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German chancellor Merz makes his frist trip to Asia starting with India. He sees India and Germany as natural partners and shifts the focus to India from China. Under Merkel Germany remained focused on China. This is changing now that Merz is chancellor. The winds of change are also blowing and the war in Ukraine, the distancing of the US under DJT, US and Chinese restrictions, require this change and Modi, Merkel step up to create anew strategic partnership. The EU and German trade is now set to increase significantly as India modernizes its economy. Merz and Modi see less dependence on Russia for oil and gas and defense needs. India seeks German technologies and capital to industrialize its economy. The scope is immense and both sides are at an historic opportunity. Merz is afar cry from the Merkel years when Germany never grasped India's potential and failed to invest in the German economy. Merz has put forward a $1 trillion plan to invest in modernization of Germany and India is the partner Germany has chosen as central to its plans. This brings the entire EU close to India and its aspirations to be a modern economy like the EU. This is a long term project that began today in Ahmedabad with the two leaders at ease at a Kite Festival in Ahmedabad after Merz visited Gandhiji's Sabarmati Ashram. And Merz showed he understood India-"We are in complete agreement in our assessment of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine," Merz said. At the same time, he understood how India's dependence on Russian oil and gas had happened only recently. "Obviously, it is not that simple in India, and I am the last person to visit other countries wagging my finger at them." The patience is there as there is a meeting of minds for what is the largest project of its kind to 2037 and 2047 for 2 billion people pooling technologies, capital and talented engineers. ...

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White House Correspondents Dinner shooting on April 25 2026 at Washington Hilton, the scene of the shooting of Ronald Reagan decades earlier. It is unbelievable that over 2000 guests including the US president and important members of his cabinet would be assembled in a hotel in Washington DC that is not designed for this type of event security. The Washington Post raises questions about the security as the assailant stayed in the hotel. The president DJT says this shows why the White House should have a ballroom or hall that can hold such an event that is designed with security in mind. A 31 year old graduate in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology who worked as a tutor in science subjects was the assailant who was apprehended. Secret Service agents acted quickly to clear the podium where the president and vice president were seated. Most of the people in the hotel ballroom were in complete shock. DJT has not attended previous correspondents dinners saying the media has fake news- much of the press in the US tends to have political leanings that slant the news in one direction or the other and television channels exaggerate the divisions for profit by supplying information tailored to what audiences in their political spectrum want. That may be seen as a clever business strategy when it really hurts the  democratic process that has been nurtured for 250 years. It could be said that young people in particular believe what they are told by media run for profit, opinion created for profit, and this leads to violent behaviour. A robust debate has always taken place in the US- on Iran compare that with the Mexican War under president Polk in the 1850's, before the civil war when Lincoln debated Douglas, under Democrat Harry Truman when he did a whistlestop rail campaign after the war against Republican Wendell Wilkie, yet the fragmentation of rural-urban, white male and white female, within minorities today is excessively and without remorse stoked by the television channels and the newspapers.  ...

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Problems facing the energy industry in India include lack of coal supplies to use all of the existing electricity generation plants. Lack of investment and modernization in the coal industry is holding back tapping of large coal reserves. India is expected to see a huge surge in energy demand in the next twenty years, with the International Energy Agency saying India will need $1.6 trillion in investment in power generation, transmission and distribution through 2035, and $550 million investment in coal, oil and gas sectors.

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About half a trillion dollars in business investment was lost as a result of the financial crisis of 2008-2009 and its lingering effects in 2010-2012. Irwin points out that business investment in equipment and software increased by 8.9% in 2010 and 11% in 2011, but this was off lower numbers after the financial crisis of 2012. And business investment has declined in the last 3 quarters, with a 13.2 % drop in durable goods orders for August 2012 driven partly by a drop in aircraft orders.

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What are the implications of the restructuring at GM and Chrysler for the American car market? Market share at GM dropped to 19.3% in the first 4 months of 2009. Says Consultancy Caesa Shapiro Group, the market will become more competitive, with about 15% of the market up for grabs depending on how many GM and Chrysler dealerships are eliminated. THis is based on Caesa's numbers of 14-15 million for the American automobile market compared to the 17 million car year. But the current market is at 9.5 million cars a year so Caesa's estimate may be on the high side even when the market recovers. Which means competition will be intense for the much diminished market in the USA. Deloitte Consulting says the suppliers will benefit as they will be dealing with auto companies whose relative market share is at more equal levels for companies like GM, Toyota Ford and Honda. Supplioers will also be dealing with companies that have better financial position compared to the situation in late 2008.

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The public and the NHS pay a lot for childhood obesity. Starmer is doing something about it. He plans to put junk food television ads past 9 pm, ban high sugar and salt, high fat food online ads. Ban on high cafeeine energy drinks. And giving councils power to prevent fast food outlets opening near schools.

The plan includes checkups at workplaces for adults.

Starmer said-

There’s diet, there’s healthy lifestyle, we are going to have to get into that space. I know some prevention measures will be controversial but I’m prepared to be bold, even in the face of loud opposition. Some of our changes won’t be universally popular, we know that, but I will do the right thing for our NHS, our economy and our children.”

