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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.

Google Antitrust Trial: Google Viewed Exclusive Search Deals as a ‘Weapon,’ Justice Department says

  
NYTimes.com - 09.12.2023 Original article ›
Cecilia Kang, David Mc Cabe
LyrArc Article Gist
Exclusive deals with Samsung, Apple and Mozilla have turned Google into an exclusive monopoly for internet use. The US Justice Department is taking aim at this in the trial that begins today September 12, 2023. It limits choice for Americans and unfairly rewards monopolistic behaviours. President Biden said famously in his State of the Union speech this February "capitalism without competition is not capitalism, it is extortion." It is why the Biden administration is serious about the Tech monopolies which distort the fairness of the American system leading to a monopoly over information so that different ideas are not represented in the same way as they would be in a competitive situation. It also means monopolistic pricing behaviours. 

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Essay | The Real Story of Musk’s Twitter Takeover

1 Groups   
WSJ - 08.31.2023 Original article ›
Walter Isaacson
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Isaacson tells the story of Musk and paying $44 billion for Twitter, how all these birds have to go. Of Musk seeing the words "psychological safety" at Twitter and being take aback. Mental wellbeing, worklife balance were not his thing, says Isaacson. A failed acquisition, conversion and renaming of Paypal, led Musk to Twitter as a way to create a site that does all things including payments and social media. Contrast Musk with Carlos Tavares, CEO of European EV automaker Stellantis who makes worklife balance part of his way of running the company, and one sees a shocking contrast in a war of ideas of what is the most productive and what makes productive employees.

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Libya Storm’s Severity Caused in Part by Climate Change, Scientists Say

  
WSJ - 09.19.2023 Original article ›
Chao Deng, Eric Niiler
LyrArc Article Gist
Scientists at Haifa, Kyoto, and at WWA the World Weather Attribution Group say climate change is a cause of the sudden floods in Libya which swept parts of Derna into the sea. It rarely rains in September in the Mediterranean and it is warming 20% faster than other oceans changing weather patterns. Sea surface temperatures near the coast of Libya was 81.5 degree Fahrenheit exceeding the 78.8 degrees when storm systems develop. Kyoto scientists say the two dams that burst had seen sediment accumulate over time reducing the capacity to retain flood waters, and setting loose a torrent of mud when the dams failed. Wars and lack of upkeep of the dams combined with climate change created the flood damage in Libya. 

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A compromise too far? Spain’s Sanchez has ‘little wiggle room’ to stay in power

  
France 24 - 09.29.2023 Original article ›
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Pedro Sanchez's efforts to defuse tensions over Catalonia and still form a government in Spain, without alienating Spanish voters following a tight election. Sanchez needs support from 24 of 25 members of parliament from separatist parties of Catalonia to reach the 176 he needs to form a government. Sanchez calls his efforts to reduce tensions between Barcelona and Madrid "dejudicializing" the process instead of "amnesty," and has been able to govern with support of other parties. In the July election his PSOE Socialist Workers Party was 1.4% percentage points behind the centrist Partido Popular. The PP leader Feijoo has failed to form a government and Sanchez will have a chance to form a government in October.

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Rishi Sunak’s approval rating fell after conference, poll shows

  
- 10.12.2023 Original article ›
Oliver Wright, Policy Editor
LyrArc Article Gist
Rishi Sunak's approval rating drops by 5 percentage points in just one week, and this after the Conservative Conference in Manchester where he announced plans on relaxing net zero plans and other policy. Sunak's approval rating drops to 20%. A poll taken after Starmer's speech at the Labor conference in Liverpool shows the Conservatives dropping to 24% and Liberal Democrats dropping to 9%. Labor has the support of just under half of voters in Britain today at 47%. 32% now feel Starmer would be the best prime minister compared to 20% for Sunak. After the Liverpool Labor Conference the percentage of people who thought Labor had a clear plan for the country increased by 6 percentage points.

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Original article 1 minute, gist 1 minute

Billionaire Bets That a $12 Mobile Phone Can Get More of the World’s Most Populous Country Online

  
WSJ - 10.16.2023 Original article ›
Newley Purnell
LyrArc Article Gist
Mr. Ambani's Jio company is targeting both ends of the pyramid. It is investing $25 billion on a 5G network coming in late 2023. At the lower end a new $12 mobile phone calld JioBharat by India's largest telecom provider aims to reach 250 million people who use 2G mobile phones. Mobile phone penetration in India is about 46% in 2021, up from 17% in 2016, according to World Bank. This is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Ambani who built a 4G network from scratch and has 440 million subscribers with some of the lowest data rates in the world. The new phone has a smaller screen, physical keyboard, camera and runs on 4G. 

