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Putin's statement that Nordstream would resume supplying gas after maintenance in July but could have cutbacks with further maintenance, leaves Europe where it was before the statement. EU has no choice but to prepare vigorously for a complete cutoff of Russian gas supplies now when there is time than to be caught in serious trouble in the winter. The EU plans to require 15% reduction in gas consumption over 8 months and detailed plans have to be shown to the EU Commission by each member country. Some of this will be conservation in use including better insulation, turning down thermostats in winter, and some of it will be cutbacks of industrial use. This is considered to be enough to meet the needs in an event such a complete cutoff of supplies of gas from Russia. Russia has reduced supplies on Nordstream pipeline of natural gas to 30% of the average sent in the last 5 years.

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China's military drills around Taiwan have an unintended effect of creating a shift in American and European sentiment on the overconcentration of US and EU investment in China. Business in Germany and in the US has operated for a long time in the Merkel and Bush-Obama-Trump administrations a if this overconcentration which hurt workers and communities in both the EU and the US did not matter as long as the interests of the individual companies was met. Mr. Biden's policy takes an entirely different approach to protect American workers, rebuild American manufacturing, rebuild infrastructure, and to build America's leadership in the world. The military drills only increase the awareness in America of the risks and dangers of the positions taken by previous administrations. Shifting sentiment to back president Biden's strong steps to rebuild America and American leadership.

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Japan win 2-1 in a exciting women's soccer game with Brazil in Paris Olympics. In the last minutes of the game Japan sent a ball over the goalie's head for a goal from long distance. It was a stunning goal by Momoko Tanikawa in the 96th minute of the game, with Japan coming from behind to win. In the first 90 minutes of the game Japan had not scored, missing one penalty kick for a hand foul. Brazil had already scored in the 56th minute. It was only in added time in the 92nd minute that captain Saki Kumagai scored on a penalty kick to equalize.  It was then within 4 minutes that Momoko Tanikawa a 19 year old substitute made an incredible shot from 30 metres distance to take the goal keeper by surprise, going over his head and sailing gently into the goal.

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Shinzo Abe had a vision of a broader Asia. In Abe's own words- " A broader Asia that broke away from geographical boundaries is now beginning to take on a distinct form. Our two countries have the ability - and the responsibility - to ensure that it broadens yet further and to nurture and enrich these seas to become seas of clearest transparence." He added "By coming together in this way, this 'broader Asia' will evolve into an immense network that will span the entirety of the Pacific Ocean, incorporating the United States of America and Australia. Open and transparent, this network will allow people and goods, capital and knowledge to flow freely." It is this vision that is taking shape today in 2022. And India's unique role in Asia was grasped by Abe. Abe reminded Japanese and Indians of the unique contribution of Vivekananda, calling him a great spiritual leader India gave to the world, and stretching back to many others way back in time to Bodhidharma, and then way back from that to one whose name all know.  During one of these visits to India Abe said- "Vivekananda came to be acquainted with Tenshin Okakura, a man ahead of his time in early modern Japan and a Renaissance man, Okakura was then guided by Vivekananda and also enjoyed a friendship with Sister Nivedita, Vivekananda's loyal disciple and a distinguished female social reformer. Many people are aware of all that." Praising India's spirit of tolerance Abe said- "From the reign of Ashoka the Great to Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha movement of non violent resistance the Japanese people are well aware of the unbroken spirit of tolerance in Indian spiritual history." Vedanta and Buddhism went from India through Bodhidharma to China and then from China to Japan with Dogen and other spiritual leaders from Japan bringing it from China then called the Pure Land in the 13th century. Vedanta and Buddhism now finds it way centuries later from India to Japan- from where it moves onwards to China and East Asia. ...

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The British public is very conservative when it comes to reopening. 73% support prioritizing the health of citizens only 17% say prioritize the economy. This is the highest of industrialized nations, Japan being the next highest with 60% supporting prioritizing health only 16% in Japan saying the economy.  For Boris Johnson as he makes the speech on Sunday May 10 on reopening the political margin for error in decision is nonexistent. Britain's tabloid press and other media simply took the idea that to heck with it lets reopen reflecting a lack of caution in the headlines after Mr. Johnson expressed his intention to reopen. After seeing this Johnson and his closest advisers met without his hawkish ministers to reflect on what was happening in the country. The British government's scientific advisers say whether there are 100,000 deaths by the end of the year depends on many factors including testing, contact tracing, the way the lockdown is eased, the situation at nursing homes, and other government action  to prevent a resurgence in infections. At the meeting with Gove, Sunak Raab and Hancock, Mr Johnson stepped back and reversed any plans except for mild reopening- giving people more time outside for exercize, opening limited locations such as garden centres and advising strongly to wear masks on public transport. Both Johnson and Dominic Cummings his adviser had coronavirus, and Johnson spent some time in ICU. They know the impact of the coronavirus from their own personal experience.  For Johnson there is only one chance, Tory senior advisers say the public will forgive mistakes going into coronavirus, but will never forgive mistakes getting out of cotronavirus. He told Keir Starmer of Labour in parliament that he bitterly regrets what has happened in nursing homes. The scientists have warned him that the staff at nursing homes could seed communities once again. And that the coronavurus R ratio (1 being the level it starts growing again) could go up back to 1. This is the situation on May 10 as Johnson prepares to speak to the nation on Sunday at 7 pm, as he shifts to "maximum caution." ...

