The International Energy Agency’s chief economist warned that “thirty million jobs are in danger” in Europe, as petrochemical manufacturers eye greener grass in shale-rich America.

China has eased its one child policy, but few people are taking advantage of the change. Without the expected baby boomlet, the country’s demographic problems look even more serious.

President Obama and Europe’s leaders must take this opportunity to explain to their publics that Ukraine’s choice of a pro-Western orientation deserves our support simply because it is in our interest.

UK Cabinet shuffles are normally anodyne affairs. PM David Cameron’s latest move, however, has been a bloodbath.

Extra European sanctions are likely to arrive faster, and they may even be more robust. But beyond that, there are real hard limits to how far the West will go in the aftermath of the Malaysia Air disaster.

What has happened today is certainly a tragedy in human terms, but we need not, and should not, allow emotions to misguide us into making it into a political tragedy as well.

Putin cannot be happy about this latest, tragic turn of events. After all, things were going more or less according to plan up to now.

It’s Thursday, which means its time for a few quick links to odd and amazing tales. Here are our favorites from the week.

Liberal wonks may think the British NHS is a better health care system than we have here, but we’re all facing the same long-term budget crisis. Innovation, not price controls, is the ultimate answer.

Patent trolls, companies that manufacture nothing but exist simply to sue productive corporations, now account for two-thirds of all patent lawsuits filed in the US. A major drag on innovation is getting worse.