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On the 77th Independence Day prime minister Narendra Modi takes the long view of history and presents an India that is putting behind the past and looks to the future. Actions taken a thousand years past brought us to this point even seemingly insignificant actions that shaped history, now India looks to the future thousand years hence because of actions taken today. Demography, Democracy and Diversity are turned into engines that drive the modernization of India in Modi's vision, with rapid implementation of projects every step of the way, a new way discovered by India. In this way pm Modi put today into a new context. Powering India's future is youth from towns and cities across the country, women, and the 135 million added from poverty to the middle class in the last 5 years. 

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The WSJ of August 24 has flaws in that no questions were asked on wages and benefits for workers and climate change. About 73% of voters see Mr. Biden's age as a factor. Voters have not grasped Biden's vision for America. A Trump 10% margin for vision and record of accomplishments is unusual considering it is Mr. Biden who is making the changes on climate change, wages and income, infrastructure building with trillions of dollars of funding. The poll itself has issues because it was done by a Republican poster who is working for the Trump campaign and does not have questions on climate change or wages and benefits of workers. President Biden does well on infrastructure, on jobs, and the effects of inflation are being tackled by increase in wages and benefits supported by Biden.

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Would a generic Democrat do better? Mr. Biden's weakness is with less engaged voters says this analysis of a Times Siena poll showing less support in battleground states. One queer aspect of this poll is that Kamala Harris does slightly better because she does better with non white voters. Mr. Biden does well with white voters retaining all of his support achieved in the 2020 election with white voters. Another queer aspect of this poll is that a so called generic Democrat would win by large margins of over 5% in most of the battleground states over Mr. Trump, in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Another queer aspect of the poll is that Michigan has all three- the Governor's position, the State Assembly and other positions in the hands of Democrats who have performed well in the state.

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Americans in retirement are able to rebuild their savings with interest on money market funds of over 5%. This is the result of 5% percentage points of consecutive rate increases by Jay Powell's Fed. In addition about $121 billion went to savers as they faced $151 billion in higher interest rate costs on mortgages and loans. The result with a strong labor market and lower inflation of about 3% is an economy that is resilient and can provide the 5 or 7 plus  years of growth needed for America to meet the challenges it faces with its allies in the EU, Asia and Latin America, Africa- to tackle climate change, to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure, to invest in education and healthcare, to improve worker incomes, and build its manufacturing at home into a strong thriving sector for good paying worker incomes.

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Difficulties faced in winning the farm vote in Gujarat made it harder for Modi's BJP party to win Modi's home state in recent elections. This could lead to a more cautious approach from the BJP government. Price supports and subsidies were an issue for cotton farmers in Gujarat, leading to the loss of seats for the BJP party in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The BJP resisted measures to boost price supports, subsidies and debt forgiveness leading to the loss of farmers support.

Modi remains popular in the country yet the election shows corruption, difficult situation of farmers facing inflation and water issues, and voters willingness to shift support, could make the ruling party more cautious in taking steps after the introduction of GST unified tax system and monetization slowed growth to 5.7% by mid-2017.

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After the newly elected Mahathir Mohamad government in Malaysia suspended China infrastructure deals on grounds of the high cost, and straightening out Malaysia's finances, months of negotiations took place. The East Coast Rail Link project was renegotiated cutting the cost by one thirds to $10.7 billion or 44 billion ringgit from 65 billion ringgit. The renegotiation is part of an effort by China and countries that have borrowed heavily for infrastructure to provide transparency and improve financial terms for projects. This is to address criticism that the Belt and Road Initiative, which finances the projects under president Xi Jinping's policies, is not trapping countries with unsustainable borrowing and debt. China is now taking the initiative to correct these problems as promised by president Jinping at the conference of leaders from Asia and Africa, and Europe, in April 2017, in Beijing.

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Stephen Lezak of Oxford looks at the costs of mining for lithium, cobalt and other minerals needed for EV's. There is the danger of the EV transition happening at the increbible cost to producing countries in Africa and Asia. In the Congo the problem of child labor and in Indonesia the problem of destroying huge parts of tropical forest. Can the EV transition happen on the backs of environmental destruction of forest or child labor?  Lezak suggests bringing mining for lithium, cobalt, back to the US with strict controls and for Apple, and EV makers to have a passport that shows where their EV battery materials come from, the responsible sourcing of materials and the controls in place. This is a problem that won't go away and will require serious solutions for green to mean something entirely positive.