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Mark Landler of the NYT looks at presidents TR, FDR, Reagan, Carter, and other presidents, and compares their moral leadership with the situation under president Trump after the Charlottesville car attack. Landler says of president Trump that his reluctance to pass moral judgement is a genuine part of president Trump's beliefs. This is also why Trump has not seen the actions of some world leaders in moral terms, including Putin in Syria. Yet as is seen from the time of Jefferson and Lincoln, U.S. presidents have adopted a moral tone. This has not changed since then. The presidency is seen as a place that puts forward the best ideals of the country. Even though leaders have not always lived up to these ideals-  Landler cites the internment of Japanese in World War II by FDR, the failure of Obama to set up humanitarian safe zones for refugees in Syria, Nixon's and Clinton's personal moral failures. Yet the idea always has remained that this was part of the president's moral role and duty- to set the tone for the whole country, not to reject the idea of moral judgement itself as immaterial and not relevant, as president Trump has done. It may be a time for the country as a whole to reflect and move back to where it was, recovering what it has lost by grasping the significance of this moral idea. To do this by building literacy, tolerance, and fairness into all its actions, making this a part of the foundation of national character.        ...

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What would making a new vaccine for the Omicron South African variant look like? How long will it take and how does it happen? Adam Whipple, Science Editor of The Times, looks at the process in the 100 days it would take Pfizer to do this in this excellent article that anticipates and answers readers questions. New mutations are shown to be taking place in the virus, it is shown here that UK and world capabilities have also increased to tackle the problem in the last 18 months.

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Rising fuel prices are altering buying patterns across airlines, autos, food and other businesses says this report in WSJ. With prices at over $5 a gallon the impact is being felt across the US and other economies. Export of oil from the US for arbitrage opportunities and lack of growth in the shale industry with price volatility, is resulting in shortages of supplies and higher prices. About one fifth of the 8.3% inflation increase in April 2022 in US was from oil price increases. Similar patterns are seen in Europe and other countries. Inflation is expected to last through 2023.

Pent up demand for travel after the pandemic lockdowns means travel by car and by airline is increasing at a time of higher inflation and oil prices. Motorists in the US are making more frequent trips to gas stations as they fill up for a specific dollar amount.

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The Biden plan for families includes paid maternity leave of 4 weeks. It was shortened from 12 weeks in the original $3.6 trillion Biden Families and Workers Plan. This paid leave also applies to caretakers of ill family members such as elderly parents. The lack of such paid leave for mothers or ill parents care meant the US lacked one of the basic necessities of a decent state. Adam Smith in his Wealth of Nations paid much attention to how capital, land and labour could be combined to invest in improved quality of life, and how to build a decent society. Smith wrote this book around the time of the Industrial Revolution in England in the late eighteenth century. Capitalism taken outside this context of benefiting society in the country that started the Industrial Revolution, leads to problems that now exist in the US, China and parts of Europe.

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In this month's Mann Ki Baat, Indian PM Modi's radio show, the young Indians participating in the 65th Math Olympiad are invited to take part in the Radio Show. India wins 4 gold one silver medals and is in the top 5 countries in the Math Olympiad. The contestants talk about their experience, the support of parents, the creativity that enables thinking outside the box, some problems take hours to solve even days at a time. Contestants are from Pune, Delhi, UP, and other parts of the country. "Love what you, and do what you love," says one contestant, who describes math as not a difficult subject when one understands why one does what they do. For example carry forward in addition, why do you carry forward, math is a problem solving skill, and when does it in this way then the fear of math will go away.

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A look at the Centennial celebrations in 1876, the 150th anniversary and the 200th anniversary in 1976, and now the 250th anniversary preparations in 2026 for American Independence.

No mention is made of the man who made all this possible- George Washington, with his humility, his leadership of the Continental Army in the difficult days ahead as the Nation fought its way through a long struggle with Britain. Britain used it's Navy at the time the most powerful in the world, it's economic power of the British Empire, and it's arms manufacturing power to defeat the Continental Army of the new nation. It was not until the decisive battle of Yorktown in 1781 in which George Washington surrounded the base of British troops stationed there that the war was won. For seven years George Washington persevered through many obstacles to win the war for future generations of Americans.

