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The sudden collapse of Thomas Cook, and the immediate layoff of its 20,000 employees comes as a shock as it is an old company trading since 1841 on the stock exchange. The name was synonymous with travel in Britain and in British Commonwealth countries. The analysis in the Times of London shows management was to blame. First with overexpansion under one CEO, even though online travel booking was taking off. He was fired, and followed by sharp cutbacks with another CEO who was fired, followed by last minute efforts to save the company as it faced huge debt loads and interest load even though its revenues were up by 6%.

In a situation similar to that faced by Jet Airways, an Indian airline, which also had overexpansion and debt load problems, the banks had second thoughts and turned down any new financing to support the company as being too risky.

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Useful tips as people go back to the office, from a number of experts in the WSJ. Walking, biking to work or driving to work is safest. Use of public transit requires masks, sanitizer, frequent hand washing afterwards and caution. Surfaces such as elevator buttons, doorknobs and printer or device buttons should be disinfected regularly- use a tissue paper or paper towel to handle them and then use hand sanitizer. Meetings should be done with social distancing of six feet distance, and reduced number of participants. All should wear masks. Taking meetings outside where airflow is more is a good idea. Reduce number of meetings, as the meetings have not been very productive ways to get work done and many workplaces already have too many meetings. Avoid lunch dates outside, even in the open, with colleagues. A better way is to eat on your own and then take a masked or socially distanced walk with a colleague afterwards, say experts. High touch communal items should be replaced in offices such as coffeepots water coolers, and bulk snacks and this should be done by the companies as they prepare the new layout and arrangements.   ...

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On May 11, NYT shows the rail network in India opening with the first trains taking 45 million migrants to homes in all parts of the country. Australia calls for an international inquiry into the cause of the coronavirus pandemic and its origins in China. Russia begins a cautious reopening with the governors of provinces having powers for reopening based on local conditions. In Spain restrictions are gradually being lifted but the major cities of Barcelona and Madrid are still in lockdown. And as Germany the first country to reopen opens up its business and schools the crucial R ratio of reproduction of the virus -with 1 being the number at which it grows again and below 1 showing control of spread- moves up to above 1.

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In a television debate Jan 18, 2017, Benoit Hamon, a 39 year old former Education minister is seen as the most effective of the French Socialist presidential candidates. He proposes a universal income that particularly supports and creates work for young people ages 18-25 years.

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The resurgence of the Pudong District of Shanghai, with large investments, an industrial base, migration to the cities, and favorable location at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Since 1995, 70 skyscrapers and 120 million square metres of floor space according to official estimates, have been built in Pudong. Real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle says occupancy and rates compare favorably with Manhattan in New York. New York has 10.3% empty space compared to 9.5% for Pudong, and space is leased for $693 per square meter annually in Pudong, 10% higher than in midtown Manhattan. The migration to the cities and a growing middle class have proved skeptics wrong over the years about the ability of real estate developers to fill the space they created. Also helping is the central government's plans to focus investment on Shanghai as the business capital of China.

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The effects of the eurozone crisis on the everyday lives of ordinary Hungarians in Budapest. The impact is particularly severe on retirees and other people with home loans that were taken out in swiss francs or euros because of the depreciation of the Hungarian currency, the forint. There is a loss of confidence in politicians, and the government of prime minister Orban is seen as having worsened the crisis by losing international credibility and confidence . Hungary's debt is denominated mostly in euros which make repayment difficult. Yields on its bonds are over 10%.

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David Brat, a professor at a small liberal arts college in Virgina defeats Eric Cantor in Congressional primary elections of June 2014.

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Sears adjusted earnings before Ebitda are a negative $250-300 million for the period July 26-Oct 26, 2013. Management is reducing investment in the retail stores. As a result there is a deterioration in the conditions at stores making it less attractive for shoppers to go to Sears. There is severe price competition from Amazon and online stores for established retail companies such as Target and Best Buy making it even more difficult for Sears to compete. Analysts say Mr Lampert, CEO of Sears, is an asset manager and Sears liquidation is likely to continue with sale of pieces of the company as it is worth more this way. Lands End, Sears Canada, and the Sear Auto stores brand are expected to be sold to raise cash in this ongoing liquidation process.

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Nikola, US EV maker, files for bankruptcy in Feb 2025. At one time its value was comparable to that of Ford Motor. It shows how speculation can drive up stock prices and valuations that have not the remotest connection to reality.

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Senator McCain's vote for the Republican tax bill is uncertain, says this report in NYT. McCain opposed the 2001 and 2003 Bush administration tax cuts on the grounds of benefiting the rich and not doing enough for the middle class. McCain is known to oppose large spending that aggravates the deficit, and the current Republican plan would add $1.5 trillion to the deficit. In 2003 McCain said on the Senate floor he could not support the use of "billions of federal dollars to cut taxes for our nation's wealthiest." How will he vote this time? Holtz-Eakin, his policy adviser in the 2008 campaign says he is not sure, it all depends on what is better, the status quo or this change.