Month: June 2026

Bombastic is the title and description of Court Painter’s recent exhibition.It also could describe his irascible temperament and celebrity brand.

As an aside :(Stockholm, 27 April 2026) World military expenditure reached $2887 billion in 2025, an increase of 2.9 per cent in real terms over 2024. Military spending declined in the United States but rose by 14 per cent in Europe and by 8.1 per cent in Asia and Oceania. The top three military spenders—the USA, China and Russia—spent a combined total of $1480 billion, or 51 per cent of the global total, according to new data published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). 

-Court Painter seen holding a sparkler.

-Installation

-Installation

-Installation

-The Press Attaché to Court Painter is seen holding a purchase from the gallery gift shop.

-Court Painter in his studio

-Court Painter in his studio

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer & Flag Hugger

The Trump administration plans to impose new tariffs on dozens of trading partners, including Canada, over allegations the countries are allowing goods produced by forced labour into their supply chains.

The proposed new tariffs were announced by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer late Tuesday night, not long after he wrapped up an afternoon meeting with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc in Washington. 

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labour is unacceptable,” Greer said in a news release.

For a stinging analysis of the latest in American hypocrisy this is a must view with Tod Maffin.”Lectured by the Guilty”

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Court Painter & Double Trouble Portrait

St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

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Donald Trump has sent an official US delegation to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr.

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Cook is overseeing the president’s controversial White House ballroom extension and is chair of the US Commission of Fine Arts.

Another guest is the former Hollywood actor and Putin supporter Steven Seagal.

Ukrainian officials shared video footage on Wednesday that showed drones buzzing noisily above St Petersburg’s skyline. “The Petersburg forum is opening with a nice plume of black smoke in the background after Ukrainian strikes,” posted Serhii Sternenko, an adviser to the country’s defence minister.

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Ukrainian drones hit energy and military sites in St Petersburg early on Wednesday, hours before international guests gathered for the city’s flagship economic forum, in a blow to Vladimir Putin.

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Several long-range drones crashed into oil storage facilities after Russian air defences failed to shoot them down. There were loud explosions and black smoke rose high above the city from the blazing oil terminal. Drones also struck the nearby Kronstadt naval base and shipyard in Leningrad oblast, which is home to Russia’s Baltic fleet. The corvette, the Boikiy, caught fire. It was in dry dock undergoing repairs.

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In the past, Russia has used the St Petersburg forum to court western investors. Since Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most have stayed away. The Kremlin has instead invited close regional and other allies, including this year the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania, alongside ministers from Cuba, Belarus , Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump’s official US delegation led by Rodney Mims Cook Jr.

Source: Edited from The Guardian,June 3/26

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