World News Insights
1-3 Minute Gist

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.

All Topics Articles

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.

Taking Sanders Seriously

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.20.2016 Original article ›
Editorial
LyrArc Article Gist
This editorial in the WSJ points to Bernie Sanders 15% lead over Donald Trump in a Jan. 2016 WSJ/NBC poll- with Hillary Clinton having a 10 point lead- as proof that Sanders should be taken seriously. It says that electability of Sanders is no longer an issue, especially because the 2016 election is coming up with many surprises, including a changed election environment. Other possibilities raised in the editorial- the possibility that an independent like Bloomberg might run if Trump is nominated, further increasing the chance for Sanders to be elected president. By splitting the Republican party a Trump or Cruz nomination could also put the House in jeopardy for the Republicans, removing the House as a check if a Democrat is elected president.
Read LyrArc gist ›

India Prepares EU Trade Complaint

8 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.06.2009 Original article ›
John W. Miller, John, W., Miller, Geeta Anand, Geeta, Anand
LyrArc Article Gist
This article details the manner in which pharmaceutical companies like Sanofi, Novartis and other western pharma companies are using EU patent laws to have customs offices in the Netherlands and other European transit points to detain pharma shipments by Indian companies to developing countries. Cipla and Ind-Swift shipments are mentioned. India's pharma exports of generics and other medicines is $4.9 billion in 2009 according to Global Trade Information Services. Indian pharma companies are having to divert these shipments through Singapore and other transit poits to avoid this detaining of shipments and this costs more. India plans to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization according to India's commerce secretary, which one expert says it has agood chance of winning.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Afghanistan’s Other Front

5 Groups   
New York Times - 09.16.2009 Original article ›
Joseph Kearns Goodwin, Joseph, Kearns, Goodwin
LyrArc Article Gist
Report from the ground giving an unbiased account by a captain in the army who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent 7 months as aspecial advisor to the NATO director of communications. He avoide the official tours through the countryside and tried to see and hear what ordinatry Afghans were saying. He says the outbursts against the corruption in the Karzai government reveal a level of distrust that is so great that it greatly diminishes the credibility of the American effort in Afgahnistan, and increases the difficulties of the mission there. He suggests ombudsmens committees to handle complaints of corruption, and the withholding of funds to districts and government agencies that do not meet transpanrency and accountability goals.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Beijing's Financial Day of Reckoning Is Near

3 Links 11 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 06.21.2011 Original article ›
Carl E. Walter And Fraser J.T. Howie, Carl, E., Walter, And, Fraser, J.T., Howie
LyrArc Article Gist
The dangers to China's economy and banking system from the large number of bad loans at the local level. Difficulties of absorbing bad loan losses by the central government as new loan losses are piled on top of previous loan losses from earlier efforts to tide over bad loans. Considering all nonperforming loans that may end up as sovereign debt China's national debt is upwards of 80% of GDP, say Walter and Howie. The lack of any serious change in policies, inability to control lending for state enterprises and local governments, the tax on savings with low interest rates which keeps down domestic consumption, and the absence of a serious discussion on these issues leaves China exposed to higher systemic risk from excessive financial leverage.
Read LyrArc gist ›

In Shift, Prosecutors Are Lenient as Companies Break the Law

6 Groups   
New York Times - 07.07.2011 Original article ›
Gretchen Morgenson, Gretchen, Morgenson, Louise Story, Louise, Story
LyrArc Article Gist
The lack of prosecutions in cases of financial fraud and other cases of wrongdoing after the financial crisis of 2008 by both the Justice Department and the S.E.C. in the U.S. Both agencies of the U.S. government have preferred an approach that does not name executives as defendents and works with the company or financial institution, in many situations having the firm committing the wrongdoing conduct its own investigation.This has led some to question the deterrent effects of this approach. This is particularly important considering the possibility of recurring behaviour in a future crisis. Cozy relations between financial institutions and government agencies and government departments in the U.S. was a key feature of the system before the financial crisis of 2008.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Attack Reignites Immigration Debate in Divided Oslo

