Iran and Turkey took significant steps towards improving relations with each other on Wednesday, despite Washington’s protests. Whereas before Ankara might have waited for Washington’s green light on such a move, today it goes ahead without much of a second thought.

The death toll from three days of fighting in Bangui, capital of the Central Africa Republic, stands at 35 with 65 injured, announced the Red Cross today. The fresh violence comes following a recent inauguration of a new head of state, Catherine Samba-Panza, a posting meant to quell a savage conflict in the country that has left over 2,000 dead.

Thailand’s struggles touch on issues that Thais for various reasons don’t like to speak openly and frankly about: the role of the monarchy, the health of the king and ethnic and regional divisions inside the country. But these issues are of the utmost importance.

A number of small private colleges are cutting tuition in a bid to attract more students. It’s a smart move if they can cut their costs at the same time, but there’s little evidence they’re doing that quite yet.

“American diplomacy, backed by the threat of force,” President Obama claimed to scattered applause during the State of the Union address on Tuesday, “is why Syria’s chemical weapons are being eliminated.” According to reports, only 4.1 percent of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal has been destroyed. The operation to dispose of them is now two months behind schedule.

Pay more, get the same—or less. A new study in Health Affairs finds that healthcare, unlike practically every other sector of our economy, is one area where price and quality are totally uncorrelated.

Detroit has finally unveiled its debt repayment plan, and the terms are far more favorable to city pensions than outside bondholders. This is good news for Detroit’s pensioners, but it could have ripple effects across municipal debt markets.

Democracy and freedom are in decline around the world. What should the United States do to reverse this trend? Better yet, what shouldn’t it do?

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared (once again) that the government is ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban, apparently putting an end to weeks of speculation about a military operation against militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Is this Imran Khan’s moment to shine?

EU industries pay double what their American counterparts pay for electricity, and the International Energy Agency is warning that this is not a one-off phenomenon. Green policies are an anchor around Europe’s economies.