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A look at countries in Europe shows different strategies for tackling coronavirus Delta variant as schools reopen in September 2021. Italy requires all teachers to carry a covid digital certificate that shows vaccination or PCR test results. France, Germany and Spain do not require vaccination for teachers to go to schools, and rely mostly on social distancing and mask requirements in schools. Britain not only does not require vaccination digital certificate, but also has not made masks and social distancing mandatory. Health experts say there are serious risks in this approach with mass return to schools and offices after August 2021, and the fall weather with more time indoors. This could lead to a surge in coronavirus as in the US where the reopening of schools and Delta variant has led to surge particularly in states such as Texas, Florida, California. In UK 65% of total population is now fully vaccinated, in Italy 62%. Teachers in Italy fully support the new rules. In Lombardy region with Milan as the capital, only 300 out of 300,000 workers returned to schools without the green pass, according to regional officials. Britain remains an outlier says this report in the WSJ, taking more risks than is proper at this time, and simply hoping for the best. Not the best strategy in this situation.   ...

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A copy of the letter Mr. Trump sent to Mr. Erdogan of Turkey telling him " don't be a tough guy... don't be a fool," to invade the Kurdish zone in Syria. He says history will judge him, that he should "not let the world down." 

Turkey sent forces into the Kurdish zone even after the letter from Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump said that it was a bad idea getting involved in the Middle East that trillions of dollars had been wasted. He made exceptions for keeping the Straits of Hormuz open and flow of oil from a commercial standpoint in providing assistance to Saudi Arabia and Aramco, something the U.S. has done since FDR administration.

It also says Mr. Trump has worked hard to help Turkey. And admonishes Erdogan saying "I don't want to be responsible for destroying the Turkish economy- and I will."

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The German parliament will try to set an example by turning down thermostats to 20 degrees centigrade from 22 centigrade and turning off hot water boilers that provide warm water to the wash basins. There are 736 MP's and 5000 parliamentary staff in government buildings in the government district of Berlin.The CDU wants all ministries to follow this example. Only 63% of reserve supply storage is filled in Germany for gas that heats the country in winter and a cutoff of Russian gas supplies could happen at any time.

Chancellor Scholz says an average family of four could have energy bills this winter go up significantly calling it "social dynamite." One estimate is for it to go up by 2000 euros per year for a family of four. Vonovia, Germany's largest residential landlord says it will turndown thermostats to maximum of 17 degrees centigrade in winter.

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Cheap abundant coal supplies support the Australian lifestyle and standard of living. Australia is a big exporter of coal. Here prime minister Morrison is shown with coal in his hand in parliament lauding its benefits to the Australian economy as a source of its wealth. Only now with floods, drought and fires is the real cost of coal becoming apparent to Australians. In elections in 2021 Mr. Albanese of Labour party replaced Mr. Morrison and promised changes. Mining interests and jobs influence key swing constituencies in elections leading to the impasse on climate change action. As one of the windiest and sunniest places in the planet Australia says the OECD is in a position to play a large role in renewable energy. This suggests that policy so far has been shortsighted. Worse it may have fueled the rise of temperature on the planet by providing cheap coal for China to grow at rates close to 12% for decades.

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A 'Use Up' day to tackle food that gets wasted after going bad in the fridge, adding to the compost and greenhouse methane gas emissions from burning waste. Picking one day a week to create a meal from food that is already in the kitchen or fridge, that reduces waste.

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U.S. president Trump says he would take unilateral action to blunt North Korean threat, if China does not offer to help. He also said on Twitter that China would gain in its trade negotiations with a better deal "if China solved the North Korean problem." This follows the visit by president Xi Jinping of China to the White House in April 2017.

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 A number of exercizes that strengthen the quad and the legs are shown here by tennis professionals who say this helps in playing tennis. These exercises which include a number of squats are a way to strengthen the legs and lower body including stability ball squat, medicine ball toss, and lateral band walk.

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The failure of the SEC under Gary Gensler to protect ordinary Americans who are mistakenly trusting their savings to cryptocurrency firms is seen as a major flaw in his running of the agency by former SEC officials and other SEC experts. The gaps in SEC enforcement and this weakness is the subject of this report in the WSJ. The cryptocurrency firms are not registered with the SEC and do not follow SEC rules hurting ordinary Americans putting money there. Mr. Gensler was made head of the SEC in 2021, and the SEC has been looking at crypto firms since 2017 but failed to come up with a regulatory model in 5 years.

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Caste discrimination laws passed in the California legislature with little opposition. Opponents lobbied the governor to veto the legislation as state law already prohibits discrimination in California. Bharat (India) perspective on caste is for integration of the country and looking back at the lessons of colonization by the British. Caste divided the country and made it easier to colonize for Europeans who extracted capital for the East India Company and later Britain and creating backwardness and poverty. Bharat (India) goal was to create opportunities for integration of tribal communities lower castes Dalits and tribal Santhals into education economic mainstream. A Santhal from Jharkhand/Orissa was made president of India by PM Modi.

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Russia says it's tactical nuclear exercises are a response to Europe's increased military support to Ukraine.

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Kingsley Coman walked through the doors of PSG's Academy when he was 8 years old, and walked out 10 years later unwanted scored the only goal of the Champions league final in Lisbon between Paris PSG club and Munich Bayern club. A kid from the banlieus, the suburbs of immigrants around Paris undoing the billion dollar club of Paris PSG. People in Paris were astounded and a bit angry. The coach of Bayern Munich Mr. Flick is also a student of Zidane the French coach of Real Madrid in his approach of emphasizing home grown talent and younger players who are promising rather than depend on big names like Neymar or Messi.

Alphonso Davies is a immigrant from Ghana, and other younger young players such as Kimmich were the key additions to the talent of Muller for Bayern.

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India's batting order with Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill set to play in Nagpur in the first Test against Australia.

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Carney calls Canadian elections on April 28 2025. He was head of the Bank of England and comes from the financial sector. The opposition leader from the Conservatives cannot be ruled out as he enjoyed increase in popularity after Trudeau's popularity declined after being in power since 2015. Carney has never contested an election and the example of Sunak is recent. Sunak called an early election only to lose badly to Labour in 2024 after serious missteps by the Liberals and a split in the party. That split has not been fixed by Carney in any way. 

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Masks are made mandatory as a travel requirement on all flights and public transportation in the US.

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The question of identity that looms large over the retirement years is explored from personal experience by Stephen Yoder in the WSJ.