LyrArc Article Gist
A New York federal jury convicts Sam Bankman-Fried on all 7 counts. The US Attorney in Manhattan had this to say- "While the cryptocurrency industry might be new, and the players like Sam Bankman-Fried might be new, this kind of corruption is as old as time. This case has always been about lying, cheating, stealing, and we have no patience with it." In ways similar to the continuing war that is taking place across many sectors Mr.Bankman-Fried's lawyers tried to paint a different picture that turns out to be far from the truth- that he was a math nerd and an entrepreneur building a new business using innovative ways.

LyrArc Article Gist
With the surge in travel that might even exceed prepandemic levels in the US this summer, being better prepared helps. Some tips in the WSJ- morning flights have fewer delays than later in the day, TSA Precheck $78 for 5 years or Clear at $189 a year are a good way to avoid lines, the Delta or United App that lets you know how far your gate is and where to be dropped off at the airport, packing right,  the drop off, and food and drink.

LyrArc Article Gist
How huge wildfires are affecting the stratosphere 6 to 31 miles above the earth and creating a swirling vortex of smoke reaching 21 miles high that is spreading across the planet. Circling twice around the world according to some studies. This resulted in fire induced thunderstorms in Portugal, South Africa and Argentina.

Wildfires in California have sent plumes of smoke 10 miles high altering air quality in places as far as Europe. Fire seasons are getting longer in many parts of the world as a result of this.

LyrArc Article Gist
Disbelief at what happened in the Sydney cricket Test with the comments of Paine to Ashwin and the activity on the crease by Smith, as Indian batsmen held on to save the day. Readers comments are interesting. One reader says Brett Lee is the Australian bowler who should be the role model for Australia. Then again Richie Benaud from the sixties and seventies going far back is what the Australians need to go back to. Other readers say this is not just Australian cricket, it is cultural in Australia.

LyrArc Article Gist
Farmers protests asking for minimum support price to be extended to other products beyond rice and wheat. About 260 million people are employed in agriculture in India with many farmers on small plots, and large farms depleting water supplies. Efforts to introduce market pricing that would increase farm incomes and to shift more agricultural labor to the industrial sectors that build modern infrastructure and to factories are designed to improve standards of living. The pandemic and the years of slow growth before 2014 and lack of infrastructure building in earlier decades means the kind of shift of agricultural workers to factories that happened in China will be the task of the next ten years. The next budget for 2024-2025 shown in adjoining powerpoint shows the increase of capital expenditures of 11.1% in the coming year for infrastructure that is meant to catch up to the advanced industrial economies of the world with sustained investment at scale over the next decade. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Florida Governor Bob Graham 1979-1987 work in investing in education boosting per pupil spending and investment in Flordia university system is similar to California Governor Pat Brown 1960-1968 who helped build the Cal State University system. Bo Graham covered the Kennedy-Johnson period of the sixties to the turn of the century, retiring in 2003 after serving in the US Senate for 18 years. His early upbringing was on a family farm in Florida. He is known for his effort to take on the roles of ordinary Americans for 100 days when he ran for public office. This period is a reminder of the changes in the democratic system, business and the economy since then with influence of lobbyists in Congress, tech monopolies, and the financial industry leading to crises since 2009, and wars in the Middle East that dissipated the Nation's resources that should have gone into replacing dilapidated infrastructure.

LyrArc Article Gist
The White House gives details of a new Trade Agreement with Indonesia. There will be zero tariffs on exports to Indonesia of US goods. Indonesia will have lower tariffs of 19% on most products, and higher duties of 40% on goods that are sent through Indonesia to evade tariffs such as from China. Indonesia will place no restrictions on export of rare earth minerals. Indonesia will remove non tariff barriers by action to accept U.S. safety regulations for automobiles, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and remove preshipment inspections for US agricultural products.

