1
N.Y. / Region
New York Wants to Banish a Symbol of Love: Mute Swans
White, long-necked mute swans, the state’s largest birds, hurt water quality and threaten people and jets, environmental officials say.
2
Arts
Video: Lupita Nyong’o: ‘Impostor’ to Ingénue
This year’s Oscar ingenue is Ms. Nyong’o of “12 Years a Slave.” She says it took encouragement to get over the feeling of being an outsider, a phenomenon she dubs “acute impostor syndrome.”
3
Business Day
Citing Growth, Fed Again Cuts Monthly Bond Purchases
In a unanimous decision, the Federal Reserve said it would pull back on its stimulus program by another $10 billion, pointing to an improving economy.Istanbearish
There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.– Henry Kissinger
OK, did we need this? Turkey? Who was paying attention to Turkey?
Some people were, of course, because that was
their job. The IMF released the results of its latest Article IV
consultation — regular reports that are supposed to provide a sort of
early warning system — just over a month ago. It mentioned some worries. For example:
The most concerning aspect is the widening short FX position of the non-financial corporates. This has jumped from US$78 billion in 2008 to US$165 billion now.
But it went on to suggest that the risks
weren’t large, among other things because “the floating exchange regime
reduces the probability of a very large and abrupt adjustment in the
exchange rate.”
Ahem:
Turkish exchange rate against euro
Qualitatively, this looks like a classic
emerging-markets crisis: foreign funds came flooding in, there was a
sharp rise in private-sector foreign-currency-denominated debt, and then
foreign money turned on its heel and fled. Quantitatively, it shouldn’t
be that bad: Turkish external debt is only 40 percent of GDP (or was
before the lira plunged), and supposedly Turkish businesses aren’t that
leveraged. On the other hand, there’s a political crisis as well as a
currency crisis.
Oh, and contagion among emerging markets.Lovely.
All this is happening with recovery in the West still very weak and growing deflation risk. Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
goes more purple prose on this than I’m willing to — these economies
are either fairly small (Turkey, South Africa) or not that heavily
indebted (India). But definitely not what we needed right now.
And not really an accident either. If you take secular stagnation
seriously, as you should, then we have a chronic problem of too much
saving chasing too few good investment opportunities, which means that
you only feel prosperous when money thinks it has found more good places
to go than it really has — and soon enough figures that out, with nasty
effects.
Lots more on this, probably, as I get up to speed on the Bosphorus."
4
Science
Neanderthals Leave Their Mark on Us
Two studies show how the legacy of Neanderthals endures 30,000 years after their extinction, finding Neanderthal genes in skin and hair that may have helped humans evolve.
5
Business Day
Failed EuroVegas Bid Was Still a Boon for Spanish Casinos
A ban on casino gambling in Madrid was lifted in effect when the city started to compete against Barcelona to host the mega-resort project.
6
Business Day
U.S. Market Slump Easing; Europe and Asia Still Sliding
Stocks continued to fall in Europe and in emerging Asia-Pacific markets as slowing growth in China and the prospect of less stimulus in the United States raised the specter of capital flight.
7
Home & Garden
Sometimes Asparagus Is More Than Asparagus
Helen Yoest wrote a book about natural aphrodisiacs called “Plants With Benefits.”
8
Home & Garden
Planters: Best Supporting Actors
When choosing containers, the garden designer Jon Carloftis said, remember that the plants are the “real stars,” and the planter is just the “vessel.”
9
U.S.
Ex-Governor of Virginia and Wife Plead Not Guilty to Corruption
Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, pleaded not guilty in federal court to corruption charges that could send them to prison for more than 20 years if they are convicted.
11
Science
It All Started With a 12-Year-Old Cousin
Salman Khan’s first student was a family member. Now his free electronic schoolhouse reaches more than 10 million users around the world.
12
Automobiles
Ryno: Electric, Urban Transportation on One Wheel
With an electric unicycle occupying a niche between a motor scooter and a Segway, Ryno Motors hopes to change urban transportation.
