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States in America's Deep South have a much lower rate of people having taken one shot of vaccination, in the 30-40% range by May 2021. This report says states such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and others in the South are at risk of seeing a new wave of the coronavirus  because people will spend more time in airconditioned spaces in the summer. In contrast to the north with cold winters and indoor heated spaces people in the southern states can spend more time outdoors because of the warmer weather in winter. This may have protected southerners during the winter and spring months. This may reverse with more time spent in airconditioned indoor spaces in close proximity where the coronavirus infections can increase. This report comes as new reports show the Indian coronavirus variant becoming more prevalent in the UK and other countries. This variant spreads about 50% more rapidly than an earlier UK variant, say experts. Another analysis in The Times of London shows that the imperceptible rise phase of the new coronavirus variants is the most dangerous part of the coronavirus as it dulls the sense of danger in the population that makes it take notice and prepare countermeasures early enough. India is an example of how this can happen as the sudden rise actually started with a first imperceptible increase in March and early April 2021 that changed into a rapid escalation of the virus in the population by May 2021. The vaccinations give a strong sense of confidence, however the vaccination rates vary widely state by state in the US. ...

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Each year the amount of forestedd land that is cleared- mainly for cattle needing pasture land- releases the equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions of 600 million cars. Since 1961 methane gas emissions from cattle has increased significantly. This is one of the findings in a report published by 100 climate change experts for a UN body. Loss of peatlands in places like Indonesia is also a problem.  A half a billion people already live in desert. And land is being lost a hundred times faster than it is forming due to changes in weather patterns.  People migrate when weather fails as has happened for central American farmers migrating to the U.S. creating social and political problems in North America. A major issue in climate change is agriculture.  Increasing the productivity of land, reducing food wasted, persuading more people to eat healthy vegetables and less meat, reducing land lost to desertification, erosion and seas, are all actions that can be taken now say these 100 experts from 52 countries meeting in Geneva. The IPCC or Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change does these reports to give people some idea of what actions to take to reduce the impact of warming that threatens livelihoods of millions especially in Africa and India, as well as other parts of Asia and Latin America. Developed countries are likely to feel the impact from migration which is dividing their societies politically and socially. As one expert from Aberdeen puts it people don't just stay where they are when drought conditions hit their areas, they migrate. ...

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A mid-July 2011 CBS poll on where Tea party supporters stand on raising the debt ceiling and on a balanced deficit reduction approach combining tax increases and spending cuts. This poll shows 66% of Tea Party supporters saying Republicans in Congress should compromise on their positions to reach an agreement to raise the debt ceiling. Only 31% said they should stick to their positions even if this meant not reaching an agreement. On a balanced approach 53% said it should be the path taken including tax increases and spending cuts for a solution to deficits, and 45% said only spending cuts was the right way. This shows a more flexible Tea Party than is presented in the media reports and strident statements of politicians.

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A study by the Pew Hispanic Center shows 46% of Hispanics 18-24 years with a high school diploma were enrolled in college in 2011, increasing from 37% in 2008. The number of Hispanics enrolled increased from 1.3 million in 2008 to 2.1 million in 2011. The high school graduation rate for Hispanics 18-24 years increased to 76%, having gone up to 70% in 2000 from 60% in the 1990's. The high school completion rate is 85% nationally and 81% for blacks. More Hispanics are likely to go to community colleges than 4 year colleges. College enrollment for whites by comparison is 51%, Asians 67%, and blacks 45%, of all Americans 18-24 years of age with high school diploma.

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A new study by the City University of New York of the largest retailers in New York city shows retail workers earn $9.50 an hour. Ony 40% of workers were full time, and over 50% were part-time, and the others being temporary workers. Lower work hours worsen the impact of low pay per hour, according to professor Stephanie Luce of the Murphy Institute of the City University of New York, the main author of the study. Only 3 of 10 workers receive health insurance with their jobs. The study is based on interviews of 436 nonunion employees at department stores, electronic stores, clothing stores, bookstores, and other retail stores, and includes stores ranging from Fifth Avenue to the Bronx.

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The importance of microsavings in addition to microloans in poor parts of developing countries. In West Africa some businesses charge 40% to take deposits. In poor villages often money that sits around is spent on unnecessary things or gets wasted, especially when the savings can improve the lives of people there. Kristof talks about one family in rural Nicaragua that would spend alarge part of its savings $1.75 on three litre bottle of Coke. With Catholic Relief Services offering a padlocked woodbox in which villagers could put in one dollar or 50 cents, a culture of saving is developing. Now the Machado family buys Cke only once a week and the rest of the time puts the savings of$10 a month in the CRS box.

