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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.


WSJ Original article ›
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US public companies, manufacturers and retailers that make up more than half of the S&P 500 index, came out with strong sales per share of 24% increase in 2022 over 2019. This means slower growth is expected ahead in 2023, says Justin Lahart in the WSJ.  The shift to consuming more services such as dentist visits and tourism from buying washing machines and appliances will mean slower sales for these large companies that are manufacturers and retailers. Fed chairman Jay Powell's higher interest rates will also limit growth in sales in 2023. Overall the US economy may barely skirt a recession, and this depends on which forecaster one talks to.

The Guardian Original article ›
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Just 1% over 10 million pounds of wealth would raise 42 billion pounds from 22,000 individuals and take pressure off the National Health Service in Britain. The capital gains made during the period of Covid has further distorted incomes by hollowing out blue collar workers and increasing incomes of remote white collar workers during the pandemic. The wealth tax would simply reverse this additional element that added to the increasing inequality of the last 2 decades during the pandemic. It would add to general wellbeing in Britain without affecting the individual ability and innovation. In fst by diverting some of the funds to education it could enhance the ability to innovate and take risks in business.

WSJ Original article ›
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France plans to increase military spending from 295 billion euros to 400 billion euros for 2024 to 2030. Some of this will come from reform of the pension system that takes up 13.1% of economic output by raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. A million people protest in Paris on Jan 20. One of the problems in implementing this is that in France there is significant age discrimination for jobs compared to Germany and other countries. This means workers would have to wait longer for pensions even workers with good qualifications looking for work. Efforts to tackle this cultural issue with companies biased against older workers are lacking.

WSJ Original article ›
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India is a frugal innovator producing satellites for space at a fraction of the cost. NASA sent Maven, a probe to Mars for $671 million, it cost India $74 million to send an orbiter to Mars. Yet India as one of the few space exploring nations has only 3% of the market. Invest India, India's investment promotion agency says this will increase to 10% by 2030. In March India's NewIndia state owned space agency sent three dozen space satellites for OneWeb into space after launches by Russia were stopped. In 2023 the US is the largest by far in the space sector economy. China and Russia are also in this space.

The Guardian Original article ›
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This article in The Guardian on Pakistan's economy was written over 3 years ago and many of the problems in the economy shown here have increased with the pandemic and the war in Ukraine's effect on food supplies and inflation. New governments in 2022 will face economic difficulties that are worsening in many developing economies. Foreign currency reserves were at $21 billion in March 2022, with total imports of $56 billion in the 2021 fiscal year according to the World Bank. Surging inflation and drop in the value of the currency in 2022 are creating new difficulties in an already difficult situation making good governance for the economy a major priority.

The Times Original article ›
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Shortages of natural gas lead to a 40% rise in prices. China is bidding high for gas supplies as it faces shortages of natural gas for heating during the coming winter. The UK and Europe also face shortages. Russia has the largest reserves of natural gas and is by far the largest producer. The start of the undersea Nordstream 2 pipeline avoids use of existing Russian pipeline through Ukraine. It is seen as a way to bring in more supplies to Europe.

Australia is another large producer of natural gas. China is now changing its import ban of Australian coal and natural gas as it faces a cold winter.

Washington Post Original article ›
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California is feeling overwhelmed by the pandemic with patients treated in parking lots, in hallways, and in lobbies of California hospitals. This report looks at the situation in California as it reports 53,000 new cases on December 16, 2020. The entire state from high deserts to beachfront cities, from the San Joaquin Valley to Sierra Nevada resort towns is facing a growing pandemic. In Apple Valley, California in the southern part of the state the only capacity is overcapacity with hospitals at 200 or 250% of capacity.  The scary thing is that the health care system is reduced to being available only to the gravest, most urgent medical conditions.

Washington Post Original article ›
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Its an amazing sight. The 730 ton steel sphere in Taipei skyscraper 101 with 100 stories is suspended between several floors at the top of the building as a mass damper to take the violent swinging shock of earthquakes. It can cut the building's swinging in an earthquake by 40%. This has saved occupants during this week's earthquake in Taipei. Closed circuit TV footage shows the building hardly moving which is amazing. The technology is displayed openly in this building built in 2004 as the tallest in the world. In addition 380 piles are driven 100 feet into the ground. Taiwan is located in a seismic active zone prone to earthquakes.

