An Indian government panel late last month published a set of proposals to control the prices of patented drugs.

WSJ: India Rejects Bayer's Nexavar Plea

For instance, Senator John Kyl of Arizona, a Republican member of the special committee set up by the deficit legislation, threatened last week to quit the panel if it attempted to cut military spending any further.

FORBES: GOP Electoral Victory In 2012 Could Rescue Defense Industry

Last month, The Takeover Panel--the U.K.'s takeover regulator--set a put up or shut up deadline of 5 p.m. on December 15 for Macquarie Bank, Australia's biggest investment bank, to come forward with a bid for the LSE.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Fearing that the UN was sliding into irrelevance, Kofi Annan, its secretary-general, set up an international panel, mainly of former heads of government and ministers, which late last year suggested sweeping reforms (see our profile of Mr Annan).

ECONOMIST: A better UN, for a safer world | The