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Delta and US Airways are showing interest in merging with American Airlines.

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China's leaders including president Xi Jinping, and China's financial regulators have frowned on the lack of regulation of the financial businesses of Alibaba. They see the state banks which are highly regulated with capital requirements as supplying the capital on which Alibaba makes a profit on transactions, yet having to take on the risks if something was to fail. Alibaba itself has avoided the financial regulation needed for stability in its rush for growth. At one point says the WSJ, Xi and other leaders were infuriated and decided to halt the Ant initial public offering that would provide accumulation of wealth and a pay day while increasing risks in the financial system for China.

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A conservative Catholic farmer becomes prime minister of New Zealand in 2016. Bill English grew up on his family's 125 year old farm, and says it was not about politics for politics sake in his family, but about education for their kids, farming and such things. He says it is very helpful for someone in public life to sit down and hear for an hour in mass about forgiveness, sinfulness, mercy, worship, and lives of people in a  thousand years, which are absent in daily discourse.

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During the primaries Trump appealed to blue collar voters of a white working class that felt neglected by leaders and policies of both parties that did not seem to work for ordinary people. Having caught onto this early long before Republican candidates, Trump registered a series of wins in the Republican primaries. He continued this theme in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016, saying- "The forgotten men and women of our country- people who work but no longer have a voice: I am your voice." The idea was to couple this with the theme of law and order and put perception of Hillary Clinton as part of the rigged system of the past that Trump would change, with Clinton's legacy described in terms of "death, destruction, terrorism and weakness." As a change agent Trump described his entering the political arena in terms of coming into this election only to help blue collar people "so that the powerful can no longer beat up on people that cannot defend themselves." The two themes for the rest of the election season- law and order, and blue collar lives- and who can best defend them a traditional Democratic politician with a fighting spirit for traditional Democratic values, or a blustery newcomer adept with slogans and the public mood and ironically representing the Democratic values of representing the working class to become the  Republican nominee, with the law and order theme thrown in. The voter or independent listening in to all this will hopefully ask what all this means. As the WSJ, July 19, 2016, pointed out in a recent look at economc policies under the two candidates- on Glass Steagall Act being reinstated to increase safety of the banking system that caused many of today's problems through the 2008 financial crisis both Trump and Clinton are similiar, on opposing trade agreements similiar except that Trump's bluster is a riskier approach, on infrastructure building similiar with Clinton's $275 billion plan spelled out out for source of financing and Trump's unclear as to source of financing. On immigration the candidates are different, on the minimum wage which impacts low income people Clinton supports $15 minimum wage and Trump has not taken a stand. On ISIS and the Middle East Clinton is in reality a hawk and not much difference in the candidates, on law and order more chance of divisions in the country with Trump than Clinton. Overall for the working class and blue collar voter his life will take a decade or more to rebuild, with both candidates commiting to go in that direction. And the bluster and ads to come- just that.  ...

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Donald Trump's remarks to a rally of NRA supporters about stopping Clinton after she appoint judges and affects gun rights granted under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, are seen as a threat to Hillary Clinton. Clinton's campaign manager called it "dangerous." Prominent Republicans called them provocative, and Speaker Ryan stated one should never talk like that on the Second Amendment. 

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The migration of Miexcans to the US, or Keralites to the Gulf states, are other ways in which the impacts of this recession are felt across countries. This is passed on through lower remittances to the home country from its workers overseas and in the people returning to their home country unemployed. Putting aside national borders its seen in the way huge migrations of workers from rural areas moving to the coastal areas of China is being reversed as export industries on the coast are collapsing. In that case there are no remitttances but the effects are just as severe as these people are unemployed. And in parts of rural China where there is a severe drought the rural economies and the farming areas are suffering from poor agricultural production. Kerala, a coastal state in southern India, is a state heavily dependent on the Gulf economies for jobs and remittances. The Keral Manpower Exporters Association says that about 500,000 workers from Kerala will be forced to return from the Gulf in a few months. Kerala contributes about half of the 5 million Indians working in the Gulf economies. The estimated $6 billion that these workers send to Kerala ia about a fourth of the state's economy and twice its government budget. Skilled workers doing jobs as carpenters, plumbers, painters and administrative staff working in the construction boom in the Gulg especially Dubai, are likely to remain unemployed. ...

