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Direct From the Editor / On Topics Vital to the Nation

The role of long range planning and industry working with government in securing the US position in rare earths

06/22/2026

Andy Burnham has the potential to achieve what Clement Attlee achieved for Britain in 1945-51

06/22/2026

Browse Articles or use Lyrarc's US patented "Groups" and "Links" for new insights. A Lyrarc Group of Articles on a topic gives insights into particular angles shown in the Group Title. A Lyrarc Link shows more specific insights for 2 articles.

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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.

Obama’s Job Plan Hinges on Cut to Social Security Tax

1 Groups   
New York Times - 09.08.2011 Original article ›
Binyamin Appelbaum, Binyamin, Appelbaum
LyrArc Article Gist
The main part of the $447 billion jobs plan proposed by President Obama in a speech to Congress on Sept. 8, 2011, is to reduce social security taxes. At a cost of $240 billion in government revenues in 2012, the Obama jobs plan proposes cutting the 6.2% social secuirty tax -on worker income up to $106,800- down to 3.1%. The current tax cut which expires in December 2011 cut the tax down to 4.2%. Analysts estimate this could generate over 500,000 jobs in 2012.
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Rick Perry, Mitt Romney spar in Republican presidental debate - The Washington Post

6 Groups   
Washington Post - 09.23.2011 Original article ›
Dan Balz, Dan, Balz, Perry Bacon Jr., Perry, Bacon, Jr.
LyrArc Article Gist
Perry told viewers of the Republican presidential candidate debate in Florida on Sept. 22, 2011, he supports Social Security and would work to fix it for younger workers. On immigration Perry defended his policies in Texas. He opposes efforts to build a fence along the long stretch of the U.S.- Mexican border. Perry said his policy of giving children of illegal immigrants in-state college tution, was backed by the Texas state legislature with only 4 dissenting votes. He added, "I greatly support it."
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At London Olympics, British pride surges with medal count - The Washington Post

1 Links 1 Groups   
Washington Post - 08.06.2012 Original article ›
Anthony Faiola, Anthony, Faiola, Karla Adam, Karla, Adam
LyrArc Article Gist
By August 6, Britain had 16 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals at the 2012 Olympics in London, more than any nation except the U.S. and China. Andy Murray won the Olympic gold medal in tennis defeating Federer in straight sets. Britain won gold medals in cycling, sailing, long distance running. Runner Mo Farah won the 10,000 metre race. At one point Britain won three medals in one hour in track and field events as Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Farah won gold.
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Original article 5 minutes, gist 1 minute

Few Home Comforts for Europe's Oil Majors

14 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 10.05.2012 Original article ›
Liam Denning, Liam, Denning
LyrArc Article Gist
The share price performance as measured by price/earnings multiple of Total, BP, Eni and other European oil companies lag behind Exxon, Chevron and other American oil companies by as much as 26%, because of the effects of the eurozone crisis. Yet the annual return on average capital is about the same 12% for these companies for 2002-2011 accoding to data from Deutsche Bank, with the exception of BP's oil spill disaster results. And Total has a large exploration portfolio in many countries.
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Auto Makers' New Reality: Cars Aren't a Must for Kids

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.10.2012 Original article ›
Sharon Terlep, Sharon, Terlep
LyrArc Article Gist
According to a 2011 study from the University of Michigan, less than one third of 16 year old teenagers in the U.S. had a drivers license in 2008. This is a sharp decline from about half in 1983. For 18 year old teenagers about 80% had a drivers license in 1983, only about 66% have a license today. Many of today's teenagers live at home and are moving to large cities where they prefer to use mass transit. Economic difficulties are also larger in today's environment.
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The Ka-Ching in China Luring Medical Giants

