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The court case by the Justice Department to get Apple to unlock the San Bernardino terrorist's phone ends on March 27, 2016, as the Justice Department files court papers saying it has unlocked the phone with the help of a private entity.

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Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi is killed in a firefight between rebels and Gaddafi's forces defending Sirte on October 20, 2011. Sirte was taken by rebel forces with the help of airpower from French fighter jets as part of a NATO led effort.

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Romney and Santorum in a tie, with Romney winning by just 8 votes in Iowa's Republican caucuses. Romney got 23.6%, Santorum 23.5%, Ron Paul 21%, Gingrich 13% and Perry 10%. Romney received almost the same number of votes he won in 2008.

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Blackstone's plans to sell its commercial real estate investments valued at $22 billion in regional parcels, a total of 100 office buildings and about 50 million square feet of space. Plans are to do this for an exit by as early as 2013.

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ECB president, Mario Draghi, said on March 25, 2014, "we will do what is needed to maintain price stability." Annual inflation in the eurozone declined to 0.6% forecast for the eurozone, 0.9% for Germany, and a negative 0.2% in Spain, for Feb. 2014.

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Outrage and anger at the plan by voters and taxpayers across the country on September 24, 2008. A clear appreciation by voters that this plan's eventual cost could leave a future administration without the money to build infrastructure, education rebuild health care.

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The US is facing a new pattern of demographic changes and their impact on Medicare and Social Security programs. The number of people on Medicare will grow in 2 decades, 2010- 2030, from 47 million to 80 million for Medicare, and from 44 million to 73 million for Social Security, according to this estimate. The workforce will grow more slowly and the tax base wiill shrink accordingly during this period. This pending worker-pensioner imbalance and the jump in the cost of the bill for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as the federal health benefit for poor people, create a major problem for the US. At the same time the group of people over 65 will rise in these 2 decades from 17% of the voting age population to 26%. This group and the people who expect to soon join this group will resist any changes to Medicare or Social Security programs, making it that much harder for the political process to tackle these issues to make the programs sustainable in the long run.

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Bondholders and the Greek government are stalled in talks and waiting for Germany and the IMF to come up with the 14.5 billion euros that is due on March 20, 2012. It may suit the bondholders holding out for a higher interest rate in the 4-5% range for the new bonds to be issued at 50% of face value with long term maturities, but is bad for Europe. This Journal editorial points out that this is bad for European taxpayers and points to other steps that can be taken which are being discussed in European circles. One step is for acollective action clause to be inserted for the existing Greek bonds under which all bondholders have to accept losses if two thirds of the bondholders agree to accept losses. To ensure the safety of the Greek banking system Greece would restructure the bonds held by Greek banks so that they continue to be acceptable as collateral with the ECB, and issue new bonds to the ECB with face values, interest rates and maturities matching existing holdings. The idea is to make it possible for Greece to reduce its total debt and its debt servicing costs- which is really the only way out of the crisis. The ECB and Greece would use the collective action clause to restructure the Greek debt to reduce interest and debt servicing costs on new bonds to be issued. The Journal editorial says it should also mean Greece and the ECB are not required to put up the 30 billion euros in up-front cash that was agreed to in a poorly devised agreement in 2011....

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International arrivals to the US that were still down by about 35% in June last year over the pre pandemic levels of 2019, are going to be only about 20% below prepandemic 2019 levels this summer 2023. The cost of gasoline for people in the US is about $3.57 a gallon compared to $4.60 last summer. Justin Lahart in WSJ says Americans with steady checks and low unemployment are willing to spend on trips this summer. Among Americans about 40% still avoided travel by airplane, train or subway in 2022. This is now down to 18% or less in 2023.

Traditional vacations are up as old style remote work vacations are receding. Marriott, Hilton and other hotels, and airlines report strong demand. Older people who spend more are also joining the trend this summer leading to higher spending. This may even help the US avoid a recession, says Lahart.

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About a third of recent coronavirus infections in the UK are from schoolchildren ages 10-19. The UK after a headstart in its vaccination drive has fallen behind other European countries and the US in the vaccination of children and teenagers. UK began vaccinating children in August far behind the US and Europe. On top of this UK under Boris Johnson decided to drop almost all public health restrictions during the summer. The change in Health Secretary happened on June 26, 2021 with Matt Hancock's resignation. The new Health Secretary Javid was to review the health restrictions in place till July 19. The sense of caution and preparedness that prevailed earlier as fallen short since July 2021 with the lack of coronavirus prevention measures such as masks, social distancing and vaccine mandates that were taken in Italy, France, Germany and other European countries, as well as in the US.

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A long transport strike and street protests have not affected the pension overhaul of president Macron in France. The French parliament will review the changes to the pension system that consolidate 42 different pension plans into one universal pension plan that seeks to be fair, reflect current conditions including longer life expectancy, and to make the plan financially viable. Other benefits are that it would be more transparent and enable workers to change jobs or careers, says Health Minister Ms. Buzyn.

Macron's new system for pensions calculates pension payments based on the entire salary history of an employee. Previously pension payments were calculated based on 25 highest paying years for private sector employees, and for civil servants on the last 6 months of salary before retirement.

