Knowledge, Responsibility, Engagement: The EU Outlines its Policy for the Arctic
Describes the policy of the European Union toward sustainable development of the Arctic region. From the European Commission
How Countrywide Used Its VIP Loan Program to Influence Washington Policymakers
http://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Countrywide-112th-Report-7.3.12-1207-PM.pdf
Reveals how a failed bank offered favored deals to Washington mortgage officials in exchange for influence on Capital Hill. From the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Climate Change and Infrastructure, Urban Systems, and Vulnerabilities: Technical Report for the U.S. Department of Energy in Support of the National Climate Assessment
http://www.esd.ornl.gov/eess/esd_fact_sheets/Infrastructure022912.pdf
Examines the impact on urban infrastructure of extreme weather events caused by climate change, especially cascading infrastructure failings. From the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The Arts, New Growth Theory, and Economic Development
http://www.arts.gov/research/Brookings/index.html
Papers from a May 2012 symposium examining new growth theory as a tool for assessing the impact of art and culture on the U.S. economy. From the National Endowment for the Arts
Open Data White Paper: Unleashing the Potential
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/CM8353_acc.pdf
Lays out the British government’s plan for making government data more accessible to the public. From the Cabinet Office
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33745.pdf
The number of BMD-capable Navy Aegis ships is scheduled to grow from 24 at the end of FY2011 to 36 at the end of FY2018. This report provides background information on the program and deals with controversial issues such as cost effectiveness and transferring home ports of some ships from Norfolk and Florida to Spain. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists
Mexico’s Free Trade Agreements
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40784.pdf
Mexico has 12 free trade agreements involving 44 countries but 80% of its exports go to the U.S. This report provides an overview of Mexico’s trade agreements, its motives for trade liberalization, and some issues it faces in addressing its economic challenges. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists
Foreign Holdings of Federal Debt
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS22331.pdf
Presents current data as of July 2012 on estimated ownership of U.S. Treasury securities and major holders of federal debt by country. From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists