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The Times looks at whether female leaders are better in handling situations like the pandemic. When it looks at all the information without cherry-picking this report says they are no better than male leaders. Sanna Marin of Finland and Angela Merkel are not better than a Biden or a Modi.

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The kids go off one by one to college, only then do parents actively raising their children realize that its all over. Parents are the ones needing help seeing how empty nest parents feel. It is a sudden change after over twenty years of being conditioned to something else.

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According to this report taking fewer airplane flights and eating less dairy or meat, driving less, using less space in homes, can have a large impact on each person's carbon footprint to prevent climate change. Upgrading insulation is also a cheap way to take action against climate change.

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The disaster of floods in the Brazilian southern state of Rio Grande do Sul that leaves over half a million people displaced, 70,000 in shelters, and 2.3 million people affected. A third of city residents in Canoas displaced. A similar situation in Porto Alegre. The Guardian shows pictures of the floods.

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Barmer, Rajasthan hits 48 degrees centigrade. The heat wave affects election turnout in Rajasthan state of India and in other parts of India.Delhi sees temperatures of 45 degrees centigrade. Floods in Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul, heat wave in India, a new set of challenges from climate change in 2024.

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Two women Khayat and Effantin with diplomas in bakeries and pastry making get enough experience and learn techniques to open a woman's bakery in the 9th Arrondissement Le Condorcet called Neighborhood Bakery, Boulangerie de Quartier. 100% home made products at a bakery shown in this report in Le Monde.fr.

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Inflation and asset price bubbles in India and China, and low inflation or near deflationary conditions in the US and Western Europe. With the US depending for about half of its growth on exports in 2009 and early 2010, according to Commerce Department figures, the tightening of credit by central banks in the high growth countries of Asia will crimp America's economic prospects.

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As Cruz leads in Iowa and other states putting Trump in second place, Hamburger provides an exceptional look inside the Cruz campaign. Cruz's campaign manager says rules of the past no longer apply, in a changing voter environment pushing out establishment candidates and with the digital media tools now available. Data analysis and use of methods such as "psychographic targeting" to tailor appeals to voters based on what appeals to them using Facebook data on likes are being used by the Cruz campaign. Cambridge Analytica, a firm financed by hedge fund executive Robert Mercer, a Cruz supporter, has built an effective data gathering operation of potential Cruz supporters among evangelicals. This has helped the Cruz campaign recruit pastors in Iowa, and in the U.S. for the Cruz campaign. It also helps in micro efforts such as home calls made by supporters, and in "geofencing" or sending emails and messages to a particular building or physical location such as a gathering of the National Rifle Association, or Republican Jewish Coalition. A mobile app "Cruz Crew" is another aspect of the digital effort to organize efforts of supporters and volunteers....

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The story of how Jurgen Klopp took Liverpool to the Champions League and Premier League titles in 2020. For all the illusion that the titles were a procession Liverpool started out with problematic losses to Dortmund, Seville, Napoli. It was the hard work and rigorous practice, self discipline, and renewal, the always focussing on the next step and how to do better regardless of how things look- this has helped Klopp get the team to where it is in world soccer. Continuous improvement setting your own bar of what it is to be to do the work right. In a small town overlooking Lake Geneva soccer practice takes place every day at 7 am, 11 am, 5 pm, in preseason. No distractions, no commercial obligations. Only the coach, players, and staff. Steudtner, German surfer invited by Klopp helped the team cool down in training by focussing underwater on happier places, taking a lot of the stress off the minds of the players. Hold for 30, 40, 60 seconds. Soon everyone could do it. The aim to cool down each player's mindset. A form of meditation. ...

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Questions and Answers about Islamic State on the BBC website give a short and simple look at Islamic State or ISIS in Syria and Iraq, its origins and how it developed upto the Iraqi government's efforts to retake Mosul in northern Iraq in Dec. 2016.