The Guardian Original article ›
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France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire announces a $45 billion effort to cap energy price increases for electricity and gas to 15% increase. Earlier efforts had capped the increase to 4% till the end of 2022 in a tariff shield (bouclier tarifaire). France's public accounts minister says the budget being presented is "a budget to protect." Windfall taxes on energy companies will reduce the cost of the $45 billion to $12 billion. Other protection is offered in the form of increasing income tax brackets by 5% to lower the tax burden. In the absence of this effort the energy prices could have increased by more than 60%, says the Finance Ministry.

WSJ Original article ›
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American viewing habits are changing quickly. Streaming services and cable TV are now at the point where streaming has 34% of viewers and cable TV has 34% of viewers. Streaming is growing at the rate of 22% a year and cable TV is declining at 9% a year. Broadcast TV has 21% of viewers and is declining at 10% a year. Streaming services are You Tube, Reuters for news events and entertainment streaming is done by Netflix, Apple TV and Amazon.

This means fewer and fewer viewers will follow the news channels, such as MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS and more will be communicated on You Tube and internet news services.

WSJ Original article ›
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Fear of homelessness is a big problem for Ukraine refugees among the elderly. Many people who are in their 80's, with little in savings and no relatives in the western parts of the country refuse to leave. Some have not left when the Russian army is only two miles away as shown in towns like Bakhmut near the front lines in Donetsk eastern part of Ukraine. One elderly woman says they would drop her off at the station at Lviv or Dnipro, and then what, where was she to go. Rescue units volunteers take people to safety every day in these towns. Some leave when the artillery shelling becomes unbearable.

DW.COM Original article ›
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Pakistan faces severe environmental problems says this report in DW.com. In addition to the heat wave, climate change, air pollution, degradation of natural resources, deforestation and soil erosion, there is the problem of access to drinking water. About 80% of Pakistan's population lack access to clean drinking water. By 2040 experts say Pakistan could be the most water stressed country in the region. A big problem is the lack of financial resources to tackle climate change with the buildup of debt. Another problem is the lack of a master plan for development that takes into account the need for protecting the environment and makes investment in renewable energy.

WSJ Original article ›
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WSJ report by Jon Emont warns that Indonesia has too much capital going into mineral resource develooment such as lithium and too little for development of a manufacturing bas as is happening in neighbors India and Vietnam. Indonesia lags far behind in manufacturing and as the supply chain shifts with its aging population there is need for policies that build the kind of infrastructure that is needed for foreign investment in factories in Indonesia that can employ its young people. Emont says just seeing that 60% of young people are employed in the informal sectors such as delivery and  transport is not the policy for a country with a large young demographic.

Washington Post Original article ›
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With the lack of action from House Speaker Mike Johnson on a bill for $61 billion in Ukraine aid bill which passed in the Senate  France, Germany and Britain are speeding up their defense supplies manufacturing and making larger investments with a coordinated effort with other EU nations. The problem say former NATO officials is the lack of investment in spare facilities. Rheinmetall is working on the German side and French defense firms are contributing to increased defense manufacturing.The European Defense Agency's deputy chief executive says production will require sustained investment ant finalized contracts. The European Defense Agency says EU nations have invested $52 billion in 2022 on defense gear.

WSJ Original article ›
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The US Supreme Court unanimously agrees that letting a state decide who is on the ballot and who is not based on an insurrectionist interpretation of the US Constitution would lead to chaos. The SC was considering a lawsuit filed by the state of Colorado asking that Trump be disqualified for insurrectionist behaviour related to events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Other states had filed similar lawsuits. With 51 states any state could do this leading to chaotic and unanticipated situations. Any such disqualification would have to first come from the US Congress says the SC. It will also hear other cases related to the other lawsuits going through the courts involving Trump.

WSJ Original article ›
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Did you know 7% of all carbon emissions today come from cement production. In the cement production process 90% of the carbon emissions come from using fossil fuels to heat up the limestone and clay to 2700 degrees to produce clinker. Cemex is workoing with Swiss company Synhelion to use solar energy to do this by 20230.  Heidelberg Materials is working to  add carbon capture to the process at its Brevik, Norway plant, then store it in the seabed near Bergen in liquefied CO2 form. This will absorb the carbon emissions to meet a goal of 8% of carbon emissions to be stored globally by 2030. 

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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With profits of $11-12 billion at GM and Ford Motor in 2022 and $11 billion at Stellantis for the first half of the year there is sentiment among union workers that workers wages should be raised. Ford Motor says profits go into huge investments in the electric car industry transformation. Wages suffered from the collapse of the auto industry in the 2009 period and have only gradually recovered since, falling to $16 per hour as an entry point wage going up to $32 an hour. Unions are looking for wage increases of up to 40%. A 25% wage increase was negotiated recently for an electric car plant run by GM and its partner.

