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What was first seen as an advantage, the lack of any leaders of the Hong Kong protests, more of a spontaneous movement, is now a liability. With the effort to shut down the Hong Kong airport public sympathy has decreased for the protests in China, especially as it hurts the tourism and retail sectors. This also happened on the popular Weibo microblogging service with support increasing for Hong Kong police handling of events at the airport.

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PM of Sweden Ulf Kristersson on the Joint Statement of the Nordic nations with India. Joint Statement: 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Oslo, 19 May 2026 Published 19 May 2026 1.  Today in Oslo, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the Acting Prime Minister of Denmark, Ms. Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo, the Prime Minister of Iceland Ms. Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Ulf Kristersson, held the 3rd India-Nordic Summit hosted by the Norwegian Prime Minister. This Summit builds upon the previous two Summits held in Copenhagen in 2022 and Stockholm in 2018. 2. The Prime Ministers noted that they are meeting at a time of global geopolitical flux and rapid economic and technological transformation and agreed on the need to deepen the partnership between India and the Nordics for mutual benefit based upon shared interests and values and to cooperate in addressing global challenges. In this context, they decided to elevate the India-Nordic relationship to a trusted Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership. 3.  As leaders of vibrant democracies and large open market economies, they underscored their shared interest in fostering a robust and resilient global order based on international law that promotes peace, stability, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.  4. They reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law, shared values and obligations including democracy, freedom, human rights, gender equality, rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and international peace and security in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter. 5.  The Leaders discussed international peace and security including the conflicts in Europe and the West Asia/Middle East. 6. They discussed opportunities for collaboration in trade and investment, blue economy, circular economy, digital infrastructure, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, climate action and energy security, fighting pollution, water, research and education, talent mobility, healthcare, space & geospatial sectors and defence. UN, multilateralism and international cooperation 7.   The leaders reiterated the importance of an effective multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core. They confirmed their commitment to work towards reforming the UN, including the UN Security Council, to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, accountable, effective and reflective of the contemporary geopolitical realities. The Nordic Prime Ministers reiterated the support of the Nordic countries for permanent membership for India in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. The Nordic leaders welcomed India’s application to the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG), and emphasized the importance of the international multilateral export control regimes in upholding non-proliferation and international peace and security. Trade, investment and economic cooperation 8.  The leaders emphasised the importance of a continued central role for the World Trade Organization in the multilateral trading system and global trade governance. They underscored the importance of a fair, open, transparent, equitable, non-discriminatory, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core. 9.   They acknowledged the significant economic exchanges in the form of trade and investments between India and the Nordic countries in promoting sustainable economic growth, prosperity, circular economy, bioeconomy, sustainable development and supply chain resilience. 10. To facilitate trade and investments and contribute to the objective of sustainable development, they particularly welcomed the entry into force of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership agreement and the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The leaders also welcomed the active business exchanges in the margins of the Summit and highlighted the need of continued business exchanges to identify opportunities. The leaders stressed that in addition to the economic benefits by enhancing market access and removing trade barriers, the India-EU FTA and India-EFTA TEPA could support economic security and resilience through diversifying critical value chains and opening new markets. They welcomed the shared objectives under TEPA that EFTA states shall aim for investment of USD 100 billion leading to creation of one million direct jobs in India. 11.   The leaders further emphasized the need of undertaking initiatives to improve connectivity between the Nordic and the Indo-Pacific regions, including in line with the continued development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. ...

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Saving for child at 30 years when she is 7 years the situation for young family finances in 2025, with outrageous college tution up 40% in 10 years, and other costs such as child care. Colleges seem to be impervious to increasing college costs so called  "upper tier" college leagues intent on taking advantage of the disproportionate increases in upper class incomes exacerbating class divisions, and trying to perpetuate their brands with the notion that they offer a better education for undergraduates at $50,000 to $100,000 a year at a Northwestern or Brown when state universities in Michigan, California and Arizona among many in the whole Nation at $15,000 a year instate tution offer the same education as long as the student puts in the necessary effort to study hard.

