Total debt of $337.7 trillion.

Yesterday, "United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer...arrived in Mumbai for a two day visit to India." "The visit will include high-level discussions to strengthen the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and review the Vision 2035 Roadmap  for bilateral cooperation." TOI. A large number of Indians are waiting only for Scotch whiskey to get cheaper, even if by just Rs 300 per bottle. HT. Starmer needs to divert people's attention from himself. "A year ago, Keir Starmer's Labour Party won the largest majority in Parliament this century," but "Now, after 15 months in power, Starmer has become the most unpopular British Prime Minister on record." "Just 13% of voters say they are satisfied with Starmer, while 79% are unsatisfied." CNN. But at least, in September, "Major US tech firms have pledged tens of billions of pounds worth of investments in the UK," "The biggest single investment comes from Microsoft, which has announced a $30 billion spending package - its largest ever outside the US." BBC. The UK is a small country with a population of just about 70 million (worldometer) and a few thousand jobs will help raise the economy and Starmer's fortunes. Not so lucky is French President Emmanuel Macron who was asked by his first prime minister to resign. "The intervention by Edouard Philippe - President Macron's longest-serving prime minister from 2017 to 2020 - came as frustration grew even within the president's own camp over the biggest domestic political crisis of his eight years in office." abc.net.au. "France is facing further political chaos after the country's latest prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, resigned after just 26 days in the role." "Lecornu was only appointed in September after Francois Bayrou's government collapsed when MPs refused to back his budget. Bayrou was himself installed after Michel Barnier was ousted last December." BBC. An amusing episode of musical chairs for us, but not for the French. Macron's second term does not end till 13 May 2027 and already a long list of politicians have declared their intention to run for the post. Wikipedia. Macron created his own misfortune by dissolving the National Assembly and calling a snap general election in 2024, in which he lost his majority in parliament. wikipedia. Unfortunately, when your luck is bad, you are not only asked to quit, but also get slapped by your wife in full view of cameras. TOI. A risk you take when you marry a school teacher. Macron said they were joking. Economic trouble is not limited to France and Britain. The global debt has hit a record high of $337.7 trillion according to the Institute of International Finance (ET), almost three times the total GDP of the world at $113.23 trillion  (World Population Review). Can the world go bankrupt? Hope Scotch whiskey gets cheaper soon.