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Indian hockey returns with the first Olympic medal after 41 years. India was dominant in hockey at the Olympics for many years before losing this place to Australia, Britain, Argentina and Germany.

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Britain's prime minister Theresa May finally spells out some of the costs to Britain's economy in following Brexit and leaving the European Union. The EU's Barnier made it clear that Britain would not be able to choose what it wants out of the negotiations. As May put is "there will be consequences for our market access."  So far May preferred ambiguity so that she could reconcile the conflicting factions in her Conservative party. The Labor Party in the Opposition and the EU have called for clarity on the issue of Northern Ireland, with the EU saying Northern Ireland would remain part of the EU customs union, and the Labor Party's Corbyn saying the fragile Ireland peace accords must be preserved and Ireland should have an open border. May did not clarify on the Irish issue. However her new remarks clarified that much of what exists today in cooperation inside the EU would be preserved to minimize negative consequences of Brexit, and Britain would also continue to be affected by the decisions of the European Court of Justice. Barnier says he welcomes May's explicit recognition for the first time of the tradeoffs involved in doing Brexit, something the pro-Brexit faction within the Conservative Party under Boris Johnson has tried to ignore. Experts including Bank of England governor Mark Carney have stated that Brexit will leave Britain's economy poorer.   ...

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A rice importer from Britain talks about the difficulties in importing rice. Contracts that lasted 12 months are now for 2 months and prices are up by about 15% for rice imports. Vietnamese rice is replacing Italian long grain varieties, yet there is only a limited supply of Vietnamese rice to meet world needs.

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Nadhim Zahawi is Conservative party chair appointed by Mr. Sunak. He was finance minister. This report in The Guardian looks at the penalty imposed and tax settlement with Zahawi that was made by His Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Britain's tax agency, as part of the settlement practices with wealthy individuals.

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A look at the need for serious attention to personal health, including the risks of obesity and poor health habits that are second biggest risk factor for deaths from coronavirus. Boris Johnson, Britain's prime minister has taken up new health habits, exercize and changed lifestyle, after going through a life changing experience. 

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The Economist says British prime minister David Cameron's negotiations with the European Union during the recent summit talks were a failure. The diplomacy of the Cameron administration is described as inept and is seen as damaging British interests severely. It leads to an isolation of Britain in Europe. In this negotiation French President Sarkozy is seen as coming out ahead. The inept efforts to protect Britain's financial sector are unlikely to benefit the sector.

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Hong and Inman describe the deep experience in capital markets that Hong Kong has and Shanghai lacks, which China needs for further development. Even before the handover capital markets in Hong Kong have helped China, and many of China's largest companies have listings in Hong Kong. Hong is also the laboratory for China to make financial innovations for the last three decades, because of capital account controls on the mainland. A bad bank Cinda Asset management Company only recently raised $2.5 billion for buying non-performing loans from Chinese banks. Hong Kong's separate status within China, its Briain based legal system which has credibility in the international community, the rule of law, independent judiciary and independent police are critical to how it developed into an international financial hub for Asia. Any crackdown on protestors would disturb this arrangement. As China has already promised universal suffrage in 2017- which implies free elections not limited by restricted nominations as is now proposed in a change in 2014- and the Basic Law passed before the handover by Britain in 1997 also ensuring this, any retraction is only going back on past promises. A crackdown would create fears about Hong Kong's future autonomy for international financial institutions, and the bad publicity for China would affect Hong Kong and China adversely. ...

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Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, says growth is expected to be "sluggish" with higher inflation. Inflation increased to 2.7% in October from 2.2% in Sept. 2012, with rising costs of university fees. The growth of 1% in the third quarter he described as a one time situation because of the Olympics in Britain. The strength of the pound relative to the euro and the GDP decline in the eurozone also hurt Britain's exports. Economsts at IHS Insight expect the Bank of England to keep the benchmark interest rate at current level of 0.5% for at least 2 more years and increase asset purchases by 50-79 billion pounds in Jan-March 2013. Some economists see the need for other approaches because of tight bank lending. King says the central bank committee retains faith in asset purchases as a policy instrument.

