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LyrArc brings in selected articles from many of the world's top publications.

Articles are selected by experts and you can see the gist of the important articles.


NYTimes.com Original article ›
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The dominance of trillion dollar companies, Apple at $2.4 trillion and Microsoft at $2.1 trillion, which make up 13% of the S&P 500 index during the regional banking crisis of 2023. The index was up 3.5% in March even as some banks were shut down by the FDIC. This has given these two companies the role of a safe haven in the crisis, along with chipmaker Nvidia. Not for the tech sector's other companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and others which are companies facing monopoly behaviour scrutiny and possible breakup by the Biden administration and Congress.

WSJ Original article ›
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Germany's state development bank KfW has signed a memorandum of understanding with German energy company RWE AG to build a new LNG terminal at the northern port city of Brunsbuttel. Netherlands infrastructure group Gasunie will operate the new LNG terminal. The Nordstream 2 $11 billion project is now set aside and Germany plans to use the LNG terminals and other sources outside of Russia. Germany commissioned its gas market trading hub to buy LNG of 1.5 billion euros. 

Germany will now fast track another LNG terminal on the North Sea at Wilhelmshaven. That terminal would be operational in 3 years. 

The Guardian Original article ›
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India reports over 300,000 cases for the fourth day in a row. German chancellor Merkel passes legislation that gives the federal government the power to set curfews to control the spread of coronavirus. Cases reach 166 per 100,000 in Germany and the government sees lockdowns to be in place till the end of May. Streets in Dusseldorf and other German cities are shown deserted at night.  The European Union deal signed with Pfizer for 1.8 billion doses including booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine, provides new hope for the vigorous vaccination drive needed in Germany and the rest of Europe. 

WSJ Original article ›
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U.S. gasoline demand is at about 8.6-9.2 million barrels a day down from the 9.6 -10 million barrels a day before mid March. It fell to 5 million barrels a day in April when prices were briefly at zero before recovering with the oil deal negotiated by president Trump. The lack of school reopenings, offices still closed and the surge in the pandemic in July and August has led to drop in the outlook for oil demand. Oil prices are now in the low $40's per barrel. Yet the overall recovery is strong considering that it is only 6 months into the pandemic.

Hindustan Times Original article ›
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Indian prime minister Modi tells RE Invest 2020, that India has almost tripled renewable energy production including solar and wind energy in 6 years, and is now the 4th largest renewable energy producer in the world. India is also now the fastest growing renewable energy producer in the world. He says India made investments in renewable energy early even when it was not the most cost effective source of energy. Through its scale and new technology, manufacturing advances, India is now in a position to show that renewable energy is sound economics. Since 2017 renewables exceed coal as a source of energy, making up 36% of energy production today.

The Financial Times Original article ›
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American men took the biggest hit for life expectancy in an Oxford University study, with life expectancy dropping by 2.2 years in 2020. American women life expectancy dropped by 2.65 years. Lithuanian men had a decline of 1.7 years. This is the largest decline going back to the days of the Great Depression in the 1930's

Elsewhere in Europe, life expectancy declined in many countries for the first time since the Second World War. This happened in Spain, Italy, England, Wales and Belgium. Women in 8 countries and men in 11 countries had drops in life expectancy over more than 1 year.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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To just go for Israeli policy changes it would not accomplish anything says Schumer in this interview with NYT's Annie Karni at a Brooklyn school which he attended years ago. He says it took 2 months and 10 drafts for his 44 minute address. And not to address Netanyahu would do little as Schumer says Netanyahu "was the fount of the problems." Schumer said he looked at words "stepping down" and "resignation" and said to himself no they were not the right words. Instead he says he called for new Israeli elections, the chips fall where they would fall.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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As president Biden signs the biggest Climate Bill in history Jim Tankersley says there is still more to be done. In addition to the work remaining for children, women and families, he mentions the Civilian Climate Corps with financing for $10 billion that is patterned on the Civilian Conservation Corps set up during the Depression by FDR, which is still to be passed. This would form "the next generation of conservation and resilience workers," says Biden. Much like the 3 million people who helped build parks, cut trails and planted trees around the US in the 1930's and 1940's under FDR.

