In France pupils start a foreign language at nine - and in Italy language lessons begin at eight.

BBC: Straw regrets lack of languages

Lessons begin with the students and teacher bowing toward a large shrine with a gilded statue of Confucius.

CNN: Confucius is seen as a beacon in a changing world

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has asked a Pentagon civilian panel to begin identifying the lessons learned from Operation Enduring Freedom.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Time for the Bush military build-up

So what were the lessons of the EU's emergency summit in Brussels which was to begin a 'root and branch examination' of relations with Russia, to use UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown's words?

CNN: Analysis: Can Europe stand firm against Russia?

And we begin this hour with the challenges facing two health care initiatives, initiatives which could offer lessons for the nation's health care overhaul.

NPR: Mass. Cuts Health Benefits For Some Immigrants

Much like the opportunities to learn from the political lessons of 2012, imagine the sea of possibilities for our world economy, when investors begin to truly value and capitalize on the changing demographics of our world and entrepreneurs by investing in more women, minority and globally-minded entrepreneurs.

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