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This Canadian opinion in the WSJ by Philip Cross of Statistics Canada, says Canada's opportunity to diversify its exports to places other than the US, especially for auto exports is essentially nil, and for oil exports because of a lack of pipelines will lead to losses of tens of billions of dollars.  He then goes on to say that Canada should wait for American buyers to suffer as car prices increase by $12,000. No such increase is likely. As pointed out by the UAW's Fain Shawn and others capacity utilization at US auto plants is low with only 60 to 65% capacity utlilization. Ford with 60% capacity utilization, has 568,000 cars in inventory 8% higher than 2024, and make 80% of its cars entirely in the US. Ford is actually cutting prices of its cars as of April 2025 under it's "From America For America Program." Ford and GM could replace German and other cars as Americans shift to buying American. Hyundai and Kia are already shifting production to the US. South Korean and Japanese leaders will support the US as it is the right thing to do. This Canadian opinion does not acknowledge that the US is simply creating a level playing field, a point USTR Jamieson and DJT repeatedly make, and the Japanese, South Koreans, and even the Chinese understand. These countries were given the benefit they received for three decades through the absolute generous attitude of the American people.   ...

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India's chief of Defense Staff Chauhan talks to Admiral Paparo, Chief of US Indo-Pacific Command in Singapore Dialogue meeting in 2025.  He says China in northern borders no unusual activity had taken place. He also says after the loss of an aircraft, India was able to use different models of planes to tackle air bases in the opposite side in the Punjab region. At no time was there any thinking about nuclear options in this brief air war. “I think there’s a lot of space before that nuclear threshold is crossed, a lot of signalling before that, I think nothing like that happened. There’s a lot of space for conventional operations which has been created, and this will be the new norm.” “It’s my personal view that the most rational people are people in uniform when conflict takes place. During this operation, I found both sides displaying a lot of rationality in their thoughts as well as actions. So why should we assume that in the nuclear domain there will be irrationality on someone else’s part?” On China's involvement -“While this was unfolding from (April) 22nd onwards, we didn’t find any unusual activity in the operational or tactical depth of our northern borders, and things were generally all right.” ...

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British efforts to support Ukraine reach a peace settlement.

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Already lead US negotiator and ambassador to Ukraine Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg has created a miscomprehension on the US and European side as to who will participate in negotiations. Lack of experience in tough negotiations to end a conflict is showing as it must be evident that Ukraine and the European Council, the EU, would expect to be part of any negotiations that settle questions about the security of Europe and what kind of Europe emerges from the negotiations. The European problem comes from the European lack of resolve to set aside or settle internal divisive issues such as migration, privatization, globalization winners and losers, rural vs urban, that have created economic and political divisions in Europe to concentrate with unity on issues that have common interest. Bad policy as in the US from business and government to overconcentrate manufacturing in China, in Germany to overconcentrate energy supplies from one provider, are sources of the conflict and have taken years to fix alongside the pandemic. European leaders scramble to define their position after statements by US Defense minister Hegseth and US's Ukraine ambassador Kellogg that suggested direct talks US with Russia would leave out the EU and Ukraine. Hegseth stepped back from some comments. Marco Rubio, US Foreign Minister, says Ukraine will be at the negotiating table in talks the US holds with Russia. Macron meets with Scholz, EU's Tusk, and NATO's Rutte this week.  Ambassador Kellogg and lead negotiator had said to European leaders about their being at the negotiating table-  “I think that’s not going to happen.” The EU Council head Costa after meetings with European leaders says Europe's position is-“In a nutshell: There will be no credible and successful negotiations, no lasting peace, without Ukraine and without the European Union.” Further he said-  “It must guarantee that Russia will no longer be a threat to Ukraine, to Europe, to its neighbors,” he said. ...

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The bottom line is that China is so advanced in the deindustrialization of the US with US companies cooperating that the only way to get American companies to change course is by creating precisely this kind of situation where China responds with its about 100% tariff to the US 100% tariff. That sends a clear message to American companies and changes the culture of America's deindustrialization American companies are wedded to. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said DJT raising the tariffs from 34% on April 2 , 2025, Liberation Day by 50% to reach 104%  as a well thought out US tariffs policy was Trump’s “strategy all along.”  Bessent  said: “This was his strategy all along, and that you might even say that he goaded China into a bad position, they responded.” China responded to the 34% DJT tariff by going with it's own 34%. When this retaliatory move suggested China was not willing to consider US arguments that it only wanted a level playing field from China with it's complex system of non-tariff barriers against US imports, DJT added another 50% tariff saying that if China did not withdraw its retaliatory tariff on April 8, US would go with another 50% tariff on April 9. This is what Scott Bessent means by US having put China in a position where it would have to put its own 50% tariff on US products to get to US tariffs at 104% vs. China's at 84%.  The bottom line is that China is so advanced in the deindustrialization of the US with US companies cooperating that the only way to get American companies to change course is by creating precisely this kind of situation where China responds with its about 100% tariff to the US 100% tariff. That sends a clear message to American companies and changes the culture of Aamerica's deindustrialization American companies are wedded to. ...