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Rep. Paul Ryan got his start in politics in 1983 when he was hired to work for a think tank Empower America. This think tank was formed by Weber, Kirkpatrick, Bennett and Kemp, to preserve Reagan era ideas of focussing on economic growth generated by private investment. This was followed by working as an aide to Senator Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Jack Kemp till his election to Congress in 1996. Kemp was the big idea guy and it was Paul Ryan who delved into the budget details at the time to support Kemp's ideas. Kemp was Republican vice presidential candidate, the same position that Ryan is in today. Ryan represented the area around Janesville, Wisconsin, in the U.S. Congress. He graduated from the University of Miami, Ohio.

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Michael Shear says president Biden is listening to his head about the US Border with Mexico- that he would close the US Border if the bipartisan bill is passed in the US Congress, the same day that he signs it to become law. The new bill agreed to in negotiations between Senator Graham and other Republican Senators and the White House ends current parole and asylum policy  that have led to chaos at the border. Shear who has covered presidents for 30 years shows that president Biden held the view that he was elected to provide a human face to the crisis at the border from international migration and close private prisons and poor treatment of children. He listened to both sides of his party during 2021 and 2022 after becoming increasingly aware that something was wrong and by Jan 2023 was convinced that tough action was needed at the border to deport Haitians and other people from central America smuggled northward with 13 flights a day to Haiti to deport illegal migrants.  He made his first major immigration speech at that time. The problem was that there was a major upheaval in Venezuela adding to the tide of illegal migrants as Venezuela sent millions to all countries in Latin America and north to the US, an international crisis playing out in Colombia and other neighbors for the last 10 years. When Lopez Obrador of Mexico closed his own migrant deportations Biden sent Blinken to Mexico with Homeland Security minister Mayorkas, and after discussions Obrador resumed the deportations. Trains going north in Mexico had conductors who were bribed to slow down to take on migrants. This was stopped and all trains going north were stopped at Eagle Pass in December 2023. Republican governors Abbott of Texas and DeSantis of Florida have sent busloads or flights of these migrants to New York and other cities in the US showing that the entire system of migrant handling was breaking down even as president Biden was convinced by his own advisers including Jake Sullivan that the border required tough action. The president increased planned legal migration to lower illegal migration from Nicaragua and rest of Latin America. By January 2024 Biden was convinced the only solution was closing the US Border immediately after the bipartisan solution. Lindsay Graham senior Republican Senator agreed with Biden with one problem- the Republicans in US House of Representatives did not think it right to work with president Biden to settle the problem.  ...

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Since 2000 the area under millet cultivation in India is steadily declining, reversing only since 2015. In 2006 millet was taken regularly by 39% of the population in India. By 2021 it had declined to 9 days a month. The area under cultivation for nutri-cereals declined from 41 million hectares in the 1980's to 24 million hectares in 2018 The reason being low yields, processing hand pounding millets time consuming laborious task of women, very little marketed.

Over the last 10 years production of sorghum (jowar), has declined, of pearl millet (bajra) stagnant, finger millet (ragi) also declining. Productivity of jowar and bajra has increased only marginally.

With these problems India if it is to realize the mission for millets in India's food supplies and nutrition, and export to the world, has to use mechanized hulling, better seeds, and improved agricultural practices, access to markets.

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British prime minister Boris Johnson announces tough new measures that make it illegal to socialize in gatherings of more than six. This is an effort to fight a second wave of coronavirus in Britain. The government now believes that normal life will not return till spring and that "moonshot" mass testing will be needed to contain the virus. The new "rule of six" goes into effect in Britain on September 14, and anyone "breaking the rule risks being dispersed, fined and possibly arrested." Covid marshals will patrol city centres to split up large groups.

Schools workplaces and restaurants will be able to hold more than six people in total but they will have to be groups kept separate. The prime minister said it was needed to stop Britain from the exponential growth happening in France. He said "a stitch in time saves nine."

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Russian president Putin visit to China covered by NHK's Analysis. This is the first visit after being reelected for Putin. China's president visited European Union countries and Serbia, Hungary recently. China seeks to keep its relations with the EU and stabilize its economic relations with the US because of its weak economy. China benefits with supply of oil at better prices in its trade with Russia that has reached $240 billion, at a time it's economy faces a large debt burden and a collapsing real estate industry. It needs markets in the EU for surging exports of electric vehicles. Russia is also probably reassessing the situation in Ukraine to position itself for an eventual settlement, as China clearly has no interest in the war in Ukraine and seeks to limit any negative fallout from the conflict in its trade and economic relations with EU and US.

