Month: June 2011

Here is your R&D for June 8th:

Oil Rises the Most in Three Weeks as OPEC Fails to Reach Accord from Business Week
In Vienna, OPEC failed to agree on production targets for the first time in 20 years, as Iran and Venezuela succeeded in thwarting Saudi Arabia’s bid to increase production.  The move will likely send oil prices higher.

Zeroed In on N.H., Huntsman to Make Third Visit from RealClearPolitics
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman is making several trips to New Hampshire as his campaign has made the decision to skip the Iowa caucus.  Huntsman is not contesting Iowa because he does not favor ethanol.

Obama, Merkel pledge to cooperate on Libya, economy from the Los Angeles Times
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Obama pledged last night to continue military action in Libya and to work to contain the debt crisis that is troubling the euro zone.

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Here is your R&D for June 7th:

Remembering Six Days in 1967 from Foreign Policy
Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, writes this article, which presents the case for why Israel cannot go back to pre-1967 borders.

Congressman Anthony Weiner: Why Democrats are extra mad at him from the Christian Science Monitor
Congressman Anthony Weiner admitted yesterday that he had inappropriate online relationships with several women other than his wife.  Weiner has said that he will not resign, but Democrats in the House may force him to do so.

Second time’s the charm from the Economist
This is the Economist’s insightful write-up of the Peruvian presidential election and what challenges incoming president-elect Ollanta Humala will face.

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Here is your R&D for June 6th:

U.S. Innovation and Economic Recovery from the Council on Foreign Relations
How can the U.S. escape its economic malaise?  Four experts describe policy options in this expert roundup from the Council on Foreign Relations.

Wal-Mart Tops U.S. High Court Agenda as Violent Video Game Ruling Looms from Bloomberg
This article summarizes major cases that the Supreme Court will rule on during the next four weeks.  It might be of use to extempers who are in United States Extemp at NFL Nationals next week.

Peru presidential victor Humala faces balancing act from the Christian Science Monitor
Ollanta Humala narrowly defeated Keiko Fujimori to win the Peruvian presidency yesterday.  Humala campaigned as a Hugo Chavez-type candidate, but his narrow victory, as well as Peru’s strong economic growth, may cause him to govern more moderately.

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Here is your R&D for June 1st:

Kan faces political revolt on Fukushima from the Australian
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is facing a revolt from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito and it could cost him his government and lead to fresh elections.  Kan has to ensure that 80 of his party’s members do not jump ship in a vote of no confidence.

Not-so-sweet home from the Economist
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative government lost run-offs for mayor in nearly 90 Italian towns and cities on Monday, which included Milan and Naples.  Berlusconi and his team insist that the setbacks are merely a protest vote and do not herald any significant political changes in the months ahead.

National debt limit: Grand bargain eludes, narrow deal likely from the Christian Science Monitor
The House rejected a bill last night that would have raised the national debt limit with no strings attached.  Democrats said that the move was a political stunt, but Republicans insist that they will not raise the debt ceiling without accompanying cuts in the federal budget.

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