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Ms. Powell Jobs, the wife of Steve Jobs of Apple has a long relationship with Kamala Harris since the days she ran for Attorney General of California. She has followed Kamal Harris's career in politics over 2 decades. It is a friendship of shared interests in arts and culture, in political philosophy, and shared feelings in being women in the spotlight, says this report by Theodore Schleifer in the NYT. It is less about money, though it sounds odd to say this, than in a shared sense of purpose and as women caught up in events at this time in history.

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Apple makes most of its products in China. This exposes Apple to high risk with the Chinese tariff set at 46% on April 2, 2025. If it passes on the tariff to customers it faces a loss in sales, if it does not pass onto customers the higher tariff price and cuts margins it will affect Apple profits. Apple's high margin strategy by making in China is now at risk. Apple had been given a warning to shift from over concentrating manufacturing in China. It did not heed the warning since 2016 and only made small shifts of manufacturing to India and Vietnam.

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Competing oligopolies or Competition? American capitalism in reality is a mix of both. Government's role in American economy shifting from higher in the Great Depression to low in Globalization and now back to supporting business to compete with China/India/Germany's Subsidized Capitalism. This WSJ piece that take a circle around the bases for a home run is in reality not a true reflection of America's management of it's economy over the last 200 years since 1825. There is a high degree of individualism, yes because it is a land that is forever expanding on sparsely populated Indian territory in the west starting under Jefferson and Washington at the Ohio/Pennsylvania frontier. By 1900 there is the emergence of the great corporations and monopolies, oligopolies with TR's busting of monopolies by 1920, and much of that structure is still there in 2025, with some obsolescence for changing technology. Oligopolies in information technologies simply absorb the small companies, and government is itself run by powerful lobbying as in the pharma industry to the sheer and alarming detriment of all Americans. ...

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US president Biden's historic speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and written- "We believe that all men are created equal..." Since 1776 these lines have inspired people for 200 years and Biden says they will continue to do this for the next 200 years, as America stands as a beacon for the people of the world aspiring for a better life. Click on Original Article to see the You Tube video of this speech, and see below Lincoln's speech at Independence Hall in 1861.These are also the aspirations for millions of people in Asia, Africa and Latin America and in the US and Europe as the door opens this much wider for people all over the world because of America. Through the War of Independence and the events of the Civil war, and other events in America's life as a nation and a beacon for the world, Independence Hall has been a special place. President Lincoln also stopped by here in 1861 on his way to the White House as the Civil War began. Here is what president Lincoln said at Independence Hall on Feb . 22, 1861. "Mr Cuyler- I am filled with deep emotion at finding myself standing here in the place where were collected together the wisdom, the patriotism, the devotion to principle, from which sprang the institutions under which we live. You have kindly suggested to me that in my hands is the task of restoring peace to our distracted country. I can say in return sir, that all the political sentiments I entertain have been drawn, from the sentiments which originated and were given to the world from this hall in which we stand. I have never had a feeling politically, that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence. (Great cheering). I have often pondered over the dangers which were incurred by the men who assembled here and adopted the Declaration of Independence- I have pondered over the toils of the officers and soldiers of the army, who achieved independence. (Applause). I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea that kept this confederacy so long together. It was not the mere separation of the colonies from the mother land; but something in that Declaration giving liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but hope to the world for all future time. (Great applause). It was that which gave promise that in due time the weights should be lifted from the shoulders of all men, and that all should have an equal chance. (Cheers.) This is the sentiment embodied in that Declaration of Independence." "Now, my friends can this country be saved on that basis? If it can, I will consider myself one of the happiest persons in the world if I can help to save it. If it can't be saved on that principle, it will be truly awful. But, if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle- I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than to surrender it. (Applause). ...

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Poland's collapsing birth rate at 1.0 compared 1.62 in France another Catholic country, and Spain's 1.1, Germany's 1.3- 2.1 is the replacement rate per woman. This has profound consequences for Poland. The future workforce will be 20% smaller compared to 4% smaller in France in 2 decades. Many schools will close in rural areas which are hit hard. There are more deaths than births in many small towns. At this rate 1.7 million homes will become vacant in 2 decades.This report looks at Warsaw as well as rural areas near Belarus where the war has created much anxiety. The population of Poland will shrink from 36 million to 31 million over three decades if these trends continue. By 2000 the birhtrate dropped from 2.1 to 1.3 and the government introduced payments of 190 euros per child per month and expanded the childcare system. But this has not helped as the rate dropped to 1.03 in 2025. Under the Communist system industries were located in small towns and men stayed there while women moved to cities leading to a mismathch for men and women. The economic boom that doubled per capita income led to less interest in having children. The economy was supported by long hours of work which led to less interest in bearing children for women. Other reasons are a lack of interest in sharing and making the effort, the cost of raising children in a hyper competitive society like South Korea where births are at 0.7. ...

