Month: December 2010 Page 4 of 5

Here is your R&D for December 7th:

U.S. Regulators Propose Requiring Backup Cameras in All New Cars by 2014 from Bloomberg
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a rule requiring backup cameras on all new vehicles by 2014.  The rule would cost the auto industry an estimated $2.7 billion.

Talks fail to achieve limits on Iran’s nuclear program from the Los Angeles Times
In a move that’s about as surprising as the sun coming up every morning, China, Russia, the U.S., France, Germany, and Britain failed to get Iran to agree to limits on its nuclear program.  They intend to meet with Iranian officials in Instanbul next month.

Israel warns Argentina: Recognizing Palestinian state shatters peace process from Haaretz
Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned Argentina’s recognition of a Palestinian state and argued that it will hamper the Middle East peace process.  Argentina’s announcement followed Brazil’s declaration of recognition last Friday.

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Here is your R&D for December 6th:

What Obama Needs to Come Back: Luck from Time
Can President Obama mount a political comeback before the 2012 elections?  Time magazine isn’t counting on it and offers a bleak assessment of the President’s political prospects.

U.S. steps up pressure on China to rein in North Korea from the Washington Post
The U.S. is stepping up diplomatic pressure on China to rein in some of North Korea’s aggressive activities.  The U.S. is also working with South Korea and Japan to build up an anti-China bloc in East Asia.

Reforming Pakistan’s Criminal Justice System from the International Crisis Group
Pakistan’s criminal justice system is imperiling its domestic security and the security of the South Asian region.  This International Crisis Group report explains the problems in Pakistan’s criminal justice system and offers ways to fix it.

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Here is your R&D for December 3rd:

House passes legislation to extend only some tax cuts from the Hill
House Democrats voted 234-188 yesterday to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for American families making less than $250,000 a year and individuals making less than $200,000 a year.  Three Republicans sided with Democrats on the bill, but twenty Democrats defected.

Carmel inferno proves Israel can’t afford war with Iran from Haaretz
This interesting article from Haaretz describes how Israel’s emergency services were not prepared for the recent Camel fire and would not be prepared for a war with Iran.

California Gov.-elect Brown to make state’s budget woes public from the Sacramento Bee (courtesy of the Miami Herald)
California Governor-elect Jerry Brown plans to launch a public campaign next week to tell Californians how bad the state’s budget crisis is.  Analysts believe that the campaign is meant to prepare voters for cost cutting measures forthcoming in Brown’s January budget proposal.

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Here is your R&D for December 2nd:

WikiLeaks cables, day 4: summary of today’s key points from the Guardian
Don’t feel like reading all the WikiLeaks cables?  This Guardian article provides a summary of the cables that were released today.

Fed aid in financial crisis went beyond U.S. banks to industry, foreign firms from the Washington Post
Recent disclosures show that the Federal Reserve gave aid to foreign banks and industry giants General Electric, Verizon, and Toyota during the financial crisis.  The data collected shows the scope of the Fed’s efforts to stop the financial crisis in the fall of 2008.

Japan’s Motion to Kill Kyoto Protocol a ‘Slap in the Face,’ Advocates Say from Reuters
Japan’s opposition to the extension of the Kyoto Protocol has been heavily criticzed by developing nations and environmental activists in Cancun, Mexico, where global climate talks are currently taking place.  Japan holds that the current climate apparatus doesn’t work because it only covers 27% of global CO2 emissions.

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