At this event, Robert Bryce discussed his new book, "Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future."

Weather change and its consequences are inevitable.  Governments and rating agencies around the world have tools  to “motivate” short-term-focused insurers to broaden their risk perspectives, with their executives facing personal liabilities if their coverage reserves fall short. Without more aggressive moves, the rest of the world could end up like Grenada and Jamaica, circa 2004.

The European Union-or at least its feisty climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard-seems determined to take on the whole world by demanding that all airlines pay a carbon tribute for the privilege of crossing EU airspace and landing at EU airports.  

New York Times natural-gas reporter Ian Urbina last week launched another salvo in his crusade against the shale-gas industry, and demonstrated once more why there is little trust of him at USDA.

North Korea's Kim Jong-Il, who passed away at the age of 69, has bequeathed a legacy of poverty and starvation to the country's subject population, and a highly uncertain future to his nominal legatees, the Communist royals of his dynastic police state.

Conditions in Yemen have changed with the onset of the Arab Spring. Political unrest has created openings for the country’s established opposition movements – including al Qaeda – to maneuver for power. Whether the Arab Spring has brought real regime change in Yemen is unclear. While the international community awaits a fully functional government in the capital of Sana’a, al Qaeda may continue to expand its safe haven in the south.