BBC News Original article ›
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This report in BBC on climate change issues in Australia with bushfires and floods and the hottest decade in history, was written four days before the election. It says even with the extreme weather disasters phasing out fossil fuels was a politically toxic issue in Australia and no party wanted to talk about it except the Greens. The election has changed this decisively with the Greens and other smaller parties getting one third of the vote. No party has proposed cutting carbon emissions by over 50%- Labour at 43% and Morrison coalition at 26%. Labour won by taking up climate change as an issue.

WSJ Original article ›
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Solo travel for married men or women is a growing trend. Most solo travelers who are married are women who enjoy the freedom of independent travel. In 2023 such solo travel increased by 46%. Women are keen on seeing the world when their partners are not interested in this kind of travel destination. Solo travel means not having to schedule something with another person, being able to go where one feels is right, and meeting people, making new friends. One partner having more flexible schedule has added to the trend to venture out independently to see new places, new cultures and new people.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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NYT's Brad Plumer looks at the assessment of a report from REPEAT (Princeton), MIT, and Rhodium on how well the Biden Climate laws are building renewable energy- how well this is working to tackle climate change goals. The goal set by BIden was a 40% reduction over 2005 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Electric car sales are moving at a pace that is consistent with the goals but renewable energy instead of being at an average of 46 gigawatts of carbon free electricity for 2023 and 2024 is falling short as it was at 32 gigawatts carbon free electricity for the US in 2023.

DW.COM Original article ›
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Drought conditions prevail in the avocado growing region of Spain. The La Vinuela Reservoir in this region in Malaga province is only 12% full.  It has been reduced to a mere puddle says this report in DW.com. Across the world from the dam reservoirs in Nevada, US, to Uttar Pradesh in India the water levels are extremely low because of a lack of rain. Drought conditions are more frequent and last longer with the effects of climate change say experts. This means sunflower oil output a major export for Spain will drop by a third this year for use in Europe.

The Indian Express Original article ›
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For National Governance Day- Praveen Siddharth, private secretary to the president, writes about the way Atal Bihari Vajpayee handled the difficult situations he faced in parliament after his government faced no confidence motions and his government collapsed for lack of one vote, leading to a government that lasted 13 days, before finally winning the 1999 elections for a first full term in office. This opened the way for a post independence modernizing India based on good governance, "sab ka vikas sab ke sath, sab ka prayas." National governance day is observed on the day of the birth of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. 

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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The Russian central bank under Elvira Nabiullina raises interest rates by 3.5% to 12%. In the first 5 months of 2023 the Russian government spent 50% more in rubles than in the same period in 2022. The increase in spending meant increase in wages and more hiring for production of goods including production for the war effort. The policy was to carry on the war effort without the effects of the war being felt by ordinary Russian citizens. The result has been higher inflation at 7.6%. Nabiullina faces a unique set of challenges to control inflation, maintain the economy even as Russia continues the war effort in Ukraine. 

WSJ Original article ›
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China's Make in China campaign is supported by helping domestic brands. Just as BYD overtakes VW as the largest selling domestic brand and leading EV maker, China is pushing domestic mobile phones. Here WSJ reports banning of the use of Apple phones by people serving in the government. China is urging government agencies and state enterprise employees to use Chinese brands of computers, mobile phones and computer software to ensure sensitive data can be protected. Apple gets 19% of revenues from China and dominates the highend smart phones market in China. This may not be sustained under Make In China campaign.

WSJ Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Toyota's new startup Woven Planet was supposed to create a startup to produce the software that run's cars for today, and do this within a company that produces 10 million cars using tested quality control and factory efficiency methods. It has not worked as shown in this report in WSJ. Deadlines for the software were put off till 2027 and Toyota was falling behind. Toyota had planned a separate city near Mount Fuji for the company and separate cultural setting. This has not happened and Toyota is now integrating the software startup into its own operations bringing forward deadlines to 2025.

WSJ Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Three homes built in Boston to show the potential of passive home construction that are designed with solar panels, heat pumps, wood construction, and modern technology design that minimizes loss of heat in winter and reduces temperature increases in the summer. The cost of the electricity bill for each of these three homes is nearly zero. Passive home construction cost is about 15% more or in this case $1.4 million for homes that would otherwise cost $1.2 million in the Boston area. The design and technological aspects can be incorporated in lower cost affordable housing and 40% of passive construction is planned in that field.

