Today Obama signed a ten-year defense treaty with the Philippines. Amid ongoing Chinese aggression in the region, it’s not just Manila that will be heartened by Washington’s increased Pacific presence.

Fresh violence in the Central African Republic leaves 16 dead as the God Wars continue to wreak havoc throughout Africa.

House and Senate Republicans are preparing legislation in support of charter schools, while Democrats target “college affordability.” Both parties play to their bases as the midterm elections approach.

China is involving itself more deeply in the affairs of other countries, something it used to oppose. The Chinese envoy to Africa calls it a “new chapter” in the country’s foreign policy.

India’s BJP and its candidates are campaigning on sticking it to foreign countries like Pakistan and China.

Healthcare.gov may now be easier to use, but the back end of the site is still incomplete. Insurers are still waiting for an accurate count of new enrollees and getting nervous as enrollment season approaches again.

North Korean propagandists went all out over the weekend, calling South Korea’s President a prostitute for Barack Obama.

Though the EU is saying it will follow America’s lead in expanding its list of Russian individuals to target with asset freezes and travel bans, there still remains very little appetite for broader economic sanctions that could seriously hurt Russia.

Happy Sunday, TAI readers! We trust you’ve had a relaxing (and hopefully productive) weekend. As you prepare yourself for the week ahead, take the time to look back on what you may have missed on the site over the week behind:

At the University of Chicago this week, Rand Paul made some remarks about “in-between solutions” to abortion that have conservatives wondering where he stands. The general electorate, however, would welcome a politician who occupies the middle ground on this issue.