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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.


South China Morning Post Original article ›
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To understand the situation in Hong Kong and in China, it is necessary to know about the early years of the Cultural Revolution around 1966 to 1976  and the period of economic and cultural experimentation that followed its failure. This is the period in which China's leader Xi Jinping was growing up and went to University, a period during which his father XI Zhongxun was persecuted in party struggles about ideas driving the party. Ironically the Cultural Revolution was a period when China under Mao launched an effort to stamp out western and capitalist influence in China promoting efforts to go back to the countryside where most of the people lived, in sharp contrast to the opposite of attracting western technology and urbanization pursued today.   Xi Jinping's father as party leader in Guangdong province 1978-1980 after rehabilitation under premier Deng in the period of experimentation with economic models, never lost faith in the party's ideals and what it sought to achieve. China's rejuvenation after centuries of backwardness and the disaster of the opium wars that led to opening China to opium trade by Britain and the ceding of Hong Kong as a British colony, remained indelibly in the mind of the father and today in his son in the form of the "China Dream." The South China Morning Post gives useful insights by looking at the early years of Xi Jinping. ...
New York Times Original article ›
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Erfurt is a very German city in the heart of Germany with its many churches and medieval past, the home town of Martin Luther. Katrin Bennhold provides this exceptional report of how Erfurt is coping with new refugees from talking to town officials and observing the process of resettlement. Erfurt has a population of 208,000 with only about 500 Muslims, and few people from Africa. The town's mayor sees it as the biggest challenge since World War II, larger than reunification with the east, as 300 migrants arrive every week and 4000 have to be resettled by Christmas 2015. Under Germany's quota system the state of Thuringia gets 2.5% of refugees, and Erfurt gets 10% of this. When the Soviet bloc expelled 14 million Germans from the eastern territories in the bloc, 670,000 passed through camps in Erfurt. The difference now is the language barrier, and the anxiety among some Germans of how this could change their lives, which is visible from the questions asked at a town hall meeting in Erfurt. Because of the suddenness with which Germany was confronted with the refugee problem it will take time to get organized- in September 2015 there is a shortage of housing space, cots, temporary shelters, translators, social workers, and some of the infrastructure has to be put in on an improvised basis. Rarely has a people come under the spotlight of world attention in modern communications media, in the way small cities and towns throughout Germany are now facing, and providing a glimpse into the hearts and souls of so many....
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Daisuke Wakabayashi's exceptional account of how Steve Jobs directed the project to develop the iPhone starting in 2005 upto to the introduction in 2007. At one point Jobs gives Christie, the engineer leading the very small project team, 2 months to put it together or he would find someone else to do it. This is similiar to the way in which Sony's Morita approached his project team working on the Walkman telling them what he wanted to see and the size of the device. Jobs payed attention to all the details from how the phone names addresses appeared on the screen, dialing from the phone book, the swiping action to start the device, the music, and the colors on the screen. Only in on the project's detail were Bill Campbell, Apple director, and Jony Ive, Apple design chief. Christie was approached by Scott Forestall in late 2004 about this secret project codenamed "Purple." Christie is the engineer who joined Apple in 1996 to work on the Newton, and early touch screen device that failed because the technology was not developed enough at the time, making the device bulky and cumbersome. Christie was working on software for Mac computers in 2004. Greg Joswiak, Apple vice president for iPhone marketing, monitored other phone makers to see if they were coming up with a device that migrated the iPod's music features to the phone. Hence the absolute secrecy for this project. The project team is amazingly small. The practice of small teams can be found at Amazon and Kayak....
New York Times Original article ›
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A detailed account of how the American airstrikes in Farah province look from the ground. CIvilians who may not have much to do with the Taliban get caught in these strikes, and burned bodies of women, girls, children are to be found along with destroyed homes. It only creates new volunteers among the young for the Taliban and legitimizes anti-American feelings after bombings of this kind. Its also exactly as the Taliban intended it, as they hid among the civilians with this in mind. US soldiers outnumbered in difficult terrain and vast spaces call in airstrikes after ambushes and difficult fights. The US has to do some serious problem solving on this one, or risk losing the support of ordinary Afghans , and with it the war. These are some of the tough choices in this war, with what kind of air support to fight this war. One that is pinpoint and based on accurate intelligence and in skirmishes in the open, but avoiding the kind that gets close to civilian areas. And finding other ways to tackle the problems. Having popular support is critical, and providing security is critical, which calls for more feet on the ground, more aid workers on the ground, and more to show for these efforts in reduced casualties and better lives of the people in each area. ...
Washington Post Original article ›
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Studies by Mexico's Interior Ministry show that 62% of the $23 billion in remittances to Mexico by Mexicans living in the U.S. go to the lower middle class. As migration to the U.S. diminishes to zero Mexicans who are illegal aliens in the U.S. are returning to Mexico as small entrepreneurs using earnigs made in the U.S.. This offers them a chance for upward mobility and a return to families that they never had in the U.S., and is aiding the growth of a Mexican middle class. About 12 million Mexicans, or 15% of Mexico's labor force lives legally or illegally in the U.S., according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Experts say that in the first 3-5 years remittances go to help their families, after 7 years the money goes into savings and investment fueling growth of small towns such as Santa Maria in Mexico. About half of Mexico's 112 million people have family living in the U.S., which is having an influence on atttitudes and ways of thinking of the lower middle class that emigrated to the U.S.and is now returning to the country. Other factors are reinforcing the trends such as the lower price of consumer goods with the entry of retailers such as Wal-Mart and Costco into Mexico. Nestle, P&G, and Unilever, all sell at low price points in Mexico. The government's effort to setup a basic safety net subsidizing schooling, health care and food has also helped in this direction. Rapid change in demographics in all of Latin America, including Mexico with a shift to smaller families is creating new opportunities to invest in children for better educational opportunities and working lives....
Washington Post Original article ›
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The failure of the Supercommitte in the U.S. Congress by the Thanksgiving deadline will not have any immediate consequences. This is because automatic spending cuts that are supposed to go into effect if the Supercommitte fails, do not go into effect till Jan 2013. This gives Congress another year in which to come up with necessary deficit savings. This is a major reason the two sides divided on major issues from the extension of Bush tax cuts and tax increases, and facing pressure from their party's interest groups and voter support groups, have no special incentive to reach a compromise. Such a compromise also means politicians taking the political risk of not being reelected. Another dynamic that is in play in November 2011 is that interest groups in the Republican and Democratic parties both now see the "sequester," as the automatic cuts are described, as a better alternative than any bipartisan agreement that cuts health and retirement programs. For anti-tax groups, the automatic cuts are better than a deal than includes tax increases. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) says: "We promised tax cuts. And I think we need to have cuts." For liberal groups, the trigger or sequester for the 2013 automatic cuts is better than a deal that cuts health and retirement programs. The trigger for automatic cuts will cut agency budgets, but spending for the poor and the elderly -including food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare- is exempted. Eric Kinson, co-director of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, says no deal is better than one that is flawed, the extra time gives the country time to pause and think about the alternatives....
dw.com Original article ›
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Indian trade with Latin America 2025 of $40 billion sees a catchup effort to China's $480 billion trade. Efforts by Brazil's Petrobras and Argentina's YPF to increase exports of oil and LNG to India and increase imports of pharmaceuticals, automobiles and textiles.