6 Groups   
New York Times - 07.25.2011 Original article ›
Steven Erlanger, Steven, Erlanger
LyrArc Article Gist
In a manner similiar to that in other European countries such as the UK and Germany, where multiculturalism is being debated, Norway is having its own debate about immigration policies and its impact on Norwegian society. The concentration of immigrants in east Oslo and other neighborhoods creates a more visible presence than actual numbers. About 11% of Norway's population of 4.9 million are immigrants. Of the 550,000 immigrants who came in between 1995 and 2010, half are white from Poland, Sweden, and other countries. But the Somalis, Eritreans, and other immigrants coming for asylum are from the poorest countries and find assimilation difficult. There is a consensus among Norwegians and in the political parties that immigration policies need to be revised.
Read LyrArc gist ›

HTC Beefs Up China Push as U.S., Europe Lag

2 Links 28 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.14.2012 Original article ›
Paul Mozur, Paul, Mozur
LyrArc Article Gist
The marketshare of companies in China's smartphone market for the 1st quarter shows Samsung with a commanding lead of 25%, the Apple iPhone has only 6.5% of the market, Huawei comes in ahead of Nokia with 12% compared to Nokia's 11%, and close behind is ZTE with 11%, Lenovo with 8%, CoolPad with 6.2%. Motorola has 4.8%. HTC slipped badly and is now at 2.6%. With other companies having 13% of the market. The market is largely fragmented today with Samsung the leader. It also shows the very fluid nature of the market with many new entrants and rapidly changing positions for Samsung, Nokia and HTC. Nokia finds itself facing competition from many new entrants and a rapidly expanding Samsung, which accounts for its suddenly eroding position.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Hispanics'€™ College Enrollment Surges, Report Finds

1 Links 4 Groups   
New York Times - 08.20.2012 Original article ›
Richard Perez Pena, Richard, Perez, Pena
LyrArc Article Gist
A study by the Pew Hispanic Center shows 46% of Hispanics 18-24 years with a high school diploma were enrolled in college in 2011, increasing from 37% in 2008. The number of Hispanics enrolled increased from 1.3 million in 2008 to 2.1 million in 2011. The high school graduation rate for Hispanics 18-24 years increased to 76%, having gone up to 70% in 2000 from 60% in the 1990's. The high school completion rate is 85% nationally and 81% for blacks. More Hispanics are likely to go to community colleges than 4 year colleges. College enrollment for whites by comparison is 51%, Asians 67%, and blacks 45%, of all Americans 18-24 years of age with high school diploma.
Read LyrArc gist ›

David Cameron’s move to save the City, not the euro - The Washington Post

7 Groups   
Washington Post - 12.12.2011 Original article ›
Anne Applebaum, Anne, Applebaum
LyrArc Article Gist
Anne Applebaum describes comments of European diplomats she talked to who were strongly critical of British prime minister Cameron's efforts to win special protections for London's financial district, the City. They described this as petty, especially when the European negotiators were working to save the Euro currency. Sarkozy said recently that the British hate the euro, and have done little to help, and should shut up. And that is the sense today in European capitals even as Conservatives in Britain applaud Cameron's move. The result is to isolate Britain from the rest of Europe, even as Britain will be put in a position to having to play by rules set by the other 26 countries in the European Union, who are its main trading partner.
Read LyrArc gist ›
Original article 4 minutes, gist 1 minute

French Candidate Hollande Assails European Policy on Greece

1 Links 2 Groups   
New York Times - 02.13.2012 Original article ›
Steven Erlanger, Steven, Erlanger
LyrArc Article Gist
Francois Hollande, the Socialist party candidate for president in France, was strongly critical of the failure of the EU plan on Greece. He says the there was in this situation a failure not only of governance in Greece, but also a failure of governance in Europe. The situation called for extraordinary measures early in the crisis. Its not about Greece not having to make the cuts to reduce the deficit, says Hollande, but about coming up with a plan that offers a return to growth- to bring debt down to 60% of GDP with a larger share of private and public contributions. He predicted a larger public contribution to match the 70% discounting of bonds by private investors would take place.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Egypt's Choice—and Ours

