Features

Trump drives USA perilously close to recession

Published

1 year ago

2025/05/4

First 100-days of the administration

With President Trump now engaged in renaming various parts of the world after the name of the land he rules with an iron Sharpie, it may be interesting to consider what else he has achieved in the first 100-days of his second term.

Trump had a wonderful first 100-days in his first term in 2017, when he inherited from President Obama 75 consecutive weeks of a booming economy and the lowest unemployment rates in decades. An economy that even he did not have the experience to ruin. Experience which he has now gained sufficiently to bring an economy he inherited from President Biden, which was the strongest in the world in October 2024, to the cusp of recession in a mere 100 days.

Trump has unilaterally already instructed the cartographers in the United States to rename the oceanic basin and marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, bounded on the northeast by the gulf coast of the United States, on the south by Mexico and the southeast by Cuba, which has been known in all maps of the world for the past four centuries as the Gulf of Mexico, as the Gulf of America.

The Gulf of Mexico is now called the Gulf of America for Google Maps users in the United States, in keeping with the terms of President Trump’s controversial Executive Order. In fact, President Trump recently banned an Associated Press reporter from White House briefings for continuing to name the Gulf of America by its original name, though that body of water remains the Gulf of Mexico in all other maps of the world.

Trump is also proposing to rename Canada as the 51st State of the Union, Greenland as red white and blue land, the Gaza Strip as the United States Riviera and the Panama Canal as the Panamerica Canal. It is surprising that he has not renamed the Great States of New Mexico and Indiana as the Great States of Old America and Americana, respectively.

Actually, Canadian liberals must thank Trump for his proposal to call Canada the 51st State. Pro-Trump Canadian conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, were leading the liberals by 25 points when Trump made the 51st State announcement after his inauguration in January, 2025. This angered all Canadians and united them, liberals and conservatives, so as to elect Mark Carney, the leader of the Liberal Party, as the Prime Minister of Canada last week. Thus arresting the swing towards the right that Canada was leaning after over a decade of liberal rule.

It is likely that Trump will similarly unite all Americans against the Republicans, except, of course, the MAGA (Make America Great Again) cult, if his first 100-day performance is anything to go by.

The performance of a president in his first 100 days was always measured by that of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was inaugurated in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression, when America was reeling under unemployment and poverty. Since then, the first 100 days of every president’s term has been taken as a benchmark to gauge the early success of a president.

In Roosevelt’s first inauguration speech in January 1933, he made his famous statement, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”. He spent his first week dealing with bank closures which were ruining the finances of families nationwide. He began a series of his renowned “fireside chats”, when he spoke to a radio audience of more than 60 million people, explaining to them what steps he was taking to alleviate the crisis.

He restored the confidence of the people with the reopening of the banks with the enactment of the Emergency Banking Act. He created the beginnings of a social safety net with his New Deal, which aimed at the goals of increasing employment and to address the immediate needs for a support system for the poor. He spent millions of dollars on soup kitchens, employment schemes and nursery schools.

Roosevelt’s first 100 days saved America not only from the depression, but created the beginnings of an equitable “woke” society, despised by today’s American conservatives, in the richest nation in the world. A system which brings out all the creative features of capitalism with the compassion of democratic socialism, an ideology followed by every one of the advanced, wealthy nations of the world, bar the richest and the most advanced.

It would be remiss if I did not list Trump’s most important act on the first day of his inauguration, which had nothing to do with the economy. He pardoned every one of the 600 plus criminals who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, threatening to kill Vice-President Mike Pence and to violently impede the peaceful transfer of presidential power, as incited by him.

Trump’s first 100 days have taken the United States of America from an economy, which according to The Economist of October 2024, was “The Envy of the World”, to one on the cusp of recession. The announcements of his increased tariffs have already increased prices and promises certain rises in inflation, as their effects begin to take effect in the immediate future.

The biggest retailers in the country, like Walmart and Target, have already warned that increased tariffs will result in empty shelves within weeks, and small businesses, especially those trading in toys and other Christmas items, are already consulting with bankruptcy lawyers.

Given the Republican’s razor-thin majority in the House, Trump has so far ruled the nation by Executive Order. His record of 140 Executive Orders in his first 100-days eclipses Roosevelt’s 99 in his first 100-days.