Sabrina Olivera from the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) says-

"The fact that India is the only democracy in Asia gives it an advantage in Latin America, where most countries in the region are democracies, trust in India is stronger than in China."

Brazil's president Lula and Indian PM Modi worked closely for G20 Summits in New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro. This cooperation and a need for Latin America to diversify from concentration of trade with China, increasing potential with India, can lead to a doubling or tripling of trade with India in a few years.

WSJ Original article ›
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 A 4.30 or 5.30 wakeup routine where one goes to sleep between 9.00 and 9.30 pm is one that gives time for fitness, a chance to so something for oneself before daylight and before the world wakes up. This report is in Style in WSJ when it should be in the Health and Wellbeing section. Rising early is part of yoga tradition for meditation in India where it is called Brahmamurta (time of Brahma) generally between 3.30 am and 5.30 am in the early morning. It is the time of the Creator of the universe, Brahma.

It is the best time for meditation on Ram, Brahman, on Christ or the Buddha. It can also be used for creative activity and for work that require concentration and clarity of mind. When the whole world sleeps the sage is awake, says the Bhagavad Gita. In Christian churches this is also the time for early morning prayer.

BBC News Original article ›
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Rep Jodey Arrington of Texas on Liberation Day Tariffs-

"It just seems to me that it's un-American to not fight for our American manufacturers, producers and workers to simply have an even playing field." 

On the other side of the Atlantic the British press does not like America. Here is one report from the BBC News shown as Analysis by the BBC News.

It says Xi and the six other members of the Politburo Standing Committee were out planting trees to prevent deforestation while DJT was announcing big tariffs. And BBC News report Live goes on to say that the picture of Xi planting tress gives out the vibe that - go on America "this is China, we are not interested in your crap."  