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Long term changes in voting patterns, with voters shifting allegiance to third parties in larger numbers led to the need for a coailtion government. The Liberals with 23% of the votes won 57 seats. In this election 35% of the vote went to third parties, the highest proportion since 1918, and these patterns are seen as likely to remain. Far smaller number of seats now are close Tory and Labor contested elections, and the Conservatives win their constituencies with large majorities, as a result some of the Tory votes does not register in the way of seats. With a seven point lead over Labor Margaret Thatcher won an overall majority of 44, now Cameron struggled all the way and fell short.

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The US share of Japanese exporting companies went down from 20% to 16% in the 2007-2010 period, while the exports from Japan to China, India, and Brazil have gone up by 25% in the same period. Korean companies like Hyundai and Samsung plunged early into the Indian market. LG and Samsung have a significant share in the electronics and consumer appliance markets in India. By comparison Sony's share is about 5% according to Euromonitor research. Now Japanese compaies are putting a new focus on India. In food products Nissin is expanding aggressively by doubling its noodle making capacity, and making its Ramen brand available in smaller packages costing 10 cents each. The idea is to customize the effort to the unique nature of the Indian market.

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The effect on Asia of the US Fed's action on November 3, 2010, to buy $600 billion of US Treasury securities. This will create even more inflows of capital into emerging markets. Hong Kong with its currency pegged to the dollar, effectively imports low interest rates from the US, at a time when property prices have risen 50% since early 2009. And with the growth in China, Hong Kong's economy is growing rapidly. This risks a price bubble. The response in Hong Kong is to tighten lending restrictions on property purchases. South Korea is considering imposing controls on the inflow of capital. The Thai baht is up 11% against the US dollar in 2010, the Korean won 6%, and the Philippine peso 8%.

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Ford's European operations- which make the Fiesta and Focus models at plants in Belgium, Spain, and Germany- are suffering from the slowdown in automobile sales in Europe. Ford's European sales for vehicles sold declined by 7.3% in the first quarter of 2012. Analysts estimate a loss of $199 million in the first quarter, after a $190 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2011. This is expected to reduce global profits by 50% to $1.34 billion. Fiat Renault has responded to the economic anxiety of buyers at a time of high unemployment by appealing to cost conscious buyers with its lower cost Logan models. Ford's models appeal to middle clas buyers, which are harder to sell in countries like Spain where unemployment exceeds 20%.

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In an effort to not cede the market in tablets and smartphones completely to Apple and Google, and e-books to Amazon, Microsoft is now in an alliance with Barnes & Noble's Nook digital business, and Nokia in smartphones. The deal with Barnes & Noble's Nook, includes an agreement to bring out a Nook application that will bring access to digital books, magazines and newspapers to Windows devices. Microsoft will get a share of revenues from sales of this content. For Barnes & Noble this is an alliance with a well funded company, at a time when the digital business is losing money because of the huge investments needed to compete. Markets recognized this by pricing Barnes & Noble shares over 50% higher after the announcement, up to $20.75.

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Echoing ECB president Draghi's comments in 2013, Haruhiko Kuroda of the Bank of Japan says "we will do whatever it takes to achieve our price target." The central bank has set a target of 2% inflation to be achieved in 2 years. With deflationary tendencies and low growth estimates of 0.5% for fiscal 2014, Kuroda was taking the strong action to see that the gains made so far are not eroded. The Bank of Japan will target asset purchases of 80 trillion a year or $734 billion, increasing this from the 60 trillion to 70 trillion yen range set earlier. The Government Pension Investment Fund backed this move by saying it would increase the stock component in its portfolio from 24% to about 50%.

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Negotiations between Japan and China before the APEC summit in Beijing, Nov. 2014, lead to an agreement that does not explicitly state Japan's sovereignty over the Senkaku islands, but acknowledges the current position in which the islands have remained in Japanese control since 1880. It lets both sides agree to disagree so that trade and diplomatic ties can be improved. China's economy has taken a hit from a 50% decline in Japanese foreign investment in 2014, just as the economy is slowing for other reasons. Both leaders can show the international community they have moderated their positions. Prime minister Abe also can show his foreign and domestic policies are working as his high poll ratings have declined in recent months.

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Legal experts say Lufthansa faces significant liability claims from the 150 persons killed in the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, beyond the $150,000 per crash victim established by international airline rules. The claims could be much higher in countries such as the U.S. and lower in Germany. Lufthansa's insurer Allianz would pay out the claims, with Lufthansa incurring higher future premium costs. Lufthansa said it was initially paying out 50,000 euros per person to relatives of victims. Airline insurance premiums were about $1.65 billion for the industry in 2014, according to Ascend Worldwide, with premiums down by over 50% since the Sept. 11, 2011, terrorist attacks, and were not affected by the loss of two Malaysia Airline aircraft in accidents recently.