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The BBC's Soutik Biswas takes a look at prime minister Modi as he seeks a second term in India's general election in May 2019.  Modi's first term is marked by exceptional development schemes, efforts to provide health insurance to 500 million people who cannot afford health insurance, bringing cooking gas cylinders to hundreds of millions of Indian women especially in rural areas, efforts to jumpstart building of infrastructure projects such as airports and metro subways. A new law for GST brings together the country with one tax instead of a hodge podge of state taxes for interstate commerce, something India needed for a long time but different governments failed to implement. A failed effort to fight corruption by removing from circulation large denomination currency notes reduced economic growth briefly during the first term, though it may have accelerated the shift to formal economy needed in the long run to improve tax revenues for development needs. One of the problems for the Modi government is how do you put a value on something like Swach Bharat Mission, the achievement of the goal of defecation free India in 2019 by 100% on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, getting rural toilets up from 38% to 100%. Development had to start from the bottom up. Similarly in a country where middle men took up a lot of the transfer to poor families of government assistance- the delivery to hundreds of millions their own bank accounts.- how do you put a value on something like this, but it is essential for development from the ground up. More than missiles or other talk this has got to be the spirit of any development oriented administration in India. Ground up, big goals and rapid delivery and an apology for the difficulties that the people suffered earlier for lack of this infrastructure. For both China and India it is the same - moving quickly to make up for 100 years of colonial rule and stagnation. The Modi government has responded to rural farmer distress with support for guaranteed crop prices. As more young voters vote for the first time an important factor is how the new voters see the years ahead under either a government led by the BJP or by a patchwork of parties as the previous ruling Congress party depends on alliances with other parties with conflicting agendas or lack of rapid development agendas. The Modi government sees itself as setting the stage for the next phase of development that would change the economy through new infrastructure development and create jobs in construction and engineering, and other areas. The criticism is that not enough jobs were created in the first term. Yet bold infrastructure development targets such as transformed the Chinese economy could be the answer for job creation. The question then is who is better qualified to launch that effort based on its track record. The Congress party's main criticism is that it has to make alliances with parties that could stall development with conflicting agendas. The other is that in the the 2 years leading to the election of Mr. Modi the Congress led government of Manmohan Singh was stalled due to corruption charges, leading to a lack of decisionmaking at the highest levels, and stalled efforts for the rapid development that could deliver the kind of jobs India needs.  Young Indians would like to see growth first and foremost, only something rivalling China's transformation over 2 decades can do this. It should be kept in mind that China poured more concrete in the 21st century so far than all the concrete the United States poured in the 20th century, according to The Guardian report. The question then is who is best qualified and in a position to deliver this needed economic miracle.    ...

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Simo Romero describes the serious self-reflection among Brazilians, as protests against the games and a climate of indifference replaces the euphoria in 2009 of getting to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. About 63 percent of Brazilians believe hosting the Olympics will hurt the country, 51 percent say they are not interested and only 16 percent are enthusiastic about the games, according to polling company Datafolha. The problems Brazil faces now stem from corruption scandals at Petrobras, impeachment proceedings against president Rousseff, and appointment of an interim president Temer, both extremely unpopular. Rio de Janeiro state's finances are in severe condition, and Brazil appears to have wasted the boom years by running up too much debt and not investing in public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public services. As a result during the Olympics the sailing competition in Guanabara Bay near Rio is faced with the unpleasant problem of raw sewage that has not been cleaned up. Security needs in the Olympics area has led to reduced security in the northeast where prison run gangs operate in some areas against public property. Former president Lula da Silva who was once popular as Brazil experienced the commodities boom is now under investigation related to the corruption at Petrobras.  ...

