There is a Russian saying, lyod tronulsya, which means the winter ice on the river has cracked and begun to move, that things have begun to change deeply and significantly. This is what's happening in today's Russia.

Polar bear populations are not declining, which throws cold water on environmentalists' claims that we need to leave the Arctic untouched.

Japan and China are are continuing talks, but they have to overcome issues of history, North Korea, nationalism, and more.

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.

For the sake of economic prosperity and good tax policy, the United Statesshould give corporate tax reform a chance.

So long as the government in Seoul stakes its reputation on lessening the North Korean threat--and insists on having made signal strides in doing so--the South Korean public will rightly wonder what exactly U.S. troops are still doing in their country.

 It’s time for policymakers to man up about the fact that the missions heaped upon the military are growing as they pour resources into handouts for bad mortgages, unemployment and other entitlements. Those who pay most dearly wear the uniform. They will not be able to keep it up much longer. And we won’t be the America we think we are anymore.