7 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.28.2011 Original article ›
Wsj Online, Wsj, Online
LyrArc Article Gist
The foreign policy establishment and the Obama administration is caught completely by surprise by the protests in Egypt against the 30 year rule of Mubarak. Secretary of State Clinton makes shifting statements on the protests. The WSJ editorial reminds the state department that support for democratic government worked in the Philippines and S. Korea. The Journal points to the state department realists who opposed President Bush's efforts to reach out to civil society groups inside Egypt. And refers to US Ambassador Frank Ricciardone's admiration for President Mubarak and his downplaying of US support to democracy for Egypt. The Wall Street Journal in this editorial concludes by saying it can't see how the US can walk away from supporting those who favor more pluralism in politics.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Forecast for Best Buy: Worst Is Yet to Come

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 03.04.2011 Original article ›
John Jannarone, John, Jannarone
LyrArc Article Gist
With Amazon taking customers from specialty retailers on the basis of price questions are raised about the future of Best Buy. Best Buy competed by having tech savy salespeople and moderately lower prices. Borders lost sales to Amazon. Now this is happening in electronics as Amazon increases share. Customers can visit Best Buy to check out electronic goods and then buy on Amazon for the lower price, making Best Buy Amazon's showroom. Amazon's electronics and nonmedia revenue went up by 66% in 2010 to $18 billion. With Sony selling through Costco another advantage is eroding. Even with Circuit City out of the market Best Buy was losing market share (December 2010 figures show) in the key television and computing segments.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Return Our Investment

1 Groups   
New York Times - 01.20.2010 Original article ›
Douglas W. Diamond, Douglas, W., Diamond, Anil K Kashyap, Anil, K, Kashyap
LyrArc Article Gist
Diamond and Kashyap, professors in finance and economics at the University of Chicago, show how the tax on banks proposed by the Obama administration can be executed. It would raise $90 billon over 10 years and offset the $117 billion in losses expected from the TARP program. They say the tax should be made on the size of each bank before the fall of Lehman Brothers so that banks cannot shrink their way out of the tax by engaging in sham accounting transactions. They say the banks have responded to the crisis by engaging in behaviours that have exacerbated the crisis by becoming reluctant to lend, and not renewing loans. Its like having the banks pay for the insurance policy that keeps them from sinking.
Read LyrArc gist ›

The Submarine Deals That Helped Sink Greece

1 Links 2 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 07.10.2010 Original article ›
Christopher Rhoads, Christopher, Rhoads
LyrArc Article Gist
The controversy surounding Greece's purchase of submarines from Germany costing about 1 billion euros. This at a time when public pensions are being reduced by 5%. A vice admiral of the Greek navy resigned in protest citing this reason, and it is reported that the deals are politically motivated, with the Greek deputy prime minister saying that he feels "national shame" about the decision to buy the submarines. Reports question whether the German and French effort to rescue Greece involves efforts to continue military sales to Greece. Chancellor Merkel denies this. In a visit to Athens Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan said that both Greece and Turkey do not need fighter planes and submarines, and need to reduce military spending to help build their economic future.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Bullish Medicare Projection Doubted

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 08.06.2010 Original article ›
John D. Mckinnon, John, D., Mckinnon
LyrArc Article Gist
A new report by Medicare trustees found that the Medicare hospital trust fund would face insolvency by 2029, which is 12 years after the projection made last year. But Medicare's chief actuary questioned this by saying that this assumes cuts in payments to medical providers in the health reform bill would be implemented. Not realistic he says, considering that many doctors would drop out of Medicare causing difficulty for seniors. After 2029 Medicare would be able to pay 85% of the benefits according to this report. Separately the Social Security fund is expected to need a $41 billion cash infusion, with more paid out in benefits, than collected in tax receipts in 2010 and 2011, with this situation getting worse by 2015.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Japan Abruptly Acts to Stimulate Economy

1 Links   
New York Times - 10.31.2014 Original article ›
Jonathan Soble, Jonathan, Soble
LyrArc Article Gist
Echoing ECB president Draghi's comments in 2013, Haruhiko Kuroda of the Bank of Japan says "we will do whatever it takes to achieve our price target." The central bank has set a target of 2% inflation to be achieved in 2 years. With deflationary tendencies and low growth estimates of 0.5% for fiscal 2014, Kuroda was taking the strong action to see that the gains made so far are not eroded. The Bank of Japan will target asset purchases of 80 trillion a year or $734 billion, increasing this from the 60 trillion to 70 trillion yen range set earlier. The Government Pension Investment Fund backed this move by saying it would increase the stock component in its portfolio from 24% to about 50%.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Slide in Fuel Costs Lifts Profits for Airlines, but Fares Won’t Fall