Parliament will debate the new rules in February and the plan is likely to be passed by this summer because Macron has a large majority.

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Japan's economy minister, Yasutoshi Nishimura, says Japan is suffering an output loss of $300 billion. Japan has recovered halfway from the pandemic. It will take till 2014 to recover fully. In the July to September quarter the Japanese economy grew at an annualized pace of 21%, yet the economy is 6% smaller than in 2019.

The government is preparing an economic stimulus package of $100 billion in new spending. A planned cash give out of $500 a person following a cash give out of $1000 during the first wave of coronavirus is included. The government is planning public works projects to boost the economy, as capital investment has fallen. The second wave of the coronavirus is creating more uncertainty. Prime minister Suga aims to keep the focus on the long term with two key priorities, Japan's digital transition and making Japan carbon neutral by 2050.

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Garweth Southgate is seen as one of Britain's most admired leaders in this report in The Times. His popularity is at 72%, compared to Churchill's at 65%. He is seen as "a decent bloke."

Born in Hertfordshire, educated in West Sussex, Southgate's soccer career ended in 2006 playing for Middlesbrough after defeat in a Uefa final with Seville. His managerial career started that year and he was manager till 2009 when Middlesbrough were relegated on the final day of the season. He was out of management for 4 years till he took charge of the under 21 team. In 2016 he took charge of the England senior team. Southgate has seen the ups and downs of soccer both as a player and a team manager, which has given him the humility and sense of respect for others that has marked his career. 

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This report in The Guardian looks at regenerative agriculture practices in the south of Spain for growing olives and for producing wine. It is good for farmers from both an economic and soil regeneration perspective. By growing in conditions that promote biodiversity olive farmers get higher prices for their product. This report looks at farms with 70 million olive trees in the province of Jaen in southern Spain.

Under EU's Life programme 20 olive farms in Spain were selected for the regenerative agriculture model. This allows grass and wildflowers to grow between the olive trees, and insect and wildlife to revive. The Olivares Vivos project is making good progress in Spain to revive agricultural land. Not ploughing between the trees helps for better water retention, less erosion and run-offs after heavy rain.

Such practices can be applied in other countries in Asia and Latin America.

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Only about a third of the people in southeast Asia are fully vaccinated compared to 58% in the US. With growing inequality and a slowdown in production the supply chain in this region is hit hard. The region includes Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. This region's growth rate is cut from 4.4% in April to 2.5% for 2021 by the World Bank. Manila based Asian Development Bank forecast is for 3.1% growth as coronavirus outbreaks lead to major lockdowns. This happened in Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia. It has also worsened the global supply chain disruptions from clothes to cars and commodities.

As supply chains are restructured, and western countries increase manufacturing at home to avoid higher shipping costs, uncertainty of far flung supply chains, production is likely to decline.

World Bank sees 24 million more people below the poverty line in Asia this year than projected earlier.

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The Republican House Health Care pLan in 2017 relies on tax credits of between $2000 and $4000 based on age. Under the Affordable Health Care Act the elderly poor in high cost insurance areas received additional help. These people would lose over $2000 per person and may forgo full coverage or coverage entirely under the Republican House Health Care Plan. A report by Standard & Poor's estimates about 2 to 4 million people who are in 50's and 60's not yet qualifying for Medicare might lose their coverage they now have under ACA. The Republican plan also gives incentives through tax credits higher for older people, $4000 for a 60 year ol and $2000 for a 25 year old. Under the ACA the insurers are not allowed to charge more than three times what is charged for younger people, under the Republican plan this goes up to five times. 

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There is a surge in online classes and web based learning by 2017. About 36 million people in the U.S. who have some college but no degree benefit from these classes. The low overhead and value of these classes is making colleges move ahead with investment in this field. Arizona State, University of Massachusetts, are some of the universities pushing ahead. Purdue University as part of its "You Can, Go Back" initiative under president Mitch Daniels,is planning to acquire Kaplan University to supplement its efforts. 2U which runs online school programs has revenue growth of 30% a year. It runs marketing and the web platform, nuts and bolts, while schools provide faculty, in a unique collaborative effort. Colorado State University Global Campus went from 200 students to 18,000 half from Colorado, with only a $12 million loan from the University in 2007, which it paid back by 2012, showing the financial viability of these classes. 

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Denmark's shipping company A.P. Moeller-Maersk plans to split into 2 different divisions, one for transport and one for energy. Maersk Line, the largest container operator in the shipping industry, will become part of the new Transport and Logistics Division. Oil interests of Maersk will be combined to form the Energy Division. In June Maersk replaced CEO Nils Anderson with Soren Skou from the shipping business. The container shipping industry is suffering from a sharp downturn with freight rates falling in price wars, and shipping lines barely covering fuel costs. Hanjin Shipping is a South Korean company that has filed for bankruptcy protection. There is a process of consolidation taking place in the shipping industry as smaller lines are finding it difficult to survive on their own. Experts say the 20 biggest container operators could lose about $8-10 billion in 2016. Maersk has shifted to $139 million net loss in 2nd quarter 2016.

