The worsening violence in Ukraine is raising fears that a debt default contagion will spread to other fragile economies. Given the herd psychology and trigger-happy nature of financial markets, a meltdown in Ukraine could lead investors to flee other worrisome emerging markets. Thailand, Brazil, and Turkey, for example, are especially at risk.

Pakistan has broken with its nonalignment position toward the Syrian civil war, officially siding with Saudi Arabia, according to reports from regional newspapers. Ultimately this reflects poorly on the Obama administration’s leadership in the Middle East. Riyadh is prepared to seek out other friends who can better help its efforts to unseat Butcher Assad, and Pakistan has shown itself willing.

Japan’s monthly trade deficit rose to a record high in January — mostly as a result of a weaker yen and increased energy imports. This suggests a permanent weakness for Japan, which has very few domestic energy sources. Can Abe reinvigorate the economy under these conditions?

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom is now the highest-ranking Democrat to rebel against Governor Brown’s high-speed rail boondoggle, and claims to be speaking for legions of mutinous blues. Is another front in the blue civil war fast approaching?

The government that has imprisoned economists for lying about inflation is forcing the break up of a critical media company in the name of press freedom. And if you believe that, we have some Argentine government securities to sell you at a very attractive price.

In the past month alone, two studies have confirmed that administrative hiring has skyrocketed over the past few decades and has contributed significantly to the rise in tuition. Instapundit’s Glenn Reynolds has some good ideas for how the higher-ed industry can reverse this trend.

A private Twitter account associated with the Egyptian terror group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis posted a chilling message on Tuesday. “We recommend tourists to get out safely before the expiry of the deadline,” reads the tweet. This will cause problems for the government in Cairo but is likely to make a ruthless crackdown on jihadis popular among most Egyptians, especially those involved in the tourism industry.

Add Japan to the list of long-time U.S. allies who think America’s international presence is disconcertingly weak.

Thirteen dead in Kiev so far, and the number is likely to rise. The U.S. Ambassador is blaming the Ukrainian government. But will there be any follow-up to his words?

What is happening to speech and press freedoms in India? We’ve seen a slew of high-profile resignations of senior journalists, whispers of a clampdown on anti-Modi sentiment, including tweets and op-eds, and a loud and intimidating Indian right.