UR MAG

NEW YORK (AP) — Call him the Trader in Chief.

Recent presidents have stayed away from trading stocks in companies whose fortunes they could lift or scuttle with the stroke of a pen, but Donald Trump smashed that precedent in the first quarter of this year with more than 3,600 buy and sell orders, many of them involving companies whose profitshave been directly impacted by his decisionsas head of the government.

Among the Trump trades in a recent report filed with a federal ethics agency was as much as $6 million inNvidia, whose advanced chipsTrump approved for sale to Chinalast year. His portfolio also scooped up stocks of several U.S. military suppliers impacted by the Iran war, including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman.

“If he were defense secretary, he would be committing a crime,” said Richard Painter, the chief White House ethics adviser in the George W. Bush administration and a big critic of congressional trading, too. “Technically he can do this, but it is a fundamental breach of trust.”

U.S. law bans federal employees from holding financial assets that could be impacted by their policy work, but there is a carveout for the president.

A spokesperson for the Trump family business said the president's portfolio is handled by third parties that have “sole and exclusive” authority to make investment decisions.

“Neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization plays any role in selecting, directing, or approving specific investments,” spokesperson Kimberly Benza said in a statement. “They receive no advance notice of trading activity and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio management."

Ethics officials have pointed out that just the knowledge of what's in his portfolio is problematic because it could impact the president's decisions on everything from health policy to government contracting to war.

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The stock trading report filed with the federal Office of Government Ethics runs more than 100 pages, and shows possibly more than $100 million changing hands over three months as stocks were bought and sold at rapid fire pace — an average of 50 trades every day markets were open.

The report shows more purchases than sales, but the precise ratio is impossible to determine because exact figures for each transaction are not given, just ranges.

Trump hastraditionally had very little invested in the stock marketrelative to his net worth, but that could be changing along with his ballooning wealth, which has included a big cash infusion.

Since he became president again, the Trump Organization has taken in tens of millions inupfront fees from overseas developersthat want to put his name on resorts and hundreds of millions from cryptocurrency sales, mostly anonymous, making it impossible to know if the purchaser were trying to curry favor with the president.

All recent U.S. presidents have dumped their stocks before assuming office, put their money in broadly diversified funds or set up a “blind” trust so they couldn’t even know what they owned.

The blind trust route was taken by George H.W. Bush, then Bill Clinton. George W. Bush, the son, dumped his stocks. Barack Obama was in broadly diversified mutual funds. Joe Biden didn't trade.

In addition to Nvidia, the president's portfolio includes shares inApple, Boeing and Tesla. The CEOs of all four companies accompanied Trump on his visit to China recently.

The portfolio also includes Intel, the chipmaker in which the government tooka 10% stakelast year.

Among many others, the portfolio of the fast-food loving president recently added stock in Shake Shack, Papa John's and Cheesecake Factory.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced legislation Tuesday that seeks to force President Donald Trump to withdraw fromthe Iran war,as a growing number of Republicans defied the president's direction on a conflict that has spanned well over two months.

Since Trump ordered the attack on Iran at the end of February, Democrats have forced repeated votes on war powers resolutions that would require him either to gain congressional approval or withdraw U.S. troops. Republicans had been able to muster the votes to reject those proposals, but Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy — fresh off aprimary election lossin which Trump endorsed his opponent — switched sides.

The 50-47 vote tally showed that a small butgrowing number of Republicansare willing to challenge Trump on the Iran war, even though the effort may not advance much further. Three Republicans were absent Tuesday and their votes would be enough to defeat the measure, if they maintain their stance on the war.

Still, the vote showed how Republicans are increasingly uneasy with a conflict that shows no signs of ending, is stuck in a fragile ceasefire and is causing rising gas prices in the U.S.

“Republicans are starting to crack, and momentum is building to check him,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement after the vote. "We are not letting up.”

Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska had all previously voted for similar war powers resolutions and did so again Tuesday. Cassidy supported the legislation for the first time, while Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was again the only Democrat to vote against it.

After his primary election loss last week, Cassidy returned to Washington defiant. He said he was proud of his work to uphold the Constitution and would carefully consider how he would vote on several priorities of the Trump administration going forward.

Trump's grip on the Senate Republican Conference is potentially slipping after Cassidy's primary loss, as well as thepresident's decision Tuesdayto endorse Republican Sen. John Cornyn's primary opponent.