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Street protests in Brazilian cities with economic growth slowing to about 1% in 2012 and inflation at about 6%. Street protests in Brazil reflect public disconten over corruption, overspending on the World Cup and Olympics, and lack of good education, health and other public services. Increase in bus fare and police response against small protests using tear gas set off the large scale protests of tens of thousands in Brazilian cities. President Rousseff's sees her popularity ratings drop 8% percentage points from the March level to 57% in June 2013, according to polling firm Datafolha. Ths includes high popularity in poor northern states. Rousseff's popularity in more industrialized southern states declined by 13%, and by 16% among college educated youth.

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Cinda's bank borrowing has increased from 7.8 billion yuan in 2010 to 161 billion yuan in Oct 2013, with three fourths of this having a maturity of less than 2 years. In contrast to China's three largest banks which have 25-30% of loans in real estate, Cinda's assets are about 50% in real estate, increasing from 25% in 2010. This has increased the risks from Cinda in China's banking system. Cinda was originally setup to buy nonperforming loans from China's banks in 1999, but was never closed. It now operates along commercial lines with support from China's Ministry of Finance. The balance sheet has jumped 88% to 283 billion yuan or $46.6 billion in the 30 months ending in June 2013.

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In a Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted June 2-5, Republican presidential candidate Romney receives more support than President Obama. Among all Americans Romney and Obama receive 47% each, among registered voters Romney leads 49% to 46%. Independent voters gave Romney 50% to 43% for Obama. The poll shows Obama is being viewed with increasing skepticism because of the economy. By 2 to 1, Americans say the U.S. economy is on the wrong track, and 9 in 10 see the economy as doing poorly. The poll also show a significant shift to Republicans being seen favorably for running the economy, 45% now see Republicans as being better able to tackle the economy, a 11 point increase from a March poll.

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The U.S. Defense Department awards Boeing a $30 billion contract for aerial refueling tankers. The first phase of this deal requires building 18 aircraft by 2017. EADS, the European supplier that lost out on its bid, had planned to build the planes in Mobile, Alabama, EADS had support of some southern states. Boeing sent a design based on its 767 commercial aircraft. This gives new life to Boeing's 767 program which was launched in 1982 and is seeing declining orders- down to 50 orders. Boeing says this supports 50,000 manufacturing jobs at Boeing plants in Washington and Kansas, and at suppliers around the country. EADS said it would have brought jobs to the Gulf region and keep 48,000 Americans employed.

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How does this compare with Lever Brothers trying to access the small budget customers across Asia and the developing world? And how might this compare with the efforts by Tata Motors and other European and Asian car manufacturers to sell cars to the small budget customers in Asia and elsewhere? Note the different ways Citigroup is expanding its presence to get closer to the buying public with small outlets that are not regulated like branches are. Note the partnership with Singapore's subway system for outlets at 51 stations. And note how is using cell phone users prepaid credit cards to initate funds transfer in Malaysia for overseas workers. Citigroup has combined this with acquisitions to get a retail banking presence in Korea, China and other places.

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The expected glut in office space in London. About 8 million square feet of new office space is being built in the financial district known as the City and a large part of it is coming in in 2008. The level of construction is 60% higher than the City's 10 year average. About 80% of this office space is speculative , that no tenants exist yet for the space, normally only 50% is speculative. And this is happening when new lease signings in the City fell by 49% in the 4th quarter compared to the third quarter. Big banks like Citigroup are cutting down on office space and Macquarie Group and Australian bank is postponing plans to lease office space for a London headquarters.

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A large number of utility companies ( most of the big companies like Duke, AEP, Consolidated Edison, DTE, Edison, PG&E and so on) in the USA are working with General Motors to come up with the whole system for putting electric cars on the road and to work out all the issues relating to electricity recharging of the batteries in the cars. Even though coal is used to generate this electricity it reduces overall emissions as the electric plants burn coal with lower emisssions than the internal combustion engine burns gasoline. Charging the cars at night might be attractive as the utilities might find that this is more efficient for them as they may be able to increase production at power plants with extra capacity.

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According to pollster Rasmussen Reports some 51% of voters say they trust Democrats more on the economy vs. 38% for the Republicans as the global financial crisis deepens. What this means is the possibilty that Democrats could have a filibuster and veto proof majority in the Senate and large majority in the House of representatives. Spending will be restrained because of the money going into bailig out the economy but some measures could very well move forward like changes in bankruptcy law, lower drug pricing and what medicare pays for drugs, taxes on windfall profits and taxing private equity partners at higher rates than the capital gains rates they pay now, and action on a range of energy issues including solar and wind.