9 Groups   
BusinessWeek - 03.04.2010 Original article ›
Frederik Balfour, Frederik, Balfour
LyrArc Article Gist
The Chinese market for medical care is growing. China will spend $125 billion on a three year plan to boost medical care. This means funding 31,000 new hospitals by 2012. Medical equipment market is estimated to grow at 13.5% a year to $15.5 billion in 2012, according to Philips Electronics. And Credit Suisse sees the pharma market up from $44 billion in 2008 to $110 billion in 2015. GE is designing inexpensive imaging equipment for fast growing rural markets, with cost at 10% of urban markets.
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Original article 1 minute, gist 1 minute

Slow Takeoff Seen for Electric Vehicles

  
Wall Street Journal - 10.25.2010 Original article ›
Norihiko Shirouzu, Norihiko, Shirouzu
LyrArc Article Gist
Daimler CEO Zietsche, says he sees global demand for all electric cars or electric hybrids at 1-5% of total demand by 2020. This was a cautious and measured view for Merceds Benz. Benz joined BYD of China in a joint electric car venture in China, with an investment of $90 million. This is in conrtrast to the view of Nissan's Ghosn, who sees the demand closer to 10% by 2020 for electric cars. Nissan plans to produce 500,000 Leaf electric cars by 2012.
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GM buying back $2.1 billion in government preferred stock.

4 Groups   
Detroit News - 10.28.2010 Original article ›
David Shepardson, David, Shepardson
LyrArc Article Gist
After the $2.1 billion buyback of preferred shares from the government GM will have repaid $9.5 billion of its $49.5 billion bailout. GM will still owe the government $40 billion. GM also plans to make a contribution of $6 billion in cash and stock to its underfunded employee pension plans, and a $2.8 billion payment to the United Auto Workers retiree health care trust fund. In total, the actions taken by GM will reduce its debt by about $11 billion and reduce interest by $500 million.
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The Four Ps of Global Business Expansion

7 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 11.12.2010 Original article ›
Miles D. White, Miles, D., White
LyrArc Article Gist
Miles White, CEO of Abbott Labs, describes the approach based on 4 P's- people, product, presence and perseverance- that will work best for emerging markets. The idea is to become a citizen of that country or region, with the right mix of local people, product customized for regional preferences, local infrastructure, and perseverance for the long haul. The stakes are huge, as emerging markets are growing rapidly. The pharmaceutical market in India is expected to quadruple from $12 billion today to $50 billion by 2020.
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Serbs Losing Fervor for European Union Accession

6 Groups   
New York Times - 05.04.2012 Original article ›
Dan Bilefsky, Dan, Bilefsky
LyrArc Article Gist
Ivica Dacic, head of the Socialist party, is the Interior Minister in the government of president, Boris Tadic. He is a former member of the Milosevic government, running in the presidential and parliamentary election against pro-EU Boris Tadic of the Democratic Party, and Tomislav Nikolic of the Progressive Party. Dacic opposes recognition of Kosovo as a condition for joining the EU, and has offered the solution of partitioning Kosovo. His popularity has increased with the 24% unemployment rate in Serbia, and dissatisfaction with the current government.
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Vote Ensures Japan Will Double Sales Tax to 10%

1 Links 2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 06.27.2012 Original article ›
Toko Sekiguchi, Toko, Sekiguchi, George Nishiyama, George, Nishiyama
LyrArc Article Gist
The passage of legislation to double the sales tax to 10% passed the lower house of parliament in Japan by a vote of 363 to 96, with 57 members of the 289 members of parliament of the Democratic Party of Japan voting against it. The IMF in a recent report recommending increasing the sales tax to 15%, raising the retirement age, and cutting social security spending. Moody's investors Service described the move as "credit positive" for Japannese government bonds, and see it as a first step.
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College Loans Weigh Heavier on Graduates

1 Links 14 Groups   
New York Times - 04.11.2011 Original article ›
Tamar Lewin, Tamar, Lewin
LyrArc Article Gist
In 2000 student debt in the U.S. was at $200 billion. In 2010 student debt at 1 trillion dollars will surpass credit card debt. Student debt is now become a serious macroeconomic factor. Budget cuts will also increase the level of student debt as fewer grants are available and tution goes up. It is expected to shape when young people can afford to buy a home, start a family, or save for their kids education. This would have serious economic implications for the future.
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Samsung Foresees a Decline in Profit

