Wednesday and Thursday mark Egypt’s first post-Mubarak presidential elections. Sadly, what should be a purple-fingered moment brings some hope and much disappointment. Don’t get me wrong – Mubarak was a loathsome stooge, a petty and incompetent rentier tyrant who deserved what he got and more.

Here is another good news/bad news column about the 112th Congress.

Economic instability has spread beyond housing, but housing is the place to fix it.

The Byzantine Empire’s long run — 1,100 years — may seem remote from the 21st century, but a reading of its history offers at least three timeless lessons.

On April 13, 2012, the US Department of the Treasury released new cost estimates for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Looking principally at actual and projected contractual cash flows, the document concludes that: "Overall, the government is now expected to at least break even on its financial stability programs and may realize a positive return." 

Ahmad Majidyar and Ali Alfoneh examine how the Iranian government systematically uses the forced repatriation of Afghans living in Iran to undermine U.S.-led efforts to stabilize Afghanistan.

Chairman Bernanke can be faulted for not anticipating the severity of the global financial crisis, however he deserves some credit for helping stabilize the financial sector at a time of unprecedented instability.

Washington is already in mini-crisis mode over North Korea’s planned launch of a “satellite” (actually, an intercontinental ballistic missile)...Now comes word from South Korea that Pyongyang may also be planning another nuclear test.