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Good tips for wellbeing and mental health during another election cycle. Amanda Ripley has some good advice in the Washington Post. Move out of a 24 hour news cycle and pause to decide what to read and not to read. Relationships are real and matter, will be there when all this is over years from now. It is about equanimity, maintaining mindfulness. Being a good moral person and teaching your kids the right things, are you doing what is important. Accepting that there was Beaverbrook type journalism before after a British press baron from the last century who loved crises and profited by selling tons of newspapers. Today's versions simply do it using video and podcasts and electronic versions. So it means getting off the rollercoaster ride that profits some press baron. Think in terms of years- a couple of years later there will be 2027 primaries, and five years from now even ten years from now. For someone older one can remember JFK and the New Frontier speeches- was president Harry Truman right to ask John Kennedy not to run because he was too young, would history have turned out better if his energy and zeal for America could have come up later in the nineteen seventies or eighties? Then people worried about too young a candidate, today it is the opposite. The Lord says I am partial to none but supremely dear to me are the wise, in the Bhagavad Gita, in Buddhist texts and in the Bible. And again he says by the raft of knowledge alone you shall go across all sin. Listening well and openness are the road to knowledge and wisdom, leading to mindfulness and peace in 2024 and beyond. ...

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DJT White House Cabinet Meetings: Susie Wiles in tight cursive, Bessent writes "parallel prosperity" and "blue collar boom," on notepad, Lutnick says "why not copper tariff," DJT talks about why he is not fond of windmills. All the time a picture of Abraham Lincoln in a small four person meeting around a round table watches everyone. You have to have some humor in cabinet meetings. DJT brings humor to the White House, lightening up the mood, while he says new letters will go out to Japan, South Korea and EU, recalcitrant nations when it comes to negotiations for agreements, and Putin is voicing meaningless platitudes on his desire for peace.

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Going to a public bathroom facility doesn't have to be dreaded. And the huge costs for a city to have setting up its own don't have to be the option. 

New private companies have developed the technologies to keep the places clean and efficient so that the experience is a good one. Throne Labs makes self contained sytems that do not connect to the city sewer system or the water supply of the city. Costs about $90,000 a unit in the Los Angeles Metro vicinity includes all maintenance and operational costs. As US prepares for the World Cup Soccer inflow of travelers this is something the city needs to get right.

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Different constitutional law opinions on the option of the President citing the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to raise the debt ceiling. Former President Clinton says he would unilaterally invoke it "without hesitation, and force the courts to stop me." President Obama said recently, "I have talked to my lawyers, they are not persuaded that this is a winning argument." Section 4 of this Amendment was designed to assure creditors the Union debts after the Civil War would be honored and to say Confederate debts would not be honored. This part of the 14th Amendment says "the validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned." Prof. Jack Balkin of Yale, says it provides a broader principle that the public debt cannot be held hostage for political purposes. His view is that this is something that could be an option when all other options are exhausted. Prof. Lawrence Tribe of Harvard, say the law courts have no plausible point of entry in such a situation. There is a sense that "popular constitutionalism" would play an important part if something like this happened- the meaning of the constitution is what popular sentiment says it is in the particular context and events. ...

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US president Biden makes the decision not to run for reelection. He endorses Kama Harris to run as nominee of the Democratic party.

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this. 

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Meet Victor Brown, one of the remaining 450 workers at Buick City, GM's sprawling plants in Flint, where in the 1980's 27,000 workers built GM cars. Victor Brown of Clio, Michigan, and O.C. Cooper do not want to leave, and have repeatedly turned down buyout offers from GM preferring to stay with GM even if it enters bankruptcy, and take their chances. Since 2006, GM has persuaded 60,000 of its hourly employees- about half of the total hourly workforce at GM in the USA- to take cash buyouts and leave. Cooper says, this is the only life he knows, he is 64, a machine operator at Flint North, a run down engine plant in Flint, Michigan. Every day for the 42 years he has worked here, he gets up, washes up, and drives to the plant. He can't imagine anything else. If he leaves he will give up $60,000, for apension half that amount, with no guarantee that its secure after a GM bankruptcy. Victor Brown is 55, a repairman with 36 years at GM, he is divorced and putting a son through college. A year ago he and others turned down a buyout offer for $62,500 to retire with all benefits, now this is down to $20,000, and a car voucher for $25,000. GM needs an additional 21,000 jobs to be cut and closing of 13 plants in its latest restructuring under help and supervision from the Obama administration. ...

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Mexico replaces China as the U.S. top trading partner in the first half of 2019. U.S. imports from China fell by 12% and exports fell by 19% in first half 2019, according to Commerce Department. The total value of trade with China of $271 billion was less than the trade with either Canada or Mexico.

Mr. Trump said yesterday to China- "If they don't want to trade with us anymore, that would be fine with me. Until such time as there is a deal we will be taxing them." He went on to say he would place 25% tariff on additional $300 billion of Chinese goods on Sept. 1, 2019.

Meanwhile in first half 2019 the U.S. imports increased to 34% from Vietnam. Some of this could be Chinese goods transhipment through Vietnam. Japan, South Korea, India, Europe, all increased exports to the U.S.

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Shamil Shams interview with Shakuntala Banaji, expert on media and communication at the London School of Economics, on the general election in Britain. Banaji says there has been persistent negative coverage given to Jeremy Corbyn of the Labor Party for the last two years. A lot of hard work has been done by Labor MP's, Labor activists, volunteers, to get the Labor message across. Corbyn is seen as giving a calm composed performance in the face of hostile media and audience, including the televised interview in which he talked of real issues facing ordinary British people. One of the ways Corbyn has softened the media distorted image of him is by acting calmly under pressure and not taking on an autocratic style. This was best seen on the day he first handed out the Labor party manifesto with the focus on the message- for the many, not the few. Some of the coverage of Corbyn is described here as being improper and unacceptable.