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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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Ukraine visits by US Secretary of Army, Dan Driscoll, chief of staff Army  Randy Georgeand Chief US Army Europe, Chris Donahue, November 19. 2025. In the middle of a period of escalating drone attacks over Ukraine, and Ukraine strikes of refinery targets in Russia. Russian terms have not changed and call for Ukraine ceding territory and cutting its army. The EU and Germany, and Republicans in Congress are likely to oppose any capitulation by Ukraine after Russia launched the invasion, with Britain and France supporting Germany led by chancellor Merz.

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Executives are outspoken in their frustration with having to develop plans to operate in the event Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 without a deal. Ties in logistics bind Britain with the single customs market of the EU. 

The British plans of a German toolmaker Heller are shown here to continue operating. Questions are raised whether Heller will close it Brexit goes the wrong way. Across Britain plants have closely timed cross border supply chain. Airbus Chief Enders calls the Brexit failures a "disgrace."

All the uncertainty means new investments will be postponed, and the cost of contingency planning will increase. Some say they have difficulty believing this crash culture and say its not British way of doing things.

 

 

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It comes as a shock to central banks and is pressuring governments- the food price explosion that won't go away even as energy prices are moderating. OECD graphs in this WSJ report show food prices up in 2023 over the prior year by 15-20% in France, Germany and Britain, compared to 5-10% in the US, Canada and Japan. In France households have cut food purchases by 10%, and in Germany by 10.4% over prior year in the largest drop since records were being kept in 1994. In Britain the statistics agency shows that 40% of the poorest 20% of people are cutting back on food purchases. Ludovic Subran who worked at the UN World Food Program says it is an "access problem." Food production has not dropped, people just can't afford to pay the prices. In Britain The Resolution Foundation says higher food prices since 2020 means the British public by summer 2023 will have to pay more in food bills $35 billion more than the 25 billion pounds for energy bills. Policymakers call higher profit margins by retailers as a possible cause as in world commodity markets food prices are falling since April 2022. Andrew Baileyof the Bank of England says it is the "fourth shock to inflation" after the supply chain bottlenecks, the energy price increases from the war in Ukraine, the tight labor markets. In Italy, Spain and Portugal governments have offered sale tax relief, in France and the UK government is leaning on retailers to curb price increases. ...

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Eurobarometer Survey conducted by the European Commission on what people say about staying inside the European Union show increasing support inside the UK and inside member countries of the EU. In a survey done in March 2019, Eurobarometer Survey involving 1000 people in each of the 28 countries of the EU shows 53% of respondents in the UK supporting Remaining in the European Union, 35% Leave , and 12% undecided. Asked whether Britain had made the right choice to leave the EU in the referendum 54% of respondents said Britain made the wrong choice, only 38% said yes. There is a definite shift in sentiment that reflects the way the changes in the EU since the referendum was held- with only a trickle of immigration to Europe and now return of some refugees to their home countries, economic aid to African countries to reduce migrants. The economies of Europe that struggled through austerity policies such as Spain have show strong growth of 3% over 3 years, and of Portugal and Greece recovering. News at the time of austerity policies, uncontrolled immigration to Europe, affected public sentiment at the time of Britain's first referendum on EU membership. In the EU countries there is a definite upturn in sentiment- 66% would vote to remain in the EU, only 17% would vote to leave. The chaoic Brexit process in the UK has also led to the upturn. 68% of respondents in the EU countries said their countries had benefited from membership in the European Union, the largest support seen in 25 years. ...

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There was some element of reckless behaviour when Britain tossed aside misgivings to let Tories let in private sector investing into companies in the water sector. The WSJ now calls it the world's largest failure in private sector water investment. Today there is eColi in the water in River Thames so much so that in the Oxford Cambridge rowing race rowers were advised not to make contact wih the water. It goes back to Victorian sewers which was a problem not tackled by companies interested in profits in areas that wiser men had decided is best done by public sector investment. These are the hidden failures of the Thatcher/Reagan years that are only now coming to light. The company Thames Water loaded up on debt to pay investors dividends while the company failed to upgrade London's sewer system, which has spilled what amounts to 34,000 Olympic swimming pools of raw sewage into the river since 2020. The US has not been so reckless as most water and sewage systems are still publicly owned. Near central London a matted mountain of wet wipes and sanitary products along with sewage washed into River Thames is called Wet Wipe Island. Thames Water took on so much debt $23 billion that it defaulted on its debt. How could this be in a modern developed nation, and what about all the other infrastructure investments in Britain rusting  from the Industrial Revolution that need investment? Tories have let Britain down. There are lessons for the US and Germany, France, India and China. ...

