Today with GDP growth slowing, the rupee softening and the stock market in a funk, it's time to reassess Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's record.

Growth is slowing, but the politicians at fault haven't heeded calls for serious reform.

Officials in Chávez's inner circle are wondering how their cash-strapped government can finance yet another "revolutionary" government in Central America. What they fail to realize is that Chávez's backup plan is to sow chaos in Honduras so it is hospitable territory for his partners in the illegal drug trade and a headache for the United States and Mexico.

Noda's most important challenge will be an apathetic citizenry that has lost faith in its leaders and whose demand for competent leadership from the DPJ has been dashed by the failure of former prime ministers Kan and Yukio Hatoyama.

There is a lack of incentives driving agencies to actively address the problem of counterfeit medicine--some individuals may care enough to risk their jobs by speaking out, but most keep their mouths shut.

If the United States and the United Nations are serious about nonproliferation, they must challenge Venezuela and Iran to come clean about their nuclear pursuits and, if necessary, take steps to hold both regimes accountable.

The latest round of UN sanctions against Iran are merely a symbolic gesture and will not work because they fail to target the financial arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the engine of Iran's nuclear program.

The fight against terrorism is no closer to success today than it was a decade ago when, in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks, President George W. Bush declared a Global War on Terrorism.