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C. Raja Mohan says in The Indian Express that India needs to look at the big picture of modernization in a new world for world trade in which the US is reindustrializing, Europe is reindustrializing, and India is on the road to modernization by 2040 over the next 15 years. All three processes are happening at the same time. 

The old order of world trade destroyed the industrial base of the US and Europe, it also neglected India's modernization, happening with the unwitting cooperation and connivance of the business interests of the US and Europe. It will do little for India. India must also change it's industrial structure and modernization effort to fit into this new world and bring it's strengths to build a new world in which the US, EU and India modernize their economies, manufacturing base, and infrastructure in a win-win for all sides.

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Russian view at SCO Summit-"A fair balance in the security sphere" meaning a fair settlement on the expansion of NATO and EU that may threaten Russia, something Northern Europeans have not settled.  Le Monde covers this side of the Summit at Tianjin, a coastal city near Beijing in northeastern China. Over long periods of European history since 1600 Northern Europe including UK, Sweden, Denmark, France, Poland and Germany have contended with Russia and seen purely from this perspective Russia sees itself as a Northern European power and seeks to protect it's interests. Britain, Sweden and France have for the most part been on the opposite side since 1600. US under a Republican administration, and this is not just DJT, sees the larger interests beyond Europe of Asia and the American continent in addition to Europe, and seeks a diplomatic way out of the war in Europe.

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This WSJ editorial board article points out that legal enforcement under new formal rules agreed to by China is essential to replace former Chinese promises on trade.

U.S. companies need to be able to report abuses particularly in relation to handing over technology and have rule based action taken immediately as a response, says the WSJ. Better still the U.S. needs to coordinate its action with the European Union and Japan.

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Christina Romer, economic advisor to President Obama, offers a different view about monetary policy in 2011, suggesting that monetary easing after QE II should continue. She also argues for higher stimulus. She cites the improved economy in the period 1933-1937 as an example of the advantages of monetary easing, of 1937-1940 as a period where a focus on deficits resulted in a fall back of the U.S. economy. This is a view presented also by Paul Krugman. Meltzer's and Fed Governor Hoenig's view is that excessive monetary easing in 2003 created bubbles and that QE II has not reduced unemployment. Meltzer warned in 2009 that excessive monetary easing needed to be gradually withdrawn rather than risk an excesssive contraction later on.

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A former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt says the Interior Department needs to take up authority it has for contract approval on use of water by individual entities in the states of California and Arizona. The department can look at how efficiently water is being use to give approval. He suggests this approach as the states of California and Arizona are nowhere near agreement on use of water from the Colorado river. Babbitt says there is risk of deadpool where the water in Lake Mead drops to levels that make water to stop running from the lake downstream to Arizona and California.

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Collapsing sales for all automakers with GM results 45% decline in October 2008 over October 2007, and Toyota saw decline of 23%, Honda 28%, Ford 30%. One GM marketing executive said its like the lights were turned off in October. Dire consequences for the US and global economy. Toyota once seemingly immune to all this is affected not just here but back in Toyota City in Japan as the area around Nagoya is going into shrinking mode, and the Japanese economy will likely contract by 1% in 2009.

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Northcroft in The Times says this about Gareth Southgage that Southgage devoted his life to the national team and has an envious record with two finals, one semifinal and one quarterfinal in world soccer. It is the best record of an England coach in 66 years. Southgate says that this Euro 2024 was the best coaching he has ever done. In the game with the Netherlands taking out Foden and Kane in the last minutes of the game and bringing in Palmer and Watkins led to Watkins taking England to the Finals against Spain. In the last minutes of the game repeated headers and counter headers almost took the game against Spain to extra time. English fans are notoriously fickle and Gareth Southgate deserves to feel great about what he has accomplished winning the respect of the Spanish team which clearly were desperate to keep the ball out of their goal to the end, winning the applause of hundreds of millions fans all over the world for games well played, and the thanks of England for doing the hard work at the FA level youth clubs at under 16 and under 19 to give English soccer a new generation of players. This really is what soccer is about, not the glitz and glamour of television and record level contracts of players and team owners, or unruly fans and their criticism, that are eclipsing the best aspects of the game that brings so much to people all over the world. Because no other game reaches so many people in every part of the world. ...

