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Lyrarc Retrospect shows here RFK Robert Kennedy visiting homes sometimes mere shacks in the mountains where disease was rampant, education negligible, and income $60 for large families, shown here in this Washington Post report by  Paul Schwartzman, Feb 21, 2018  After J.D. Vance selection for VP and his book on growing up in Ohio's Appalachian mountain region which covers states of New York, Pennsyslvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, stretching from southern New York to northern Mississippi down the entire eastern part of the US, the question arises did the poverty in this region exist before? The answer is yes and two presidents JFK and LBJ, both Democrats setup the Appalachian Regional Commission to tackle rural poverty in the mountainous regions in 1960's. Its success- increased income by 4% faster than other neighboring counties in retrospect does not look like much. Rural poverty increased since 2000 as the national attention was taken up by the Bush wars and by a general neglect of rural areas under Bush and Obama. Iowa governor, now Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is given the task of addressing rural poverty and a top position in the Biden Administration. Fast internet, housing, income assistance, highway development, child education support, on multiple fronts Biden is fighting the poverty that RFK once saw with his won eyes in 1968 in eastern Kentucky and which stretches across 7 states.  ...

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Countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal are severely affected by the war in Persian Gulf region in other ways that access to oil and fertilizer supplies. They are affected when the Gulf economy collapses and expatriate workers are laid off or return. The situation is dire in these countties because as the DW.com says remittances exceed exports in the case of Pakistan. Is such a model viable asks DW.com. All these countries are also affected by internal strife, with new governments in place in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka after protests over economic conditions and jobs. The entire Middle East model for Gulf countries including Saudi, Iran are also facing a new situation as the Western countries, US and EU and Asia shift to nuclear energy, solar energy and find ways to conserve at an accelerated pace so that there will be less dependence on fossil fuels. Recently India announced on its national television channel that one third of peak demand is already being met by solar energy. India's PM Modi says in rallies across the country that he would make it possible for households to have zero electric bills because of solar panels on homes. Germany and Japan are further along on this path to create a renewable energy reliance and phasing out fossil fuels. ...

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Is the UK government committed to keeping the triple lock on pensions that help pensioners, retirees, keep up with the cost of living. Liz Truss the UK prime minister waffles on this issue by first saying yes, then no, then yes. The US just announced social security payments to retirees will increase by 8.6% in 2023. The triple lock is a way of saying that pensions will be increased each year by the maximum of inflation or average earnings, and more than 2.5%. With inflation at over 10% UK pensions would be increased similar to the US, slightly higher by 10%. This is critical to meet needs of older Britons or Americans, and similar policies are being followed in France, Germany and other EU countries. Housing costs are rising very rapidly. This leaves less for food and heating. This means some older Britons or Americans are missing meals. In Britain a TUC report shows one of seven Britons missing meals because of income not keeping up with the cost of living crisis, which is now number one on people's minds.  ...

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Michael Bennet in Colorado, Paul Hodes in New Hampshire, both Democratic candidates, are campaigning for austerity cuts to reduce the deficit. Paul Hodes suggested $3 billion in spending cuts that would remove airport, railroad and housing funds. As Democrats shift to deficit reduction and reducing spending, to keep up with shifting public sentiment; Republican candidates are shifting to radical solutions to reduce the deficit, including shutting down some federal agencies. This may result in an entirely different Congress ater the midterm elections- one focussed on deficit reduction just as the economy slows down as stimulus fades, and local governments cut back.

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Midlife fitness efforts during the coronavirus.

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China's government takes the first steps to create a market where credits can be traded on rights to emit carbon, burn fossil fuel and create emissions harmful to the environment and health. Big emissions come from chemical plants, steel and cement factories, and burning of coal by power plants. China is the world's largest user of coal for energy. The credits are a way for this sector of the economy to participate in cutting emissions. The provincial level program run on a pilot basis with only $400 million in credits will now transition to a larger program covering entire sectors of the Chinese economy that are responsible for carbon emissions. Experts say this program takes time to structure and the Chinese government is moving forward even though this takes time.

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Villages in East Java band together to ensure food, security and public health.

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The aircraft carrier group led by the USS Carl Vinson enters the East China Sea on April 11, 2017, and destroyers from Japan's maritime self-defense forces are expected to join the American ships. In response to several messages on Twitter by president Trump saying China should take action on solving the North Korean problem or the U.S. would tackle it on its own, CCTV reports Jinping saying- "China is committed to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula." Other news reports show public opinion in China turning towards opposing the missile tests by North Korea.