“While I support the administration’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury,” Cassidy said on social media.

“Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified.”

House will also vote on war powers

Across the Capitol, the House is expected to vote on a similar war powers resolution Wednesday, and Democrats are bullish about their chances of passing it. Another war powers resolution barely failed in the House last week, the vote ending in a tie.

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Even if Congress eventually passes legislation to compel Trump to withdraw from the conflict, it's not clear that he would comply. To circumvent requirements of the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the White House has claimed that it has technically ceased “hostilities” with Iran because there is a ceasefire.

Trump this week said heordered preparationsfor an attack on Iran on Tuesday, only to call it off to give allies in the Gulf more time to work out an agreement with Iran.

“Peace negotiations are stuck and so day after day after day grocery prices climb, gas prices climb," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in a floor speech.

Lawmakers want more information on Iran war

On Capitol Hill, patience is clearly running out for a war that Trump launched without congressional approval.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota said he is supportive of Trump’s decision to go to war, but that more Republicans are growing concerned about a long-term plan. The administration may have to go into more detail about that, Rounds said.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 “does provide an avenue for that discussion and debate to occur,” Rounds said.

He said he believes it’s not the right time to do that, and he would rather “stand strong with the president” at this point. “But I think a number of our members maybe just feel like it’s time to have the debate.”

Earlier this year, Republican senators voted to advance a war powers resolution on the conflict with Venezuela and compelled the Trump administration to make its case to Congress for the military campaign.

A handful of GOP senatorsforced a final vote on legislationto withdraw from the conflict. Two of the Republicans — Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Josh Hawley of Missouri — ultimately flipped after Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to a public hearing about the administration's Venezuela strategy.

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.

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Joel Lorenzi: Asked Mark Daigneault how starting Cason Wallace in Game 1 of the Finals informed his decision making with starters since: “I view the starting lineup as a rotation decision. I think the starting lineup — the lights go out and the music starts, and the announcer announces them, and they run out, they get the graphic on TV, everybody lists the starters.It gets, in my opinion — not opinion — it's just overemphasized relative to what I'm thinking about. It's like there's no difference to me between who you start and who the first sub is or the next sub after that.”

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype:It gets, in my opinion — not opinion — it's just …

Neymar will make his fourth World Cup appearance after Brazil named him to their 26-man squad on Monday.

The decision was not a guarantee as questions surrounded Neymar's fitness since his ACL tear more than two years ago.

"(Neymar) has improved his fitness," Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday following the squad announcement at a gala in Rio de Janeiro. "He will be an important player in this World Cup."

Brazil's all-time leading goal-scorer (79), Neymar rejoined his boyhood club Santos last year after a stay with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.

Neymar has collected eight goals through his three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and will try to guide the Selecao to their first title since 2002.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro was the most notable omission from the roster. Some expected he would make his first World Cup roster at 24 years old, and he has played for Brazil in international competition in the lead-up to this cycle, but Ancelotti favored Neymar, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, Bournemouth's Rayan, Brentford's Igor Thiago and others at that position.

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"It was very difficult to choose these 26 players," said Ancelotti. "Why? Because the competition in this country is very, very high. I know some players who have been with us this year will be unhappy."

BRAZIL WORLD CUP ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Gabriel (Arsenal), Roger Ibanez (Al Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo)

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

--Field Level Media

By Peter Hobson

Justin Everitt sows wheat at his farm in Brocklesby

BROCKLESBY, Australia, May 19 (Reuters) - Justin Everitt is planting 50% less wheat this year than he thought he would.

Standing in muddy brown boots and jeans by his tractor and 11-metre-wide (36-foot-wide) seeding rig in a bare field, the 44-year-old said a lack of rainfall and rapid increases in fuel and fertiliser prices due to the war in Iran had ripped up his sowing plans.

He is one ‌of thousands of farmers across Australia deciding to plant less wheat and spread less fertiliser.

Their choices – and the likelihood of a dry growing season for many - mean Australia, the third-largest wheat exporting nation, may have as ‌much as 10 million tons less to ship in the upcoming season, an amount equivalent to 5% of annual global exports.

Everitt, whose family has farmed near Brocklesby, 300 km (185 miles) northeast of Melbourne, for six generations, said he had never before made such radical changes to his cropping plans.