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Pew Research Center analysis of Biden's 2020 victory shows which groups played the big part in Biden's win. First time voters in 2018, 6% of total voters, mostly younger voters gave Biden a 26% margin over Trump. Other parts of the electorate that shifted in 2020 are Independents and Moderates who shifted to Biden. Catholics also shifted to Biden. Substantial leads in these voting blocs made the difference for Biden. In Arizona with Latinos, and Pennsylvania with the black population Biden did better than in the overall US electorate. In 2024 these same blocs are likely to play a key part. President Biden's visit to Ireland was well planned, his appeal to Irish roots genuinely felt and the connection made. His appeal to manufacturing workers is now based on accomplished results in fighting for worker's rights from teachers to railroad workers. Biden launched his campaign in front of a union audience, saying he saw things from the perspective of Scranton, and the working people he grew up with. In 2016 third party candidates got 6% of the vote, in 2020 only 2%. Of these voters Biden gained a 25% margin over Trump. Biden split the men's vote with Trump in 2020, compared to Trump's 11 point lead in 2016. Biden also maintained the share of women's votes of 54%  in the 2020 election. In 2024 the abortion issue is a significant factor for women. ...

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The huge failure to tackle insulation of British homes in several schemes launched for energy security by first Cameron and then Johnson, are shown here in The Guardian. Many businesses in the insulation industry closed in 2013 with the neglect from the Cameron government. In a recent energy security plan the administration of Boris Johnson failed to show a plan for insulation of British homes. As a result of this neglect over a decade the British homes are among the leakiest in Europe when it comes to insulation. Labor party has announced a plan to insulate 2 million homes in the first year alone in response, and to do this over 10 years at the cost of 60 billion pounds. Italy has a plan where it pays 110% for the cost of insulation, replacing boilers, installing heat pumps, installing solar panels, for Italian homes. It has cost 17.5 billion pounds so far. One or two year programmes are insufficient and likely to fail. The flipflopping of Mr. Cameron on green energy the worst kind of solution. This is because something like a ten year programme is needed to get serious results in energy efficiency for homes in Britain. To retrofit new building 30,000 skilled workers are needed, to install efficient new heating systems 60,000 new technicians. There is a stagnating level of technical skills of this kind in the UK as a result of neglect and lack of a well executed strategy. ...

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China has a mountain of local debt that is seriously affecting the Chinese economy, time for can kicking is over. WSJ looks at this in 6 charts. Lanzhou and Guilin are 2 provinces where the fiscal capacity is already exceeded by interest on debt. Huzhou, Kunming and Chengdu are three provinces where interest on local debt takes up about 60% of fiscal capacity. The problems are complicated by dropping land sales, and LGFV bonds issuance at higher interest rates when the return of power projects is as low as 1.5%, and low on other projects. Yet there is hope because these provinces are inland provinces in north and west except for mega city of Tianjin. Land sales have dropped and replaced by LGFV or local government financing vehicles bond issuance at higher interest rates than bank loans. Conversion of LGFV to lower interest is being done, with provincial bank debt creating other problems.

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US is shutting down 10% of airport traffic because of government shutdown in November 2025. Democrats are holding up the passing of the new budget till Obama's Affordable Care Act healthcare subsidies for low income Americans are restored. Republicans who control both houses of Congress are unwilling to restore these subsidies saying it will cost $350 billion over 10 years. Editorials in the Washington Post in November see Obama's Affordable Care Act as a bandaid approach for a broken healthcare system in the US. Public opinion in the US supports this assessment. Trade unions and labor have called for an end to the government shutdown. Democrats are acting as though the party is for low income Americans and labor yet this is not the party of FDR who fought hard for labor over vested interests, Democrats today are the vested interests whether from Tech which is taking a disproportionate share of the Nation's wealth and resources and pouring it into projects that do not reduce the cost of living or rebuild crumbling obsolete infrastructure, or from Banks which were not sanctioned for their part in the 2009 financial crisis, or from healthcare interests that oppose restructuring the entire healthcare system for fairness in insurance, pharmaceutical pricing and wellness. Republicans are making an effort to displace Democrats in the role of FDR and Lincoln under newcomer DJT who rejects both the incompetent Bush (Republican) and Obama (Democrat) administrations that wasted money and resources in foreign wars while overlooking America's many challenges and strengthening foreign powers including China, while weakening the US. The US government is cutting airport traffic to relieve unpaid traffic controllers. Also at risk are SNAP benefits which are for the loew income Americans. The US president is asking the Senate to drop the filibuster rule which requires 60 votes in the Senate for the biudget to pass it and pass it by majority vote. The Senate Majority Leader Republican Thune wants to keep the filibuster because it acts as a brake for hasty legislation passed by whichever party is in government. ...