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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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Girls made 63% of A Level entries in biology, and 54% in Chemistry. In Physics girls made 23%. This shows increased women's participation in the basic science subjects after years of effort in Britain.

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As the deadline of July 22 approaches for the 160,000 members of the UK Conservative Party to elect a leader, former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the current Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt are running for the leadership position. Boris Johnson has 68% member support with Hunt at 23%, according to YouGov survey. Both candidates are in favor of Britain leaving the European Union without an agreement. Hunt has stated he would cancel leave for Britain's 16,000 civil servants in August to prepare for the departure of Britain from the EU by October 31.  Only 27% of Conservative Party members believe Mr. Hunt can do the preparation needed for an abrupt exit after 45 years of economic integration with the European Union. By contrast 90% of members think Johnson would do the preparation needed. Preparation is needed because of food and medical supplies trucks and in flights awaiting customs at border points. The result could be chaotic without adequate preparation. Under a Johnson government many ministers would leave the government including Mr. Hammond who runs the finance ministry. He is expected to join rebel ranks in the Conservative Party that does not think an abrupt exit like this is good for Britain. If these members in the House of Commons join Labour party members they could vote to block this from happening. Britain's opposition Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn has finally decided to call for a second referendum if Johnson pushes to leave the EU abruptly, and to campaign wholeheartedly this time for staying inside the EU. During the last referendum Labour leaders did not push hard for Remain, and David Cameron as prime minister and head of the Conservatives proved to be a weak and ineffective leader using the promise of a referendum as a ploy to win votes for the Conservatives in an earlier election and then finding himself stuck with promises made in the election with his party's right wing led by Johnson. Years of austerity policies promoted by Germany in the EU after a flawed entry of southern European countries with faulty not transparent finances such as Greece too early  into the eurozone had soured Britons on the EU. The friendly migration policies of German leader Merkel for economic as well as war torn country migrants from North Africa finally not just soured Germans on Merkel policies but also soured British working class families struggling to make ends meet and seeing migration as taking British resources that were needed at home. This has split most of Europe including Britain along lines of the major cities and the rural areas plus smaller towns, and in Eastern Europe, East Germany region along the lines of the old Soviet bloc countries which with deeply conservative thinking do not favor such migration policies. These divisive changes have taken place over along period of decades and will take time to heal through economic recovery and a fairer distribution of wealth, better investment in infrastructure, health, education, public services, neglected during the Tech driven flawed investment diversion of economic resources. Yet the hope of this type of change if grasped by Britons as well as Europeans could bring new life and revive the vision of a Europe with shared benefits for all Europeans, not just a French-German project. For this to happen new leaders have to rise to the challenge inside Britain and the rest of Europe.      ...

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Boris Johnson has the most support at the grassroots of the Conservative party of Britain, more than Sunak or Mordaunt the other two candidates. His style of governing with the big picture has some supporters and some detractors, and he has lost some support over handling of the Christmas parties episode, yet he has broad appeal among older Conservatives.

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Spanish coach Luis Enrique says the Argentine team of Lionel Scaloni with Messi in top form is way above the rest including European teams and Brazil. Argentina beat Italy recently and European teams such as Britain, Germany and Spain are not doing well. Players are playing too many games and lack rest periods with only 4-5 days to prepare.