"Every indicator ​is pointing towards lower production," he said.

A smaller harvest in Australia would reduce global wheat supply and put upward pressure on prices, which have already begun to rise.

Australia is the first major grain exporter to plant wheat since the beginning of the Iran war, which throttled exports of fuel and fertiliser from Gulf nations. Other countries are also likely to grow less, shrinking food supply further.

Reuters interviewed 18 farmers across Australia. In the driest areas, most were sharply scaling back planting. Nationwide, many were switching from wheat to crops like barley or canola that either need less fertiliser or sell for a higher price.

Forty kilometres west of Everitt's farm, near the town of Corowa, Anthony Black said he would sow 20% less wheat and use one-third less fertiliser than he ‌planned. With dry conditions, he expects to harvest around 40% less wheat.

There isn't money ⁠in his budget to absorb a doubling in the price of urea, a key nitrogen fertiliser, he said. "It's just not there."

WHEAT SUPPLY PRESSURE

Six agricultural analysts said the amount of Australian land planted with wheat would fall by between 7% and 20% from last year, potentially removing the grain from an area nearly the size of Belgium.

The harvest, due towards year-end, could be between 16% ⁠and 41% smaller, the analysts estimated, shrinking from last year's roughly 36 million tons to as low as 21.3 million tons, if the most pessimistic estimate proves correct and dry conditions extend their grip.

The next major wheat exporters to sow crops are Argentina, where the Rosario Grains Exchange said farmers facing high costs would plant 7% less wheat and harvest around 37% - or 11 million tons - less than last year, and Canada, where spring sowing is lagging its usual pace and analysts expect lower output.

The global wheat market will likely shift ​from ​surplus into deficit, drawing down stockpiles and pushing up prices, said an analyst at an international grain trading firm who did not have ​permission to speak publicly. Production of other crops will also fall, he said.

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DRY OUTLOOK DETERS ‌PLANTING

Cropping regions in much of New South Wales and Queensland have had very little rain, and many farmers who would usually sow into dry soil and wait for rainfall are not, because of a grim weather outlook and high costs.

Forecasters predict the formation of an El Nino, a weather phenomenon that typically heats and dries Australia's east coast.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology expects below-median rainfall for most of the country's cropping zones between June and September.

Planting was just too risky, said one New South Wales grower who did not stock up on fuel or fertiliser before prices rose and had left their entire farm unsown.

Other regions are better off, however. Tim McClelland, who farms near Birchip in Victoria state, said good rainfall had given him the best start to a season he'd ever had.

He has bought all the fertiliser he'll need. "I feel a bit sick about the amount of money it cost," he said. "But positive about the season."

FERTILISER TROUBLE

Many others remain cautious. A farmer in the ‌central wheat belt of Western Australia who asked for anonymity said he had sown his full programme but would cut fertiliser use by ​10% and still expected to lose money unless crop prices rose.

Australia typically imports more than half its nitrogen fertilisers from the Middle East, but ​supply has been choked by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The country still has 600,000 tons – roughly 20% - ​less urea than it uses in a typical year, said Hamish McIntyre, president of the National Farmers' Federation. Supply chain disruption also means fertiliser could often arrive later than farmers need it, ‌reducing its effect, he said.

In Corowa, farm machinery salesman Joe Gorman said his phone had ​stopped ringing.

In his office beside a row of shining red ​tractors on the road out of town, he said the economic chill would spread.

"When the farmers feel the pinch, there's less blokes at the pub after work," he said. "There's less blokes at the bakery on a Saturday. The supermarkets feel the pinch, the footy clubs feel the pinch. It's a flow-on effect."

As evening fell in Brocklesby, Everitt was sowing vetch and barley – fodder crops he won't harvest but will allow his sheep to eat – and ​using only a half-measure of fertiliser.

Such half-measures save money but are a short-term fix. ‌Next year, Everitt and many others will have to over-fertilise to restore their soil – which will be difficult if prices remain high.

The 2027 season scares him, he said. "We'll be drawing down on a lot of ​soil nutrients this year and we'll have to put them back in next year. If we can't do that, I dare say next year there could be a lot of crop not go in."

(Reporting ​by Peter Hobson; Additional reporting by Maximilian Heath in Buenos Aires and Ed White in Winnipeg; Editing by Sonali Paul)