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Daily Archives: July 9, 2013

CRS – NSA Surveillance Leaks: Background and Issues for Congress

NSA Surveillance Leaks: Background and Issues for Congress. Marshall Curtis Erwin, Analyst in Intelligence and National Security; Edward C. Liu, Legislative Attorney. July 2, 2013

“Recent attention concerning National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance pertains to unauthorized disclosures of two different intelligence collection programs. Since these programs were publicly disclosed over the course of two days in June, there has been confusion about what information is being collected and what authorities the NSA is acting under. This report clarifies the differences between the two programs and identifies potential issues that may help Members of Congress assess legislative proposals pertaining to NSA surveillance authorities. One program collects in bulk the phone record —specifically the number that was dialed from, the number that was dialed to, and the date and duration of the call—of customers of Verizon Wireless and possibly other U.S. telephone service providers. It does not collect the content of the calls or the identity of callers…The other program collects the electronic communications, including content, of foreign targets overseas whose communications flow through American networks. The Director of National Intelligence has acknowledged that data are collected pursuant to Section 702 of FISA. As described, the program may not intentionally target any person known at the time of acquisition to be located in the United States, which is prohibited by Section 702. Beyond that, the scope of the intelligence collection, the type of information collected and companies involved, and the way in which it is collected remain unclear.”

China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States

China’s Economic Rise: History, Trends, Challenges, and Implications for the United States – Wayne M. Morrison, Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance. July 3, 2013 “Prior to the initiation of economic reforms and trade liberalization 34 years ago, China maintained policies that kept the economy very poor, stagnant, centrally controlled, vastly inefficient, and relatively isolated… Continue Reading

Report – 2013 National Association of Realtors – Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends

2013 National Association of Realtors® Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends – Highlights – Characteristics of Home Buyers “Among the generations, Gen X comprises the largest group of recent home buyers, followed by Gen Y, and then younger Baby Boomers, older Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation. The G.I. Generation represented less than 1 percent… Continue Reading

NYSE Euronext Subsidiary to Become New Administrator of LIBOR

News release: “NYSE Euronext Rate Administration Limited, a subsidiary of NYSE Euronext (NYX), today announced that following a rigorous selection process conducted by the independent Hogg Tendering Advisory Committee, NYSE Euronext Rate Administration Limited has been appointed as the new administrator for LIBOR. The transfer of the administration from BBA LIBOR Ltd, the subsidiary of… Continue Reading

Agencies Adopt Supplementary Leverage Ratio Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

News release: “The Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Tuesday proposed a rule to strengthen the leverage ratio standards for the largest, most systemically significant U.S. banking organizations. Under the proposed rule, bank holding companies with more than $700 billion in… Continue Reading

“Tiers for Fears: Sensible, Streamlined Sharing of Special Collections”

“Tiers for Fears: Sensible, Streamlined Sharing of Special Collections, written by OCLC Research Program Officer Dennis Massie, presents strategies for providing efficient and affordable interlending of actual physical items from special collections for research purposes, as well as advice on determining if a loan is the most appropriate way to fulfill a particular request.  A… Continue Reading

CRS – China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities

China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress – Ronald O’Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs. July 5, 2013 “The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. The question is of… Continue Reading

Report – Federal Judicial Vacancies: The Trial Courts

Federal Judicial Vacancies: The Trial Courts – July 2, 2013. Brennan Center for Justice. “Unusually high judicial vacancy levels coupled with unprecedented workloads are burdening federal district courts like never before. Judicial vacancies have remained uniquely high throughout Barack Obama’s presidency, with annual vacancies averaging significantly higher than those experienced during George W. Bush’s presidency.… Continue Reading