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Friedman calls for a third party candidate to bring a focus on the issues facing the U.S. - winding down the war in Afghanistan, increasing fuel economy and conservation to reduce dependence on foreign oil inclusing a gasoline tax, enacting the proposals of the Simpson-Bowles Commission which eliminates or reduces tax expenditures and reduces spending, and provides any needed fiscal support for the short run. He says the two party duopoly is not working and even if the third party succeeds only in framing the debate and the issues in a constructive and useful way, it will have achieved something significant.

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Nikki Haley of South Carolina decides to run for the Republican nomination for president. She joins Trump and Rod de Santis of Florida in the race for the Republican nomination.

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Seven million households moved during this pandemic in the US, half a million more than in 2019. Many people moved out of cities to the suburbs or to distant locations.

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A British elite that is indifferent to everything around it, even the chaos around it, is how this picture of the Brexit leader, Mr. Moog, is seen in Britain. 

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Vernon Smith, Professor of Economics and Law at Chapman University, 2002 Nobel prize winner, makes an effort to explain in simple language what has happened in the housing bubble, the various aspects of this crisis, and what might help and what might be difficult to accomplish in the rescue plan. He thinks that a reverse auction is awfully hard to do with some success especially as Treasury has no experience with this, and thinks its better to inject capital in banks and companies in return for equity stakes, which incidentally is what Gordon Brown's plan in the UK intends to do. With that Chapman believes Treasury has experience having recently demonstrated that several times including the way Treasury and the FDIC assisted JP Morgan takeover Washington Mutual. He asks readers to look at the Shiller price index graph from 1987 and asks do they think the home prices which only in 2006 and 2007 gradually turned downward and plumetted in 2008, has it run its course. The answer from the graph looks like a no after such a long runup in prices since 1987 and there is a ways to go in 2009 and into 2010. In this context and the context of a declining economy wiith higher unemployment what are the prospects of stabilizing home prices anytime soon? Which suggests injection of capital in return for equity by the government to recapitalize them and get lending back up, as well as act a a clearinghouse to take some of the fear risk out of transactions, as some of the more sensible solutions. And at the same time putting in a comprehensive homeowner relief program with taxpayer money and lender participation to have the lenders modify mortgages, or something like the Hubbard or Feldstein plans, to keep homeowners in their homes. And there is one bit of good news in all this oil prices have already hit $80 a barrel and are headed downward, and so are the prices of all commodities including steel, and the prices of soybeans, corn wheat and so on. ...

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With Labour leading in polls Mr. Johnson faces a no confidence motion in parliament after 53 Tory members called for the motion. No elections are planned before Jan 2025. There are no choices for the Tories other than Mr. Johnson who could hold his broad coalition of working class districts in the north of England and affluent districts in London. Mr. Johnson has also taken England through the pandemic, vaccination drive, and pandemic aid programs to help the UK recover, which he reminded Tory members of parliament.  The partygate scandal refers to parties that Mr. Johnson says never happened but took place during the worst part of the pandemic which have created an impression of callous behaviour and disregard of rules. The Conservatives face another problem in that the US and the EU including countries such as Denmark, Germany and France are moving in a direction that favors leaders who are promoting a revival of manufacturing locally, creating local jobs instead of job shifting overseas, increasing minimum wage, and promoting interests of workers and families. Labor had lost credibility during the Blair years similar to SPD losing credibility during the Schroder years, France's Socialists losing credibility under Hollande, and the Democrats under Clinton-Obama, and a general loss of credibility of socialist leaders who failed to work for the interests of workers and families. Biden, Scholz, the German Greens under Habeck, and French under Melenchon are changing this today wtih a new and genuine commitment of respect for the dignity of workers and families, and women. There may be a sense of unease among Tories about how long the working class districts in the north of England will vote Tory when no investments are being made to fulfill the promises Boris Johnson has made. Yet Tories have no alternate leader and may be stumbling their way into the remaining part of their period in office as Britons look for a new future where the massive investments needed in manufacturing locally and in infrastructure take place to benefit workers and families. ...

