The White House has imposed a sanctions package on Russian officials and expelled several Russian diplomats; the Kremlin has responded with the expulsion of American diplomats and severely restricted whom the U.S. Embassy in Moscow can hire. Biden also recently agreed that Putin was a “killer”; Putin responded by ominously wishing Biden “good health.” https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/05/biden-putin-summit-location-485457

John Falstaff – antonomasia, a cultural symbol, a charismatic drunk of a hero There may be Shakespeare characters who are more celebrated, or whose tragedies are grander, but perhaps none is as easy to empathise with as John Falstaff, the portly knight of Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor. John Falstaff, that charismatic drunk, who lodges at the Boar's Head Tavern and keeps company with Prince Henry, aka Hal, soon to be Henry V; the chaotic old man who distracts the young prince from his more serious business of becoming king. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210421-the-shakespeare-tragedy-that-truly-speaks-to-us-now

FACE ATTACK in indirect accusation Face as a term in the theory of politeness means a reputational status of the recipient of the message. FACE ATTACK in the example below illustrates ignorance, arrogance and bad manners – something our officials are notorious for. Russian forces invaded our country more than seven years ago -- an illegal act that the international community has yet to succeed in reversing. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/21/opinions/ukraine-russia-op-ed/index.html

I was clear with President Putin that we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so. I chose to be proportionate. The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia. We want a stable, predictable relationship. If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions to respond.

A single piece of jewellery reveals the true meaning of Assyrian reliefs from the 7th-Century BC. Kelly Grovier explores how images depicting a staged lion hunt were used to proclaim a king's greatness.

During her interview with Oprah alongside husband Prince Harry, Meghan Markle said: “There is an active role that the Firm is playing in perpetuating falsehoods about us." She's referring to the institution of the royal family, but if you haven't heard the term "The Firm" before, you're not alone. Reportedly often used by Prince Philip to describe the family he married into, "The Firm" is a darker and somewhat more cynical term than "The Crown," the term for the royal family that the titular Netflix series used. "The Firm" is one of the more derisive nicknames for the royal family—but it's reportedly the one that the family itself sometimes uses. In The King's Speech, Colin Firth notes in his role as King George VI: "We're not a family, we're a firm"—a line reportedly spoken by the real King George VI. In truth, the royal family is both: a sprawling business with wide-ranging financial ties, and also a large family that, like any family, has suffered up and downs through generations. https://www.marieclaire.com/celebrity/a35718554/the-firm-royal-family-meghan-markle-prince-harry-oprah-interview/

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that US President Joe Biden’s comments about Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin, in which he called him a “killer”, were “unacceptable” and “not fitting of a president”. In a TV interview broadcast on Wednesday, Biden said “I do” when asked if he believed the Russian president was a killer, plunging diplomatic ties to a new low. Putin later responded “it takes one to know one”. “Mr Biden’s comment about Putin does not suit a head of state,” the Turkish president told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul, lauding Putin for giving a “smart” and “classy response”. The fact of Turkey's being a NATO ally of the USA throws weight behind Erdogan's opinion and puts the diplomatic exchange in a proper perspective. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/19/turkeys-erdogan-says-biden-comments-on-putin-unacceptable Clearly, by having violated the norms of diplomatic discourse Biden has shown himself to be a weak leader who does not measure up to the great country. At the same time the Russian proverb that was used by Putin has triggered off quite a lively discussion in the world of translation.

For some, positivity has been essential to coping with the crisis – many have relished a chance to slow down and reevaluate, felt grateful to still have a job or kept the good things in perspective (even while balancing virtual schooling, remote work and keeping the family safe). Of course, staying upbeat and expressing gratitude are hardly adverse practices, but this unrelenting optimism – known as ‘

toxic positivity

’ – paints negative emotions as a failure or weakness. Plus, there are few things more grating than encountering a toxic positivist when you’re grappling with grim reality. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210302-tragic-optimism-the-antidote-to-toxic-positivity

Indeed, in academia, some men say they prefer to drop their titles to foster more informal relationships with colleagues and students. Not all women can afford to make the same choice, as their expertise is less likely to be taken for granted. Kretzenbacher believes that the gendered difference is “an expression of male privilege – that you as a male academic, you get the benefit of the doubt that you’re an expert, or that you are a professor or a doctor or something”. That benefit of the doubt gets extended to women, and certain types of women, less often. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210216-why-do-professional-titles-actually-matter