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Daily Archives: September 17, 2009

White House Fact Sheet on U.S. Missile Defense Policy

Fact Sheet on U.S. Missile Defense Policy – A “Phased, Adaptive Approach” for Missile Defense in Europe: “President Obama has approved the recommendation of Secretary of Defense Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a phased, adaptive approach for missile defense in Europe. This approach is based on an assessment of the Iranian missile threat, and a commitment to deploy technology that is proven, cost-effective, and adaptable to an evolving security environment. Starting around 2011, this missile defense architecture will feature deployments of increasingly-capable sea- and land-based missile interceptors, primarily upgraded versions of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3), and a range of sensors in Europe to defend against the growing ballistic missile threat from Iran. This phased approach develops the capability to augment our current protection of the U.S. homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats, and to offer more effective defenses against more near-term ballistic missile threats.”

S&P: Update To Global Methodologies And Assumptions For Corporate Cash Flow And Synthetic CDOs

“Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is updating its methodologies and assumptions for rating corporate cash flow and synthetic collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). This update follows our request for comment (RFC), titled “Update To Global Methodologies And Assumptions For Corporate Cash Flow CDO And Synthetic CDO Ratings,” published March 18, 2009. This represents a significant recalibration… Continue Reading

2009 Best Law Firms For Women

Working Mother: “These are turbulent times for law firms. The economy is still reeling, several prestigious firms have collapsed, and layoffs have been rampant. No doubt about it, this sector is feeling the recession. But for working-mom lawyers, who’ve long sought more flexibility, this may be just the moment they’ve been waiting for. Our 50… Continue Reading

CBO: The Economic Effects of Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse-Gas Emissions

The Economic Effects of Legislation to Reduce Greenhouse-Gas Emissions, September 2009 “U.S. emissions currently account for roughly 20 percent of global emissions. As a result, substantially reducing global emissions would probably entail large reductions in U.S. emissions as well as emissions in other countries. Achieving such reductions would probably involve transforming the U.S. economy from… Continue Reading

JUSTICE Act Would Fix Long Standing Problems with PATRIOT Act and Other Surveillance Laws

News release and Fact Sheet: “U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have introduced legislation to fix problems with surveillance laws that threaten the rights and liberties of American citizens. The Judicious Use of Surveillance… Continue Reading

CDT: Technology Can Provide Needed Transparency for Government Programs

“CDT told a congressional panel today that providing the public with direct, online access to complex government programs, such as TARP, would strengthen oversight. Media, watchdog groups, researchers and citizens could then better analyze the data for a wide variety of purposes. CDT asked the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee to ensure that legislation explicitly… Continue Reading

Google and On Demand Books Partner to Publish Out of Copyright Books on Demand

eWeek.com: “Google agrees to provide 2 million non-copyrighted book titles for On Demand Books printing and cutting using its high-speed Espresso Book Machine. Google Books titles offered via the Espresso Machine will have a recommended sales price of $8 per copy, though the price is subject to change by retailers. On Demand may have access… Continue Reading

New GAO Reports – Depot Maintenance, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Reserve Forces, Secure Border Initiative

Depot Maintenance: Improved Strategic Planning Needed to Ensure That Army and Marine Corps Depots Can Meet Future Maintenance Requirements, GAO-09-865, September 17, 2009 Nuclear Nonproliferation: National Nuclear Security Administration Has Improved the Security of Reactors in its Global Research Reactor Program, but Action Is Needed to Address Remaining Concerns, GAO-09-949, September 17, 2009 Reserve Forces:… Continue Reading

Report and recommendations of Cross-border Bank Resolution Group issued by Basel Committee

17 September 2009 – “The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision today issued for consultation the Report and recommendations of the Cross-border Bank Resolution Group. Mr Nout Wellink, Chairman of the Basel Committee and President of the Netherlands Bank, noted that “the recommendations seek to promote more orderly resolution of cross-border banks to reduce systemic risk… Continue Reading