The Guardian Original article ›
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Women do twice as much of the caregiving for elderly parents and small children as men. About 41% of mothers say this makes it harder for them as working parents. About 20% of the female workforce in U.S. is giving elderly care. This adds up to more stress, decreased working hours, decreased income, needing leave of absence, and missing promotions or training. Only 14% of working people in the U.S. have even one day of paid leave to care for a new baby or seriously sick family member- a startling statistic for America, showing lack of family friendly policies at most companies.

BBC News Original article ›
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Lessons from an Italian family about staying fit and getting exercize during the lockdown within the home. The father is part of a running team in Rome. He has spent 18 days with his wife and teenage son at home already, as Italy remains in quarantine. He can't run the Rome marathon so he and his friends divide the 42 kilometres so that each person runs 1 kilometre at home. Other advice- plan your day carefully, stay in different rooms so its easier to spend a whole day, and the next day and the next together. do some hobbies, exercize to stay fit. 

Washington Post Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Color maps of home rental price increases by county regions in the US are shown in this report in the Washington Post. Though rent prices increased by 19% since 2019 prices increased for rent by only 1% in 2024, according to Washington Post analysis of rent data from CoStar Group. See how rents have increased by county regions in color maps. Price increases are cooling off, in some cases declining, says this report. US president Biden has proposed a limit of 5% for increases in home rentals. Vice President Kamala Harris has proposed help for families paying more than 30% of household income for home rentals.

Washington Post Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
70% of the world's internet traffic goes through 6 miles of land in Ashburn, Virgina, that is called Data Center Alley. This part of northern Virginia is filled with data centers that generate tax revenue for local communities. Culpepper where 17 year old George Washington worked as a Surveyor in the 1740's is one of these counties with data centers. Nearby 90 miles from Washington DC is Rappahannock County, which has rejected this development and not increased its population of about 8000 people for decades. WSJ looks at this part of rural Virginia where civil war battles took place.

WSJ Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
The Laken Riley Act has as its sponsor Katie Britt of Alabama, and cosponsors Democrats Ruben Gallego of Arizona and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. It is expected to get over 60 votes 61-35 to overcome Senate rules and be on the presidents desk. No amendments were made.  It will require the Department of Homeland Security to arrest undocumented immigrants for theft related offenses and increase the power of states to challenge immigration decisions.

Kristi Noem at Homeland Security and Tom Homan Border Chief will lead the push on the Border with DJT declaring a national emergency that will generate funds from the Defense Department.

WSJ Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
In 2024 one third of the mortgage payment is the average cost of insurance and taxes. Insurance went up with natural disasters fires and floods, taxes go up as home prices surge as they have in 10 years without enough new housing being built.

 For half of people in 5 major Metro areas, Rochester and Syracuse in NY, Omaha in Nebraska, New Orleans, and Miami, at least a quarter of borrowers spend more than half of their mortgage payment in insurance and taxes. Nationwide in US 9%, up from 4% in 2014 spend more than half of their mortgage payment on insurance and taxes.

BBC News Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
There were 2.5 million encounters at the US Border in Trump's first term says the BBC, under Biden's first term this number quadrupled to 10 million. Had the Biden administration done what it did for China policy and tariffs, quietly leaving them in place and tried sincerely to listen and work with Republicans, replaced Mayorkas in 2021 June when the migrant numbers reached 200,000 far surpassing the 150,000 high under DJT, and negotiated a new law by the end of 2021, this would have stopped asylum, added resources and closed the border in a timely delivery of needed action.

Le Monde.fr Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
A year after taking office Argentine president Milei cuts spending by 30% bringing inflation down from 25% to 2.4% in November 2024. All sorts of programs are cut that had proliferated over the years. The resut is that the economy shrinks by 3.5% in 2024, only to grow rapidly by 5% in 2025 restoring a more stable pattern of growth and moderate inflation. Throughout it's history Argentina has faced high inflation and economic crises.A similar pattern in Brazil was broken in 1998 after two decades of inflation. It reached 56% in January 1990 dropping to about 2% in 1998.


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