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British prime minister Theresa May's EU withdrawal agreement was defeated in the House of Commons by a vote of 344 to 286, a margin of 58 votes. 5 Labour MP's voted in favor, and 34 Brexiteer MP's in the European Research Group voted against. The Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland voted against. The vote did not include a declaration on the future relations with the European Union. The vote happened on March 29, the deadline for Britain to leave the EU. A new deadline of April 10 has been set to seek a longer extension.

Options going forward are to use a longer delay of a year to come up with consensus, have a second referendum, or hold a general election. Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn called for Mrs. May to resign and hold a general election. Britain will hold European parliament elections in May.

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Mexico replaces China as the U.S. top trading partner in the first half of 2019. U.S. imports from China fell by 12% and exports fell by 19% in first half 2019, according to Commerce Department. The total value of trade with China of $271 billion was less than the trade with either Canada or Mexico.

Mr. Trump said yesterday to China- "If they don't want to trade with us anymore, that would be fine with me. Until such time as there is a deal we will be taxing them." He went on to say he would place 25% tariff on additional $300 billion of Chinese goods on Sept. 1, 2019.

Meanwhile in first half 2019 the U.S. imports increased to 34% from Vietnam. Some of this could be Chinese goods transhipment through Vietnam. Japan, South Korea, India, Europe, all increased exports to the U.S.

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A project that started when he was 29 before Michael Byard left Britain for Australia to work for a shipping company, is renewed years later when Byard is 74 years and finished when he is 80. Byard built a complete 5 foot replica of Admiral Nelson's flagship HMS Victory from 3000 pieces all intricately put together. The Royal Navy has preserved the HMS Victory as the only surviving ship from the period of the Napoleonic war 1803-1815. Nelson used the flagship to command the British Navy during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Read Roger Knight's "Victory" for the story of the British Navy during the period that spans the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic War between 1793 and 1815, when the Royal Navy established British influence throughout the Mediterranean and in Asia and Africa. 

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What happens when a town grows so fast that it cannot cope- with overcrowded schools, 20 mile commutes that take 90 minutes, and a water system that fails frequently.  It started with South Carolina, a Sunbelt state cutting property taxes to about half to attract more people from neighboring states. Lake Wylie, South Carolina in America's sunbelt attracted so many newcomers, about 80% of its population, that it cannot handle the too rapid growth.

The school system placed a $15,000 impact fee to build new schools that is set on each new house constructed. The city council of the town placed a 16 month moratorium on commercial and residential rezoning requests, new apartment complexes and subdivisions. Similar bans on growth are increasing in South Carolina and booming towns in America's sunbelt as the consequences of unplanned haphazard growth with tax incentives are becoming burdensome.

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U.S. household net worth has surged a Fed quarterly report shows. But the winners are not the same people who lost out in the Great Recession. Home prices in Las Vegas, Pheonix and Miami are still well below - over 25%- than when they were at their peak before the recession, according to Case-Shiller price index. It is in cities such as San Francisco, Dallas, Denver and Charlotte that prices have surged. As for stock investments this is concentrated among the higher income and wealthier households. Core Logic shows the number of people underwater of 12 million at the peak, and this has declined to 3 million. Overall the trend is positive when combined with the Census report showing strong gain of median income of 5.2% in 2015, and shows Obama policies working in the right direction. Though it has taken time, still leaves many people behind in parts of the country, and for demographic groups such as older people who lost jobs in the recession.

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This report in DW.com shows the coverage in German media of the election of Droupadi Murmu as the president of India. She is the second woman and the first person from a tribal community to be elected president. She worked as a school teacher and was elected to the state assembly in Odisha (Orissa) in eastern India twice. She served as the governor of Jharkhand a state with a large tribal community in eastern India from 2015. About 27% of Jharkhand population is tribal and much higher in rural areas because over 90% of tribal people live in the rural villages. Murmu is from the Santhal tribe that is spread over several northeastern states. Most of the tribal population of 106 million people in India is in the northeast, east, some in the west, in border states with China and Pakistan, and in these parts of India it makes up as much as a quarter of the population or higher. This is why a new India requires better educated, good governance dedicated tribal leaders who can contribute to development under sab ka vikas sab ka prayas, development for all through everyone's efforts. ...

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The Ukraine war with increases in prices of oil and natural gas, and food imports has hit Bangladesh hard.  The currency has declined by 20% which also adds to the cost of imports. The government of Sheikh Hasina is seeking $1 billion each from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.  It is also seeking $4.5 billion for budgetary and balance of payments support through the new Resilience and Sustainability Facility set up by the IMF. The government is doing this in advance to avoid a situation in which most of the tax revenues go to paying for imports at high prices with little left for spending on development needs. Bangladesh imports cooking oil, wheat and other food, as well as fossil energy. The current account deficit is $17 billion and the foreign exchange reserves are about $39 billion in July, down from $45.5 billion in 2021, enough for 5 months of imports for a nation of 160 million people.  Action is being taken to curtail use of air conditioning at mosques. Power outages are increasing and electricity rationing is being done. ...