Challenges in the news - 02/19/2008

Kerry takes on $1-million ‘Swift Boat’ challenge. The Texas billionaire, a prominent supporter of Bush and other Republicans, made his $1-million challenge at a November 6 dinner in Washington sponsored by the American Spectator magazine. Pickens also upped the ante: He challenged Kerry to risk his own $1 million, to be paid to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. “It appears that Mr. Pickens is backing off his original challenge.

Wiretap challenge rejected. In rejecting a key element of a legal challenge to the government’s warrantless wiretapping program, federal appellate judges on Friday demonstrated once again the willingness of U.S. courts to give the Bush administration considerable latitude in handling the war on terror. The lawsuite, filed by Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation and two of its attorneys, challenged the National Security Agency’s spying endeaving, the Terrorist Surveillance Program. The suit was one of 50 legal challenges brought across the country after the program’s existence was revealed in the New York Times.

Golden days for Argentine wine could turn a bit cloudy. Growing financial challenges threaten several years of skyrocketing exports.

Court orders tougher fuel rules. Lawsuit challenged goals for pickups, minivans and SUVs. Automakers say it would be very difficult to make changes in 2008 and 2009 models, but also a challenge to redo designs through 2011 because those products are in the pipeline.

Are you right for Citi job? Industry’s biggest challenge for the perfect candidate; put yourself out of work. Help wanted: America’s biggest bank needs dynamic, take-charge CEO unafraid of the greatest management challenge in financial services. Position available after previous CEO “retired” and preferred replacement candidate took job at a competing bank. The role involves: Bringing new direction to units engaged in retail, consumer and investment banking, as well as trading, structured finance, wealth management, prime brokerage and risk management. Ideal candidate has at least 10 years’ experience in each of those eight areas.

NYSE’s Floor Suffers Pair of Defections: Specialist’s Exits Point to Challenge for new CEO.

Global Accounting Effort Gains a Step. SEC drops requirement on foreign companies, but other challenges loom.

Perhaps as important is his reputation as a successful consensus builder. Merrill Lunch’s succession was made more difficult by Mr. O’Neal’s habit of driving away potential challengers. His ability to attract and retain talent will be crucial to rebuilding the firm’s fixed-income franchise.

Cancer-seeking proton beams. An eco-friendly coal power plant. Storage systems that put cyber criminals behind bars. Just three ways Hitachi technologies are helping people and businesses take on society’s most daunting challenges.

The Big Thirst: Ethanol producers face a huge challenge: Ensuring they don’t deplete water supplies in the Corn Belt.

Finding answers to climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. How can we ensure that the growing world population has an environmentally compatible and reliable energy supply. Energy efficiency plays a key role.