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WSJ report shows that on the morning of the 90 Day Pause in Tariffs announcement discussions took place with the Swiss prime minister, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and watching Fox News interview of JP Morgan Chase's Jamie Dimon. Seeing the turmoil in financial markets and bond markets, US president DJT made the decision to give time to make the agreements with about 50 countries, and time for financial markets to understand the president's  policy and goals to reformulate the world trading system into one that offers a level playing field. The chart showing the Tariffs of 67% by China and US 34% imposed tariff in the Rose Garden on April 2, 2025, was say reports the result of the influence on the president of the advice of Peter Navarro.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's expertise is in financial markets as a protege of Soros, Navarro's is world trade. Bessent stepped in when financial markets appeared to reflect the uncertainty and convinced the president that the 90 day pause would be the best way to implement the policy on trade. There is a vigorous debate in the administration about how to get a level playing field for trade, and get the job done without disruptions in financial markets or a recession induced by uncertainty. On April 10 as part of the effort to talk to the American people US president DJT opened up his Cabinet meeting to the media and had Bessent, Borghum, RFK Jr and Marco Rubio talk about their plans and policies. Proper implementation, gaining confidence of the people of America and financial markets, is now as important as the goals and policies in the next 90 days. Getting the trade deals with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Britain and India would go a long way to reassure financial markets and set the right tone for the future.   ...

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The English translation of the PM's speech at the Ayodya Temple is shown here from the Press Information Bureau of India. It covers the ancient paths and ancient traditions that were given to the lands south of the Himalayas on which the basis of a Just Society that serves the needs of all the peoples of the region can be laid down. Through the concept of Ram Rajya which in the Treta Yuga formed the social concept of a good and Just Society akin to what Abraham Lincoln laid down for America in the words "for the people, of the people, by the people." A reminder of what the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe are striving for after the pandemic. The task of modernity was done through modernization and Empire by Japan and failed yet now revived without Empire, through Communist leadership against the Empire of Japan in China which is in its current formation with an embrace of modernity and science. And now in India and Indonesia, all of South East Asia of over 2 billion people marking out a path to modernity and embrace of science and technology with the united efforts of the whole people with everyone's efforts, of Sabka Prayas- into the future for new generations venturing out, to today's children setting out on this journey. ...

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The US government plans to protect American technologies by restricting investment in China in specific sectors in which the US competes with China. The Biden administration put forward rules that prevent American investment in these sectors including advanced chips. In reports to the US Congress the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department stated that the agencies are considering a new regulatory system to address US investment in advanced technologies overseas that pose national security risks. The reports to Congress show the US will prohibit certain types of investments in other countries and will collect information on other sectors for future steps. Rep Rosa de Lauro of Connecticut has required the US government to prepare a report on the topic of investments in China as part of spending package approval. A group of Republicans and Democrats support this effort to regulate investments in China so that US technologies are protected.

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The US oil embargo in 2022 is not a big decision for president Biden. The US only imports 3% of its oil and 1% of its coal from combatant nations in Europe's east. 70% of the oil from that region cannot find buyers because of sanctions risk says the WSJ. This WSJ view from the Editorial Board says Biden's policy of not boosting US fossil fuels production is contrary to what makes sense in the current situation of high oil prices. Seen from the point of view of US commitments at COP26 Glasgow and global warming effects on the planet, president Biden's commitment to boost renewable energy and use this as an opportunity to make the US less dependent on fossil fuels presents an alternate perspective. One that is needed looking beyond the situation that is faced in 2022.

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Ethiopia has about 1.1 million internally displaced people, with only Syria and DRC Congo having more displaced people from conflict. The country of 110 million people has about 80 ethnic groups spread out over 9 provinces with regional nationalism. Drought, corruption, and regional nationalism are major problems.  The Tigray region is showing some unrest as reported in The Times. This comes after peace with Eritrea was made by president Abiy Ahmed for which he was given the Nobel Peace Prize. Many of the changes made by Mr. Ahmed after becoming prime minister in 2019 are being done in solo fashion say critics without being institutionalized or consultative, say critics. As a result the situation in Ethiopia where the EPRDF coalition has ruled since 1991 is still precarious. Under Ahmed EPRDF is making efforts at reform and elections for next year.  