Its significance is that Indonesia is a producer of rare earth minerals giving US full access. Indonesia has a large population of 250 million and this opens up markets for US farmers. It means US energy products and pharmaceuticals, and aircraft makers have access to this market. Because of far flung islands Indonesia will need more Boeing aircraft as it modernizes.

LyrArc Article Gist
WSJ and NYT, Wash.Post exaggerated defense of Denmark's claims to Greenland. DJT says there is nothing in writing that says Denmark owns Greenland. The NYT, WSJ cite 1916 Treaty that transferred Danish West Indies to US for $25 million.  The agreement in 1916 said Denmark would extend its economic and political arrangements across Greenland, which was the status quo, but this did not give ownership of the island to Greenland. In 1947 US president Harry Truman offered $100 million for Greenland. This was a generous offer and would be around $1.5 billion in today's terms. The agreement of 1916 is superseded by Admiral Perry leading the US Navy's exploration of Greenland all the way to the north of Greenland at the Arctic northern most points in Greenland. The US planted its flag on Greenland at the time. DJT on Truth Social planting the flag is nothing new. Admiral Perry is never mentioned by NYT, Wash Post and WSJ, the television media and Google internet other AI, which gives the Denmark government an opportunity to misrepresent US claims to Greenland since 1890's and leave out Adm. Perry's discoveries in Greenland. By comparison a few Danish boats and Norwegian boats landed in Greenland. Worse it sets up the Europeans for actions that Scott Bessent says are "unwise". It is mainly Denmark and the Nordics who are in opposition, the rest of Europe has no stake in Greenland and would be better off with the US owning Greenland. Danes were a colonial power and cannot bring up the Greenland Inuit population of 50,000 smaller that what would fit into a baseball stadium as they had never sought to help the Inuits. As recently as 1803-1848 Denmark was struggling to abolish the slave trade in its colonies in the West Indies- it is something that can easily be looked up. It was the US with it's Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson that laid out the vision of a free people which also fought the Civil War under Lincoln by the 1860's with loss of millions of lives for a free and fair society, something the European colonial powers failed to do. Denmark should accept the offer of $1.5 billion from the US consistent with the US offer from Harry Truman in 1947, and not use the European Union to create dissension within Europe as it has done so far in a misleading effort that does not serve the interests of Europe. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Reducing income inequality and increasing farm incomes would increase consumption spending and investment for further growth in the Indian economy. Investment in infrastructure development is another source of growth. Higher oil prices and the bad loans in the banking system are barriers to increasing growth of the Indian economy. The problems during the last 2 years of the Congress led UPA government, including the bad loans in the banking system and the uncertainty after corruption cases including the telecom auctions, required that the Modi government take strong action in the first year. 

