WEDNESDAY’S MINI-REPORT…. Today’s edition of quick hits:
* This wasn’t quite as productive as it could have been: “The Group of Eight industrialized nations joined with developing countries in agreeing Wednesday that average global temperatures shouldn’t increase by more than 2 degrees Celsius in a significant new acknowledgement in the fight against global warming. The United States and other G-8 leaders also said they supported a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent or more by 2050.”
* The conflict in Urumqi continues: “The Chinese government blanketed this strife-torn city with 20,000 new security troops on Wednesday, as thousands of residents began to flee following the deadly ethnic clashes that erupted over the weekend.”
* Latest from Pakistan: “Pilotless United States aircraft killed at least 43 militants loyal to the leader of the Pakistani Taliban in two different attacks on Wednesday, according to regional news reports that could not be independently confirmed.”
* Another health care deal: “The nation’s hospitals will give up $155 billion in future Medicare and Medicaid payments to help defray the cost of President Barack Obama’s health care plan, a concession the White House hopes will boost an overhaul effort that’s hit a roadblock in Congress.”
* President Obama has asked famed geneticist Francis Collins to head the National Institutes of Health. Collins is perhaps best known for his completion of the groundbreaking Human Genome Project.
* Massachusetts files suit to challenge the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act.
* Here’s hoping Jeh Johnson’s comments this week on post-acquittal detention do not represent the administration’s plans.
* Whatever happened to that plan to purchase toxic assets from banks? Not much.
* A Google operating system would likely shake up the industry considerably.
* And finally, Karl Rove spent several hours yesterday talking about the U.S. Attorney purge scandal with investigators for the House Judiciary Committee. What happens next is less clear.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