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Robbie Shell has some good advice or ravel in retirement. Travel offseason or in less than peak season. Try to do it on your own for most flexibility so you can improvise to suit your mood and inclination. Stay in fewer places and at least 3 nights to feel at home in a place, less packing and unpacking that can be tiring. Choose secondary destinations not big name crowded places. Do a few things well that you enjoy and stop there, don't stretch yourself thin. And talk to the locals, don't be shy with strangers, you can make the trip come alive with what you can learn from people and places when we talk to the locals and people traveling like us. It can make the whole trip memorable, the stories they tell us and with whom we can share our own.

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The average for tens of thousands of companies in the US is not in the 30's, it is 42 years. Taiwan Semiconductor was started by Morris Chang in his 50's. The reason for this is that startups need extensive experience, some of that experience comes from industry and companies the founders have worked with. With a deep knowledge of the field thay are in these founders can apply this knowledge to create new companies and discover new opportunities.

Even in government this is the case. In the recent appointments nominees selected by the incoming Republican DJT administration for Health and Human Services, Interior Secretary, Department of Energy, Homeland Security, had decades of experience in their field, some were governors of energy rich states. Another characteristic that comes with experience is the energy and aptitude for the job that they can bring. 

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The Voice of America has more impact than it's 2000 employees and $267 million budget suggests. Using the power of radio it reaches 326 million people weekly in 50 languages around the world. It provides comprehensive news coverage about the US and the World. It played amajor role during the World War II and in the Cold War. It was founded in 1942 and its congressional charter protects the editorial independence and integirty of its programming.

The agency that runs VOA is the Agency for Global Media. Under DJT first term Michael Pack ran the Global Media Agency. He was followed by Michael Abramovitz, a Washington Post correspondent and member of the Council of Foreign Relations.

Since the end of the Cold War VOA programming has declined in quality and effectiveness to communicate America's story to the world. 

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Moritz Schuller of Tassspiegel writes a moving story in BBC News about Helmut Kohl, former chancellor of Germany, who died at the age of 87. Kohl helped bring chancellor Merkel to prominence by appointing her to positions in his government, first as Minister of Women and Youth in 1991, and then as Minister for the Environment in 1994. The two developed a bond that lasted. Merkel said on Kohl's 85th birthday -"Germany has much to thank him for."  Schuller presents a different side of Kohl in this article. There is this Kohl who had this tactical grasp of events as the Berlin Wall fell and German reunification was within reach. Who had this warm touch with other leaders, including a special relationship with French president Mitterand that advanced relations between the two countries. Yet he also describes the Kohl who was forgotten after being pushed out of office in a donations scandal. The rush to setup the eurozone currency and expanding it without the needed financial arrangements were seen by Germans as a weakness coming from the Kohl years in office. By 2008 Kohl had a debilitating fall and by this time was forgotten by Germans. Close to the end in 2014 at the Frankfurt Book Fair to present a book on his own view of the events of 1989-90, Kohl was seen as a frail figure, in a wheelchair and unable to speak much. ...

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Trump's criticism of the judge's ruling on Trump University and the views of the NYT editorial board.

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Spain's 7 LNG terminals, its renewable energy projects, its ties with the Middle East and North Africa, make it a potential exporter of energy in Europe. Spain is too dependent on tourism. The Pedro Sanchez government plans to use 140 billion euros from the European Unions's Next Generation Fund for the green conversion of its economy. This includes reviving the Midi Catalonia project, a gas link between Spain and France. This pipeline would have a capacity of 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas in its first stage, one seventh of the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia that was shut down by Germany.

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Queen Elizabeth leads tributes to the National Health Service for "the grief and loss felt by so many," as Britain pauses for a minute's silence, on the first anniversary of the lockdown of March 23, 2020. She offers flowers to St. Bart's hospital, after the recovery of Prince Phillip who was in hospital for one month for heart surgery and recovery. Pictures of a canon preparing for a outdoor garden service at Durham Cathedral, and lighting of candles at other cathedrals, offer glimpses of a solemn moment of silence, and the nurturing of hope for the recovery.