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The Interior Minister of Lower Saxony, Boris Pistorius, takes over from Christine Lambrecht as the new Defense Minister of Germany. His first priority will be to resolve the issue of German tanks for Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz is under pressure to approve the sending of German tanks after the British decision to do so. Lambrecht was one of three female defense ministers in Germany, after Von der Leyen and Karrenbrauer in the Merkel years. She came under much criticism for not making the decisions for reinforcing German armed forces in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

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Experts see strong growth in jobs in 2022. Employers added 431,000 jobs in March. This is the 11th straight month of job gains of over 400,000, the longest period of such growth since 1939. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6%, approaching the low unemployment rate of 3.5% in February 2020, just before the pandemic.

Low unemployment rate is boosting wages but not as much to keep up with inflation. The easing pandemic is also encouraging people to seek jobs. Many retirees are also coming back, and so are women. With 300,000 women joining the workforce in March 2022.

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The winner in 2011 Japan had fallen behind since in women's soccer. The women's team win over Norway 3-1 puts Japan into the quarterfinals for the World Cup in 2023. Star teams from the US, Brazil and Germany did not make it to the quarterfinals. Sweden edged out the US in a penalty shootout. South Korea draw 1-1 with Germany put Germany out. Brazil lost to Japan. A new set of countries is emerging in women's soccer showing that preparation by other teams has made a serious difference.

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With occupancy declining to below 76% on many of the downtown San Francisco buildings the value of this is decliining fast. The Embarcadero Center that once defined the downtown area is now on sale for $90 million, according to the WSJ report, down from $245 million that was paid for it in 2018. Owners of these office buildings in San Francisco are liable for payments on $12 billion in bonds, according to S&P Global. Half of the stores in the Union shopping district have closed and Amtrak ridership is down 61% over 2019.

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The supplies of natural gas are making a huge improvement in 2023 over 2022 when the war with Ukraine led to the European Union scrambling to replace Russian supplies with LNG imports. The higher temperatures this past winter in the US and Europe have left ample supplies in storage with the unused natural gas adding to supply. The result prices are now half of what they were last summer bringing relief to people for higher energy prices. Summer prices for natural gas are expected to be about $2.84 per million BTU's.

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The opposition in China and South Korea to Japan's release of slightly radioactive water into the sea stems from a distrust of Japanese data that supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency says the discharge does not affect public health. By next March 2% of the accumulated water will be released. In all 1.2 million tons are planned to be released over 30 years starting August 24, 2023. That water contains small quantities of radioactive tritium which Japan says is less than what Chinese nuclear plants release into the sea. TEPCO which manages the Fukushima plant decommissioning says it will post the data on release and level of radioactive material on its website with comparison to the levels seen as not affecting health that WHO has set.

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Ireland is paying close to 6% for the cash it is getting while European authorites are paying 3% to issue bonds in January 2011. With the rate at 3.5% over German bond yields, J.P. Morgan estimates that Ireland would have to generate a primary surplus, excluding interest costs, of 2.3% in 2015. This is what it would take to stabilize debt against GDP. Borrowing at one percent lower Ireland would need a primary deficit of 0.2%. Ireland is in its third year of fiscal austerity, and this unjustly penalizes Ireland. An interest rate reduction would be contingent on Ireland achieving fiscal targets and monitoring by the European authorites.

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Bill Keller of the NYT points out that getting Syria right means getting over the obsession over what went wrong in Iraq and looking objectively at the situation in Syria. He points to the failure of president Obama in grasping what the Assad regime has done to Syria, the refugees in Jordan, the use of artillery and air raids on civilian population, and inviting the support by fundmentalist Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia in the absence of U.S. and European support, making delay after delay by president Obama leading to a paralysis in response. Leaving the question for the future which was a worse U.S. response- the hasty action in Iraq or the paralysis in Syria?

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DW.com shows amazing pictures of European leaders in a really informal setting Starmer, Meloni  and Macron standing keenly listening around them as Merz and Zelensky are in conversation on a sofa bench, EU's Leyen on a sofa nearby, with many other European leaders, all trying to catch the conversation. One can see this by clicking on original article. It shows the closeness that has developed over the long and weary war years of the EU leaders who have stuck together for the first time speaking with one voice on the issues facing Europe with DJT and the US.

The challenge for Europe- to come up with peacekeeping force as a security guarantee to Ukraine so that it can reach a peace agreement with Russia, bringing a final end to this war and overcoming fears that it would erupt again in another way or form. The Swiss and Austria, Hungary offer to host peace talks.