2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe Added To Long, Long List Of Takata-Related Recalls

Last week, Toyota updated its long list of vehicles affected by the ongoing recall of Takata airbags. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the Toyota Corolla Matrix (aka the Toyota Matrix) was on that list and wondered, "What about the Pontiac Vibe? Wasn't it essentially the same car?"

Indeed, it was, and that's why, as Detroit News reports, General Motors is recalling more than 243,000 Pontiac Vibes from model years 2003-2007 to replace their passenger-side airbags.

The Vibe has been involved in several other Takata-related recalls. However, some of those recalls were missing quite a few vehicle identification numbers (or VINs); others were limited to specific geographic areas and/or to replacement of driver-side airbags. This update includes Vibe models nationwide that were manufactured between January 18, 2003 and June 6, 2007 for the 2003-2007 model years.

Originated from: The Washington Post

Transition in Pakistan

The tensions in Pakistan had been building all year, and President General Pervez Musharraf was getting it from all sides. The Taliban gradually solidified control in the northwest of the country, and Islamic extremists, who had holed up in Islamabad's Red Mosque, led to a violent standoff in July. At the same time, liberal democrats were pushing for free elections and for Musharraf to give up command of the military, while Western governments were pressuring him into not-so-secret power-sharing negotiations with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, which ultimately failed. Bhutto returned to Pakistan from exile in October only to face an assassination attempt, and extremists stepped up suicide bombings in the cities. After months of threatening to do so, Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Nov. 11. He has since faced protests in support of the independent judiciary that he sacked, with white collar workers — who benefited most from the economic reforms he passed — taking to the streets calling for his removal. Grasping for legitimacy, Musharraf gave up his military leadership and has scheduled parliamentary elections for Jan. 8. Some opposition leaders say they will boycott the vote, but Musharraf's biggest challenge may come from the U.S., if the Bush Administration decides he's a dispensable ally without his general's uniform.

Originated from: TIME