Donald Trump is suing the Wall Street Journal for reporting that in 2003 he sent a lewd birthday message to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in prison in 2019. Behold, the state of American politics. The lawsuit is the latest example of Mr Trump’s aim to enforce a kind of lèse-majesté rule against the media. But Rupert Murdoch, whose media empire includes the Journal, may prove to be less of a pushover than some of his peers. Elsewhere, we look at the vertiginous rise of Xiaomi, a Chinese tech giant. Only Apple and Samsung sell more smartphones worldwide. Xiaomi also peddles a vast array of devices that connect to its handsets, from robo-vacuums to televisions. And, with the successful release of its own EVs, the company has pulled off a feat that eluded Apple. Now it has its sights set on world domination. |