Of course, FDR’s Executive Orders were aimed primarily at saving the nation from the Great Depression. Trump’s 140 were mainly aimed at “the greatest deportation program in the history of the world” – which he has been carrying out by illegally deporting immigrants, some citizens and Green Card holders, without due process – but still at a lower rate than that achieved during the Biden administration.

Trump has also, through the illegal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, terminated federal and other employees arbitrarily; often with no reference to merit and concentrating on eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) hires. A program designed to ensure that the interests of minorities are protected in hiring procedures. But a concept completely at odds with the Trump/Musk belief that only a white man is capable of doing any important job. A concept that Trump has conclusively proved in his hiring of the most important jobs in his cabinet, the most notable being the appointment of Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, a Fox Newscaster with a police record of lewd and drunken behavior.

One of the first cuts by DOGE was the defunding of US AID (United States Agency for International Development), the premier US Agency for international aid to poverty-stricken communities worldwide, the greatest and most admired instrument of the USA for soft power. The closure of all US AID offices worldwide and immediate stoppage of shipping of food and medicines to poor nations have already cost thousands of lives.

Trump has taken over as the Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It’s a matter of time that its Board of Directors, including his Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles and the Second Lady of the USA, Usha Vance, clamor for its renaming to

as the Trump Center. While JFK will be doing somersaults in his grave, the name is strangely appropriate. Who better at the Performing Arts than the Donald, whose performances in American courtrooms, election rallies and indeed during his time at the Oval Office, have captivated a nation.

Trump has also threatened to stop the federal funding to Harvard University on false grounds of anti-Semiticism and DEI hires, and to force the university to submit to the government’s control over its academic programs. Harvard’s lawyers are fighting Trump, arguing, correctly that these orders violate the university’s constitutional rights.

Trump has already taken measures to close the Department of Education, and educational curricula will be left to the individual states. The history of the genocide of 10 million native Americans, slavery, Reconstruction, the Apartheid of Jim Crow, will be hidden from future generations of American kids.

Fareed Zakhariya of CNN had an interesting take on Trump’s assault on American universities. He stated that the federal funding of the greatest universities in the world, like Harvard, has enabled research resulting in major breakthroughs in science and medicine, which has made the USA produce the greatest number of Nobel Prize winners since World War II. That is what will be lost through Trump’s idiocy. Fortunately, Trump will never win this particular battle.

Of course, Trump blames the negative GDP numbers on the Biden administration. Although he did say, after he was elected, that the numbers will go up from the first day of his administration. Just as he said, during the first months of his first term, when he was claiming the credit for the booming economy he inherited from President Obama.

Trump’s polling numbers are all under water. He only has the support of his MAGA cult, and the Republican politicians who fear they will lose their jobs at the next midterms by being “primaried” by Elon Musk. Of course, that depends on how long that unholy Trump/Musk alliance will last; it’s already showing signs of a split.

Trump’s translation of the famous FDR words that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself” seems to be “the only thing we can rule by is fear itself”.

The consensus of all media outlets, including Fox News, is that Trump’s first 100 days of his second term are the worst in 70 years. They are opening the eyes of Americans, as evinced by nationwide protests against tariffs, rising prices and illegal deportations. Americans seem to be regaining their courage, and courage is contagious.

by Kumar de Silva

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Features

New US sanctions on ICC, a fillip to worldwide political repression

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

The International Criminal Court in session. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s warning to the International Criminal Court (ICC) was stark: ‘Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.’ It followed US central administration accusations that the court was unfairly targeting Americans on the basis of trumped-up war crimes charges.

However, a new plethora of sanctions has been clamped on the ICC by the US, which in turn has spurred accusations by sections of the world that the latter has unleashed an ‘assault’ on the international legal order.

What some of the sanctions would mean for the ICC was outlined by Rubio: ‘We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling their ability to operate against us.’

The ICC has shown consistency of purpose over the years. Despite some operational constraints it has indicted a large number of political strongmen from around the world, accused of war crimes and other governance excesses that come under its purview. Two such recent figures are: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rather than enjoy a mere nominal presence in the world community, the ICC has proved its effectiveness by detaining and bringing to justice scores of VIP politicians and others of their ilk who have been found guilty of human rights abuses and kindred excesses that come within the terms of reference of the ICC.

