Here is your R&D for June 1st:
Kan faces political revolt on Fukushima from the Australian
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is facing a revolt from the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito and it could cost him his government and lead to fresh elections. Kan has to ensure that 80 of his party’s members do not jump ship in a vote of no confidence.
Not-so-sweet home from the Economist
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative government lost run-offs for mayor in nearly 90 Italian towns and cities on Monday, which included Milan and Naples. Berlusconi and his team insist that the setbacks are merely a protest vote and do not herald any significant political changes in the months ahead.
National debt limit: Grand bargain eludes, narrow deal likely from the Christian Science Monitor
The House rejected a bill last night that would have raised the national debt limit with no strings attached. Democrats said that the move was a political stunt, but Republicans insist that they will not raise the debt ceiling without accompanying cuts in the federal budget.
U.S. Added Fewer Workers in May from Bloomberg
U.S. companies added fewer workers than expected last month, as private sector employment only increased by 38,000 workers. This is the smallest increased since last September and is down from 177,000 in April.
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad ‘should be tried’ from the BBC
Kevin Rudd, Australia’s foreign minister, has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be tried for actions he has taken against dissidents in his country.