered them all in great detail.  His fictional lifespan was 1848 to 1935.  Mr. Chips experienced the tragic deaths of many former students during the first World War.  He eventually married a bright, vivacious, much-younger woman, who was also enthralled with the school and the boys, but she tragically soon died during childbirth.
I also read The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro, a few months back.  This too was made into a film starring Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson.  This was a “chick flick” that I had been coerced into seeing, so I was familiar with the storyline.  It’s about the life of an English butler (Mr. Stevens) in service at the stately estate of Darlington Hall in the 1920s and 30s.  It’s a tale of introspection about a life spent “in service” and his secret love for the housekeeper, which never came to fruition.  Mr. Steven’s finally puts aside his bittersweet memories and lost dreams, and begins to focus upon service to Darlington Hall’s new American owner and life in the present.
These three books engender introspection concerning how one has lived his or her life.  Has there been romance and sufficient excitement?  What about missed opportunities?  And has it had meaning?  There is always danger in focusing too much on one’s past, rather than the present – which is where everything really happens.

Chuck Todd Makes Incredibly Damning Admission on Media’s Reluctance to Cover Biden’s Decline

US & Canada

I think it’s not even debatable at this point that one of the biggest scandals of Joe Biden’s presidency was the mainstream media’s willing and eager complicity in the cover-up surrounding Biden’s cognitive health and the intense pushback anyone who asked legitimate questions about it received from both the administration and the press. Advertisement As…

10 best fantasy books for beginners

Arts & Culture, Books

If fantasy wasn’t your thing when you were younger, or you never had a chance to get into it, the genre can be daunting. Fantasy books can be enormous tomes, filled with dictionaries, glossaries, maps, pronunciation guides, and more, all to understand what should be a simple story. It’s a lot to deal with. I promise you, though, that getting into fantasy is worth it. Some of the world’s greatest storytellers work within this genre, and fantasy can provide a powerful reflection of our world. Recommended Videos Sometimes, it’s also just nice to escape from our day-to-day lives, and … everything we’re subjected to each day on the news and social media. If you want to lose yourself in worlds filled with dragons, wizards, witches, and more, but you don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the 10 best fantasy books for beginners, from epic fantasy and romantic fantasy to cozy fantasy, and everything in between. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin (Penguin) If you’re looking for accessible, classic high-fantasy, then Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea cycle is the perfect place to begin your fantasy journey. The first book, A Wizard of Earthsea, introduces readers to Ged, one of the greatest sorcerers the world of Earthsea has ever known. Before he became Ged, though, he was a young, reckless, and naive magician named Sparrowhawk, who, in his quest for forbidden knowledge, unleashes a dangerous shadow upon the world. As you journey through the Earthsea novels, you’ll see Ged become the best version of himself, as he overcomes his inner demons, embraces harmony with the natural world, saves a young girl from a terrible cult, and meets some dragons. This is high fantasy at its finest. The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan (Harper Collins) The Black Magician trilogy by Trudi Canavan is a perfect stepping stone for the novice fantasy reader. Marketed to be YA but easily enjoyed by adults, The Black Magician trilogy starts with The Magician’s Guild, in which an all-powerful and ancient cabal of magicians receive the shock of a lifetime when a young and slightly feral child penetrates their protective magical shield with nothing but a stone. Will they be able to teach her to wield her power in time, or is she destined to destroy the city she calls home? Babel by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager) Some might be surprised by the inclusion of R.F. Kuang’s Babel on this list. I genuinely believe that, for adult readers transitioning from literary fiction into fantasy, Babel is a perfect jumping-off point. This is historical fiction, dark academia fiction, and fantasy fiction all rolled into one, woven into a story about oppression, colonization, rebellion, and a love of language and translation. Though magic is undoubtedly a key part of the story, it doesn’t overwhelm the main narrative, so if you’re not used to magic in books, this standalone novel might be just where you need to start. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin Harcour) Listen, I’m assuming that most people, at some point in their lives, have watched Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. I’m here to tell you though, that if you think you can start with The Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien because you’ve seen the films, even if you’ve never read fantasy before, you’d be making a mistake. They are gorgeous but dense, powerful but also slow. You’re much better off starting with The Hobbit, which is just one book that follows a relatively simple story: dwarves want to take back their mountain from an angry, gold-hoarding dragon, and they need a burglar to do it. Who better to call than a light-footed Hobbit? Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan (Disney Hyperion) Ancient mythologies are a huge part of fantasy, but if you want to read some updated mythology, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson books are where it’s at. The first series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians skews more middle-grade, while the sequel series, The Heroes of Olympus, is closer to YA. Honestly, though, these books are fun for all ages, and the way Riordan intertwines Percy’s hero’s journey with fun, zany takes on Greek mythology is a blast. You’ll love the characters, you’ll wish you went to Camp Half-Blood, and you’ll root for Percy and his friends as they tell Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, and more, that they’re the worst. It’s fabulous. Legacy of Orïsha by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt & Company) YA fantasy is undeniably massive, and there are so many options to choose from. If you want to know what the hype is all about and discover just what goes into writing a YA fantasy book, look no further than Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha series. Starting with the bestselling Children of Blood and Bone, this West-African-inspired high-fantasy world is rife with elemental magic, romance, and badass female characters. It also explores socially relevant topics such as segregation, subjugation, and abuse. Nothing will stand in Zélie Adebola’s way as she tries to give her people back the magic that was stolen from them by a ruthless king. The Celestial Kingdom by Sue Lynn Tan (Harper Voyager) There’s a nearly 0% chance that you haven’t heard of the romantasy genre by now. It’s essentially a sub-genre of fantasy in which romance is a central, inextricable, and influential part of the plot. There’s a lot of romantasy to choose from, however, so where to begin? If you’re a bit apprehensive about all the “spicy” romantasy recs out there, Sue Lynn Tan’s debut novel Daughter of the Moon Goddess is a great place to start. The first in the Celestial Kingdom duology—which also means it’s less of a commitment than one of Sarah J. Maas’ massive series, for instance—Daughter of the Moon Goddess is based on the ancient Chinese myth of Chang’e. The Moon Goddess’ daughter, Xingyin, is forced to fight for her mother’s freedom in a celestial world that would rather see her dead, but thankfully, two handsome, intelligent, and honorable men are more than willing to help her see her dreams come true. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree (TOR Books) Ah, the warm embrace of cozy fantasy. This is a low-stakes, high-reward sub-genre in which we see the loveliest characters grow and learn to embrace who they are alongside their friends and family, and sometimes they also get to fall in love. One of the writers who kickstarted this trend is undoubtedly Travis Baldree, whose novel, Legends & Lattes, became a worldwide hit. Legends & Lattes follows an exhausted orc with a violent past who hangs up their weapons to open a coffee shop. What more do you need to know? Shades of Magic by V.E. Schwab (Tor Publishing Group) If you want to try reading something with a bit more complex world-building but are worried about becoming … overwhelmed, V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic is a perfect series to begin with. In this universe, there are four parallel versions of London: Red, Grey, White, and Black, though White and Black aren’t doing so well. Grey London is aptly named because there’s no magic there, but Kell, an ambassador and secret smuggler from Red London, travels there anyway, reveling in the mundane. That is until he runs into Delilah Bard, a pickpocket with lofty aspirations whom he’ll need to work with to save all the Londons, as there’s treachery at work in the shadows. All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness (Penguin Books) Deborah Harkness’ All Souls trilogy features everything that makes fantasy so delicious to read—witches, vampires, demons, academia, magic, time travel, treasure, history, romance, and suspense. When Diana, an Oxford scholar descended from a long line of witches, discovers an ancient secret buried in a long-lost manuscript, the paranormal forces she so vehemently distanced herself from knock down her door. How will she handle being the only one capable of unlocking a powerful and dangerous spell? Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