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Governor Jerry Brown of California retires to an isolated family ranch in Colusa County, an hours drive northwest of Sacramento, the state capital. He is the longest tenured and oldest governor of the state, having held the office when he was younger and then coming back years later to be governor again after becoming Mayor of Oakland. His father was also a famous governor of the state. 

His values of embracing community almost to the point of being tribal were evident in his long years in office. His three years spent at a Jesuit seminary before going to law school also shaped his life. Brown was opposed to embellishment, living in a sort of ascetic way, and was also opposed to a cult of personality. Upto the point that he refused to sign autographs as governor.

Here Miriam Pawell who written a book on the Brown family and how it changed California for the better, looks at the life, times and character of Jerry Brown.

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Bernd Riegert in the DW.com expresses the view that the sooner that the "obstinate" Britons invoke Article 50 and start negotiations the better, so that a lot of uncertainty for the European Union can be removed. After the High Court ruling that parliament has to approve Brexit, it says that it is strange that a hairdresser and an investment manager should be the ones taking it to the High Court, but that nothing is strange in the Brexit saga anymore. The political turbulence as Ms.May mulls over calling another election is not in the European Union's interest, Riegert says, as this causes more uncertainty for the European Union that it does not need at this time.

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Supply chains are unraveling in many industries with the tariffs imposed by president Trump on imports from China, and renegotiated trade deals with South Korea and other countries. The growth in the value of foreign value added was possible with cuts in tariffs in the period after 1990 and the emergence of China as a low cost manufacturer with cheap labor. Foreign value added increased from 20% in 1990 to 30% in 2011. The impact on factory towns and communities in the U.S. of trade in which the U.S. manufacturing declined as it shifted to China resulted in the surge in support for president Trump. The tariffs war with China is an effort to correct this imbalance. The result is a shift in supply chains away from China in some industries and gradual shift in others. Rising wages in China had already resulted in early shifts and the the environmental costs adding to this trend. President Trump temporarily suspended a threatened imposition of duties of 25% on $325 billion of Chinese imports. A renegotiated Nafta agreement with Mexico for automobile production and determination of U.S. based content and wages was designed to reset the relationship with Mexico and the auto supply chain for production in Mexico. A threat of tariffs on European auto imports to the U.S. is set for a decision in November. The trade dispute between Japan and South Korea and threat of tariffs also shows the effect this is having in other countries. With the U.S. looking at its own interest in the global supply chain and its advantage or disadvantage, industries and companies are not free to make decisions based on which country offers the best arrangement and deal for manufacturing. Notions of competitive advantage in the tech race with China are affecting the way the U.S. and European nations are acting. ...

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The Hindu editorial on Nicola Sturgeon's resignation says she had taken controversial positions on using the next UK elections as a referendum for independence when the UK's Supreme Court ruled Westminster's agreement was needed for any referendum. The transgender issue comes at a time when the UK is suffering from a severe cost of living crisis, with the UK government of the Conservatives not doing as much as Germany and other EU countries to help people with the cost of living. Clearly Ms. Sturgeon failed to focus on the important issues for Scotland and the UK.

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IBM's acqusiition of Lombardi Software founded by Phil Gilbert is intended to bring a design-thinking focus as part of the culture change at IBM. The move is an effort to develop speed at IBM as it shifts to faster growing new businesses such as data analytics and cloud computing. As the ways companies that buy IBM products change their manner of operating with decisions on using IBM products made in many departments and away from IT departments, IBM sees the need to change. Speed also offers a way to tackle the shift to new product technologies, which involves a transition period and falling total revenues.

