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President Macron abolishes the elite school ENA, Ecole Nationale d'Administration, which with the Sciences Po university functions as the training ground for people serving in the government. Macron graduated from the school in 2004. Many French leaders graduated from the ENA. Macron wants to replace it with Public Service Institute that draws people from different backgrounds after complaints about elitism in France's public and private sectors. Charles De Gaulle established ENA in 1945 to train French leaders after the failures of the Vichy regime in World War II. 

The French people now see no need for an elite institution today, as most of the country's leading universities are quite capable of training the engineers, scientists, and administrative leaders needed to run French companies and the French government, and could do better in bringing diverse backgrounds and abilities.

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The Novavax vaccine to be manufactured in Britain faces a shortage of 2000 litre bags, bags in which the vaccine cells are grown. The first of 60 million doses ordered by the British government are already in production in Teeside, a factory in Britain.

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Debt distress in Africa and other developing countries following the coronavirus pandemic in 2020-2021. Kenya and Zimbabwe are seeking IMF assistance. Corruption, mismanagement of the economy, and the effects of the pandemic combine to affect African countries.

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Lighter moments from a life with Queen Elizabeth over 7 decades. This is shown in The Times, from a book by Sally Smith published by Penguin.

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Prince Philip's career in the Royal Navy is remembered here in The Times. His service off the cost of Greece, at Gibraltar, and off the coast of Sumatra, on British Navy ships is recalled. Here he is seen saving airmen in the seas in the war against Japan near Sumatra, and in attacks on Italian cruisers after Italy invaded Greece. During this period till 1947 Philip served in the Royal Navy. When asked about any "if only" he had in a BBC interview, Philip once said there were none, except one about his career in the Royal Navy. Here he was following his uncle Lord Mountbatten. During his service in the war he leaned some things in the Navy that became part of his personality, the way he was, his style so to speak.  This was about being matter of fact, just doing it, never complaining, getting on with it. Philip was on the HMS Whelp on September 2, 1945, when the Japanese surrendered. He saw British seamen then who had been prisoners for many years, returning from camps. He recalls seeing tears stream down their cheeks as they sat with him in the mess on the ship and recognized the familiar environment, they could'nt speak. Shaped by these experiences Prince Philip reflected the values of devotion to duty, humility, respect for women, and feeling humbled by life's experiences. The experience in the Navy shaped his view of life. When asked about how he coped with wartime dead and wounded he once said - "we did'nt have counsellors rushing around every time someone let off a gun. You just got on with it." Seen out of context his remarks during the last few decades seemed blunt, seen in the context of the Navy and his formative experience in the ships in these years it was just the way it was. Simply who he was, as he once replied. With it also came the kind of dedication to country, being the "rock" of support that he was for Queen Elizabeth over many decades, and his unique style, now cherished by his family, the country and the British Commonwealth.   ...

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After the lockdowns and indoor living there is nothing like the outdoors this year. Nothing like just walking out the door. Spend 2 hours outside, smell the flowers, the pine trees, feel the fresh air- its the best therapy one can find- hike, bike, simply stand and feel the breeze.

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Viewing people as "pass throughs for units of fiscal stimulus" that is no longer an option, no longer wise, no longer possible. Brian Deese, US president Biden's economic adviser, uses this sentence as he describes the approach of president Biden in putting together a $2 trillion plan to invest in infrastructure and in the people of America. He compares 2009 to 2021 and talks about the differences then and now after the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic exposed all the weak spots in the American fabric and society and in the way national life was organized. Today the pain is felt in socio economic groups throughout the country.    US president Biden wants to make a decisive impact with large investments in infrastructure, education, health and jobs. In American manufacturing competitiveness and in America's technological advancement. The investments made in 2009 were in simple recovery mode, this time the investments are intended to bring America back to its position in the world after 1945, the hope and the optimism for a better future. ...

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Pictures in NYT of the long life of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth.

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This graphic report in NYT shows how the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant spread in Europe and how dangerous it can be. It was first seen in Britain and is more contagious increasing the risk in the third and fourth wave of coronavirus in 2021.

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The first flight on Mars will happen in April 2021 with the Ingenuity helicopter flying about one storey high for 60 seconds. It is part of the Perseverance mission rover that has already landed on the planet Mars. This video in WSJ shows how the Ingenuity helicopter was developed by NASA using a contractor Aeroenvironment which specializes in unmanned flight vehicles. The development process took 7 years and testing was done at the JPL Labs. JPL Labs has a vacuum space that can be filled with CO2 similar to atmosphere on MARS. 

Engineers doing the work for the helicopter say flight on MARS is challenging because of the thinner air. This will be a first in planetary flight compared to Wright Brothers first 120 second flight.

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The best US cities for jobs is changing rapidly in 2021 after the spread of coronavirus. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston lost jobs. Jobs shifted to hubs in the interior of the country as remote work changed the workplace. Salt Lake City in Utah, Austin in Texas, and Denver became new hubs with environments that included mountains, healthier living, quieter lifestyle, lower costs and efforts to attract employers. Tourist spots suffered with Orlando in Florida moving to 47th place in terms of jobs. The US lost 9 million jobs in 2020 changing how the jobs market in cities looks. The WSJ looks at the changes in this report. Tech hubs such as Raleigh in North Carolina, and San Francisco suffered decline as remote work created new opportunities for cities in the interior of the country. By contrast Salt Lake City was growing twice as fast from 2000 to 2017, and has increased in popularity with surrounding areas of Provo and Ogden in Utah. It is now known as Silicon Slopes as it becomes a new tech hub city. The WSJ looks at Salt Lake City in some detail.  ...

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Riots in Northern Ireland in April 2021 with the combined effects of crime, Brexit and the coronavirus leading to social unrest.