Fauja Singh, age 100, runs a marathon
A British man has become the first 100-year-old to complete a marathon. Fauja Singh, who was born in India, took up running at age 89 after his wife and child died. He finished the 26.2-mile race in Toronto this week in 8 hours and 11 minutes.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
President Obama and the consumer-confidence index
No president in modern times has been re-elected with a consumer-confidence index below 75. Today it’s at 57.5—which is 7 points lower than when Jimmy Carter lost his re-election bid.
The New York Times Magazine
Beating HIV
A 20-year-old with HIV who is treated with the current anti-retroviral drug regimen can now expect to live 46 more years, according to a new British study.
FoxNews.com
The cost of fluorescent lightbulbs rises
The price of compact fluorescent lightbulbs has soared 37 percent this year, mostly because China has temporarily shut down its rare-earth industry to deal with pollution problems. Beginning Jan. 1, the U.S. will phase in compact fluorescent bulbs as an energy-efficient—but initially more costly—alternative to traditional bulbs.
The New York Times
Banks and corporate profits
The 10 largest U.S. banks hold 54 percent of corporate financial assets—up from 20 percent in 1990. The financial industry now accounts for more than 30 percent of all corporate profits in the U.S.
MotherJones.com