Accordingly, the international justice system would be stymied considerably as a result of the ICC being dis-empowered, particularly financially. Needless to say, potential and real perpetrators of the species of crime coming under the jurisdiction of the ICC would stand to gain most from such anarchic tendencies. That is, political repression globally would be enabled to enjoy a new lease of life.

A detailing of the types of crime coming under the purview of the ICC provides an idea of what it would cost the international community if the ICC’s operations are gravely hampered. They are mainly: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

That is, the part of the world to be worst affected would be the global South, since the latter is awash with the mentioned crimes. Needless to say, a chronically-disaffected South will sooner rather than later undermine the well being of the world dangerously. The world is already being put through these paces.

At the time of writing, ‘illegal migrants’ from the South, for example, are aggravating many a Western economy’s woes, besides creating for them acute law and order issues. The fact that these migrants’ presence goes on to become a virtual test of the migrant receiving states’ ability to forge domestic social inclusion in the face of jingoistic protests by mainly white supremacist groups is evidence of the latter. As is known, the US, to take just one example, has been up against this crisis for quite a while.

Accordingly, it will be in the best interests of the West if ‘illegal’ migrant arrivals on their shores are stemmed. If the socio-political and economic problems assailing the South are effectively managed through North-South collaborative, ‘trouble-shooting’ efforts the causes leading to ‘illegal’ migration and connected issues could be resolved at source as it were. For, it is the aggravation of the South’s material questions that lays the basis for the emergence of repressive and anti-democratic regimes in the hemisphere.

Until such time that the aforementioned issues in North-South relations are visited afresh and addressed urgently, a vibrantly functioning ICC would be needed. For, the latter would prove a deterrent to Southern political and military strongmen, highly prone to power abuse and like excesses, from coming into being in the wake of the South’s chronic material woes and the wars and conflicts that result from them.

It stands to reason then that the US would be acting in its own interests by enabling the ICC to perpetuate its mandate without hindrance. For a crop of issues that impinges negatively on internal law and order would be defused.

Meanwhile, there needs to be a meeting of minds among the rest of the West to put back in place a North-South dialogue process aimed at reducing some of the economic pressures that are weighing on the South.

Since economics usually drives politics it will be in the interests of the world community to scrutinizingly re-visit North-South issues of the past and put in place economic relief packages for Southern publics that would enable them to tide over their material hardships rather than permit the latter to aggravate into social disaffection and eventually armed militancy. It is the latter juncture that paves the way for the emergence of authoritarian rulers in the South who then go on to be a blight on their publics.

Accordingly, the Southern-based global development thinking of the past that envisaged a more equitable world economic order needs to be seen as an urgent need. That is, NAM’s international development paradigms need to be resuscitated to the extent possible.

It is unlikely that rightist governments of the West, such as the current Republican administration in the US, would find these projects feasible, but democratic states of Europe, led by perhaps the UK, are likely to think otherwise. For it would not be beneficial for the democratic world to be having on their hands repressive governments in the South who would be gravitating towards the major military and economic actors of the South, such as Iran and North Korea, who tend to be in constant power struggles with the West.

However, until such time that the mentioned, pro-people initiatives are given serious thought the ICC would need to be enabled by the international community to be in place comfortably and carry on with its mandate of bringing repressive rulers to book. Besides the ICC should pave the way for the peoples of the developing world to enjoy some substantial respite from the political repression and even terror which tend to be their lot.

Meanwhile, the wars of West Asia are relentlessly aggravating the economic hardships of people everywhere, driving the point home to enlightened sections that there is no alternative to peacemaking. A challenge is to convert the US under President Trump to this line of thinking.

Features

Clear, soft and shine-free skin

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

This week, I give you five simple, time-tested homemade remedies that help reduce the appearance of blemishes, control excess shine and leave your skin feeling softer and smoother.

The Honey and Lemon Brightening Dab:

For stubborn blemish marks, this is a classic. Mix one teaspoon of pure bee honey with three to four drops of fresh lemon juice. Apply gently, only on the affected spots, and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. While honey soothes and softens, lemon helps to brighten naturally. Use twice a week in the evening.