6 Groups   
New York Times - 07.07.2014 Original article ›
Brian X. Chen, Brian, X., Chen
LyrArc Article Gist
Samsung forecast of profits in the 1st quarter of 2014 shows a decline of 24% to $7.1 billion. Slower growth in smartphone sales as fewer people see the need to upgrade, higher cost of promotions in a sluggish sales environment, competition from Apple in the high end and from Huawei, Lenovo and HTC in the lower end or mid range, slower upgrading of tablets and the sales of large screen smartphones eating into sales of tablets, are some of the reasons for declining profits.
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Berlin Lays Groundwork with German Public for Stiffer Russian Sanctions

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.28.2014 Original article ›
Andrea Thomas, Andrea, Thomas
LyrArc Article Gist
Trade between Russia and Germany was about $100 billion in 2013, or about 3.3% of German exports. About 300,000 jobs depend on exports to Russia, according to Germany's DIHK Chambers of Commerce. A poll released by Der Spiegel on July 27, 2014, shows 52% of Germans now support tough sanctions on Russia, with the mood shifting following the death of 193 Dutch residents on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17. Finance minister Schauble told the Bild newspaper- "Damaging pece and stability would be the biggest risk for the economy."
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Rupert Murdoch to Put Media Empire in Sons’ Hands

8 Groups   
New York Times - 06.11.2015 Original article ›
Emily Steel, Emily, Steel, Ravi Somaiya, Ravi, Somaiya
LyrArc Article Gist
Rupert Muroch's son James becomes the new CEO of 21st Century Fox. His other son Lachlan becomes the co-executive chairman of the company and will change location from Australia to Los Angeles. Rupert Murdoch's family owns 40% of the voting shares of News Corporation and 21st Century Fox. The moves are part of the succession plan put in place by Rupert Murdoch for the company he built from a single newspaper to a large media business that covers television networks, film studios and satellite companies.
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Threat Grows From Liver Illness Tied to Obesity

1 Groups   
New York Times - 06.13.2014 Original article ›
Anahad O'connor, Anahad, O'connor
LyrArc Article Gist
There is no treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease linked to obesity. It is twice as prevalent in Hispanics compared to other whites and African Americans. The fatty liver is a result of bad eating habits and lifestyle with little exercize. It is expected to be the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. by 2020. At the current rate about 25 millon Americans are expected to have the disease by 2025, according to the chief of liver transplant division at UCLA School of Medicine.
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Athens's Love Affair With the Euro Persists

1 Links 10 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 11.04.2013 Original article ›
Simon Nixon, Simon, Nixon
LyrArc Article Gist
A Pew Center poll in Greece shows support for the Euro at 69% in 2013. The situation in Greece has improved in 2013 with the economy expected to decline by 4% in 2013 and return to growth in 2014. The current account deficit at 11% in 2008 is now close to zero. Unemployment is stabilizing and the competitiveness is being restored as labor costs per hour are down 30%, according to Alpha Bank. Ten year government bond yields are now below 8% in 2013, a dramatic improvement.
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Sony Scores Early Points in New Console Wars

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.06.2013 Original article ›
Aaron Back, Aaron, Back
LyrArc Article Gist
Aaron Back says Sony is paying serious attention to the profitability of its Playstation business. He cites IHS estimates of Playstation 4 costing $381 to make and the retail price set for $399, in contrast to the Playstation 3 which cost Sony $100 more to make than the retail price. Sony's Playstation business is expected to post operating loss of 27 billion yen in the fiscal year ending March 2014, with profits of 37 billion yen the following year, and 65 billion in the year following that.
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Ratings Agencies Look Beyond Cliff

