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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.


The Times of India Original article ›
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The large Indian communities living overseas has always been an important factor in India's development, the remittances, the two way flow of technology as ideas and scientific knowledge is brought back. This was true for China in its period of rapid development and is true also for India today. This report looks at Indians giving up citizenship (about 225,00 in 2022) yet most of the people interviewed  in this report say they do this only because there is no dual citizenship route. There are some areas that Indian business can improve on easily which are work life balance which are the reasons some have chosen to live overseas- this would also improve the productivity of the workforce and needs to be considered by Indian business leaders for their companies. 

WSJ Original article ›
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Looking long term at climate change actions that need to be taken European oil companies are likely to turn the current problem into an opportunity. This includes Shell, BP, Total. Prof. Michael Grubb of the University College, London, says the current oil crisis will only accelerate European oil companies investments into renewables and electric vehicle infrastructure.

This WSJ report points out that Shell, BP and Exxon have provided the advanced technology that makes production from challenging assets such as in the Arctic possible. With the withdrawal of this technology production increases will be limited and higher methane gas emissions are likely overall from Europe's eastern region. Exxon is likely to invest more in natural gas projects as it makes its withdrawal.

DW.COM Original article ›
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Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck says Germany has plans to almost completely end Russian energy imports by the end of the year. For this to happen Germany has to make extensive progress in cutting oil imports in a short time. By the end of summer the Russian energy imports will be cut by half. The effort is significant because before the invasion of Ukraine Germany received 50% of its coal, 55% of its gas, and 35% of its oil from Moscow. Coal deliveries will end by the end of autumn. 

Habeck confirmed that current contracts with Russian companies to import energy will not be renewed. He also confirmed that Russian gas deliveries will take longer to be stopped- not till mid-2024.

Washington Post Original article ›
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EU measure that seeks to curb imports of coffee, cocoa, soy, beef, palm oil and wood when it is determined that it drives deforestation in the source country. To qualify as "deforestation-free" the land on which these food and other products were grown cannot have been deforested or degraded since Dec. 31, 2020. Demand from European Union countries for commodities such as beef and cocoa are strong drivers of deforestation, says Frans Timmermans, vice president of the EU. This comes after COP26 Glasgow conference where over 100 countries signed an agreement to end deforestation. The EU commissioner for the environment says "we can't ask for ambitious policies on the environment from partner countries on the one hand and support deforestation on the other."

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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China's healthcare system is overburdened and overwhelmed, says this report in the NYT. The changes in living and investment in infrastructure and housing are not matched by similar investments in the health system. Shortages of hospital beds and doctors is making tackling the coronavirus in the Wuhan region more difficult. A new hospital is being built in 6 days in late January 2020 in Wuhan for the coronavirus patients, showing how severe the situation is. 

The lack of strict regulation and lack of enforcement at the local level is leading to the situation where the virus was detected in twice- in 2003 in wild animal meat and again in 2019. Public anger and call for a ban on wild animal meat is happening today.

The Times Original article ›
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This analysis from The Times of London provides critical information on the strategy for successfully tackling the coronavirus following the example of South Korea and progress in Britain.

The random community testing is key to getting an idea of the scale of infections in the community at large. The critical ratio called reproduction ratio tell one if the virus is under control and how lockdowns can be lifted. For Britain this 0.7 estimated by Imperial College. It has a 2 week lag. 1.0 or close to 1.0 is not good. Germany after being at about 0.7 has moved up to 1.0 with 2 week lag in information says the Robert Koch Institute. This means a lot of work ahead, it won't be easy.

The Times Original article ›
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In 2008 a young Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, in 2016  a young Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, now it is Andrea Pirlo coaching Juventus in 2020. Pirlo in his memoir "I Think Therefore I Play," was clear that the coach's job was not for him. He said then that the coach job was not one he would be enthusiastic about, too much to worry about, and a style of life that was so much like being a player.

The Times looks at a game between Torino and Juventus in the Italian League. Pirlo, a soccer legend in his own right like Zidane, scored some of his best goals before retiring against Torino, and he wins the game 2-1, with Bonucci scoring the final goal.

The Times Original article ›
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Discussions at the cabinet level and with prime minister Johnson now include the possible use of annual covid jabs, the importance of getting the vaccine out before a new mutant strain of the virus that is hard to deal with a year from now. An annual covid jab could deal with new mutant strains of the virus. 

Prime minister Johnson is also having to deal with the issue of letting people in from overseas. If Britain's vaccination drive succeeds it will be all the more important to protect Britain from new mutant strains arriving with people coming from overseas. This will require strict control of people coming from other countries including Europe. The question of closing the borders to to reduce risks is now a serious one.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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Steven Hiltner who went as a child to Budapest from Youngstown, Ohio, makes a connection to what he sees as home in this photo journalistic essay on Budapest. This ancient European city on the Danube river in Hungary has much of the architecture of the Austro-Hungarian period from the 16th century. Hiltner takes one through a nostalgic visit to all parts of Budapest and its history, from Buda across the river to Pest, medieval bridges, St. Matthias Church, amazing historical architecture libraries, Castle hill. He isn't fazed by the current opinion about Mr. Orban and the politics of Eastern Europe. He sees the richness of culture in Budapest absent in the homogenous suburbs of Ohio, and a land beyond time.

