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For two decades young computer specialists in their 30's have tried to say the right things to the American people to gain approval- with AI this is where it all ends. Watching Murthi and Altman on Stern's interview in WSJ one senses a lack of awareness that this is too big a technology to be handled by a few computerized work  specialists. Murthi says the right things with a faltering conviction, Altman lacks conviction, yet both cannot take on the responsibilities for AI on their shoulders. The chief technology officer of OpenAI takes over role of Interim CEO with the departure of Sam Altman. She graduated from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. She worked at Tesla before joining OpenAI. Murthi was in charge of Operations, managing the teams that delivered ChatGPT product in 2022, and handling the relationship with Microsoft which invested $13 billion for a 49% stake in OpenAI.

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Friedman in the NYT says China overreached especially since 2012 on trade, technology transfers, and in relations with American allies Australia, India, Japan, and America underperformed for its people by not investing in infrastructure, in workers incomes and in health and public services, education. Underinvestment in the very structure and backbone of American society while billions were wasted in foreign wars and in misallocation of investments by Silicon Valley and other investors. The coronavirus failure to get adequate warning through WHO and China's cooperation for American teams to be admitted immediately after January 10 request by the U.S. for Wuhan was a turning point.  

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Kristalina Georgieva, head of the IMF says at Davos Forum that the economic outlook "is less bad than feared a couple of months ago." Inflation heading down, and the reopening of China were two positive factors, says Georgieva. The IMF now expects the world economy to grow at 2.7% in 2023. The strength of labour markets has led to consumers maintaining spending growth.

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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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The companies that run US ports are based in Europe and Asia. US dockworkers are fighting for a 77% pay raise over 6 years. Harold Daggett is leading the fight for the dockworkers. The port operation companies offered 40%. Negotiations are going on with the Biden administration seeking a settlement that is fair to workers left behind in previous wage negotiations, and following other strikes of the United Auto workers and other unions. The UAW was able to gain a fair settlement with president Biden joining the picket lines, a first for any American president.

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The return of Benin bronzes to Nigeria poses the question of Britain returning similar stolen artworks to Asian and African countries, says The Guardian.

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The fight against misuse of aid funds from donor countries is an important fight for Ukraine. Success in the war to defend Ukraine depends on winning the confidence of the European Union and the US that donor funds to rebuild Ukraine are going for that purpose. There is also the need to maintain the confidence of the Ukrainian people including millions displaced or refugees within the country, and the millions of other Ukrainians who are now intolerant of the corruption that used to be.

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Russians vote in 2021 parliamentary elections. With 30% of votes cast the United Russia party of Mr. Putin wins 45% of votes cast, followed by the Communist party of the Russian Federation with 22%, and the Liberal Democratic party getting 8%. Russia has mixed voting system with half the seats directly elected from party lists, and the other half assigned to individual candidates. United Russia had 334 seats out of total 450 seats in the outgoing parliament. Putin will need over 300 seats in the new parliament to get the two thirds majority to enact changes to the constitution. Putin needs this to extend his current term which ends in 2024.  Putin draws most of his support from the older part of the population that has seen the hardships imposed following the collapse of Communism around 1990. This led to collapse of the ruble currency, increase in poverty, an effort by oligarchs to capture state enterprises, and a chaotic period for law and order. Shockingly during that period even life spans of Russians declined as reported in the WSJ. Liberals who supported the shift to democracy had not anticipated all the ill effects of introducing capitalist free market systems in such a sudden and free fall way. Such sudden shifts to free markets are now better understood and seen as the wrong way, as western capital markets fail without inbuilt protections, safety net for workers and retired people, and are subject to serious distortions if no vigilant authority exists. This is in reality not a free market but a market captured by the few, in the interests of the few. Once this was clear retired people, pensioners, military, law enforcement, and liberals realizing what had happened shifted support to United Russia founded by Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin faces the typical situation faced by incumbents over long periods where there is a sense of the need for change. Yet the pandemic and other economic crises that could happen in the event of mismanaged economy are never really too distant for countries such as Russia, China, India that are developed but yet have not the strong industrial base of US, Germany, France. Such economic crises including the ruble currency and Russian energy companies were better managed under Putin than under the chaotic period following the collapse of communism and the introduction of so called "free markets" that were anything but. During the recentfree fall in oil prices Putin was able to manage a transition period with the help of president Trump who negotiated a price for oil with the Saudis to protect US shale oil workers and companies, as well as Russian workers and oil companies. As a result Russians particularly young people look for alternative places to vote for opposition parties such as Liberals, Communist party, and other parties. But the majority of Russians including those working for state energy and other state companies tend to stay with Putin's choices for state, regional and federal administration and for parliament. Nationalist spirit also provides additional support as Putin has restored Russia's status as one of the important nations in the world. Some missteps such as interference in US elections have led to a loss of some of this international influence, yet even president Biden understands the situation in Russia and is willing to work with Putin with new rules of conduct Under the Russian system about 70% of the laws are not made by parliament but are done by the government and the administration of the president and then go through parliament. In addition to parliamentary vote there are 6 governor races and three races for heads of regional republics. ...

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Demand for lumber is at new highs with the increase in demand for housing. Demand for housing is up because of low interest rates in the U.S. Much of this demand is from people working from home who are less affected by loss of incomes that is affecting construction restaurant, tourism, and industries where work is outdoors or where people interaction is high.

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Reading a physical book is better than seeing some on on You Tube reading a book- this becomes a problem with You Tube targeting schools and school children with its Chromebooks in American schools. You Tube has become prevalent in American classroom and its marketing works closely with parents and teachers. Problems are that children can end up spending too much time watching You Tube, neglecting reading and home work. Watching a person read on You Tube gives verylittle of the benefits from reading a book oneself. The practice of reading is an important skill and can be developed only by reading and reading a physical book. Attention spans become shorter when watching You Tubes and more You Tubes. Sweden has studied the problem of using screens with teachers, education experts and curriculum experts and is now moving all its classrooms from screens to binders that include exercize books for children to write in. Writing is similar only when takes up a pen and paper can one write and write more till one gets better at it. Sweden should be closely followed and the US should start using a similar approach to fight the lack of reading comprehension skills in American schoolchildren as part of the Movement for Global Literacy of lyrarc.com. ...