Besan and Rose Water Oil-Control Pack:

An ideal remedy to combat shine, especially on the T-zone. Take two teaspoons of besan (gram flour) and mix with sufficient rose water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antiseptic goodness. Apply evenly, keep for 15 minutes and wash off. It absorbs excess oil without over-drying, leaving a beautiful matte finish.

Aloe Vera and Cucumber Ice Soother:

Blend fresh aloe vera gel with the juice of a grated cucumber and freeze the mixture in an ice tray. Each morning, wrap one cube in a soft muslin cloth and gently rub over a cleansed face for 30 seconds. It calms, tightens pores and imparts a baby-soft smoothness.

Oatmeal and Curd Gentle Polish:

Roughness and old blemish marks need gentle exfoliation. Combine one tablespoon of finely powdered oatmeal with one tablespoon of fresh curd (yoghurt). Massage very gently, in circular motions, for one minute, leave for five minutes and rinse. It removes dead cells and unveils softer, clearer skin.

Multani Mitti and Green Tea Magic Mask:

Brew some green tea and allow it to cool completely. Mix one and a half teaspoons of Multani Mitti (Fuller’s Earth) with the tea water to make a fine paste. Apply for 10 to 12 minutes – do not let it dry and crack completely – and wash off. It draws out impurities, fades blemishes and bestows a fresh, shine-free glow.

A Gentle Reminder:

As with any natural remedy, always do a patch test on your inner arm first. For those with oily or combination skin, avoid heavy coconut oil application and harsh scrubbing, as they tend to aggravate shine and blemishes.

Features

Compete, shine and be discovered at WCOPA 2027

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/15

Thilina Walpola

Dream of performing on a world stage? Well, here is your unique, golden opportunity!

The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) — the one and only official “Talent Olympics” — is the world’s premier global platform for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, instrumentalists, etc., to compete, shine and be discovered!

And, yes, this world stage is open to YOU, Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka and overseas!

Held annually in glittering Las Vegas, WCOPA brings together over 70 countries, all competing for Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, just like the traditional Olympics.

Lakisha Bernard: Will represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027

Outstanding performers vie for the coveted titles of Junior and Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World, with winners and standout participants awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, cash awards and prizes to catapult their education and careers!

Sri Lanka is already making waves! At WCOPA 2026, Natharie Wickramasinghe, representing Team Sri Lanka, made the nation proud by winning a Bronze Medal in the Ethnic/Folklore Dance category!

Lakisha: Accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate

Recruitment for this prestigious competition is handled through a system of scouts and licensed National Directors — and this is where our very own Chris Rajendra, now based in Las Vegas, and National Director for Team Sri Lanka, comes into the scene.

If you are a singer, dancer, actor, model, instrumentalist — if you have talent burning inside you — contact Chris Rajendra today for registration and, who knows, you may find yourself in Las Vegas, and proudly draped in the Sri Lankan flag, at WCOPA 2027!

The contact address is: Chris Rajendra, wcopa.nationaldirector.sl@gmail.com

or chris.rajendra@gmail.com

Meanwhile, a star is born for 2027, in the form of Lakisha Bernard who is all set to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA 2027.

Originally hailing from the sun-drenched coastal city of Colombo and now carving out her creative career in Canada, 22-year-old Lakisha is stepping into the international spotlight.

This accomplished freelance Model and Fashion Design graduate has officially been appointed as the Team Sri Lanka Promoter for Canada as she prepares to represent Team Sri Lanka at WCOPA in Las Vegas.

Lakisha brings a unique blend of high-fashion sensibility, captivating camera presence and expert garment design to the Team.

Having built her career, from local college shoots to high-glamour concepts, Lakisha’s inspiring journey embodies the true spirit of cultural bridge-building and creative resilience, bringing immense pride and recognition to Sri Lanka on the global stage.

WCOPA 2027 will be held at the legendary Westgate Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, from 12th to 20th July – the very same iconic arena where the late, great Elvis Presley himself performed!

Your moment is now. Your stage is Las Vegas, so hurry and contact Chris Rajendra.