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The Republican House Health Care pLan in 2017 relies on tax credits of between $2000 and $4000 based on age. Under the Affordable Health Care Act the elderly poor in high cost insurance areas received additional help. These people would lose over $2000 per person and may forgo full coverage or coverage entirely under the Republican House Health Care Plan. A report by Standard & Poor's estimates about 2 to 4 million people who are in 50's and 60's not yet qualifying for Medicare might lose their coverage they now have under ACA. The Republican plan also gives incentives through tax credits higher for older people, $4000 for a 60 year ol and $2000 for a 25 year old. Under the ACA the insurers are not allowed to charge more than three times what is charged for younger people, under the Republican plan this goes up to five times. 

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The Indian Budget speech by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeks to keep the fiscal deficit on a downward trajectory from 4.9% fiscal deficit in 2024, lowering it each year 2025-2028. The total expenditures for Indian Budget 2024 are $720 billion and the total government revenues excluding borrowing $480 billion, tax revenues $390 billion. To attract investment by foreign companies in India the corporate tax rate is reduced from 40% to 35%. And abolition of angel tax for startups. capital gains tax reduced to 20% for short term gains and 12.5% for long term gains. Simplification of the Income Tax Act of 1961 within 6 months. Lowering of taxes for personal income taxes to 30% above 15 lakh rupees. Exempt 25 critical minerals from basic customs duties to assist processing in India. Reduce basic customs duties on mobile phones to 15%. Customs duties to support domestic manufacturing, export competitiveness. Simplify and rationalize the hugely beneficial GST Tax, "a success of vast proportions, reducing the compliance burden and logistics cost for trade and industry." "The gross and net market borrowings through dated securities during 2024-25 are estimated at ` 14.01 lakh crore and ` 11.63 lakh crore respectively. Both will be less than that in 2023-24. 114. The fiscal consolidation path announced by me in 2021 has served our economy very well, and we aim to reach a deficit below 4.5 per cent next year. The Government is committed to staying the course. From 2026-27 onwards, our endeavour will be to keep the fiscal deficit each year such that the Central Government debt will be on a declining path as percentage of GDP." For the year 2024-25, the total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at ` 32.07 lakh crore and ` 48.21 lakh crore respectively. The net tax receipts are estimated at ` 25.83 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.9 per cent of GDP. ...

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The contrast between modernizing, developing East and South Asia ( from Mumbai to Shanghai) with war torn desolate West Asia (from Tehran and Baghdad to Kabul and Islamabad) is so striking today that it is something to reflect upon for wisdom and understanding. UAE support for Sudan's RSF Rapid Strike Force and Saudi support for the military - fracturing of Sudan, errors piled on errors led to the civil war in Sudan. A civil war in a country neighboring Saudi Arabia just across the Red Sea. Saudis and UAE were on opposite sides briefly after UAE pulled out of Sudan, UAE acting in this way to object against Saudis requesting US sanctions on UAE.  Once close partners have moved apart as they spread their influence in different conflicts in the Middle East.  This has not created a region that can grow economically without the disruptions of conflict in the way other parts of Asia have emerged to modernize the countries as in Taiwan, Korea, China and India. In neighboring Pakistan another conflict has emerged as partners split, with looming conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yemeni Houthis are in conflict with the US and affect the Persian Gulf shipping lanes.  Iran with it's pursuit of weapons programs and nuclear weapons is using capital that is badly needed to improve the economic situation on arms buildup for the regime and for allies in Lebanon and Yemen, leading to protests and crisis. In this way the Middle East has failed to use oil wealth to modernize the entire region. Much of it was wasted in Iraq and now in Iran by policies that led to war and regional conflicts not modernization and technological transformation that has happened in Asia. The US has inadvertently becoming a partner to this as when the Obama administration helped fund Iran's economic rebuilding which was instead used to fund the military, and before that the Reagan administration support for Iraqi socialist ideology regime. The challenge for China was how to modernize after the Japanese invasion and civil war. In Korea it was how to modernize after the civil war. In India it is how to modernize with a smaller neighboring country Pakistan promoting terrorism and wars now with China's support. In Asia all these challenges were and are being met to steadily and persistently modernize to European standards with a singleminded focus and determination to meet the aspirations of the people with the US business working alongside Taiwanese, Korean, Chinese, and Indian governments and private industry. In West Asia various ideological (Iraq), military (Pakistan), religious Shiite (Iran), religious + modernizing (Saudi +UAE) with erratic leaders and little representation of the people, has destroyed the tranquillity of the region and destroyed democratic forms of government, destroyed bottom up education and health of the population except for priviliged groups in countries in the region of West Asia. Involvement of US and Europe or Russia in West Asia has led to distintegration of Soviet Union (Boris Yeltsin) and deindustrialization of US and Europe (Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama administrations) with business shipping out manufacturing to China while wars engaged the attention of American and European elites in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan. The entire west Asian scene for 1950-2030 has been a disaster, one massive disaster for all involved. The contrast with East Asia and South Asia reminds one of the words from Robert Frost of New England in Mowing- that reflects on the enduring value of honest labour. "My long scythe whispered to the ground. What was it it whispered? It was no dream of the gift of idle hours, or easy gold at the hand of fay or elf: anything less would have seemed too weak to the earnest love that laid the swale in rows. The fact is the sweetest dream that labour knows. My long scythe whispered and left the hay to make." ...

