Robots, super fast and reliable networks, and solar-powered aircraft are high priorities for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, according to a new report.

The Congressional Budget Office has come up with a lower than expected price tag for health care reform, says The New Republic. But the estimate has an important caveat.

The biggest economy in Europe suffered a 3.8% GDP decline in the first three months of 2009. Still, German cities are competitive, its industries are innovating and it’s focus on green, clean energy remains strong, according to a recent Knowledge@Wharton special report.

Expect Chinese companies to seek more cross-border M&A deals, advises Kang Rongping, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and director of the World Chinese Companies Research Center. He says Chinese companies recognize that “being a multinational is no longer a choice.”

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration has initiated “serious talks” that could lead to new regulations concerning how executives are compensated in the financial services industry.

What is going on with China’s economy? The mixed signals continue. The plummet in exports appeared to be easing, but has resumed with the latest numbers released today. Energy generation is down, and the government has slowed its policy to push more loans out into the economy.

In its most recent issue, India Knowledge@Wharton looks at that nation’s venture capital and private equity environment. It turns out that the well for entrepreneurial funding did not run completely dry in India, especially for ventures in real estate and energy.

Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker, reported a less of $7.7 billion for the final quarter of the fiscal year, which ended March 31. The deficit is even deeper than the quarterly loss at the long suffering bankruptcy candidate — and former number one automaker — GM.