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This video report in WSJ says it is clear to see that rental is a better option for young people than buying at this time when home prices have gone up, and with it the monthly mortgage payment, in a way that is completely out of proportion to renting cost increase. The monthly mortgage payment increased between the second quarter of 2022 and the same quarter in 2021 by about 44%. Higher mortgage payments are a result of steeply higher home prices and higher mortgage rates. Buyers of homes also have higher property taxes in this situation. The median monthly rent payment went up by 10% in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. There is a $600 difference between the median monthly payment for rent and the median monthly mortgage payment that can be invested by young people, says this report in WSJ, considering that home prices have peaked and are gradually coming down.

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About half of private equity investors have money tied up in zombie funds in 2024 according to JP Morgan Chase. US state and local governments manage about $5 trillion in pension money. Large public pension funds have 14% of their money in private equity. And large corporate pension funds have 13% in private equity. California's worker pension fund will have put more money into its private equity part of its investments than it gets out 8 years in a row. CALPERS and California Teachers Pension funds are funds which have take out loans of 5% to 10% of fund holdings to deal with problems of private equity investment. Pension funds are selling private equity funds takin a hit. At a time when retirees such as teachers and public sector employees are facing cost of living and high healthcare costs they can ill afford such losses showing how widespread capital misallocation is today. 

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Victoria Pendleton, British Olympic medalist in cycling, describes what it was like to be a girl cyclist in the last 2 decades in a male dominated macho culture that had little room for girls cyclists with a broader mind and interests. A lot changed since then and Pendleton had to put up with a lot of the bad in British male cycling culture that got questioned in the last 10 years. Pendleton had moments of deep depression as a result but recovered with help from her family. Here she recounts the events of these years. She feels finally liberated even in simple acts such as eating vegetarian and trying other sports, so stifling was male cycling culture of that time. She felt liberated talking to the coach and girls cyclists practicing for the Paris Olympics and expressed amazement and relief that a lot is different now from the bad days of old.

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BBC News looks at the situation in Bordeaux, France, after the Front Populaire wins the election. The NFP has a seasoned candidate in this parliamentary seat who can greet people by name. The RN candidate is 18 years old and is new to campaigning, showing that the RN of Le Pen had to field candidates with very little time for preparation in a snap election. People in Bordeaux and NFP supporters say 2025 and 2026 are years in which the Front Populaire has to deliver on cost of living actions to improve the lives of people struggling to make a living. For this to happen Macron has to give the NFP the chance to govern in the interests of the people of France and not obstruct actions needed to tackle cost of living. The Socialist parties have the experience to govern and obstruction would only further reduce the popularity of the Les Republicains and Macron's party.

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This report in The Times gives an extraordinary look at the man who is prime minister Boris Johnson's key adviser, as chief executive, to get Brexit done or take Britain into a general election. Dominic Cummings, 47 years, was the key strategist for Leave in the first Brexit referendum. He is somewhat of an individual who breaks all conventions and relishes the prospect of doing so. The Times says he has thrown bombs at the establishment including Blair and Cameron for 20 years. He has contempt for the Cabinet Office, Downing Street, the Treasury, and in his view the officials have a misplaced confidence and are not competent. Mr. Cummings is played by Cumberbatch in British Television Channel 4's Brexit: The Uncivil War, which is how Britons know him. In his view one needs to dismantle the existing physical infrastructure of government as a reform priority, says The Times. He has his own reasons having had his confrontations with British ministry officials who repeatedly and often incorrectly cited EU regulations as obstruction for much of what Dominic Cummings wanted to do as Adviser to Michael Gove in the Education ministry. His early beginnings at University mentored by a professor who was a serious opponent of Britain joining the European Union also influenced Cummings.  ...

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How the election of 1861 happened with intense debate on the issues of the day. Issues ranged from corruption, Southern Democrats dominating the government, and slavery. A amazing picture of the Capitol building from March 4,1861 and Lincoln's inauguration shows what it looked like at the time. Lincoln won about 40% of the vote and had to build his legitimacy which we now take as given when we see the Lincoln Memorial and the words- "In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Throughout it all Lincoln retained his poise and calm demeanor and his faith in the Bible.

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This WSJ report shows the Kimmich goal that won the game for Bayern Munich against Dortmund. Three weeks of practice have improved the goal scoring for many Bundesliga teams. Goals scored as a percentage of opportunities has gone up from 15% to 19% for Bayern, and from 19% to 26% for Dortmund. Dortmund's coach says they made the best of it during three weeks of practice starting in April when within social distancing guidelines the Bundesliga began practice. Lots of technical work, work in front of goal, and stuff they never get to practice. Pandemic practices created so much more time for shooting. The goal that Kimmich made was one that he had done in practice.