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Brazil's ever increasing production of soyabeans and investments in Brazil by China and US's Cargill ADM result in a oversupply of soyabeans in world's markets leading to lower prices for American farmers. 70% of soyabeans imports by China were from Brazil in 2024 and Cofco state owned agricultural company in China is building a large port terminal on Brazil's coast to handle soyabeans and other exports. Trade tensions with the US mean there are no written agreements farmers can count on for soyabean exports to China. China purchased 13 million metric tons from Argentina last month and committed to buying 25 million metric tons in 2026-2028. Argentina lifted its 26% export tax for the first $7 billion in agricultural exports to bolster it's peso recently. US is turning to other markets in Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Europe to make up for volume lost to Brazil. For September and October there is a 45% increase in US exports in 2025 resulting from these non-Chinese buyers. No mention is made of India, yet India could in future be a significant buyer of soyabeans because of thenutritional value of soyabeans in an anti-cancer diet and the high protein content which would make Indian diets healthier. In agriculture farmers are not the ones who develop new tastes and new trends in new markets, yet this effort should be part of farmer's outreach to other nations and other cultural food habits with shifts to healthy nutrition. ...

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Patrick Kingsley of the NYT provides this report from Turkey. He talks to the wife of a journalist jailed in the recent crackdown on media by president Erdogan. He also talks to a loyalist of Erdogan, a muhtar, who says he resisted army troops during a coup attempt. Beyond the different perspectives on events is a different conception of Turkey, one that sees Turkey in the sense of a liberal democracy with European values, and the other of a Islamic society with nationalist views. Views that coexisted in Turkey's subconscious mind upto this time, but are now in conflict. 

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Farmers are switching from paddy rice cultivation to apples in areas an hour from Srinagar in Kashmir. Farmers using traditional varieties of apples are also changing by planting high yielding varieties of apples imported from Europe, and doubling yield, profits. New varieties are also less susceptible to damage from hailstorms. By providing farm machines, tractors, sprayers, juice preservation plants, the government hopes to change the economic future of Kashmir. This sector has potential as a major employment generator, with 71% of India's apple production in Kashmir. In the last 3 years alone the sector has grown 50% from 6000 crore to 9000 crore rupees. Because apples are far more profitable than paddy rice cultivation it also enhances incomes in the state, with the additional benefit of generating many man days of work in orchards- one hectare creating 400 man days. Today 700,000 farming families or 3.3 million people are supported by apple production in Kashmir. ...

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The pharmaceutical companies are reducing the size of their sales forces, but increasing the number of MSL's or Medical Science Liaisons. The drug companies are using the MSL's to discus the science behind a particular drug, and how the drug can have increased applications. Pharmaceutical companies are barred by the FDA from promoting unapproved drug uses, or "off-label" use.