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Polish Election Upends Right-Wing Ruling Party

  
WSJ - 10.15.2023 Original article ›
Thomas Grove, Karolina Jeznach
LyrArc Article Gist
The Opposition Civic  Platform of Donald Tusk, a former head of the European Council favoring close ties to the EU, wins 31% of the vote. Its allies Third Way Alliance had 13.5%, and the Left Party 8.6% of the vote, giving it a total of 248 seats in the 460 seats of the Polish parliament. The governing Law and Justice Party won 36.6% of the vote falling short with 198 seats. What is remarkable is high turnout of 73% that exceeds the level reached when Poland discarded Communist rule. The PiS governing party distanced itself from the European Union and focused on culture wars centered around restricting abortion and limiting the powers of the judiciary.

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The UAW Beat Detroit. Tesla Will Be a Different Beast.

  
WSJ - 11.02.2023 Original article ›
Tim Higgins
LyrArc Article Gist
Tesla at $24 per hour faces a challenge when Toyota which increased wages by 9% for non unionized labor pays $34 per hour for assembly line workers. Toyota did this after the new settlement with the UAW for 146,000 workers at Ford, GM and Stellantis. What it means is that instead of setting the wage standard Tesla will be a less attractive option for workers as other foreign automakers Nissan, VW and BMW increase their wages. The UAW union does not have to organize at Tesla for fair wages as Tesla's 20,000 workers would become the lowest paid, and least attractive option for workers. And Tesla would become an exception to fair wages in a cost of living crisis.

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Essay | How the Democrats Lost the Working Class on Immigration

  
WSJ - 11.03.2023 Original article ›
John B. Judis, Ruy Teixeira
LyrArc Article Gist
Immigration declined in the 1920's so that when FDR became president it was easier to build a working class coalition. After 1965 when president Johnson signed into law a bill that allowed family unification it was seen as not adding significantly to legal immigration. Yet in the period after 1965 millions of immigrants entered the US. This writer says the Democrats have forgotten that FDR built the Democratic worker base when immigration was not an issue. Today the rise in immigration has muddled the Democrats efforts to build back the working class coalition of FDR, with loss of support from workers and non college educated people who see migrants crossing the border as a serious problem.

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Election Day Guide: Governor Races, Abortion Access and More

  
NYTimes.com - 11.06.2023 Original article ›
Neil Vigdor
LyrArc Article Gist
Election of Democratic governors in two southern states could mark a shift as white voters shift back to Biden and Democrats. One year before presidential elections 2 Governors races in Kentucky and Mississippi, mayoral elections in Philadelphia, assembly elections in Virginia, and  an effort to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution in Ohio, offer insights into voter sentiment. In Kentucky  a popular Democratic governor faces a challenge from a candidate endorsed by Mr. Trump, and in Mississippi a scandal affects the reelection of a Republican governor who faces a challenge from a cousin of singer Elvis Presley. In Philadelphia a Democrat is nearly assured of a win as mayor. Republicans are looking to gain the assembly in Virginia.

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A Democratic Governor in Mississippi? He Thinks It’s Possible.

  
NYTimes.com - 11.06.2023 Original article ›
Rick Rojas
LyrArc Article Gist
Presley says the Governor's election is not about right vs. left, not Democrat vs Republican, just those of us on the outside vs those in the inside. NYT covers Brandon Presley's effort to win the Governor's race in a Deep Southern state Mississippi. He plans expansion of Medicaid in a state with alarming health conditions. He hopes to revive rural hospitals. He approved raises for public school teachers of $5100 a year. He is conservative on social and cultural issues. In 2001 at age 24 he was elected mayor of a small town Nettleton with 1900 people in northeastern Mississippi. He was elected four times to represent northern Mississippi on the Public Services Commission.

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Analysis | Millennials aren’t having kids. Here are the reasons why.

  
Washington Post - 11.07.2023 Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Millenials group ages 18-49 who have decided to have zero children post pandemic is growing, as shown in this story in The Washington Post- with many graphs about what is really happening. A 2021 Pew Research poll shows 44% of childless adults ages 18-49 saying they do not want kids, or are not likely to have kids. This is up from 37% in 2018. And 56% of these people simply give no reason, just that- no kids. The difficult economic environment is part of this, so is the difficulty in raising kids that do better than their parents, the huge resources needed to raise good kids, all leading to this view among millenial women.