The Guardian Original article ›
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The attempted shooting of De Gaulle's car was part of the OAS effort to prevent the granting of independence to Algeria, a course of action that De Gaulle like Lincoln for emancipation relentlessly pursued, in this case for North African Arabs colonized by the French. De Gaulle also modernized French agriculture and changed the living conditions of French farmers that had not changed for centuries with poor conditions. It was during this period under De Gaulle that France emerged as a truly modern nation with the infrastructure built under De Gaulle and continued by his assistants who succeeded to the presidency. This report says 30 attempts were made on his life and it shows the resilience and character of the leadership in the early post war period.

The Guardian Original article ›
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This editorial in The Guardian points out that only a tiny fraction of the British people, merely 160,000 members of the Tory Conservative party are for the last 2 months in July and August 2022 determining what kind of government Britain should have at a time of cost of living crisis. Most of these 160,000 are male, upper class, older and propertied. No government action is taking place to protect people from cost increases. In France the energy price increase is limited to 4% by the government, Spain is doing the same to limit cost increases. And in Britain Ofgem regulator has allowed the price cap for energy to triple relative to a year ago and no minister there available to answer the public's questions, kind of surreal.

BBC News Original article ›
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US plans to keep up with Russian advanced artillery and rocket systems in the invasion of Ukraine by sending its shorter range MLRS rocket system to Ukraine. The MLRS has a short range system that extends for over 40 kms. compared to its long range that goes 186 kms. The US sees the sending of the shorter range MLRS as feasible and not the longer range. Denmark is sending its Harpoon system of rockets that would complement Ukraine's own Neptune system to protect a key Black Sea port of Odessa. US policy is designed to keep Russia from making any serious gains in the war which the US and European Union see as a unprovoked invasion. Popular sentiment in US and EU has backed up the Biden administration.

WSJ Original article ›
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S&P forecast is for India's economy to be the third largest by 2030 at 6.3% annual growth. Positive consumer sentiment, domestic demand and increasing state investment are increasing growth to 7.8% and 7.6% in the second and third quarter 2023. A stable government that is focused on economic growth and capital investment projects increases the economic prospects of the Indian economy into 2024. Most of the northern and northwestern, and middle Indian states have investment coming from a coordinated push by state and federal government run economic sectors. Underlying this effort is building of infrastructure, shipping, transport and logistics, that will support growth of key industries to 2030, when the Indian economy is expected to be the third largest in the world. 

YouTube Original article ›
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It is the biggest change for lives of women in India- the 100 millionth connection of cooking gas LPG connection in India. Nothing like this change has been seen in centuries of history where 100 million women from poor households and their families have been thrust into the modern age. The two videos shown here show the outlines of the Ujjwala Scheme for cooking gas launched in 2016. The prime minister visits the home of the recipient of the 100 millionth cooking gas connection at her home built under loans for new homes under another scheme. This is taking place as Indian Railways has increased its investment in India's largest state of Uttar Pradesh to Rs.17,000 crores, $2 billion for 2023, with complete electrification of rail lines.

The Indian Express Original article ›
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How India finds and trains its youngest sports athletes is shown in this report from Fatehabad by Andrew Amson. A bricklayer's daughter Pooja set the Indian national record at 1.82 metres in high jump by winning silver at the Asian U-20 Games in South Korea. The amazing thing is that coaches discovered her talent for jumping even though she entered in training for yoga. With limited facilities she trained with bundles of haysticks for the pit to fall on and a bamboo stick to go over. This is also a story of how India is matching the development of sports of its neighbors Japan, China and South Korea by giving young people from every background and income level a chance to compete at the highest level. 

WSJ Original article ›
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Heavy foreign borrowings from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, help sustain the Turkish economy in 2022. Private companies reduce their non lira borrowings after dollar borrowings became unsustainable. Inflation reaching a high of 80% is likely to ease in 2023 to 20% in line with global inflation in other countries. Turkey's current account deficit is about 0.3 billion in November, down from 2.9 billion the prior month as global energy prices decline. The dollar is coming down from its peak and central banks are expected to bring rates down with slowing inflation. The net international reserves have reached $23 billion. A 60% drop in the currency has increased tourism revenues. Mr. Erdogan is likely to run again for president in 2023, which will be his last run for the presidency. 

WSJ Original article ›
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About $78 billion in equities and ETF's bought in the US in the first quarter of 2023 excluding retirement accounts. Individuals have been buying at 5 times the rate between 2017-2019 says this report in WSJ. This is one of the reasons the S&P 500 is up 7.7% this year. Individual investments into money market funds remain at high levels, and there is less speculative investing. Saving for retirement remains a priority for investors. 401 (K) retirement accounts investments have held steady at 14% of income on average, including employer and employee contributions, according to Fidelity Investments. Younger investors shown in WSJ takes a conservative approach not taking a short term approach and maxxing out 401 (K) contributions, looking to the long run. 