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With the aggressive actions taken along the 1600 kilometre border in eastern Ladakh by China's People's Liberation Army, India needs a younger soldier to protect the border at high altitudes in below freezing temperatures. The entire 3500 kilometre border in the high Himalayan regions from east to west need technology driven surveillance with soldiers fit and ready for such duty. Agnipath's goal is to bring down the average age in the army from 32 years to 26 years to better reflect the youthful population in India. A tighter better disciplined force with high tech is needed. Bringing in more and new recruits is intended. Both the 25% of recruits retained after 4 years benefit and the 75% benefit. The 25% will have opportunities to move up the ranks. The 75% who come back out of the military will have the advanced technical training and courses, certification, that would make them attractive to the public and private sector companies in 2026 and beyond when India's economy will be 50% larger than today at growth rates of 10-12%. This is already seen in the way technologically trained military recruits from World War II in the US Army, Navy and Air Force were quickly absorbed at high salaries in the high growth period of America 1950-1970, with incentives like the GI Bill. Modifications that could be discussed- The 25% retained after 4 years. There is no magic number it could be raised to 30 or 40% during these post pandemic years and then lowered to 25% as the economy grows rapidly by 2025, or kept at 30% without changes, a number of options could be open.The financial aspect of the training can be modified where the 25% retained could have these 4 years added to their years for calculating pensions. The 75% are given 1.2 million rupees and even this can be adjusted upwards so that they could start businesses as entrepreneurs or have the time to pursue higher education before taking up for example with free education to enhance their education in areas of interest as was given by the GI bill to Americans in the armed services after World War II in 1946. Ideas from the GI Bill signed by president Franklin Roosvelt in 1944- Adding one year of unemployment payments, low interest loans to start a farm or business, full tution and living expenses for college. In 2008 the Veterans Act in the US continued support for education of servicement by making eduction free at a public college or university.  The Roosevelt GI bill benefited about 7.8 million servicemen in the US armed services. 2.2 million went to college, 7.6 million took training programs. It was an impressive achievement. No scheme is perfect there are budgetary constraints such as how to manage pensions to give the armed services the best possible funding including the training and course capabilities that also need good financing and the higher pensions for armed services. Every political party  government around the world without exception will have to face these budgetary constraints and the goal is to do right by the armed services providing the income and opportunities they deserve. Was a decent effort made with the right goals set? This is how these matters of national interest for India and the Free World that includes South East Asia, Africa and Latin America, should be discussed.    ...

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50 Economists are surveyed by WSJ from banks and universities to small consulting firms. The consensus is that unemployment will remain the same and inflation a bit higher (2.9% instead of 2.6%) if the war is temporary. At what price point and for how long does it cause problems of a recession? The price point is in the region of $138 and in the region of 14 weeks. Inflation predicted at 2.6% is now estimated to increase to 2.9% in this survey March 16-March 18. The attack on gas and oil fields in Qatar, UAE, Saudi and Iran may pose a different kind of problem making it harder to repair than the Straits of Hormuz closure which could be opened at any time and allow tanker traffic to resume supplies.

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12% for Americas 20% for the world and 46% for China- amount of oil imports coming through Straits of Hormuz. US is self sufficent in oil supplies. China gets 5 million barrels a day through the Straits of Hormuz out of about 16 million barrels a day it uses, about 30% of its total oil needs. Insurers are withdrawing from the market. How will this affect oil supplies and prices? US has offered its financial institutions to offer insurance to all ships going through the Straits of Hormuz and provide assurance with defense escorts for tanker ships navigating the Straits of Hormuz. US will be targeting Iran's capabilities to keep the Straits of Hormuz open so that oil tankers can operate bringing oil from UAE and Qatar to Asia and Europe.

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Pepsi lack of good judgement after it withdraws sponsorship only after the combination of Starmer, Davey and Farage denounce the Festival sponsorship. Farage says- "I would not buy a ticket." There is a tendency among some parts of business community that somehow social aspects are not its concern, while all the time living in the same communities and benefitting from our laws based on centuries of British tradition in the western hemisphere. Some may not even be aware of the extent of the debt of modern society and industry to these centuries of British tradition and law since Magna Carta in the 12th century (Runnymede 1215), as it has been obscured in today's schools, education and business obsessed with coding, marketing and finance.

