US officials: New rules needed after Toyota woes (AFP via Yahoo! News) US lawmakers ended a third marathon hearing into Toyota's woes still angry at the Japanese auto giant's handling of defects blamed for 52 US deaths and pushing tough new safety rules. [News Source]

Senate investigators’ ties to Toyota (AP via Yahoo! News) Several senators on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which held a hearing Tuesday to investigate Toyota's safety issues and recall, have connections to the Japanese automaker. [News Source]

Safety not compromised in U.S. beef import issue: President. President Ma Ying-jeou said Monday that Taiwan did not exchange the safety of Taiwan's people for any targeted benefit in opening the country's doors wider to imports of U.S. beef and beef products. [News Source]

Ten-year ban on beef imports lifted. Australia's strict quarantine standards for beef and other produce must not be an excuse for protectionism, Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says. [News Source]

Australia lifts ban on imported beef. Australia's nine-year ban on beef imports from mad cow countries was lifted Monday, but it will be several months before overseas beef products arrive on the nation's supermarket shelves. [News Source]

Abattoir workers fear beef imports will destroy their jobs. Countries previously hit by mad cow disease - including the US, UK and Canada - can, as of yesterday, apply to export red meat to Australia. [News Source]