WSJ Original article ›
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The White House gives details of a new Trade Agreement with Indonesia. There will be zero tariffs on exports to Indonesia of US goods. Indonesia will have lower tariffs of 19% on most products, and higher duties of 40% on goods that are sent through Indonesia to evade tariffs such as from China. Indonesia will place no restrictions on export of rare earth minerals. Indonesia will remove non tariff barriers by action to accept U.S. safety regulations for automobiles, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, and remove preshipment inspections for US agricultural products.

Its significance is that Indonesia is a producer of rare earth minerals giving US full access. Indonesia has a large population of 250 million and this opens up markets for US farmers. It means US energy products and pharmaceuticals, and aircraft makers have access to this market. Because of far flung islands Indonesia will need more Boeing aircraft as it modernizes.

BusinessWeek Original article ›
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Ed Wallace is very much on target when he says the esteem and loyalty has faded with the new generation replacing the older generations in the U.S. automobile market. The two generations have completely different perceptions of GM and Ford. He gives the background and paints the picture of their world, the perceptions and feeling of the older generations loyal to Detroit cars. His conclusion that this is gone forever may not be entirely true, as nostalgia cars or cars which go back to an earlier era may still have customer appeal. The perceptions also vary across regions, and is true for the west and south and other parts of America which have a higher proportion of foreign brands.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Donald Trump's Style book would include things like, using a little hyperbole, exaggeration, like setting up a wall to stop immigration. It also includes attacks on opponents, the better with some publicity, good or bad, as his attacks on Carly Fiorina for looks, Jeb Bush for energy, and Megyn Kelly of Fox News show. Trump writes about this in his book written three decades ago- "The Art of the Deal." In the book he says that putting down the competition can help. And what about the deal itself? Its all for the joy of doing it, not much about what its about, or how it will all end up in helping people in their daily lives.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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The median age of Toyota buyers is 56 years, higher than Honda at 55 years, and VW at 51 years. However Toyota has not lost its reputation for reliability among older buyers. Automotive Lease Guide in its last 3 semiannual surveys shows Toyota's reputation for quality is improving to the point where it may take the top ranking from Honda in 2012. In residual value Toyota is behind only Honda's Acura brand. After reaching a peak market share of 16% in the U.S. market in 2007, Toyota has slipped to 13%. This is changing as Toyota sales are estimated to increase by 7% in November 2011 over the prior year by some analysts, which gives it 15% market share.
BusinessWeek Original article ›
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VW's global plans to increase sales and surpass Toyota. Efforts to increase sales in the U.S. by redesigning the Passat and having it compete with the Toyota Camry in the same price range of about $20,000. To develop new small cars for Asian markets VW has taken a 20% stake in Suzuki, giving it access to small car technology. Suzuki deal gives VW access to the Indian market. VW plans are to double the network of dealers in China to 1600 in 5 years and a sales target of 2 million cars for China. VW has stumbled before in the U.S. and lacks a presence in Asia outside of China. This is about to change.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute, gives an eloquent tribute to James Q. Wilson, by saying that he gave America social science with a soul. Brooks says of Wilson's book "The Moral Sense," that it truly ranks with Adam Smith's book 'Theory of Moral Sentiments,' as the most significant thinking on this subject. It synthesizes the work of hundreds of scholars in many fields to conclude that man is in his essence a moral creature. In all of creation and man's world there is this profound sense of man grounded in his moral being. It inspired most of his own work as it did for Adam Smith in his time.
New York Times Original article ›
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French surgeon, Dr Jacques Beres, who is 71, was one of the founders of Medecins San Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. He operated on 89 people in Homs and Homs province, during the attack on the region by forces loyal to President Bashar of Syria. Hager, Hodge and Rouselle give an account of the efforts to save lives by Dr. Beres. His trip to Syria was supported by the France-Syria Democracy group and by UAM93, which represents Muslim associations in the Paris suburb of Seine St-Dennis. Dr. Beres told the French radio network RTL that he was sad, and that he saw useless suffering in Homs, with cruelty and meanness for children and families.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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With firms cautious about hiring the number of temporary workers is increasing. About one fourth of new jobs created in the second quarter of 2012 in the U.S. were for temporary workers. In June 2012 of the 80,000 jobs created a third were for temporary workers. About 8 million Americans work part-time. This is an increase of half a million since March 2012 for people unable to find a full time job. The number of full time workers has declined by 700,000 since March 2012, and self employed workers have increased by 381,000 since March 2012. This gives the picture of a labor market with employers unwilling to commit and hiring temps, using overtime to meet demand.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Zillow's acquisition of Trulia is supported by the need to reduce costs and spending on marketing. The combined firms will spend $100 million on marketing in 2014, according to CFO Aggarwal. Aggarwal says antitrust issues are not a concern as Zillow and Trulia only get about 4-5% of the $12 billion real estate agents spend on advertising each year. As the deal wil close by 2015 this gives the two firms time to absorb recent acquisitions by Trulia of Market Leader and Zillow's acquisition of New York city centred StreetEasy and apartment HotPads. Both sites will continue as different brands servicing different parts of the market and reducing spending on technology and marketing.