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Saudi East West 750 mile Pipeline from east coast fields to west coast at Yanbu port- capacity 7 million barrels a day with average 4-5 million loading each day in April 2026. About half of this goes to India and China. It is critical supply point for the Saudis now that Straits Hormuz is restricted. The UAE has pipeline to Fujairah which it seeks to double capacity by 2027 from 1.8 million barrels a day to 3.6 million barrels a day. UAE has left the OPEC cartel that limits supplies and sets prices, which makes this critical for the US to ensure oil prices remain at levels that are moderate. UAE now favors lower oil prices while the Saudis objective is to keep prices high.

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A Pew Research Center poll in September 2016 finds 81 percent of Indians have a favorable opinion of Narendra Modi in 2016, compared to 87 percent in 2015. Even among supporters of the opposition Indian National Congress a majority say they have a favorable opinion of Mr. Modi. The author of the poll, Bruce Stokes, says the opinion of frustration of the Indian elites and media about the Modi administration is not reflected in public opinion. Recently the Modi government passed legislation for a national Goods and Services Tax replacing overlapping state and federal taxes that are seen as holding up growth.  Issues the Indian public ranks high are corruption, unemployment and terrorism.

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In a new twist drugmaker AbbieVie will bring out less costly versions of Humira in Europe where its patents have expired and still keep the U.S. market at higher Humira prices using a thicket of patents. Reports show pharmaceutical drug pricing as a major issue in U.S. midterm elections. Biologic drugs are costly. In this case Humira will sell at a 10-20% discount in Europe. Abbie Vie countered by getting hundreds of new patents in the U.S. to continue selling at high prices.

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The fight against cancer cannot be done only on the finding a cure,  it is also about returning to the time when ingredients such as titanium dioxide and others were not added to food and when people did not consume processed foods. This report says the FDA spokesperson says contact the manufacturer. After the EU has banned titanium dioxide for causing the inflammation that causes cancer, the FDA should have banned it. See the recent article in The Washington Post on the microplastics that release nanoparticles that cause cancer. The culture in the US has developed a tolerance for behaviours and actions that harm the health and mental health of the American people making it necessary to change this so that microplastics and ingredients such as titanium dioxide are removed from the widespread use that is happening.

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As seen in the campaigns of Gretchen Whitmer for Governor western Michigan and Kalamazoo are critical in 2024. Michelle Obama joins Kamala Harris at an event in Kalamazoo in the closing days of the campaign. 

Speaking about women's health and pregnancies Michelle Obama was passionate in her words in Kalamazoo speaking to men and women-

"Consider the harm that is done when a government keeps revoking the basic care from its women."

“I am asking y’all, from the core of my being, to take our lives seriously. If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women will become collateral damage to your rage.”

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This article in the NYT provides a look at the features of the Republican House Health Care Plan- Both the Affordable Health Care Act and the House Plan provide incentives for buying insurance- the ACA bases these incentives on income levels whereas the House Plan does not provide additional help for low incomes or elderly. Incomes at $20,000 would see a loss greater than  $2000 under the House Plan and as many of the elderly poor living in high cost areas may not have the resources to make up for this loss of subisidies they may forgo buying insurance or have insurance coverage that protects only in a limited way. President Trump has given assurances that all will be covered. For people with incomes of $50,000 or $75000 the loss of $2000 subisidies would also have some impact. At larger incomes or the well to do the subsidies are not handed out under either plan. Under the ACA the emphasis was on income levels and high cost insurance areas the subsidies were greater, under the House Plan the subisidies would be higher for the elderly compared to the young but very low income levels are not given additional help.     ...

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In 2018 China, India, and America are Africa's largest trading partners. India is building 18 new embassies in African countries. Greater openness to trade and investment is leading to GDP growth in Africa, 40% higher than in 2000, which is still low by comparison with Asian countries. The Economist says African countries can benefit by drawing investment from all sides and all countries, so that Africa benefits the most. Chinese investment, and Indian investment can happen side by side with investment from America, Britain and France.

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The day and routine of a stocker at Kroger grocery supermarket. He has added 20 hours to a 40 hour workweek. He starts at 4 am, three hours earlier than the typical time. Paper products, bottled water, canned food are moving fast. Customers appear stressed, but some come in more than one per cart as a way to get out. He spends a third of the day stocking online orders.