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Prime minister Johnson of Britain blames his coronavirus on being overweight. He can now be seen playing tennis at Winfield House, the residence of the American Ambassador. He can also be seen in the Queen's Lambeth Gardens taking a run. Both have been offered to him for use after the prime minister ran into someone at St. James Park. Boris Johnson now says as  word of advice to many middle aged people "Don't be a fatty in your fifties." Take up exercize he says to a generation of men that have just become lazy when it comes to exercize. Other things to be stronger with the virus are healthy eating habits, lots of ancient grains, lentils, fruits and vegetables. Add  yoga, meditation, call it mindfulness if you like, it works, and it is never too late. 

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Take a nice break at any time of the day or at night with this wonderful view of the autumn leaves and tents at 2100 metres in the northern Alps of Japan, in Nagano Prefecture. It will do you a world of good during the long days of fatigue in the pandemic. Among campers are coworkers, and a man who wanted to sleep in a tent with his small daugher age 5. For each day, during 72 hours in the northern Alps of Japan, NHK Television online spent time with campers with their little lights for the colored tents under amazing starry skies. The spirit of the little girl age 5 cannot fail to make us fell young and spirited again. The autumn leaves and sky give a sense of life outdoors reviving spirits at this time of being stuck indoors for long periods during the coronavirus.

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Dr. Muller, Emeritus professor of physics at University of California, Berkeley, and Dr. Quay, founder of Atossa Therapeutics, point out why the presence of double CGG sequence  in the coronavirus genome is strong evidence of gene splicing done at the labs in research settings. The purpose of the research is to increase the lethal effect of existing virus and it goes under the harmless sounding term gain of function research when it is a risky and dangerous form of research. Other articles in the WSJ refer to the lifting of the ban on such research by NIH and HHS in 2018, in the face of fierce opposition from the scientific community at large, including the Cambridge community. Harvard's School of Public Health carried articles by epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch about the risks of "an accidental epidemic" which were ignored.

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The Hong Kong protests in 2019 are dividing families as shown in this report in the WSJ. It is about the young who have never known much about China and its recent history in the 20th century and the older parents who have seen China grow from the colonial period to what it is today. As other reports show the part of China called Shenzen that borders Hong Kong has very different perspective of the events there and see the events from the perspective of Beijing. Some of the protest leaders are only in their teenage years and lack the experience needed to help reach some sort of agreement with Chinese leaders. Day after day the two sides are growing further apart and see the protests in a different light. The leadership under Chief Executive Carrie Lam has also not provided some way to bridge the differences. 

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The damage done to India and China by the Opium Agency, and the British East India Company through the forced growing of poppies in northern India and the sale of opium in China. Two wars by Britain opened up China for sale of opium. Britain gained access to the port of Hong Kong as a base for this trade. BBC New gives a new perspective on the situation in Hong Kong and the questions about the rule of law in Hong Kong today by showing the story on the other side, that of China and the Shenzen region which suffered the consequences of British enroachment on China's sovereignty during the 19th century. Young people in Hong Kong today may be oblivious of the history of the region under colonial powers, and how far China has come from the situation of hopelessness of the 19th century.

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Australia's Traralgon coal plant will close in 2035 instead of 2048. Leadership changes at AGL energy company which owns the plant made this possible. It produced a large part of energy for the state of Victoria which includes Melbourne, and 3% of the country's emissions. This report in BBC shows the stubborn nature of coal emissions in Australia. Mr. Albanese the newly elected Labor party leader has promised to cut emissions- a 43% reduction of 2005 emissions by 2030. Australia is a big exporter of coal with $40 billion in coal exports to China, India and other countries, and cheap abundant coal supplies are part of the reason for its reliance on coal. Only in 2021 with the raging wild fires and floods in parts of Australia has awareness of the cost of its reliance on coal become evident to Australians.

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President Trump says the terms set in the deal Boris Johnson negotiated with the European Union preclude any deal with the U.S. He says after looking at the agreement that "we can't make a trade deal with the UK."  Trump made similar comments for prime minister Theresa May when he said that May's strategy for Brexit would "kill" any chance of a trade deal with the U.S. Mr. Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, has promised to negotiate a free trade agreement with the U.S. after delivering Brexit. A separate report in DW.com showed that countries with large potential in trade for Britain such as India are also less likely to sign a deal with Britain because the EU is a much larger trading partner with India. This could have an effect on Mr. Johnson's election campaign.

