Federal regulators are opening an informal investigation to determine whether less costly foreign-flag ship registries are undercutting U.S. foreign trade.

So, what gives? What's the significance of these 10 or so countries represented by international flags outside of P&G's Downtown office? The questions stayed with me, even after my commute ended.

Syria’s foreign minister has attended a UN Security Council briefing after raising his country’s new flag at the international body’s headquarters. It was the first public appearance by a ...