11 Groups   
New York Times - 12.10.2014 Original article ›
Jad Mouawad, Jad, Mouawad, Nicola Clark, Nicola, Clark
LyrArc Article Gist
Airlines are using the savings from lower oil prices to do do much neded upgrading and improvements on planes, for improving airport facilities and to reward employees. Airlines are investing at the best rate in 13 years. Much of the investment goes to upgrade service for business class travel. As planes are full airlines have little incentive to reduce fares. American Airlines says it wil invest $2 billion to improve service inside planes. Air France-KLM says it is spending $1.2 billion to refurbish planes and modenize airport lounges, ground services. IATA estimate is for airline industry profits to go up from $11 billion in 2013 to $19.9 billion, increasing to $25 billion in 2015, almost doubling in 2 years.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Merkel’s Visit to Britain Sets New Tone After E.U. Rift

7 Groups   
New York Times - 01.07.2015 Original article ›
Katrin Bennhold, Katrin, Bennhold
LyrArc Article Gist
As the two leaders Cameron and Merkel visit the exhibition on Germany at the British Museum, efforts are made to improve ties and keep Britain in the European Union. Merkel says about one of the contentious issues that she supports freedom of movement in the EU, but no abuse of that right by claiming unemployment benefits. Immigration is emerging as an issue in the upcoming British general election. Cameron and Merkel share similiar views on economic policy and a conservative philosophy. Merkel tells a joint news conference: "Ofcourse British citizens will decide, but I don't want to hide from you that I very much like having the UK in a strong and successful European Union and like working with them for a better future."
Read LyrArc gist ›

Russian Car Sales Skid Lower Amid Economic Gloom

1 Links 6 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 02.10.2015 Original article ›
Andrey Ostroukh And Olga Razumovskaya, Andrey, Ostroukh, And, Olga, Razumovskaya
LyrArc Article Gist
The sharp decline in the value of the ruble combined with high interest rates is having a serious impact on Russia's automobile industry. Major foreign manufacturers are cutting production and laying off workers. Foriegn automakers have raised prices by as much as 56%, according to PwC. Avtovaz, majority owned by Renault and Nissan, cut its workforce by 12,000 in 2014 own to current level of 50,000, and an additional 1100 layoffs are planned for 2015. Volvo Trucks and General Motors plan to suspend production later in 2015. The decline is also reflected in sales of consumer appliances and computers. Popular imported notebook computer prices surged by as much as 54% in Jan. 2015 compared to Oct 2014, according to Yandex.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Baltimore Riots Rekindle Feud Between David Simon, Martin O’Malley

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 05.02.2015 Original article ›
Laura Meckler, Laura, Meckler
LyrArc Article Gist
Different perspectives on the "zero tolerance" policy implemented by Martin O'Malley when he was Mayor of Baltimore during 2000-2006, are described here by WSJ's Laura Meckler. O'Malley sees the policy as having reduced crime in the city, yet David Simon a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, who created the HBO series 'The Wire,' sees this differently. The HBO series was critical of the Mayor and painted a less flattering picture of the city, showing city leaders and institutions not tackling the real problems facing the city. Following the riots in Baltimore the conflicting versions of progress and lack of progress are emerging. Simon says the pressure on the police to show reduced crime led to arrest of people for minor offences.
Read LyrArc gist ›

How Alexis Tsipras’s Greek Referendum Call Came After Creditors Covered His Proposals in Red Ink

5 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 06.29.2015 Original article ›
Nektaria Stamouli And Marcus Walker, Nektaria, Stamouli, And, Marcus, Walker
LyrArc Article Gist
Stamouli and Walker of WSJ describe the last days of negotiations in June before Greece pulled out its negotiating team, and German chancellor Merkel decided to call off the bailout of Greece. The impasse was over pension cuts and vaue added taxes, yet the negotiations were still going over details when Tsipras pulled out Greece's negotiating team with the surprise announcement of a referendum on July 5, 2015. By saying the Syriza party would call for a "no" vote Tsipras alienated public opinion in Germany. Chancellor Merkel seeing the shift in domestic opinion favoring Greece's exit from the euro during the tense months of negotiations with the Syriza government and acrimonious charges, moved to call off a continued EU bailout of Greece.
Read LyrArc gist ›

