1 Math scores for U.S. students hit all-time low on international exam
2 US sees all-time high of mass shootings in 2023
3 US small businesses have high demand for workers
4 American defense industry struggling to keep up with China: Pentagon report
5 Credit ratings agency cuts China’s credit outlook to negative
1933: Prohibition ends
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1 Math scores for U.S. students hit all-time low on international exam
Math scores for U.S. students plummeted to an all-time low on international exams that marked the first comparison of global achievement since the pandemic upended education, according to a new report that showed widespread decline among participating countries.
Data released Tuesday show a 13-percentage-point plunge in math for American 15-year-olds on exams known by the acronym PISA, for Program for International Student Assessment. The tests were given last year to 620,000 students in 81 countries around the globe. (Washington Post)
2 US sees all-time high of mass shootings in 2023
At 38, 2023 has seen the highest number of mass killings in any year since at least 2006. Last year’s 36 was the previous record.
The latest deaths brought the 2023 total to 197, not counting the shooters — yet another record. Ninety-one people were wounded in those events but survived. (Ad Astra, Washington Post)
3 US small businesses have high demand for workers
America’s tiniest employers have the highest share of job openings on record—more than one in five available positions—a sign the labor market might be tilting toward the little guy. Solid demand for workers from small establishments, such as mom-and-pop businesses and many franchise locations, stands in contrast to a cooling labor market more broadly. It could give smaller businesses a chance to catch up on hiring with less competition from larger companies on pay and benefits, and offer refuge for job seekers as the unemployment rate creeps higher. (WSJ)
4 American defense industry struggling to keep up with China: Pentagon report
America’s defense industry is struggling to achieve the kind of speed and responsiveness to stay ahead in a high-tech arms race with competitors such as China, an unreleased draft of a new Pentagon report on the defense industry warns. (Axiox)
5 Credit ratings agency cuts China’s credit outlook to negative
Rating agency Moody’s Investors Service cut its outlook on China’s sovereign credit rating to negative on Tuesday, citing growing risks of persistently lower midterm economic growth and the overhang from a crisis in the property sector. (FT)
This day in history
1933: Prohibition ends
The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, repealing the 18th Amendment and bringing an end to the era of national prohibition of alcohol in America. At 5:32 p.m. EST, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, achieving the requisite three-fourths majority of states’ approval. Pennsylvania and Ohio had ratified it earlier in the day.