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For the first time in decades the U.S. trade deficit with China is falling significantly. China's exports to the U.S. dropped 12.5% to $296 billion in 2019 from $323 billion in 2018, according to Chinese customs data. Actually China's trade surplus with the U.S would have fallen even more had not the U.S. exports to China declined by 21%. With the Phase 1 trade deal negotiated recently U.S. exports to China will increase significantly, while 25% tariff on $250 billion in Chinese goods still in place limits China's exports. This means in 2021 and 2022 and years ahead China's surplus should shrink much faster achieving one of the principal goals of Mr. Trump and his trade negotiator Mr. Lighthizer. Mr. Lighthizer was chosen by Mr. Trump for having accomplished a similar goal decades back in the eighties with Japan's surplus. Even though China has not stated this in writing, American officials have said China will increase purchases of American goods and services by at least $200 billion over the next 2 years from 2017 levels. China and the U.S. have essentially agreed that the two economies so tightly intertwined works to the detriment of the U.S. with the Chinese surplus creating tensions. China will now have the European Union as the largest trading partner followed by south east Asian countries, and other regions. China decided that its priority is technological development and was unwilling to meet U.S. demands to reduce its efforts for technological competition and access to western technologies. Instead opting for shifting it economy away from dependence on exports to the U.S. in a gradual way. The other demand of the U.S. for stopping state subsidies is also a concession China is not willing to make as it sees it as an economic feature of its business model that is working and a competitive advantage.  This leaves the U.S. with a limited win so that trade and resulting jobs can be brought into favoring the U.S. a key Trump goal, and not a win in the technological competition with China which will continue. ...

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Eliud Kipchoge is one of the rare runners from Africa for his outlook on life. He is from Kenya, and holds the world record for running the Marathon. At the Berlin Marathon he set a record of just over 2 hours, with an improvement of 78 minutes the biggest in 50 years.  How does he do it? He wears a wrist band that says "No human is limited." He believes it is in the power of the mid to do what it sets out to do and what it believes. As he trains in the Kenyan highlands his idea of life is living simply which "sets you free." There at training camp he shares in the chores, including cleaning toilets, and always maintains the discipline that is part of his daily routine. Being disciplined is about not just the two hours running but the other 22 hours as well. A simple life means no distracted mind. Says Kipchoge: "My mind is always free. My mind is flexible. The mind is what drives a human being. If you have belief-pure belief in your heart- that you want to be successful you can talk to your mind and your mind will control you to be successful." This 34 year old Kenyan runner won the 5000 metres at the World Championships in Paris in 2003, won silver in Osaka in 2007, but failed to make the 2012 Kenyan Olympics team. He then switched to marathon running and won ten marathons, three in London. As part of the NikeBreaking2 project Eliud is taking on the challenge of running a marathon under 2 hours, 63 years after Roger Bannister set the 4 minute mile record. ELiud believes there are still beautiful things in store, some cool things to do. And his dream is to build a running world that brings joy and peace - "There is freedom in running. Go and run and your your mind will be free."    ...

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David Wessel says there are three hypotheses about the slow recovery with growth of 1.9% in the first quarter of 2011, estimated growth of 1.4-1.5% for the second quarter. The first, is that this is transitory, with gas prices, Japan's tsunami disrupting supply chians, and Europe's poor handling of the financial crisis. This he scores as wishful thinking. The second, that the stimulus was too small, the need for a second stimulus, or the related hypothesis of the large uncertainty hanging over business, including the debt ceiling negotiations, deficit etc. This he scores as more convincing, but one is not sure different policies would have led to a different situation. The third hypothesis is that the underlying diagnosis of the economy itself was hopeful but flawed and wrong. Hope about the housing market- which has been proved wrong. The same for exports, or consumer spending. Wessel cites Ken Rogoff and Carmen Reinhardt's new book on the afterperiod of financial crises and asset bubbles, with data going back to many historical periods showing that the periods following crises are difficult having protracted periods of slow or marginal economic growth....