BOE to Keep Rates Low Even After Jobless Goal Is Met

9 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 01.23.2014 Original article ›
Jason Douglas, Jason, Douglas, Ilona Billington, Ilona, Billington
LyrArc Article Gist
Bank of England minutes for the Jan 8-9, 2014 meeting show officials saying "they saw no immediate need to raise the Bank Rate even if the 7% unempoyment threshhold were to be reached in the near future." This comes as the unemployment rate average in 3 months to November 2013 was shown at 7.1%, according to the Office of National Statistics. The rate declined from 7.4% in the previous three months. In August 2013 Bank of England officials said unemployment would have to fall to 7% before raising the Bank's benchmark interest rate. The Bank of England has set the bechmark rate at a low of 0.5% and the size of the bond buying program at 375 billion pounds.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Investors Finally Get a Closer Look Into China's Bad Bank

3 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 11.26.2013 Original article ›
Alex Frangos, Alex, Frangos
LyrArc Article Gist
Cinda's bank borrowing has increased from 7.8 billion yuan in 2010 to 161 billion yuan in Oct 2013, with three fourths of this having a maturity of less than 2 years. In contrast to China's three largest banks which have 25-30% of loans in real estate, Cinda's assets are about 50% in real estate, increasing from 25% in 2010. This has increased the risks from Cinda in China's banking system. Cinda was originally setup to buy nonperforming loans from China's banks in 1999, but was never closed. It now operates along commercial lines with support from China's Ministry of Finance. The balance sheet has jumped 88% to 283 billion yuan or $46.6 billion in the 30 months ending in June 2013.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Volcker Rule Won't Allow Banks to Use 'Portfolio Hedging'

1 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 12.05.2013 Original article ›
Scott Patterson, Scott, Patterson, Justin Baer, Justin, Baer
LyrArc Article Gist
A review of the Volcker Rule for bank regulation in its final form by the WSJ in Dec. 2013 shows it leaves out language permitting portfolio hedging. Banks will not be allowed to use portfolio hedging creating new risks. Regulators wrote in the rule that hedges are not to "give rise .. to any significant new or additional risk that is not itself hedged contemporaneously." The Volcker Rule in its final form was influenced by regulators awareness of the J.P. Morgan Chase bank's huge losses from portfolio hedging in the Whale case. Senators Merkley and Levin in the U.S. Congress wrote to regulators saying a loophole in the Volcker Rule allowing portfolio hedging would lead to a repeat of the "London Whale."
Read LyrArc gist ›

Dexia Posts 2011 Loss on Greece, Restructuring

4 Groups   
Wall Street Journal - 02.23.2012 Original article ›
Matthew Dalton, Matthew, Dalton
LyrArc Article Gist
Dexia, the Belgian-French bank, reported a net loss of 11.64 billion euros for 2011, including 4.05 billion euros from selling Dexia Bank Belgium to the Belgian government in Oct 2011, and a 3.36 billion euro loss on Greek government bond holdings as a result of restructuring of Greece's debt. Other losses were 2.6 billion euros from an acceleration of the sale of a portfolio of U.S. mortgage backed securities, and about 1 billion euros from the sale of the Paris based public finance business to savings banks operated by the French government. Dexia ends up with a negative total equity of 320 million euros at the end of 2011. Dexia was one of the hardest hit European banks in the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
Read LyrArc gist ›

Support LyrArc

We took a different way to help millions around the world build educated informed mindsets that affects and shapes their lives. For a future that is open, global and digital, with everyone having access to high quality information. We believe in the renewal of America, renewal of Europe, the renewal of India, the rest of Asia, Latin America and Africa. The renewal of our supply chains, health, education, infrastructure, as we rebuild our countries after the pandemic. Literacy and knowledge we believe cannot thrive and grow in a world of web bots, web crawlers, or AI. This requires human curiosity, human learning, and human imagination. We take as inspiration the saying- “One has to be free, and as broad as sky. One has to have a mind that is crystal clear, only then can truth shine in it.” Every contribution whether big or small is precious- in this crisis and ahead.

Support Lyrarc from as small as $1




Support LyrArc →


Copyright © 2006 - 2026 Intelilinks LLC
Terms and Conditions | Copyright Policy | Privacy Policy | Contact Us