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.16.2012 Original article ›
Jeannette Neumann, Jeannette, Neumann
LyrArc Article Gist
In a Nov. 8 S&P report S&P's estimate for net government debt to GDP ratio for 2013 is over 80%. What S&P will look for in the debt negotiations is for the parties to produce an agreement that will stick and for the debt to GDP ratio to stabilize at close to current levels. Less important is the Jan. 1 deadline for S&P and Moody's according to executives at the credit ratings firms and more important real agreement that lasts.
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President Obama takes second oath of office at inauguration - The Washington Post

  
Washington Post - 01.22.2013 Original article ›
David Fahrenthold, David, Fahrenthold
LyrArc Article Gist
Obama says in his second inaugural address: "We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect...that today's victories will be only partial. And that it will be up to those who stand here in four years- and 40 years, and 400 years hence- to advance the timeless spirit once conferred to us in a spare Philadelphia hall." With that Obama articulates a liberal vision of America.
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Original article 8 minutes, gist 1 minute

There’s No Substitute for Troops on the Ground

1 Groups   
New York Times - 10.22.2009 Original article ›
Max Boot, Max, Boot
LyrArc Article Gist
An argument for more troops, as Max Boot of the Council of Foreign Relations vists Afghanistan at the request of General Petraeus. This is a local account, what is the larger picture. And can the problems of a failed Afghan government and the way American boots are seen as foreign occupiers be wished away? See the link to Kristof who says even the Punjabis in the Pakistan army are not welcomed in Pashtun land on both sides of the border, and there are 40 million Pashtuns.
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The Best Allies Money Can Buy

1 Groups   
New York Times - 11.04.2009 Original article ›
Thomas L. Friedman, Thomas, L., Friedman
LyrArc Article Gist
Friedman points to Congressional Research Service numbers showing that of the D.of D. workforce contractors accounted for 48% in Iraq and 57% in Afghanistan. Allison Stanger of Middlebury College who wrote the book "One Nation under Contract: The Outsourcing of American Power and the Future of Foreign Policy," says tasks of diplomacy, development, defense and even intelligence are all outsourced. And State and USAID are also heavily outsourcing. In 2008 roughly 80% of State Department budget went out in the form of contracts and grants.
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Senators Announce Stimulus Agreement

1 Groups   
New York Times - 02.12.2009 Original article ›
David M. Herszenhorn, David, M., Herszenhorn, Carl Hulse, Carl, Hulse
LyrArc Article Gist
A lot of intense give and take to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Stimulus bill, and the resulting outcome of a $789 billion stimulus bill. It includes about $70 billion relief for taxpayers from the alternative minumum tax in 2009, and has reductions in investments in health care, education, school renovations and other items of spending. A bipartisan group of Senators led by Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska played a critical role in the final review, keeping the stimulus closer to $700 billion.
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Public Pension Managers Rethink Hedge Fund Ties

  
New York Times - 04.15.2009 Original article ›
Leslie Wayne, Leslie, Wayne
LyrArc Article Gist
Calpers, California's pension fund is setting down the conditions under which it will work with hedge funds, including separately managing its money, reduce hedge fund fees so that they cover operating expenses and are not a windfall for hedge fund managers. Calpers has only made 3.5% annual returns since 2002 far from the big returns promised by hedge fund managers. In 2005 just 13% of all public pension funds invested inhedge funds. By 2008, 40% invested in hedge funds, with acombined $78 billion invested in hedge funds.
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House to Leave Fuel Efficiency Out of Debate on Energy Bill

  
New York Times - 08.02.2007 Original article ›
John M. Broder, John, M., Broder
LyrArc Article Gist
Markey and Dingell are supporting diiferent fuel efficiency standards in the House. Vote on the legislation in the House has been postponed after a meeting between Speaker Pelosi and Ed Markey. This gives Markey more time to build a consensus for stricter fuel econonomy standards among House members to be voted on later this year. Meantime rising crude oil prices which are close to $80 a barrel and reaching new highs may nudge the House in his direction while giving the automakers time to adjust their thinking.
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