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Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, calls for fresh elections on September 20, 2021. His term ends in 2023. Trudeau called for elections early as government aid programs have helped Canadians during the pandemic, and Canada has managed to vaccinate 70% of the population over age of 12. The economy is expected to increase by 6% in 2021. Trudeau's party, the Liberals, are popular and Trudeau hopes to increase his progressive base. He currently leads a minority government making it difficult to pass legislation on the government's priorities for child care, clean environment, healthcare, and affordable housing.

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Huawei and Xiaomi have grown quickly to take about 30% of the world's smartphone market. Xiaomi uses American technology in its smartphones. Chinese court granted an anti-suit injunction to Xiaomi against InterDigital a Delaware based American company, when it sued Xiaomi for patent infringement. The anti-suit injunctions issued by the Chinese court block foreign companies from taking legal action for patent infringement anywhere in the world. Three such rulings have been given protecting Huawei, Xiaomi and BBK Electronics. The fourth protects Samsung in its dispute with Sweden's Ericsson AB. Xiaomi has sold millions of phones using InterDigital patents since 2013.

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The Labour Party faces a dilemma over the date of a general election because Boris Johnson could change the date later from October 14 to October 31 so that during a campaign period Britain would simply fall out of the European Union. The problem is that Labour MP's do not trust Boris Johnson. So that instead of Labour MP's providing the two thirds majority to call a general election ahead of 5 years under current law, snap elections have to happen some other way. Including through a no confidence motion and Labour trying to form a new government under Corbyn and failing to do so.

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Argentina imposes currency controls as the economic crisis worsens. The peso has lost 25% of its value and inflation is at 50%. A $57 billion IMF loan has failed to restore confidence. President Macri came into office abolishing currency controls, now he is compelled to reverse his policy. Macri also said the government will delay $7 billion in debt repayments. Argentina is back to the frequent economic crises it has faced since 1945. Macri's loss in primary elections to Mr. Fernandez of the Peronist Party has changed the situation in Argentina ending the Macri administration's period in office by December.

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Leaks of conversations Mr. Trump had with leaders of Mexico and Australia early in the Trump administration resulted in the effort to protect sensitive discussions on a separate high security server. This is now the subject of inquiry in the impeachment inquiry by Democrats in the House of Representatives into president Trump's discussion with Ukrainian president Zelensky. The impeachment inquiry stems from the call with the Ukrainian president in which Democrats say Trump asked Ukraine to look into corruption at a company in which Democrat Joe Biden's son was a board member, and storing this information on a top security server.

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After a long year of frustration with a small faction of 20 Congressmen in the Republican party led by Mr Gaetz Mr. McCarthy is taking on this group as it seeks to oust him from the Speaker's position. He will need Democratic support. This report looks at the changing situation in the US Congress. America needs a bipartisan approach to tackle major problems of infrastructure, climate change, wages and the cost of living, and education. It does not make sense to allow a few members of Congress to thwart the nation's plans to tackle its problems and challenges.

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British prime minister, Boris Johnson, who succeeded Theresa May, is bringing in Dominic Cummings as a key adviser. Cummings ran the campaign for Leave in Britain's 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union. Cummings now joins Johnson in trying to tackle getting Britain out of the EU in 3 months by an October 31, 2019 deadline. Cummings is also the man he will rely on if a general election ensues following its loss of support in parliament. At present there is only a 3 vote majority for Johnson's government in parliament and lack of support from moderates in the ruling Conservative party.

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Germany used innate grit and resilience to win first against England in a come for behind win, then Australia, and finally against Belgium. Two of these in penalty shootouts. India settled for ninth place with Argentina, with the World Cup played at Kalinga Stadium in Odisha's capital.

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Stock funds in the US which suffered decline of 18% in 2022 staged a recovery of 7.8% in January 2023. The Fed's ability to bring down inflation and the health of the economy, improving economic conditions in Europe, China, and India, provided supportive conditions.

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Keir Starmer of Labour in the first parliament QA after Mr. Sunak assumes office as Conservative's PM following Liz Truss. Keir Starmer asks about Conservatives out of touch with working people and families across the UK and false promises of leveling up the North of England.

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With incentives from the Biden CHIPS bill Taiwan's TSMC will build a second factory in Arizona for making advanced chips on the same scale as the $12 billion chips factory announced earlier. Both chips factories will be built at a location north of Phoenix in Arizona.