Some lawmakers are arguing that US shale gas could be a weapon in the fight over Ukraine, and the media is playing along. But for a number of reasons, American gas won’t be an effective weapon against Gazprom.

Good evening, readers! We hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend. The last week was a busy one here at The American Interest. Take the time to look back on some of the stories you may have missed:

During Beijing’s National People’s Congress, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang escalates the verbal war with Japan. Meanwhile, China is making moves to shape Asia in its strategic image.

Piling misery on the Brotherhood, Saudi Arabia declares it a terrorist organization.

The House of Representatives just passed an energy efficiency bill, finding a rare bit of common ground on environmental policy. These kinds of measures don’t try to play growth and green goals against one another, but rather accomplish both at the same time.

Britain’s fledgling shale gas industry is struggling to get off the ground, plagued by regulatory delays and geologic hurdles. The US shale experience has proved devilishly difficult to replicate, but after Putin’s aggression in Crimea, there’s never been a better time for Europe to frack.

It’s the coast guard and fishing vessels that are doing a lot of the fighting against foreign ships in parts of the South China Sea claimed by neighboring countries.

Staples is closing 225 retail stores due to the growth of online shopping. Greens should be loudly celebrating.

Students are factoring financial concerns into their choice of college more than ever before. This may seem like an obvious step, but price-conscious consumers are bad news for an already struggling industry.

As the long-term costs of the Syrian war for the US and its allies mount, there are many signs that the US government could be moving towards a more realistic Middle East policy.