The Guardian Original article ›
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In this analysis of Keir Starmer's speech at the Labour conference inLiverpool in October 2023 The Guardian looks at the scale of the task ahead. Starmer faces the task of the 1997 style decline of public services, the need to channel the Harold Wilson mission to modernize the economy in a time of change, and the Clement Atlee 1945 imperative to build a new Britain "out of the trauma of collective sacrifice." Starmer told delegates- "In 2024 it will have to be all three." Such is the task facing Britain and Starmer in 2024. Something similar is taking place in the US with Biden and Modi in India in 2024, in three of the largest democracies in the world, and two of the oldest.

YouTube Original article ›
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Amtrak Biden says is an essential part of the fight to tackle climate change. Rail has 83% less greenhouse emissions than automobiles, and 73% less than plane air travel. It also has the potential to create half a million good jobs. President Biden was known as "Amtrak Joe" because he used Amtrak for decades as America's Senator from Delaware. In this video president Biden speaks at the 50th anniversary of Amtrak in Philadelphia. He says one of the conductors on his daily route estimated Biden has done 1.5 million miles on Amtrak compared to 1.1 million miles on Air Force One. Biden says he has traveled on Amtrak for as long as Amtrak has been in existence- for close to 50 years.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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Ms. Claire Goldin, labor economist, wins the Nobel Prize Economics for her work on gender gaps. Claire Miller of NYT looks at the research done by Goldin that shows how women starting out from way behind in education, work and professions have caught up in education and are working in different careers and not letting marraige affect their work. Women Goldin says are now not having the same pay and opportunity only because they cannot work long and inflexible hours men do.Goldin points out that the 1940's period of women growing up missed out on opportunities but generations after that and after 1960 have pursued opportunities that were opening up with time saving appliances at home, Roe vs Wade, and Equal Pay legislation. 

WSJ Original article ›
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WSJ looks at how investment allocation is severely flawed today and needs major overhaul. Startup founders can walk away with gains even when a company they founded goes into bankruptcy, billions of dollars of capital are lost for investors. And as investments needed in infrastructure and to fight climate change are diverted to ventures that do not add much to economic progress or betterment. In 2019 Softbank committed billions of dollars to save WeWork, after heavy losses. WeWork's founder Adam Neumann surrendered control with one clause providing a$430 loan to Neumann, says this report in WSJ. If Neumann stopped paying Softbank would have to get the amount due from WeWork share held as collateral. They are now worth only $4 million.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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President Biden was the first US president on a picket line when he joined the picket line at a UAW strike in Wixom, Michigan recently. Here Gene Sperling the Biden liason with the autoworkers UAW union, says Biden believes in a strategy that counters technological disruption in a different way. Biden wants companies to retool, reinvest and rehire workers in the same impacted community. This is the striking difference with Biden compared to any of his predecessors Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and the two Bush presidents. Not only will the president's support ensure 1200 jobs are preserved, another 1000 union jobs will be added at the Belvedire, Illinois location and $4.8 billion will be invested by Stellantis for a new parts distribution center and and electric vehicle factory.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows an alarming and unsettling gap in the life expectancy of men vs. women in the US. The JAMA study shows life expectancy of women at 79 years, and of men dropping down to 73 years. Combined with lower educational opportunities for men to go to college compared to women these numbers are difficult to grapple with. The pandemic hit men harder, the opioid epidemic also hit men harder, men also have higher rates of suicide, heart disease and diabetes. Action is needed. Looking back at the turn of the century in 1900 the difference was 2 years. Decline of smoking has improved the life expectancy of men- action was taken for this to happen. 

WSJ Original article ›
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The Biden administration published an online security rule to strengthen its legal backing for restrictions on foreign based apps, including TikTok. It provides additional criteria the Commerce Secretary can use to restrict such apps that present "undue or unacceptable risks." Instead of the wording "subject to foreign coercion", there is the wording "subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a foreign adversary." WSJ throws light on the legal challenges called the Berman amendments. Berman's amendments took away the right of the president of the US to regulate or ban "informational materials" from adversarial nations. It was written at the end of the Cold War and is seen as needing to be completely rewritten.

NYTimes.com Original article ›
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About 1 million jobs in Germany depend on China. Scholz is derisking but not decoupling Germany's relations with China because of the close linking of the two economies under Merkel. About half of German business depend on China for some part of their supply chain or for parts. Yet it is clear that the relationship has changed after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the lessons learned from the shutdown of oil and gas supplies from Russia, the search for alternative supplies to get through the winter. Germany like the US is rebuilding its supply chain to correct the over concentration in China. The annual dialogue between the leaders of the two countries is also no longer the same as premier Li Qiang of China meets chancellor Scholz.


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