Fewer American deaths in Afghanistan, and more

Fewer American deaths in Afghanistan

As the U.S. draws down its forces, American deaths in Afghanistan have fallen sharply, from 500 in 2010 to 301 so far this year. The number of U.S. troops in the country has dropped from 100,000 to 68,000, as Afghan security forces take over much of the fighting with the Taliban.

USA Today

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Popular words at Merriam-Webster

Thanks to the presidential election, “socialism” and “capitalism” are the two most-looked-up words of the year, said dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster. “They’re words that sort of encapsulate the zeitgeist,” said editor-at-large Peter Sokolowski.

Associated Press

Yoga's billions

More than 20 million Americans—8.7 percent of all adults—now practice yoga, according to a new study by Yoga Journal. Including the cost of classes, clothes, equipment, and other accessories, they spend $10.3 billion a year on their practice.

HuffingtonPost.com

Cycling deaths rise

The number of cyclists killed on America’s roads rose by 8.7 percent last year, even as total traffic deaths fell 1.9 percent to their lowest level in over 60 years. The increase in cyclists’ deaths partly reflected a boom in the use of bicycles in commuting to work.

Associated Press

Women make headway in law and medicine

Women now make up a third of all the lawyers and doctors in the U.S. In 1970, women represented only 9.7 percent of the nation’s doctors, and less than 4.9 percent of its lawyers.

The Wall Street Journal