what lies beneath
China Leads First Oil & Gas Exploration in South China Sea in Years

Just what kinds of oil and gas resources are at stake in the South China Sea dispute? A new international expedition, led by China, is likely to answer that question at last.

Ending Overfishing
Progress in the Battle Greens Should Be Fighting

The world got a little smarter about fishing this week, thanks to developments on both sides of the Atlantic. First, Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic foundation issued a $53 million grant to combat overfishing off the coasts of Asia and South America. Second, the European Union finalized a nearly $9 billion plan to combat overfishing in its member states’ waters.

ACA Agonistes
Obamacare Counterpoint: I’ll Take the ACA, Warts and All

Obamacare counterpoint from a reader: Was this the greatest customer experience of my life? Not by a long shot. Was this the worst customer experience? That dubious distinction is held by a previous purchase of private market health insurance.

Exporting MOOCs
Regulators Boot Coursera from Iran and Cuba

Federal regulations are blocking Coursera from Iran, Cuba, Syria and Sudan because of conflicts with sanctions law. This is a counterproductive policy that serves no purpose.

All the President's Errors
Five Important Mistakes in Obama’s SOTU

Last night President Obama gave his State of the Union address. Here’s five important mistakes he made.

GM-Oh Yeah
This Genetic Poison Could Save the Bees

Scientists have developed a new kind of pesticide that can disrupt the genetic sequences of the intended targets. The new method goes after the RNA of unwanted organisms—and could be used to target a mite “believed to be at least partly responsible for the mass die-offs of honeybees in recent years.”

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Pete Seeger
So Long, It’s Been a Bit Strange to Know You

Seeger was an unrepentant communist (with a small c). But the criticisms of his politics always seemed to bear too personal an edge.

The Road Ahead
Self-Driving Cars: An Advertiser’s Dream

Just about every aspect of the robot-driven car of the future lends itself to marketing. Is it a coincidence, then, that Google—maybe the dominant advertiser in the information age—is so keen on developing the technology? Doubtful.

Ukrainian Tremors
Putin’s Karma

Putin has thoroughly insulated himself from the sorts of forces rattling Yanukovych in Ukraine these days. But as he watches events unfold, he has to feel a little insecure.

Game of jets
India’s Struggling Military Gets Major Boost From Japan

It looks like India is about to become the first country since World War II to buy military aircraft from Japan. This is big news not just for Japan, which is experiencing a revival under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but also for India as it tries to keep pace with a rapidly developing Chinese military.

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