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Original article 9 minutes, gist 1 minute

It May Be Too Late to Fend Off China’s Battery Giants

  
WSJ - 11.07.2023 Original article ›
Jacky Wong
LyrArc Article Gist
This story in WSJ says China may have a lead in electric car battery sales in 2024 and beyond. China is investing heavily in battery plants and EV plants in Europe and the US. This would help China meet the restrictions on import of electric vehicles from China by the Biden administration. CATL increased its market share in Europe from 10% to 24%. Sales of EV vehicles in China went up by 37% in the first 9 months of 2023, and China is the top exporter of electric vehicles. CATL's electric battery sales in Europe doubled compared to 60% for LG. And in excluding China sales CATL has caught up with LG both having 28% of the market.

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U.S. Manages Expectations of a Breakthrough Before Biden and Xi Meet

1 Groups   
NYTimes.com - 11.14.2023 Original article ›
Katie Rogers, David E. Sanger
LyrArc Article Gist
Unbelievable as it may sound David Sanger and Katie Rogers show in this report in the NYT that US China relations are being put on a stable level by Biden and Xi Jinping. The visit to San Francisco is being carefully planned to the last detail to make certain that Xi sees the right things about America and the trip goes well. The slowing economy in China, the rising youth unemployment, have changed th dynamic to the point where Xi will be meeting American industry leaders to attract and retain American investment. WSJ reports $110 billion withdrawn from bond markets in China. EU and AMerican companies withdrawing capital from China and putting some of it into investment in the US called reshoring that Biden supports.

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Jury Finds Realtors Conspired to Keep Commissions High

  
WSJ - 11.17.2023 Original article ›
Laura Kusisto, Nicole Friedman, Shannon Najmabadi
LyrArc Article Gist
A federal jury finds the NAR National Association of Realtors and residential brokerages liable for $1.8 billion in damages for keeping commission rates on home sales artificially high. The case was brought forward by sellers in midwestern states and the decision was announced by the jury at a Kansas City courtroom. Under antitrust rules the verdict could be tripled to $5 billion. At present the sellers pay their own agents commission about 5-6% of the home's selling price, which is shared with the buyers agent. As the WSJ report shows mostly all countries in the world charge lower commissions in the range of 2% and the US has the most realtors, many working parttime-1.6 million of them.

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Student-Loan Repayments Are Coming Back. Retailers Are in for a Big Shock.

  
WSJ - 06.16.2023 Original article ›
Jinjoo Lee
LyrArc Article Gist
In the event that the US Supreme Court halts president Biden's student loan payments assistance plan about 45 million borrowers will be affected in the US. Young people who believed in getting a higher education or going to university will be penalized for that decision. It will affect the retail sector and standards of living, during a cost of living crisis.One of the achievements of the 20th century similar to achievements in medicine and other fields was the open access to education to all. Without it no part of the world can call itself part of enlightened civilization coming out of the creation of the modern world which started in Europe and spread to the US, then to Asia.

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The Biggest Winners in America’s Climate Law: Foreign Companies

  
WSJ - 07.20.2023 Original article ›
Amrith Ramkumar, Phred Dvorak
LyrArc Article Gist
The WSJ looks at $110 billion in projects which get financial support from the US government under the climate law of the Inflation Reduction Act. Many of the projects are being done by foreign companies. Panasonic is planning a third battery plant in the US and will get $2 billion in tax credits from the US government. Other companies are from South Korea such as LG, and from China. The intent is to build a US supply chain that depends on factories in the US and creates jobs in the US, yet because the US supply chain is so undeveloped with so little attention paid to it in the past, foreign companies will be needed.

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The ‘Lazy-Girl Job’ Is In Right Now. Here’s Why.

  
WSJ - 07.25.2023 Original article ›
Katie Mogg
LyrArc Article Gist
The term "lazy girl job" is a misnomer because it refers to work life balance choices made by women who prefer to do remote work, avoid micro manager bosses, and pay attention to health and exercise, lifestyle choices. Being able to take a walk midday and take a bike ride in the evening at 5.00 pm with work cut off times is a preference for many young people. It follows the trend of quiet quitting where lifestyle choices and health take precedence over existing flawed ways of work that ignore family, health and exercise needs. The pandemic has created a new awareness about what is important in life and a new set of priorities. Young people are following their heart.

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Economist Mark Zandi on the Economic Outlook

  
C-SPAN.org - 04.20.2024 Original article ›
Mark Zandi, Moody's
LyrArc Article Gist
"The economy is performing well, and the near term prospects are good" says Mark Zandi of Moody's, in his speech on the US economic outlook at an event of the National Economists Club. He is optimistic about the economy and sees moderating inflation and higher consumer confidence. Investments in the CHIPS act and the Inflation Reduction Act in science, in chip manufacturing, in renewable energy manufacturing, other investments in infrastructure, he sees as building a stronger economy with job creation and improved potential for growth. Oil prices could pose a risk. Increased supplies of US oil, and stable production by the Saudis are needed for stable oil prices after recent turmoil in the Middle East.