WSJ Original article ›
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WSJ's Solomon and Feng look at Chinese developer Country Garden's $100 billion real estate project Forest City located only a short drive from Singapore in Johore State of Malaysia. It owns 60% and the rest is owned by the Sultan and a government agency. It is now abandoned as a failed project with Country Garden failing to make debt payments. This is the kind of project Malaysia did not need, as it diverts precious capital from industrial projects and infrastructure that improve the lives of the Malaysian people. Malaysian development has stalled with governance issues and misallocation of capital for such projects, and no tangible strategy for development.

WSJ Original article ›
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Delta Airlines is switching its frequent flyer program entirely to spending on its American Express Card. No miles for flights. Delta gets an astounding $7 billion from American Express from sales of miles, ancillary fees and brand fees. Its goal is $10 billion which would be what it made from tickets for flights in 2022. Delta's CEO says it may have gone too far with these changes which are unpopular with its flyer base except for the high end flyers who disliked crowded lounges. Were there other ways to tackle that problem? Delta appears to have shifted attention to a small fraction of its customers.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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The average age of readers is 59 years and 75% are male for the Wall Street Journal. WSJ has about 3.4 million digital subscriptions. Emma Tucker, editor in chief of the Wall Street Journal says, she doesn't want the Wall Street Journal to become the German car industry of news publishing. She is pushing for changes to bring younger and more diverse readers to the WSJ. Emma Tucker was deputy editor of The Times of London and Editor of The Sunday Times in 2020. Her new role requires managing 1200 journalists compared to 120 in earlier work. Audience data is part of her way of responding to new changes.

The Guardian Original article ›
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Pedro Sanchez is attempting to form a new government in Spain with the support of Catalan parties. His Socialist party voted with 87% in favor of forming a new government with smaller parties without using the word amnesty for Catalans who protested in 2017 for independence. PSOE's organizational secretary Santos Leon says the party is determined to not let the opposition Partido Popular weaken the welfare state at a time of cost of living crisis and following the pandemic by coming to power at the federal level. In 2023 only 42% of Catalans want independence, 52% actually oppose it, making it easier to let Pedro Sanchez put this episode in Spanish history behind.

WSJ Original article ›
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Minimobility can be seen in some locations in the US such as Peachtree City, a town south of Atlanta where golf carts are popular. In Europe it is taking off and popular on its small streets and with its  culture of smaller vehicles. The Renault Duo, Citroen Ami, Swiss Microlino, Swedish Luvly, are electric vehicles for 1-2 passengers made at prices from $8000 for the Ami to $16000 for the Microliner. The Microliner has a range of 150 miles and max speed of 55mph. By 2030 about $100 billion of these small electric vehicles could be on the road compared to $3 billion in 2023. 

The Times Original article ›
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Prostate cancer is becoming the most common cancer. Here are some useful tips for tackling this health problem men face today. 

Diet should include fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables. Reduce dairy to three portions (cheese, milk), limit calcium intake to daily requirement, and cut down on animal based protein and fat. 

Fat building up in the thighs and other parts of the body including waistline increases risk. This makes it essential to limit BMI to 30 and waist inches around 37 or close to this. Regular exercize lifts the mood and helps cut fatty tissue reducing the risk of prostate as well as other cancers.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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This NYT report looks at the transformation of Saudi Arabia with the investment projects of Prince Mohammad bin Salman who leads the country in modernization. In the past much of the oil money going from US, EU, China and India went into wars in the Middle East, Salman has focused on development. using the funding opportunities that need to taken to develop the region, funding which will no longer be there after the shift to renewal energy by 2035. The price tags are extravagant the coastal city and historic district of Jeddah remodeled $20 billion. New center of culture Diriyah near Riyadh, $63 billion. Futuristic city Neom. Red Sea tourism projects. 

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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Times/Ipsos poll of January 2025 shows-

On transgender or children struggling with gender identity

71% say no one under 18 should be  prescribed puberty blocking drugs and hormones.

Nation's political system is broken

US system is a broken system for decades about 60% agree.  

On illegal immigration and crime, fentanyl flows

large scale deportation illegal immigrants who arrived here in the last 4 years- 63% agree and support such deportation

for illegal immigrants with criminal records 87% of Americans polled agree that they should be deported


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