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Ways in which Britain's Tory chancellor Mr. Javid, who himself attended further education schools, is addressing inequality in Britain, and issues such as low teenage literacy, low skill levels and education in working class areas. These are issues Labour had promised to tackle. Mr. Javid brings new ways and ideas. Action is also taken to nationalize poorly performing rail such as Northern Rail.  

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A report released by the Manhattan Institute says Mayor De Blasio of New York who promised huge changes to end "the tale of two cities" in New York has failed to reduced glaring inequality in the city. The Ginni coefficient which measures the level of inequality went up slightly instead of going down under De Blasio. It went from 0.54 in 2013 to 0.55 in 2017.

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This report in NYT looks at the Barbados debt crisis. Barbados spends 55% of its budget to pay interest on debt (servicing the debt). That leaves about 5% for health and climate change. Years of borrowing that ignored basic rules of financing have created serious problems that were compounded by the pandemic and hurricanes. This report shows that the total deb of Barbados was not known to the central bank. Borrowing was approved at exorbitant interest rates. One loan with Credit Suisse for $150 million is shown here with interest rates that lead it to become a catastrophic amount owed. Many such loans without any checks and supervision of total loans taken, lack of financial prudence rules followed, lack of transparency and alerts on borrowing and spending tend to create this kind of situation in many poor countries. About two thirds of developing countries are in this situation owing one third of their budget for debt service or paying interest on the loan. The situation is unstable to begin with. Then on comes along a hurricane or natural disaster such as the pandemic and the unstable situation becomes a catastrophe. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, the Caribbean nations, nations in Africa, face debt crises that are getting worse. It is not inevitable or destiny for nations today, consider the examples of large nations such as Japan, China, South Korea and India, Malaysia, Indonesia, and one can see that development finance can be prudent and responsible, so that situations such as the pandemic can be handled without going into disarray. ...

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China's economy is feeling the effects of a sharp slowdown of the economy with covid lockdowns in 2022 and the Ukraine crisis undermining confidence in China. Internal divisions on president Xi's policies of allying with Russia on Ukraine are shown in this report by the WSJ. China faces a collapse of its relationship with the US and Europe says the WSJ. With it China's economic growth faces a sharp slowdown.  From 18% at the beginning of 2021 economic growth has slowed down to 4% in fourth quarter of 2021. The current situation in Ukraine and Mr. Xi's response create risks of collateral damage for Chinese manufacturers with weakening global demand, says the WSJ. Deng Xiaoping's policy of opening China which happened for the last 40 years is being reversed with Mr. Xi's policies and the stance taken by the Biden administration is supported by the US Congress by both Republicans and Democrats.  This WSJ report points out that premier Li Keqiang has pointed to the risks China is facing in somber tones calling the external environment for China in 2022 "more complex and severe." At the same time Hu Wei a senior adviser to the State Council stirred up discussion online with an article about Mr. Xi's pro-Russian policy, saying "China can't be tied to Putin and the ties need to be cut off as soon as possible."  ...

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After a decade of austerity and the financial crisis of overextended banks, the deep recession starting in 2009, and worsening inequality with lack of infrastructure development, Britain finally shifts to larger government spending. The spending planned by Labour and Conservative parties in Britain charts a different future for health, education and infrastructure development from that of the last decade. The public supports this. Conservatives plan $128 billion of new spending, Labour party plans to spend even more. This comes after centre right parties such as the Republicans under Mr. Trump in the U.S. shifted to heavy spending on infrastructure. The Democrats under Obama failed to push for higher spending in traditional working class areas leaving open a gap that Mr. Trump has since used to attract working class Democrats to his side. In Britain Labour under Corbyn has pushed for larger spending on infrastructure, health and education. This is setting a new trend. This report in the WSJ shows that in this situation it is new politicians who replaced earlier politicians in their parties- Mr. Trump displacing Bush, Johnson displacing Cameron and May, Corbyn and McDonnell displacing Blair and Brown, that are initiating thsi trend. The experts at the IMF and the central banks are only now beginning to say this is a good idea. For a decade the mantra of economic experts at these central banks was in favor of austerity, even in the face of massive misallocation in capital markets.   ...