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Christina Passariello's exceptional report from Richard Toll in Senegal on Danone's 10 cent Dolima drinkable yogurt, which is a popular snack for Senegalese. This is part of an effort to reach customers in emerging markets such as Indonesia, Mexico and other countries who live on food budgets of 1-2 dollars a day. Sales of Dolima are growing by 10% each month. The first emerging market yogurt product was a 10 cent plastic 70 gram bottle introduced in Indonesia, which took off quickly with 10 million bottles sold in the first 3 months at the end of 2004. It is popular with low income Indonesians and especially with children. In 2006 Danone introduced a 7 cent yogurt product called Shakti Doi "gives strength" in Bangladesh, with sales initially planned for rural villages but later placed in urban stores. In 2008 the concept was taken to Sengal. To do this Danone's CEO, Franck Riboud, sent a senior product manager Isabelle Sultan who had worked on the Bangladesh project to Senegal. She came up with several new ideas to improve an existing product by improving the flavor and making it creamier, using the Senegalese flag colors of red, yellow and green on the package to help illiterate customers recognize the packaging, and priced it at the 50 CFA coin or 10 cents, a common coin used in Senegal. The name "dolima" means "give me more" in the local Wolof language. In 2009 42% of Danone's sales were from emerging markets, increasing from 6% 10 years earlier. Danone now reaches 700 million people and is aiming at reaching one billion customers by 2013. Other products include water at 15 cents in Mexico- where the alternative for many rural Mexicans is soft drinks that increase obesity. P&G is promoting hygiene for women in Mexico with its low price shampoos and feminine hygiene products and helping improve the quality of life for ordinary Mexicans. ...

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Candidates for Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, India's central bank, as current Governor Venugoppal Reddy's term expires September 5, 2008. The focus is clearly on inflation as new elections are expected next year.

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USAID Administrator Samantha Powers talk at the IIT- Delhi is covered in detail in the Indian Express. Powers says India's aid to Sri Lanka with $3.5 billion in credit lines during the pandemic is an example of the kind of help the US and India have made to assist poor countries. She sees ever broader and deeper cooperation between the US and India to help African, Asian and Latin American nations build a better future.

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As the U.S. economy continues to recover Europe is seeing the impact of the second wave of the pandemic on the economy. Economists say the U.S. economy grew at an annualized rate of 28% in the third quarter of 2020 after a drop of 31% in the second quarter. WIth a surge of cases to over 1 million in Spain and curfews in France and Italy, the economy in the European Union is slowing again.

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Do social value in the way you run the business. That is the intelligent way. On green washing it says just don't do it. With so much that businesspersons are faced with- lack of upward mobility and wages, mental health, climate change needs, supply chain and domestic manufacturing, the need for an honest sincere response on these issues. These points are made at a WSJ event as reported by Ashwell and Siew.

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Greg Sargent cites an exceptional Washington Post report based on 50 interviews with Trump connected officials showing that Trump failed to accept findings of the intelligence community on meddling by Russia. Sargent says the result of Trump's action is that no meetings at the cabinet level have discussed this issue. This has led to protests about how the Mueller investigation is proceeding, even though as Sargent points out the intelligence community has different views.

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Ukraine defends itself with American anti missile systems with Ukrainian Air Force saying it disabled 201 of 236 missiles and drones that also hit the energy infrastructure in the country that is already damaged from earlier strikes. The $61 billion aid package from the US that was passed in a bipartisan effort with Biden and McConnell in the Senate provided antimissile defense at a crucial time for Ukraine. Some of which enable it to defend itself.

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Adjusted for the 35,000 workers on strike at Verizon counted as unemployed, the 38,000 jobs figure in the government report is still considered quite low. Especially striking even as unemployment drops for May from 5.0% to 4.7% is that the drop is attributed to people dropping out of the work force. The average monthly gain for the March through May is 116,000 jobs well short of the 240,000 jobs added on average in 2014-2015. Average hourly earnings were up 0.2% in May and up 2.5% for the year. A widely accepted measure of unemployment that includes workers too discouraged to look for work or working part time because of a lack of full time job was at 9.7%. The labor force participation rate was at 62.6%.

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Why Paulson's efforts at economic dialogue with China are not convincing Congress and not much is coming out of the talks in the way of tangible progress. See separate articles on the stock bubble developing in China and how it is aggravated by the rising trade surplus, on rising inequality in China.