New York Times Original article ›
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Krugman points out the risks for the U.S. economy as the U.S. loses export competitiveness with the euro reaching parity with the dollar. The huge shift from $1.50 to the dollar at one point to parity gives Europe a sudden strong boost. Europe needs the boost to escape a deflationary trap, and there is little that can be done for capital flows and exchange rates, says Krugman. He points out that many Federal Reserve governors were clueless of the impact this could have on U.S. growth, sanguinely assuming the U.S. would boost growth in 2015. Better says Krugman for the Fed to be very careful about raising rates at a time when wage growth is sluggish, and inflation low.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Gazprom's Chairman, Alexei Miller, says Ukraine owes $1.89 billion for gas deliveries after missing a March 7 payment deadline for Feb. deliveries. Transit shipments through Ukraine to Europe will continue. Russia provides 30% of Europe's gas needs and 15% of all Europe's gas demand goes through Ukraine, particularly Germany, Italy and Britain's utility companies. Europe's dependence on Russian supplies of natural gas gives a new twist to the crisis in Ukraine. Russia also needs the revenue from the natural gas exports to finance its own development as growth has slowed down sharply in 2013-2014, making this a situation where both sides in Europe need to resolve the standoff in Ukraine wihout escalation.
New York Times Original article ›
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A critical flaw in the IMF and EU's plan for Greece is the optimistic forecasts for Greece. The IMF forecast was for the Greek economy to decline by 2.6% of GDP in 2011, yet estimates now are for a decline of 6.8%. As a result even with a second bailout for $130 billion the situation is likely to deteriorate as the economy contracts faster than the IMF predicts and the debt continues to remain unsustainable. With no pro-growth policy in place the situation provides little hope for the Greeks. Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard economics professor, says he is astounded by the short term psychology that gives financial markets hope that something will work.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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Rep. Frank is saying he will move slowly on the bill that gives government the powers to put bankholding comapnies, insurance companies, and other large financial comapnies, into receivership. Now he wnats to put in the same bill the creation of a body that would act as systemic risk regulator. So instead of next month, this may take several months. Senators Dodd and Shelby on the Senate banking committe are also inclined to move slowly. Its hard to say why, because the government has been doing this on an adhoc basis for Lehman and AIG, and it ends up costing the economy even more, and creates more uncertainty. Congress would also need to provide funds for this.
Wall Street Journal Original article ›
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The domestic German public opinion has shifted against further bailouts to the point where a poll conducted July 1-5 before the referendum shows only 10% of German supporting further concessions in negotiations with Greece. This reduces even further the room domestic public opinion gives German chancellor Merkel for flexibility in talks following the Greece referendum "no" vote to earlier proposals from Germany and France. The multi year program planned for Greece following the referendum involves reforms such as making firing workers easier, changes to product markets and privatization of state assets, which were left out in the June 2 proposal from Merkel and Hollande, which was rejected at the time by Greece.
The Guardian Original article ›
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Over 1 million people have contributed to the Guardian in the last 3 years. Of this 500,000 are paying to support the Guardian on an ongoing basis. This covers its Donate effort and its Memberships program. Katharine Viner, the editor-in-chief of Guardian News and Media called the business model a new way for journalism to "regain its relevance, meaning and trusted place in society." She says many contributors donate specifically because they wanted the Guardian to stay free and outside a paywall. When readers come to know of the challenging commercial reality facing all news organization they express real interest in wanting to support, she said. Guardian is trying to breakeven in 2018 with new revenue streams. The Support appeal appears inside or at the bottom of articles and says "Support the Guardian from as little as $1- and it only takes a minute." The other approach is through $6 a month Supporter memberships. Guardian has two thrusts in its coverage. In an age of filter bubbles and hyper-partisan politics  it says its important to make space for different ides and diverse opinions. It has a Cities section for instance and looks at climate change impact. It also says "our guiding focus is to challenge the economic assumptions of the past three decades, which have extended market values such as competition and self-interest far beyond their natural sphere and seized the public realm." ...
New York Times Original article ›
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Poland's president Kaczynski says after the Irish No vote to the Lisbon Treaty that he does not know which way this whole thing will end. President Sarkozy of france who has assumed the six month rotating presidency of the european Union says Kaczynski agreed to the Lisbon treaty in negotiations in Brussels last year. Poland like most other European nations approved the treaty through its legislature and Mr. Kaczynski's signature gives it ratification by Poland.

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