13
Movies
Which Vision for Oscar?
Will Alfonso Cuarón’s deep dive into space, David O. Russell’s ’70s nostalgia or Steve McQueen’s history capture the Academy Award?
14
U.S.
A Court’s All-Hands Approach Aids Girls Most at Risk
Girls Court, a special tribunal that is part of a network across the country, aims to nurture vulnerable young women — especially those forced into prostitution — instead of treating them as criminals.
15
Opinion
Alone, Yet Not Alone
How does the inner experience of faith differ from popular perceptions of religion?
16
Science
New Lead in Honeybee Deaths and Another Hot Year on Earth
A team of bee investigators say the dying species may be passing around a virus, while two government agencies say 2013 was among the hottest ever recorded.
17
Business Day
With Better Security Technology, Hotels Shore Up Blind Spots
Hotels are beefing up security with new key cards, smaller cameras and employee training.
18
Sports
Dashing for Big Yardage, Not for Shot at Medals
Trindon Holliday, the Denver Broncos kick returner, will compete in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but at media day, the coming Winter Games prompted him to reflect on his Olympic aspirations.
19
N.Y. / Region
Officials Blame Human Error for the Latest Blow to the Reputation of Metro-North
A day after evening commutes halted across the railroad, transportation officials said technicians had mistakenly taken out a power supply while a backup source was unavailable.
20
Automobiles
Wheelies: The Export Import Edition
Honda becomes Japan’s first net exporter from the United States, and Thai police say Karl Slym argued with his wife before committing suicide.
2
3
4
N.Y. / Region
Four Airlines Are Told to Raise Some Wages by $1 an Hour
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey sent a letter to American, Delta, JetBlue and United to raise the pay of workers who made less than $9 an hour.
5
U.S.
‘Super PAC’ Is Formed in Mississippi to Protect 6-Term Senator in G.O.P. Primary
A group of Mississippi Republicans, moving to counter spending from out-of-state conservative groups, are moving to help Senator Thad Cochran fend off a primary challenge.
6
N.Y. / Region
An Unassuming Liberal Makes a Rapid Ascent to Power Broker
Brad Lander, a Brooklyn Democrat who is the City Council’s new deputy leader for policy, is being called a “shadow speaker.”
7
U.S.
Detroit Art Museum Offers Plan to Avoid Sale of Art
The plan would relieve the city of any future financial responsibility for the art institute while also shielding the institute from future municipal threats.
8
World
After Crisis, Greeks Work to Promote ‘Social’ Economy
Businesses tired of dealing with bureaucrats and failing corporations are relying on volunteer networks to provide cheaper goods and to sell directly to customers.
9
U.S.
Ex-Governor of Virginia Is Released After Arraignment
Former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were ordered not to leave the country after being arraigned on charges of accepting gifts in exchange for promoting a political patron’s business.
10
12
Business Day
Chipotle Blurs Lines With a Satirical Series About Industrial Farming
The fast-food chain’s four-part comedy-advertisement, “Farmed and Dangerous,” will be shown on the TV-streaming service Hulu.
13
Home & Garden
Sometimes Asparagus Is More Than Asparagus
Helen Yoest wrote a book about natural aphrodisiacs called “Plants With Benefits.”
14
Business Day
Confronting Old Problem May Require a New Deal
Just as now, some in the 1930s feared that unemployment would remain stubbornly high, permanently; the response 80 years ago was the New Deal.
16
This is the best idea so far on the problem.
17
World
U.S. Catholics Hope for 2015 Papal Visit
A spokesman for the archdiocese of Philadelphia said he expects Pope Francis to attend an event there in September 2015, although the Vatican has not given official word.He will be welcome.
18
Opinion
Revealed: The Actual Fort Lee Traffic Study
What if the George Washington Bridge traffic study were to miraculously come to light?
19
20