El Kuiper

Book review: ‘Love is Solidarity in Action: Poems from the Frontlines of the Class Struggle’

Arts & Culture, Books

Left, book cover of ‘Love is Solidarity in Action,’ Right, book talk with author Stewart Acuff on March 29, 2025 | Shannon Duffy/PW
On March 29th, Stewart Acuff, author of Love is Solidarity in Action, gave a book talk in Kansas City, Missouri, organized by the Kansas City club of the Communist Party USA. Acuff’s book, distributed by International Publishers, is a poetry collection by the famed union organizer. For years, the trade unionist was one of America’s most successful union organizers at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), president of the Atlanta AFL-CIO, and National Organizing Director of the National AFL-CIO.
Union activists sometimes lament how their coworkers are uninformed about labor history. To combat this deficiency (without suggesting that our unions might be partially at fault), I recommend picking up this recently released book of poetry by the lifetime labor activist.
Acuff grew up in the Missouri Bootheel, and this is his fourth volume of poetry.  His poems are simple yet powerful, chronicling a lifelong struggle to achieve social and economic justice for the working class. His submissions range from his time in the South (“trying to help folks believe in themselves and one another”) to his time spent on national political and legislative campaigns and even serving as an elections observer in Africa for the United Nations.
Acuff mentions dangerous encounters with the Klan who he states threatened to cut him “from asshole to appetite.” He also details some maddening defeats in his life, but there are some victories, too.
The poet addresses labor history, like Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Sanitation Workers Strike in Memphis, 1968. He relates his own organizing attempts amid predatory poverty in rural Southern towns, as he opines on current issues like the Black Lives Matter movement and the divide in the modern Democratic Party. Throughout all his travels, Acuff fought for justice and pursued worker solidarity like a wanderer following the North Star.
Anyone reading this book will come away with a greater knowledge of unionism and a firmer understanding of why people form unions. There is wisdom in these pages.
Stewart Acuff
Love is Solidarity in Action: Poems from the Frontlines of the Class Struggle
International Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-7178-0037-7

We hope you appreciated this article. At People’s World, we believe news and information should be free and accessible to all, but we need your help. Our journalism is free of corporate influence and paywalls because we are totally reader-supported. Only you, our readers and supporters, make this possible. If you enjoy reading People’s World and the stories we bring you, please support our work by donating or becoming a monthly sustainer today. Thank you!