LyrArc Article Gist
Only 1 year after getting 412 seats in parliament Labor party under Keir Starmer a public defender, and Angela Rayner is seen as having lost much of it's support in Britain. So have the Conservatives who fare even worse. Only the Liberal Democrats and SNP in Scotland hang on. Outlandish You.gov poll June 26 2025 shows Reform UK with 271 seats in British parliament, Labor at 178 seats, Conservatives 46 seats in hung parliament. Nigel Farage led the fight for Brexit, and voters are having second thoughts about the value of Brexit. On immigration Nigel Farage led the fight, both parties have failed to stop migration. On welfare cuts by Labor this could lead to it doing better than Conservatives, yet Farage taking a position to avoid harsh cuts gets him Labor support. Britain sees the two main parties ineffective in meeting cost of living goals for the British people. But does Reform UK have the answers, and has it been getting the scrutiny it should be getting? Is Kemi Badenoch the right leader for the Conservatives, and how popular is Keir Starmer, how good is his stewardship of the economy?  ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Xi has chosen upward mobility for the Chinese people in all parts of the country including rural areas, reducing disparities in income, tackling climate change over the very hyper growth that has caused climate change and wreaks havoc in floods and fires across the planet. By the Chinese dream is meant that China would have a fair chance to match the western world with its own culture, language, creativity of its people, and he has chosen to do this in away that respects China's history and struggles with imperialist Britain, and the imperial powers in the modern period since 1500. It only poses a threat to the US if the US does not also invest in its own people, follows misguided military adventures overseas, and does not invest in its own manufacturing and technological potential at home. Historically the imperial powers were Britain, France, Germany, Russia. The US under Woodrow Wilson and under FDR pursued policies that were at odds with the imperial powers and favored a China that could build the potential of its own people far beyond what the imperial powers intended- for India, Turkey, China, Vietnam, and the rest of Asia. At each step of the way to 1948 the US policy remained true to this. Even the Cold War was a struggle against an imperial power- Russia which under the Bolsheviks and even today follows imperial minded policies for Eastern Europe. The Biden administration and the Xi administration in China are really not that far apart in pursuing policies that support people from all parts of their countries, and are resolute in the fight against climate change making growth conform with respecting the earth. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
The issues were the same on Oct 31, 1936 when FDR gave this address at Madison Square Garden, similar to what president Biden faces today in the task "to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people."  FDR said: "On the eve of a national election, it is well for us to stop for a moment and analyze calmly and without prejudice the effect on our Nation of a victory by either of the major political parties.The problem of the electorate is far deeper, far more vital than the continuance in the Presidency of any individual. For the greater issue goes beyond units of humanity—it goes to humanity itself. In 1932 the issue was the restoration of American democracy; and the American people were in a mood to win. They did win. In 1936 the issue is the preservation of their victory. Again they are in a mood to win. Again they will win. More than four years ago in accepting the Democratic nomination in Chicago, I said: "Give me your help not to win votes alone, but to win in this crusade to restore America to its own people." The banners of that crusade still fly in the van of a Nation that is on the march. It is needless to repeat the details of the program which this Administration has been hammering out on the anvils of experience. No amount of misrepresentation or statistical contortion can conceal or blur or smear that record. Neither the attacks of unscrupulous enemies nor the exaggerations of over-zealous friends will serve to mislead the American people." ...

LyrArc Article Gist
Solar energy is now the better option versus coal as costs are going down at rapid pace. In 2010 cost was about $100 per megawatt hour, This is down to about $35 per megawatt hour in many countries including India by 2020 as cost for the lifetime of new plants. New solar farm plans cost less for renewable energy than coal fired plants. The Modi administration hopes to double then triple production of solar energy to meet India's growing needs. This makes it possible for the European Union to set targets of 32% for renewable energy in the total energy production by 2030. 

The cost of coal has not changed much costing about $55 to $150 per megawatt hour for new plants.

LyrArc Article Gist
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has been investigating Toyota since 2004, after State Farm Insurance Company alerted the NHTSA about the jump in complaints.

LyrArc Article Gist
The German parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of sending heavy weapons to Ukraine as the Russian invasion continues in eastern and southern Ukraine. The German parliament voted on Thursday, April 28, marking a major shift in policy for Germany with 586 in favor and 100 opposed, and 7 abstaining. Military aid should continue and accelerate wherever possible says the proposal that was passed with the backing of the ruling coalition of Greens, SDP and FDP, and backed by the largest opposition party the Christian Democrats (CDU). The far right AfD opposed the proposal. The proposal also foresees an appeal to China for it to "abandon its acceptance of war" and actively support a truce, says this report in DW.com.

LyrArc Article Gist
After meeting Zelensky in Paris during the Notre Dame Cathedral reopening DJT says it is time for an immediate end to the war after 600,000 lives lost or injured.

DJT writing on Truth Social media site-

“Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.”

"Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!”