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Just 18% of the US population will decide who is the next president of the US. In 2020 even with a lead of 7 million votes Biden could have lost the election without 45,000 votes in Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona. Mrs. Clinton with 2.9 million vote lead lost the Electoral College without 80,000 votes in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The US Electoral College is unique among western countries and is based on a concept that the passions of the "general mass" of the population should be moderated by giving more power to smaller states. The US president is elected not by a direct vote but by a vote cast by state and its electoral college, and the total electoral college votes determines who won and who lost. The focus is on swingable states of which there were 10 in 2020. 

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Krugman in the NYT cites president Trump's reference in an interview with the Economist magazine to the expression "priming the pump." Trump in that interview in May 2017 said he had come with the expression and feels good about it. "Priming the pump" is an expression used by president Franklin Roosevelt during the Depression period. During the depression and in 2009 the economic crisis needed a stimulus response and priming the pump. The economy today with lower unemployment is not the time to increase deficits with tax cuts for the wealthy, says Krugman. Only infrastructure spending with a long term return justifies increasing the deficit. He is critical of Speaker Ryan for supporting deep cuts into Medicaid for poor people, and yet supporting the tax cuts weighted more towards helping higher income people.

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The European Union governments are finding it increasingly difficult to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and lifting of sanctions. European governments rejected Iran's 60 day ultimatum to help circumvent U.S. Trump administration sanctions. The U.S. sanctions have already led to Iran's oil export to drop from 2.5 million barrels a day to 1 million. Lost shipments have cost Iran $10 billion hurting its economy. Initially European nations France and Germany hoped to keep the 2015 Iran nuclear deal by working with Iran, but this has become increasingly difficult with the Trump administration increasing sanctions including limiting access to U.S. markets for nations that do not cooperate with U.S. policy. The U.S. pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and now it looks like the Europeans are faced with a difficult choice in continuing to work with Iran.

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Why the Straits of Hormuz are a critical path in the seas near Iran and Saudi Arabia through which much of the world's oil supplies flow. With the U.S. gaining oil sufficiency the straits of Hormuz oil supply lanes in the seas are critical to countries such as China, Japan and India which lack enough internal supplies of oil. Japan's prime minister mediated between the U.S. and Iran to keep the oil supplies lanes open and free of the conflicts and rivalry that have taken place in the region. After initially saying Iran was responsible for some tankers that caught fire, president Trump reversed himself saying that it was unintentional. The U.S. maintains oil sanctions on Iran but is careful not to worsen tensions further, and Iran suffering from the sanctions pursues a policy of trying to wait out the U.S. sanctions.

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The U.S. Federal Reserve, America's central bank, is staying away from riskier investments, junk bonds, leveraged loans, non government backed mortgage bonds, as it intervenes to support U.S. capital markets. On March 23 the Fed said it would launch facilities to buy not just Treasurys but also corporate bonds carrying investment grade ratings. Companies from Nike to Pfizer were able to issue $177 billion of invesrment grade bonds, according to Dealogic. As a result the corporate bond market is stabilizing. The Fed is not supposed to take credit risk, and just as the government intervention with aid to business has focused on keeping down unemployment, the Fed focus is on helping the parts of the market that are not leveraged, to help companies that were doing fine before the pandemic hit. As the president says repeatedly this pandemic was not their fault.

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Walden International was founded by Lip-Bu Tan- similar to Morris Chang a graduate of MIT Engineering- in 1987. Between 2017-2021 Walden made investments in China's advanced tech companies in 40% of the venture deals from the US. At a time when some of these investments were larger than that in the US. 

National security adviser Jake Sullivan following these investments said in a speech in July 2024 that the Biden administration is “looking at the impact of outbound U.S. investment flows that could circumvent the spirit of export controls or otherwise enhance the technological capacity of our competitors in ways that harm our national security.”

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Mike Atherton looks at the Australia India series and sees hope for England. He says Bumrah had too heavy a burden to carry as a fast bowler missing the second innings of the last Test. Starc and Cummins are getting older now. Lyons was there but not by much. No batsmen looked confident. Not Smith or Labuschagne. Only Australia's Head and India's Jaiswal were good and consistent. Kohli and Sharma disappointed the Indians. Indian fielding was not at it's best at critical moments. 

The public responded to the contest with 833,000 coming to the Test matches in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and at the MCG, SCG Final Test.

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DW.com shows Kashmiris voicing their concerns about their future. The Kashmir economy can get an immediate and significant boost from tourism which creates significant number of jobs and opportunities for young Kashmiris. Spain gets 85 million tourists and its economy is highly dependent on tourism. Kashmir also has the potential for boosting production of fruits and vegetables for export. 

It is this economic force that Kashmir can see building its future and would boost the living standards of the people in this region. By creating a strong economy Kashmir can boost investments in schools, universities and hospitals, healthcare, to improve the quality of life in the region.