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Original article 1 minute, gist 1 minute

Trump’s Legal Options in Travel Ban Case

4 Groups   
The New York Times - 02.10.2017 Original article ›
Adam Liptak
LyrArc Article Gist
An emergency appeal to have the case on the travel ban to the Supreme Court has the disadvantage that of the 8 Justices on the court the ruling could end up at 4 against and 4 in favor. The 4 liberal Justices are unlikely to support it. Another more likely scenario is taking a conventional petition approach and this would mean a decision on whether the Supreme Court hears the case would come by April, and hearings starting in October. By that time Neil Gorsuch could be on the Supreme Court filling Judge Scalia's vacant position- leading to a decision, instead of a tie that leaves the appeals court decision to stop the travel ban in place.

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Original article 4 minutes, gist 1 minute

Presidential election debate: Trump and Clinton clash - BBC News

11 Groups   
BBC News - 09.27.2016 Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
The first presidential debate with Clinton and Trump is moderated by Lester Holt. The debate included an exchange on Trump's tax returns, policing in inner cities, and national security. The debate was broadcast by all television stations and was watched by over 100 million viewers. Trump made three times the interruptions made by Clinton. The birther issue raised by Trump also came up, and was cited as a "hurtful lie" by Clinton as it persisted long after the birth certificate information was seen by the public. In one exchange Clinton told Trump when he referred to all the infrastructure that had not been built, that one of the reasons was he had not payed taxes.

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Original article 6 minutes, gist 1 minute

It’s the Summer of the Quiet Vacation. Don’t Tell the Boss.

  
WSJ - 07.16.2024 Original article ›
Sanvi Bangalore
LyrArc Article Gist
During the latter period of the pandemic midsized companies encouraged workers to take minivacations to avoid burnout from excessive hours of work in the pandemic environment. These companies found that happier workers were more productive workers. In 2024 workers are continuing to protect their mental health following the pandemic by adding mini vacations using the opportunities to work remotely. Workers are doing this across the workplace for all ages because this saves their official vacation days and because vacation days are scarce. Only 15 days after working 5 years and 18 days after working 10 years, these vacation days are precious for mental health and for medical situations in the family, and for essential time off work to rejuvenate.

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More Americans call volume of immigrants a ‘critical threat,’ poll finds

  
Washington Post - 08.03.2024 Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Immigration is an important issue, it also is middle of the pack voting issue, says this report in the Washingon Post. Chicago Council poll shows that what matters a great deal is- economy in general (58 percent), inflation (53 percent), abortion and immigration both at 43 percent,  crime 39 percent, Ukraine 19 percent, Gaza 17 percent. This is also true for Independents at 41 percent, protecting democracy 51 percent, inflation 48 percent. A majority of Americans say about undocumented immigrants that they should be allowed to stay and 6 out of 10 say immigrants from other cultures have "a positive effect" and interestingly 7 out of 10 of all Americans say "immigrants mostly take jobs that nobody wants."

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Original article 6 minutes, gist 1 minute

Murdoch did meet Thatcher before Times takeover, memo reveals

  
The Guardian - 03.17.2012 Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
The monopoly over news publishing in the UK began in 1981 with the purchase of loss making The Times through negotiations with the trade unions.  As shown in The Guardian Rupert Murdoch met with Margaret Thatcher on Jan 3 1981 weeks before the matter was brought up by Thatcher at a cabinet meeting so that it would not be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. This is revealed in the Thatcher papers held at the Churchill archives in Cambridge 30 years after the event in 2012. This was the year Ronald Reagan's administration replaced Jimmy Carter's administration in 1981. In 2022 Tories Secretary Nadine Torries removed controls that protected the editorial independence of The Times. 

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The Guardian view on Sure Start’s success: Labour should see latest findings as an opportunity | Editorial

  
The Guardian - 04.09.2024 Original article ›
LyrArc Article Gist
Sure Start is a child education program for the early years to provide community centres and services to children started in 1998 under Labor prime minister Gordon Brown and later reduced in funding by the Tories. Efforts to revive the program under Labor party with high degree of child poverty in Britain. Results of the program show children improved in later grades in their learning ability and educational level proficiency. Children from low income households and mothers could benefit from such programs in the US and UK. This is part of an overall effort under Starmer in the UK as Labor returns to government with an expected majority and as Biden continues efforts to raise levels of educational opportunity for children in the US.

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