LyrArc Article Gist
Brazil depends on private financing for agricultual production by farmers from companies like Cargill, ADM and Bunge. These companies finance about 40% of Brazilian farmers financial needs, though this year it may drop to 25% as credit tightens. They provide this money in advance cash payments and loans in exchange for future delivery of grain. This has led to a,rapid buildup of agricultural production and the infrastructure and roads needed, making Brazil the second biggest producer of soyabeans and accounting for 25% of world production. Now Bunge has cut advance cash payments by 70% since December 2007 according to company filings. ADM and Cargill have actually expanded the amount of credit available. But Soyabean and Corn Advisor, a consulting firm in Illinois estimates the cost of producing the 3 main crops in the state of Mato Grasso, the soyabeans, corn and cotton, will increase by 42% in 2008 over 2007. So farmers are faced with higher debt especially because this comes on top of accumulated debt from prior years when there were higher exchange rates in the early 2000's. Now Brazilian farmers are faced with falling crop prices, rising costs of farm supplies, unfavorable real-dollar exchange rates, and tighter credit, similiar to the situation playing out in the American farm belt. The plantings are smaller this year for soyabeans. And many farmers are forgoing debt payments and letting banks repossess farm machinery in Mato Grasso state. The overall impact of this will be lower global farm production and the impact will be felt in Brazilian GDP growth rates. ...

LyrArc Article Gist
The most accurate study so far of what age groups get affected by coronavirus comes from the Office of National Statistics in Britain, showing that children are as likely to get infected as adults. Estimates in modeling created jointly by Public Health England and the Cambridge University show 18% of children in the data from 5  to 14 years age are infected by the virus in England, compared to 18% in the adults over 45 years age.  Across all age groups the modeling data found that there is no difference between age categories for infection by the coronavirus.

LyrArc Article Gist
Graphs in this Washington Post report show the success or failure of vaccination drives around the world from the US and Canada to Europe, Brazil, Japan and Africa as of the first week of July 2021. Japan and Africa are far behind Europe and America. By July 4, 59% of Americans were fully vaccinated short of Biden's goal of 70%, according to CDC. Canada, Italy, Germany have passed the US. By making vaccinations mandatory France is working to catchup with Germany and Italy. Canada and UK lead in vaccination drives. 

LyrArc Article Gist
On CBS "Face the Nation" last weekend both Mark Warner and Senator Rubio expressed concern about unknown algorithms targeting 150 million young users in America. The problem extends beyond that into the effects of TikTok and other social media that is harmful to children taking so much of their time that basic civics, reading, sports and exercise, outdoor activities, suffers enormously. No other generation has faced this and the US Congress and the White House have fallen far behind the curve of setting the rules and regulating use of the new information technologies. 

LyrArc Article Gist
DW.com reporter Sean Goodwin goes from Germany to Australia and finds a very different attitude to coronavirus, kind of laid back. Australians he says have a sense that it is a lucky country, and that "she'll be right." The government and Sydney have been slow to adjust to the reality. A stay at home order is now in place in Sydney and New South Wales state.  Australians seem to think they are somehow far away and isolated from the world's problems. It is a cruisy optimistic mentality, says this report.

 

LyrArc Article Gist
This WSJ editorial says the U.S. should use what little influence it has to prevent Egypt from descending into civil war after the violent crackdown on protester camps in Cairo on August 14, 2013 by the Egyptian military. It says that continuing military aid will not be politically possible if the violence continues. A separate comment by Marc Lynch of the George Washington University Institute for Middle East Studies in online Foreign Policy magazine, says the Gulf States will make up for U.S. aid and the important thing is for the U.S. to be credible in the region in the long run.

LyrArc Article Gist
Nadine Gordimer is a South African writer who brought up issues of racial oppression and bad administration under the Apartheid system, colonial Africa, and under the ANC. She is known for books like the "Conservationist" which depicted the life of a South African industrialist who tried to distance himself from the black tenants on his farm but found himself unable to control the events around him- with his wife and son leaving him and a flood damaging his farm. Through the stories she told of the ultimate hopelessness and futility of the system of colonial rule and of the Apartheid system segregating and isolating blacks in poverty.