Susan Owens

White House has no plan to mandate IVF care, despite campaign pledge President Donald Trump has said he wants a “baby boom,” but critics say his administration has yet to make significant family policy changes — and that Medicaid cuts will hurt.

Promises made, promises broken www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Julian Assange (red tie) among marchers across Sydney Harbour Bridge #marchforhumanity #freepalestine #savegaza @france24.com

👏🏻👏🏻Fingers crossed for Sydney weather

Name them: Edelman. An $835,000 contract to spin Brazil’s COP30

Spyware in other words. Should carry a warning…

Fantastic podcast. 👏🏻
Macquarie Bank…the ‘Vampire Kangaroo’…shameful theft from Thames Water

Was excited to see link to Radio 4 - but it’s the schedule only - listen live or not at all. No use in Aus.

Trivia 😉 NYT missed the issue that it’s slow-growing ‘winter wheat’ used for a baguette……and so outside France bakers use any flour. Not all flour is equal…

Melbourne today…#Palestine

A grifter who created a job out of AUKUS - as consultant to the US defense industry

Christian Louboutin, designer of the eponymous lacquered red-soled shoe, has bought Kerdalo, an estate in Brittany considered one of the 25 most beautiful gardens in the world - 5,000 different species, both rare and exotic. Designed last century by a White Russian in exile.

It’s not what your country does for you…🍷

screenshot from NYT of headline: Trump Gives Russia 50 Days to Make Peace With Ukraine

Trump chooses war as a profit centre. First by enabling US war profiteers to *sell* armaments to help Ukraine. Then projecting future profits by extracting the country’s mineral wealth. He said it: “To the victor go the spoils.” Via NYT

LVMH’s Loro Piana placed under court administration over worker exploitation Cashmere brand becomes fifth fashion house to be monitored in probe into labour rights violations in Italian supply chains

Loro Piana’s cashmere ‘Pablo’ cardigan will set you back €2,900+. The brand, owned by Bernard Arnaut’s LVMH is placed under judicial admin over labour rights violations.
Loved by rich when in the mood for quiet luxury - seems Loro Piana can’t treat its workers fairly.
Via @financialtimes.com

TOP DRAWER
King whose brother was on #Epstein client list to host convicted sexual abuser and felon at State dinner

…the UK awaits Trump…I sense he’s seen/heard nothing yet 🇬🇧

Bring back line judges! Those 300 nattily dressed humans who would have presided over more than 650 matches across 18 courts during Wimbledon…

In the US…
“Palantir software is being used to create the federal government’s first national citizenship data bank” - Robert Reich

Wimbledon 2025: Organisers apologise after missing three calls after electronic line-calling system deactivated in one game Wimbledon organisers apologise after the electronic line-calling system on Centre Court is turned off in error and misses three calls in one game.

They call it ELC but the ‘electronic line calling’ tech that has replaced 300 human line judges - in their natty striped blazers - at Wimbledon, failed yesterday. Of the 4 Grand Slams only the French Open is not using ELC #wimbledon2025

The Seine river with swimmers

Sublime. After a century-long ban, Paris takes a dip in the Seine 🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️Pic: Julien De Rosa

…and always remember, when buying a château the cheapest aspect is the purchase price 😉

Prefer to shrug off US$ and choose Euro

blue-green algae of equity

While America slept…Trump gave free pass to Russian banks…

Knock knock. Have long hoped to visit the Executive Suite - but as an outsider set myself a high bar. Made it today. I shall pop down to the cellar if I am welcome. 🥂
Wordle 1,472 2/6

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2 images: Original Schiaparelli haute couture gown and re-worked for Sanchez

The designer knows best Ms Sanchez. Baroque frock by #Schiaparelli dissolves from original #bezoswedding #hautecouture

Love the idea of those fireside chats with Howard, Abbott, Scomo….what is she thinking?

So Albo supported what NYT editorial describes as an illegal strike…

Spyware by another name ….

Lovely outcome..:-)