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French president Macron takes a walk in the Tuileries garden and meets protesters some who are critical and some who thank him for coming out. Macron has admitted he was a bit isolated during the early part of his term and has not listened enough. He says it was not his project to do things to benefit people at the top, that he has learned and is listening to make the right changes. He say he will continue pursuing pension reforms that are needed.

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Very low interest rates are enabling buyers in the U.S. to renew buying cars and homes. Higher income workers were hit less then the hardest hit low wage service sector workers in industries such as travel, restaurants. The better economy now depends on the surge in coronavirus and expansion of unemployment benefits that expire in July. Retail sales of new autos were just below pre-virus forecasts in week ending July 5, says J.D. Power. Interest rates are as low as 0.9%. New home sales including higher end buyer homes are doing well as many workers with higher incomes are able to work remotely from home providing more job security and confidence in buying.

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The differing biological changes happening in the bodies of men and women as they age, the differences in longevity, how they age and their attitudes to aging are shown here by Clare Ansberry of the WSJ. This is relevant in the context of healthy living and also as both tackle the pandemic. There is a 5 year difference in longevity with men aging faster than women. Some groups of men have a tendency to eat less healthy and smoke than women in general which may account for some of the difference in longevity particularly in the U.S.

Men experience greater inflammation in the blood with aging, and lose anti-body producing B cells in the blood after the age of 65. Significant female advantages are seen in memory after age of 70. A look at protein level changes in blood showed more changes in men than women after age 65. Overall women's biology is seen by scientists as more stable than men's.

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Large banks in the U.S. set aside $28 billion by taking hits to second quarter profits to cover loan losses during the pandemic. The banks had granted temporary pauses on payments for mortgages, auto loans and commercial loans to help the recovery. Including other loans for commercial divisions the large banks JP Morgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo have set aside about $83 billion for loan losses.

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A surge in coronavirus in California since June 22, and the second lockdown in the state ordered by governor Newsom. Bars and restaurants that opened have added to the coronavirus cases. More private gatherings have also added to the surge.

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See these amazing pictures in WSJ in RGB displays of what humming birds see and humans see in nature, in trees and gardens. Humans have only three sensors for colors while humming birds have a fourth sensor to see ultraviolet light. These sensors give it the ability to look for food. Its wings are in a blur often beating 80 times per second with amazing ability to swerve and hover and move quickly. Yet humming birds may have no sense of smell. 

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France joins Britain in requiring masks in indoor space. The number of new cases in France are now dropped down to a few hundred each day compared to several thousand before. This month in July the reproduction rate passed 1 suggesting need for caution as social distancing rules, avoiding French custom of kiss in greeting, and mask wearing are now being less strictly observed. Anyone not wearing a mask after August 1 would be fined $125 or 100 euros.

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The Trump administration approves an upgrade package of $620 million for Taiwan's Patriot surface-to-air missiles. Lockheed Martin is providing some of the defense equipment.

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Virgin Atlantic, the airline of Richard Branson, gets a lifeline in the form of a package of financial help of $1.5 billion to prevent bankruptcy. Virgin Group will retain 51% control and Delta Airlines 49%. The UK has opted not to undertake a airline bailout strategy. Branson has continued to make speculative investments including one with Bain Capital for $2 billion on three cruise ships for Virgin Voyages, a order for cruise ships made before the pandemic. The Virgin Group makes $150 million a year in revenue.

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No- show and absences are affecting the two shifts in the auto industry in Kentucky and Missouri for Ford and GM plants. Workers on third shift are taking the place of missing workers on earlier shifts.

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Japan's effort to improve defenses in the South China sea and around the Senkaku Islands.

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The UK decision makes purchases of Huawei equipment for UK 5G networks illegal from the end of 2020 and gives carriers till the end of 2027 to strip out existing Huawei gear from 5G networks. The move Mr. Dowden, British minister in charge of digital issues, says will cost $2.5 billion and delay the development of 5G by 2 to 3 years. He said the whole sector suffers from a "global market failure" and is "dangerously reliant on too few vendors." The UK and Australia, U.S. decision will accelerate the development of more vendors in international alliance to come up with alternatives. Other European governments face pressure from legislators in Germany, Italy, and France  to reconsider decisions on 5G. In the UK some members of parliament are critical of the long time given to phase out Huawei gear in 5G networks. 

 

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An editorial in the WSJ says the decision by the U.S. State Department to reject any claims on the South China Sea are now in accordance with international law and the geopolitical facts. The U.S. State Department stated on July 13 that "Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful." The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague stated this in 2016. The State Department document says "The world will not allow Beijing to treat the South China Sea as its maritime Empire." The vital waterway is also claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and it remains an open waterway for navigation by all nations. The U.S. sent 2 aircraft carriers to the South China Sea in July to maintain freedom of navigation.

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France looks back at the wave of independence in countries of Africa in the 1960's.

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With over 35,000 deaths the deaths in Mexico from pandemic exceed that in Italy. Mexico now has about 300,000 cases. Brazil. Mexico and Colombia are hit hard.

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The bulk of this or 7.5 billion euros goes to increase monthly pay by 183 euros for nurses and healthcare workers in France, long overdue.