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How much room is there to raise interest rates. Patrick Minford of the University of Cardiff says a lot more. At the rate of 9-10% inflation in Britain more interest rate increases are likely. Minford is advising Liz Truss who is candidate for prime minister. Minford's main ideas are- Get interest rates back up to what was considered normal in previous decades- 5-7% for mortgage rates is what it used to be. At that rate it protects people's savings something that did not happen in the last 2 decades of ultra low rates worsening the wealth gap for Britons in different classes. Cutting taxes is about providing the economy a boost as rates go up. It is not about huge cuts, just modest cuts like the 30 billion pound cuts proposed by Truss. Minford is not talking about low taxes. He is simply talking about having taxes at levels that will promote growth- "the key to growth is not having high taxes. We're not talking about cutting them, just talking about not having them at catastrophic levels." Here is what Liz Truss is proposing- Reverse the recent rise in national insurance. Scrap the increase in corporation tax. About this plan Minford says- "If we raise corporation tax we will kill off growth." Minford dismisses concerns about borrowing. " It's crazy to begin to try to drop the debt to GDP ratio 5 minutes after Covid." With higher rates Minford also think there will be fewer "zombie" companies eating up the nation's capital, while protecting the savings of hard working ordinary people in Britain which hasn't happened in the last two decades of ridiculously low rates, worsening wealth gaps in British society. Minford calls Sunak's policies "puerile" and too much beholden to Treasury thinking. Liz Truss says Sunak's policies are for Brexit in name only, not taking advantage of Brexit to rid Britain of cautious policy that does not capitalize fully on cutting the bureaucratic and regulatory burden to get growth, and trade that favors Britain. ...

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The Indian federal elections started on April 19 and will take place in phases for 960 million voters the largest of any country in the world in mountains in Ladakh to desert around Jaisalmer to the seas around Vizag and Kotchikode. It will take about 6 weeks to complete by June 1 and final results to be announced June 4. The voting is done using portable electronic boxes. It is still one of the great wonders of the world that its crazy no one talks about it and is a demonstration that India has taken the best of its own democratic traditions dating back to the time of the Buddha 563-483 BC. "It may come as a surprise to many to know that in the assemblies of Buddhists in India two thousand and more years ago are to be found the rudiments of our own parliamentary practice of today." This is Rab Butler, who was born in Attock, India and the leading parliamentarian of Britain who set up the post war education system of the United Kingdom, the longest serving minister in Britain from 1941, Home Secretary under Churchill to Foreign Secretary during Suez Crisiz in 1956, under Macmillan as Home Secretary in 1964, the best parliamentarian Britain had to offer in the 20th century. Butler served under Viceroy of India in 1910, and worked hard as India Secretary to pass the India Act of 1935 that gave India its first parliamentary style assemblies and elections. His idea even in the 1920's was for India to gain Dominion dominion status similar to Canada and Australia with a democracy, and was opposed by Churchill. Churchill knew his own weakness and supported Rab Butler as the younger Conservative who would revive the Conservative Party- his 1977 book The Conservatives. Cooperation with Hugh Hugh Gaitskill of Labour Party right into the 1970's made Britain a stronger country, which is how the Education Act 1944 was passed to make free education to all children to age 16.  Much of it broken since 1980 in 50 years of failed Conservative policy leading to the chaos of the Conservatives today, and an effort to spread that chaos to the US. ...

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Two health service workers at NHS Britain experienced symptoms after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. NHS is told by medicines regulator that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not be given the Pfizer vaccine.

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This picture essay in The Guardian shows the British-German Netflix production with Jeremy Irons of Munich- the Edge of War. It shows 1930's London as Britain prepares for war against Nazi Germany over Czechoslovakia.

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The conservatives are hoping to do what Angela Merkel has done in Germany developing policies that support social protections to undercut the centre-Left parties, and working for ideas that support personal responsibility and fiscal responsibility in public finances. As Britain faces increasing national debt, polls show austerity measures are supported by 60% of the public.

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Lola Anderson remembers the note her father retrieved and handed her in 2012 London something she had written about wanting to take up rowing and winning gold for Britain. She considred it arrogant at the time, Her father Don gave it to her before he died in 2019. He was himself in rowing for Britain. Today she wins the 4 person scull rowing Olympic gold medal through a last minute effort - a last stroke victory. She calls it the most valuable thing I have along with the medal.

“I still had the belief and the belief never left,” she said. “You have to learn from your tough experiences and I was determined this time around to make sure that if I came back we’d go for a gold."

This is a message to all young athletes and to many of us in sports and in life to have the belief and the idea that "the belief never left."