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Exxon added a provision not to add CEO of Pioneer Sheffield to its board, for FTC permission in closing a deal by Exxon to buy Pioneer for $60 billion in stock. This was after the FTC raised questions about the Pioneer CEO on collusion with OPEC to raise oil prices.

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This story in The Guardian looks at volunteer schools in Kashmir, India, as school children take classes in open meadows. Volunteer teachers are working to keep Kashmiri children in open air makeshift community classes in fields, pine forests and orchards,  so that some form of continuity in schooling can be maintained during the coronavirus. One volunteer teacher works with 100 children, And children have to cross rising rivers over wooden bridges in the rainy season, coming over long distances. Many families do not own a smartphone which cost Rs. 10,000 to %s. 15,000 to take internet classes. The government offers video classes on television and radio classes for older children in India. 

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Efforts by Venezuelan members of parliament to open up aid supplies at the Colombian border as Venezuela's humanitarian crisis grows with 3 million refugees and hyperinflation of 1 million percent.

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India is providing additional financing to Serum Institute of India and vaccine manufacturers to increase vaccine supplies. It is also importing Sputnik vaccine from Russia and approving production within India of Sputnik vaccine. These steps are being taken to accelerate vaccinations. By early May vaccination will be open to anyone over 18 years.

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With pressure from Germany and France Austria will close its ski resorts over Christmas season to prevent spread of coronavirus. The situation is where Swiss ski resorts are open incensing Italian and French ski resorts. The next step would be to close the Swiss ski resorts in the same way Austria has done to prevent infections. 

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Jason Gay could have been talking about Zen Buddhism or a kind of yoga, no he is just talking about looking at the trees, open spaces outside, nature, being outside and not being bombarded with everyday distractions. Time spent outdoors in fresh air that opens the brain, he says, to sparks of creativity and inspiration.

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Germany has a new voice at the UN as Annalena Baerbock opens the UN General Assembly in September 2025. As this video shows she has stood up for her values even when it was not favorable. She represents a new generation of German politicians who were open to ideas from other places and continents including Britain and where she studied, and brought a sensitivity to African and Asian cultures that was genuine and heartfelt in ways rarely seen in Germany's interactions with Asia and Africa.

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Rick Perry's IPO for startup Fermi plans to build natural gas processing plants in Amarillo, Texas, in wide open country, and wait for approval of large nuclear plants planned for the next couple of years. It is attempting to build on the surge in data power for AI. Yet these investments in data power take away from other needs for power in the manufacturing sector and for homes and infrastructure. How the Nation allocates scarce resources is something on which there will be much debate.

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Demand from China and the Middle East alone will increase by about 2 million barrels a day this year, with another 2 million barrels a day increase from other growing economies, the U.S., Europe and Japan not changing much. This will drive prices according to the International Energy Agency. Supply is not growing enough, consider Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, Mexico, which have stagnant production levels and increasing demand. Price volatility has been a feature of oil markets with so much uncertainty, including uncertainty of non-OPEC production so that OPEC alone cannot determine oil price levels. Economic crises in the the US and Europe and prospects of a recession have so far not affected oil prices. If demand continues to grow in places like India, China and the Middle East, then prices will continue to remain high.

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Britain lifts the lockdown quickly after the Business Secretary and the Finance Minister warn of possible loss of 3 million jobsin the hospitality sector if it remains closed over the summer. Much of the job gains in the U.S. in April came from surprise additions of jobs in the hospitality sector.

Britain will now relax planning controls to allow pubs, restuarants and cafes to open outside areas for business. Outdoor weddings will now be permitted, with indoor weddings of upto 10 people allowed by early July. Places of worship, churches, open June 15, as do non-essential shops. 

The R rate has risen slightly yet it remains between 0.7 and 0.9. 

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Indian Navy has expanded to 140 warships and technology modernization with domestically produced ships. About another half of that 140 will be added and produced inside India in the next few years. This effort to build the Indian Navy comes with the need to ensure freedom of the seas for open navigation. Much of the world's trade happens for raw materials and manufactured goods through the shipping lanes including the seas in the Indian Ocean and adjoining region. Indian Navy is showing the results of this effort as it protects the oceans in its region in 2024 in the interest of all nations. The US is supporting India's effort with flow of new technologies. The French are also supporting India's efforts and president Macron is in India this week. He will attend the Republic Day celebration as a special guest in New Delhi on Jan 26, after an unprecedented road show in an open SUV in Jaipur today with prime minister Modi.

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Bill Clinton campaigns for Kamala Harris in small towns in rural America. Jonathan Martin of Politico talks to the former president  during his campaigning in Rocky Mount, eastern North Carolina. Bill Clinton says- “I think that what she ought to do is to pick the things that she cares the most about and she believes and go beyond what’s been done." “I still don’t think most people know the Democrats favored the immigration bill. I think if they did know it would make a difference.” Bill Clinton says work together, be inclusive, work across party lines, and with an open hand- "I think that for her, her message is she wants to be inclusive and open a new era of working together. I think it’s really important because I think people are basically sick of all this paralyzing bad-mouthing.” ...

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Utah governor Spencer Cox and call for introspection on open debate and discussions without rancor and strife. Cox launched a “Disagree Better” campaign in 2023 with Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis in an effort to restore civility and respect in open debate between differing viewpoints. After all there have been strident difference of opinion since the founding of the Nation and the many crises it has faced. The years leading to the Declaration of Independence to the War with Mexico, the Civil War, the peace movement before World War II, the McCarthy years, Nixon years, and the strife over DJT rhetoric and style of politics. Cox says- “It’s important to understand that in our political system today all of the incentives are lined up against this concept of dignity and respect,” he added. “We made a decision that we would only run for this position if we could do it in a different way and it had to be a positive vision.”  “Social media is a cancer in our society right now, and I would encourage people to log off, turn off, touch grass, go hug a family member, go out and do good in the community."   ...